Tamarind Hill Singapore

 Channel News Asia SINGAPORE: Nestled in a little-known corner of Labrador Park - an area famous for its secret tunnels and pre-war relics - there's a new restaurant in the middle of the park's lush greenery.

From cold tom yum martini to grilled tuna steak with lime and chili vinaigrette, the owner of Thai restaurant Tamarind Hill describes its menu to be a combination of traditional Thai flavours with modern interpretations.

CEO of Samadhi Retreats, Federico Asaro, said: "We have a foie gras dish with a mango salad which is very traditional Thai, but the mango salad - the mango is actually puree, and it sits on top of the foie gras. So it's very Thai in flavours but yet not."

But what Mr Asaro wants to sell is not just a meal rather, a dreamy holiday you can take to a green haven without leaving Singapore's shores.

Tamarind Hill has several branches in Malaysia, and the one in Singapore is the latest to open after some five years of planning.

Federico said: "All the Tamarinds are surrounded by nature. And that's one of the strongest criteria. We call ourselves rustic, rustic luxe. We provide spaces, and the concept is not just about food, but it's an overall experience.
 

"People will say to me that they don't feel like they're - whether it's in Kuala Lumpur or in Singapore - we've had many people come through the door now and say, wow I feel like I'm on holiday somewhere. And it is a holiday for them because the average person sits in the restaurant for about three hours."

The natural settings is enough to have urban dwellers believe they've stumbled upon an untouched part of urban Singapore.
 
Labrador Park is just a stone's throw away from Singapore's city centre, but at Tamarind Hill, it feels quite like another world amid the lush greenery.

And to add a touch of mystery to the place, nobody really knows who built the house, or why it was built, except that it was once used as the Malay regiment quarters. It took the owners four months to refurbish the black and white colonial house.


 

Director of Samadhi Retreats, Maple Loo Asaro, said: "To me, it's really fate that we stumbled upon Labrador Park because it's so scarce in Singapore to find a gem, a gem spot like this that fits right into our philosophy in the company - surrounded by greens. At heart, we're very much nature lovers, me and my husband."

The restaurant is peppered with antiques and accessories - personal trophies for the couple who love road trips in Southeast Asia.

Staying true to their love for nature, the restaurant's furnishings are made from recycled wood even if it costs some 30 per cent more than new wood.

Federico Asaro said: "We definitely don't want to cut down green spaces just to build our properties. What we use - recycled woods - these are woods that have been used to build other structures in the past, such as shop blocks in Malaysia, a lot of the small towns in Malaysia.

"Eighty years ago, they were built with wood. Today, they are moving from wood to bricks. So I have a group of people in Malaysia that go around and buy up old houses, buy up factories, shop blocks, any kind of wooden structures. We buy them, we bring them back to Kuala Lumpur.

"I have a team there that then restores the wood, and we use the wood for our construction.

"We also work with two communities in particular in Malaysia, Orang Asli, one in Negri Sembilan and another one in Pahang, and so we work with the Orang Asli or the aboriginal communities in Malaysia to source for materials such as wood, thatched roofs and other sort of natural materials, rattan, things like that."

Even if Tamarind Hill is slightly off the beaten track, Mr Asaro isn't too worried about not having enough patrons.

After all, with only 29 tables spread over 10,000 square feet, the irony is, quietness is what they hope will draw customers back.

Watch the video here!

Pole Dancing with Malaysian Women

Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia  has, in the last 2 years, taught over 250 students. Many, both local and foreign media have asked if pole dancing and lap dancing is something that would work in Malaysia and if women here are too conservative to do it.

 

I say ABSOLUTELY! Malaysian women are actually not as 'conservative' as what others may have perceived. There're many like me in this country, Malay Chinese or Indian women. In fact I find Malaysian women less judgmental, very open-minded and warm-hearted compared to women from other Asian countries.

Malaysian women are also more laid back. That said, don't expect them to pick up the phone right away to book a class!! I've had students who eventually signed up for class after keeping my magazine or newspaper article for over a year! But once they put their foot in through your door, they're game:)

My studio is like Bhutan. My tiny little space with a big fun bunch of excited and excitable women, over-the-top enthused to learn our craft AND ever-ready to exhibit their newly discovered not-so-tame-anymore selves, quite possibly has a happy index of  9.5 over 10!

 

The studio is tiny but it's constantly bustling... sounds of my students' laughter, busy chatters and their frantic frolic on poles and chairs.... they create such a great vibe in the studio. Their satisfaction with their own growth, their relationship with the environment and feeling safe, make the studio a place everyone of them look forward coming to. Isn't it just awesome. But gratification to the highest level for a teacher is her students' strong sense of belonging to her and her space. I consider that success in itself.

 

Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia breeds happy and healthy women. Only when one is WILLING to put aside all the taboos that surround pole dancing and striptease lap dancing will one see what a fantastic and sexy way of fitness in body and mind the craft really is for women of all ages.

 It's also digging deep into the self, believing and accepting our deep-rooted desire to want to be sexy and supple and sensuous. More so as we age. Flexibility has never been quite as important; stamina was never an issue; muscular and core strength were never really talked about as much as today. We want to be healthier.

 STRONG is the new skinny. STRONG IS SEXY.

 So many students of mine first came to class not able to touch their toes even. Some have never even exercised before! HATE exercise with a passion they said, but would love to learn how to dance, how to 'move correctly'.

 And after 2 months of classes, they're suddenly doing professional stripper moves! They're pole dancing in 7-inch killer heels! They're spinning on the pole and doing splits on the floor! They're even hanging upside down on the pole, using muscles they never knew they had! The few bruises they got, merely a small price to pay for feeling superhuman.

 Happiness is a choice, I always say. It rings true.... but putting that in practice is not so easy sometimes. All the women who have chosen me to be their teacher, our school to be their outlet and our craft as their practice, thank you with all my heart.... you came to the right place:)

To all my Bobbi's girls, know that you're courageous and brave. I'll make sure your nose-dive into pole dancing at Bobbi's Pole Studio Malaysia, whether whimsical or deliberate,  is one of those best choices you've ever made in your life!! Love you all.