Picnics - Entertainment Al Fresco

What could be a better to way to spend your weekends, if not by gathering your friends and family and going out for a day of games, good food and good company? With a history dating back to the 17th century, picnics have long been a pastime for adults and kids alike. In the next couple of pages, I&P Living takes a look at some lovely ideas for picnic foods, themes and locations that will have you out with your basket in hand and kids in tow before we can say croissant.

From Paris with Love

Picnics are a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors (al fresco) usually taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake, at the beach or any setting with an interesting view. The term, pique-nique which first appeared in France in 1692, was used to describe a group of people dining in a restaurant who brought their own wine. For long a picnic retained the implication of a meal to which everyone contributed something. It became especially popular amongst newly enfranchised citizens after the French Revolution is 1789, when royal parks became open to the public for the first time, sparking the tradition of picnicking in parks.

Location! Location! Location!

Picking your picnic spot is almost certainly the most fundamental element of the planning, from beach-side barbecues to lakeside feasts, locale is the most important variable of any picnic experience. It is imperative to remember, not all picnic spots aren’t created equal and choosing the perfect one can make or break the picnic experience altogether. When deciding on a picnic spot, it is paramount to look into these areas to help pick the most ideal location. First, who will be attending? Just adults, or will there be children as well? Taking children along is where the tricky bit comes in; you must ensure the necessary bathroom facilities are easily available. If you are looking at something close by a body of water (i.e. lake, stream, beach), ensure that you have enough hands and eyes on board to keep an eye on the children. Secondly, are you looking for something a bit more outward bound or something located in a central position, like a city park? Remember, choosing a remote, far-off spot may sound like a good idea but you don’t want your attendees spending half the day looking for the spot. Nothing irks certain picnickers than having to share their spot with someone else. Do a little background checking to gauge how popular the site is and when peak period is to avoid disappointment and frustration. If all else fails, your very own backyard will provide you with the facilities and privacy everyone desires. Plus, you can even save cleaning up for later!

Remote areas are ideal for picnics 

Planning the Menu

It definitely goes without saying that if there isn’t any food, you don’t really have a picnic anymore. Although the food is considered the backbone of the picnic, try not to lose your hair over it. The best idea is to keep it as simple as possible. No one goes to a picnic expecting to dive into a medium-rare steak or even to chuck all cutleries aside for some rice and chicken curry. Some easy picnic foods include finger sandwiches with tuna, egg or cucumber fillings. Next, it doesn't get much simpler than crackers and cheese at a picnic.  Whether you're into spray-on cheddar or craving a peppercorn spread, a nice portion of crackers and cheese is always solid picnic fare. Cole slaw is a classic side dish of the picnic and is also a lip-smacking dish containing vegetarian-friendly ingredients like carrots, cabbage, green onions and herbs. Though it's conventionally made with mayonnaise, there are other choices to spice things up, such as herb dressing and tofu mayonnaise. If you are planning on having a barbecue at the picnic, keep the options simple to cook and easy to eat, for example sausages, burgers or chicken wings. Nobody really wants to sit in with a knife and fork to devour that lamb chop however amazing your marinade is. Whatever you do, do not forget dessert! Go in the direction of cakes and tarts and a fruit platter to keep everything well balanced of your fun day out.

Vegetarian-friendly skewers

Spice It Up!

Although the idea of a picnic in itself adds excitement to the meal and will always bear promise of a wonderful time but if you are looking for a truly different experience there are a number of unique ways to take your picnic to the next level. Themed picnics and picnic games are the perfect way to do it. If you would rather not go all out with an elaborate theme, a Colour Themed Picnic is the way to go. Just assign an agreed upon colour for everyone to wear (don’t forget the blankets too!) be it all red, white, black etc. That way even if you lose someone, it will make it so much easier to spot him or her. Another great idea is to organize a Fun n’ Games Picnic, which is ultimately all about picnic games. Some good suggestions are: frisbees, bubbles, kites, remote control airplanes, footballs, beach balls, volleyball sets, etc. Kids will love this one! Moving along, who says an all-girls outing has to revolve around shopping or sipping cocktails in nightclub? Plan a Girls-Only Picnic with sparkling cider, plenty conversation and girlie foods like finger sandwiches and chocolate-covered strawberries. Add a little more fun to it and make sure everyone wears a pretty summer dress for an all-inclusive experience. Other themes like Parisian Picnic, Italian Picnic and Spanish Picnic would be ideal for an all-adult picnic, each theme with its array of local delicacies and beverages.

Everything you need for an All-Girls Picnic –
Sparkling Juice, fruits and a shaded patch of grass 
to catch up with the girlfriends.

Some useful tips in packing your picnic – avoid squishing; remember to always start with heavier foods and items at the bottom, followed by the lighter one on top. Keep it cool – freeze juice boxes the night before, that way by the time you get to your picnic it you’ll have yummy slushies for everyone. Avoid sticky, messy food like sticky cakes, caramel apples and so on. They can be a real nuisance to transport and before you know it, the bugs will be having a glorious picnic instead!

Written for AMG International, contract publishers for I&P Living Vol. 2

Good Living - The Andrew Suvalsky Inspiration

Andrew Suvalsky - Jazz musician cum interior designer

In a swift career shift in 1998, Andrew Suvalsky left the music scene for the Big Apple to work with internationally renowned interior designer, Benjamin Noriega Ortiz. Now, his firm, Andrew Suvalsky Designs, offers clean, fresh and intimate full interior architectural and design services dedicated to creating all-embracing visual stories that divulge the soul of a home, drawing inspiration from the unique makings of the dwelling and the people living there. Blending the many elements of architectural embellishments, layout and a palate of sophisticated colors, Suvalsky applies his copious experience to conjure the dreamiest ideas with maximum optimization of space. 

Imperative Styles

One of the paramount challenges for Suvalsky is finding the equilibrium between comfort, beauty and function. Suvalsky prides himself on the realistic approach he takes to design although feelings and aesthetics are some of his foremost influences. Determined never to forgo beauty for the practical or vice versa, he believes that design should not be a just a two-dimensional pretty face but should be made to be comfortable and livable as well. Style is a combination of vision and artistry. If you have a wide room, accentuate it with neutral paint colors and contrasting furniture. Consider, also, lining the edges of the room with the furniture to allow easy traffic flow through main corridors. Arranging furniture is more of an art than a science, so try a few different arrangements on your paper floor plan before attempting the real thing. High traffic areas can spell trouble for top-heavy lamps and other tabletop ornaments. Be sure that the shade of the lamp does not extend beyond the edge of the table. Additionally, multifunctional furniture can provide invaluable benefits. Futons are ideal for small apartments, since they serve two functions - sleeping and seating.

Positioning furniture along the edges 
can help with traffic flow.    

The Suvalsky Method

Suvalsky’s method is systematic; emphasizing the adage that design is a process. No matter what look he tries to produce, he believes that it should always be inviting and authentic which he strives to achieve by forming personal and intimate connections with his clients. One of his favorite parts of living in a big city is that everywhere he looks there he finds inspiration, such as the dramatic outline and colors of tall buildings set against the sky, which he later incorporates in his designs of interior living spaces. Some visible design features include solid colors with contrasting properties against blank slates of walls and floor. Use minimal number of accent pieces for a clean and open look for visual charm. To avoid your accent wall/floor looking like a cliché technique, Suvalsky advises to avoid choosing a color that exists within the room’s original palate. Try for instance to use a color that bridges the fabrics and other wall colors and the exciting, accent wall.

Use a contrasting color to perk up 
and accentuate other elements of the room    

Keeping it Clean

Andy also loves things that feel clean and fresh and finds that the easiest way to do this is via the liberal use of whites. He stresses that it has to be used with real intention; otherwise it might end up looking generic or unfinished. If you love the sleek, modern kitchens you see in IKEA or even in magazines, the solution is to use white on everything: cabinets, countertops, walls and ceilings. Place a few accessories, each sitting on an oasis of white to further accentuate the room. For ease of maintenance, shiny is always better as sheen is more washable than matte finishes. Tip: Try to stay away from dull laminates and matte colours.

Find the perfect balance between style and comfort

Named “One of the Top Designer’s to Watch” by New York Spaces Magazine in 2008, Andrew Suvalsky has been featured in the New York Times, The New York Observer, Passions International and The Robb Report and has appeared on HGTV, Oxygen, Better TV, Fox and NBC. Log on to www.goodlivingbyandy.com for more design tips, ideas and solutions to bring out the soul of your home.




Written for AMG International, contract publishers of I&P Living Vol. 2

Frontyard Zen - Exploring Oriental Landscaping

Landscaping is the activity of transforming visible features of a piece of land while incorporating several elements, for example, flora and fauna, landforms and terrains and other elements such as buildings and fences. One of the core features of I&P is the focus on the aesthetic values incorporated into its townships. In this issue, I&P Living looks eastward for a charming aspect of landscaping – Japanese Gardens.

Antiquity

Japanese Gardens are traditional gardens that craft miniature idealized landscapes in a very intangible and stylized manner. The evolution of the gardens can be seen across the various historical periods in Japan beginning with the Heian period (794-1185). Developed under the influence of Chinese gardens, the Japanese gardens also carried with it influences Chinese philosophies of Daoism and Amida Buddhism. However, by the Edo period (1615-1857), Japanese gardens developed a distinctive aesthetic value, encompassing Japanese materials and cultures.

Arched wooden bridge – 
a recurrent element in large Japanese gardens.

Aesthetics

The gardens are designed as a miniature idealized view of nature. Large rocks are used to symbolize mountains and ponds or small streams are used to represents bodies of water such as the sea or a lake. Miegakure (literally ‘hide and reveal’) is the art of concealment which is employed especially in promenade gardens, where bamboo or tree groves are hidden behind hills to be discovered by the visitor who follows the winding path around or through the garden. A more intriguing aesthetical element is Shakkei or borrowed scenery. Smaller gardens are designed to integrate features outside the garden such as hill, trees or temples; adding to the scenery and increasing the ostensible size of the garden. Asymmetry also contributes to the beauty of the gardens as they are not laid on straight axes. Features are positioned to be seen from a diagonal by integrating vertical elements, such as buildings, with horizontal features, such as water.

Dry rocks used in the Karensansui design 
to symbolize water

Garden Styles

There are several types of Japanese Gardens, the most prominent being Karensansui (dry mountain and water gardens) a dry rock garden with white sand used to epitomize water. Gravel and rocks are age old symbolization for denoting sacred areas in Japan and are essential in facilitating meditation. The Roji or ‘dewy ground', is the garden, through which one passes to the chashitsu for the tea ceremony and it generally fosters an air of simplicity. usually divided into an outer and inner garden, with a machiai (waiting arbor), a typical Roji includes features such as the tsukubai (ablution basin), tōrō (lantern), tobi ishi (stepping stones), and wicket gates. Kaiyu-shiki-teien or Promenade gardens (go-round style) are designed to complement houses that are commonly modeled after the tea house. These gardens were meant to be perceived by following a path clockwise around the lake from one prudently designed scene to another. Finally, there is the tsuboniwa, literally meaning pot garden. This type of gardening is popular within areas fashioned by the junctions of building or between buildings. More often than not, they are shady, and obtain a good deal of the run-off from neighboring roofs during rain and snow. This cool, damp, shadiness is mirrored in the predominantly shiny, dark-green flora frequently encountered in tsuboniwa.

Cherry blossom trees add color and beauty to the garden.

Building Your Own Japanese Garden

There are several important steps you must take before building your own Japanese garden. The first and probably most important is to consult with a contractor. It is important to remember that the design should suit the site and not vice versa. This is also to ensure that the land is viable for landscaping and that water sources are available should you choose to incorporate a pond or mini-waterfall. It’s best to pick a piece of land with hills and slopes, which are analogous with most Japanese gardens, this will definitely add to its charm. Next, you should pick a theme you would like to design your garden after. This will help you in choosing which elements to include in your garden such as the type of gravel and stones, which plants to purchase i.e. bamboo, moss, cherry blossom trees, the size of the pagodas, pavilions, and what type of sculptures (stone lanterns, stone walls etc.) you should include. Placing the plants and elements in the planned area and imagining them ‘in-situ’ is a critical step in the designing and building process as it helps you envision what the garden will look like and allow for you to change the positioning of elements and plants if necessary.

A few useful tips in building your own Japanese garden - remember that every element should reflect the pure essence of nature. For example, you would never find a square pond or lake in the wild; therefore you should not include one in your garden. Waterfalls are the best option, fountains – not so much. Finally, don’t forget to ensure balance or ‘sumi’. Not solely for aesthetics reasons but to attain spiritual equilibrium as well.




Written for AMG International, contract publishers of I&P Living Vol.2 

Leighton Offshore

Engineering success with strategic growth

Australia’s Leighton Offshore, a subsidiary of the Leighton Group, Australia’s largest project development and contracting group  launched its new engineering business; a fully-owned subsidiary, DPS Leighton Engineering Sdn Bhd (LE). The company was launched in Malaysia recently to provide engineering, procurement management and construction (PMC) services to the oil and gas industry. Along with a new logo, the company has officially opened its new office at G Tower on Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.

The company said it developed its detailed engineering and PMC arm after acquiring the former oil & gas engineering consulting business, DPS Bristol (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

LE will also be providing technical, procurement, and management support to DPS Consultant Malaysia Sdn Bhd which provides oil and gas consultancy services in Malaysia. Leighton Offshore CEO Peter Cox said, “We are growing our oil & gas business internationally from our headquarters here in Malaysia, and strengthening our engineering and PMC capacity is a core element in our growth strategy.”

“We have made a business decision to focus our engineering and EPIC capability here in Kuala Lumpur, where there is a wealth of oil and gas experience and a competitive engineering talent base for oil and gas projects, and we are proud to be bringing world class projects, such as the Sealine Project to be performed here supporting investment and new jobs in Malaysia,” Cox said.

Sealine Project in Iraq

Cox has announced that Leighton Engineering was awarded its first contract valued at approximately USD 10 million, in October, to undertake the detailed engineering of two offshore platforms for the USD 518 million Sealine Project for Iraq’s South Oil Company. The project is being managed here in Kuala Lumpur by a dedicated project team from Leighton who will also assist in the procurement and follow on engineering for the two platforms. The Sealine project involves not only the design, construction and installation of the two offshore platforms but also a 75 kilometer 48” pipeline and a single point mooring system as well and follows on from the USD 800 million ICOEEP projects currently carried out by Leighton Offshore.

They have also signed an engineering, procurement, and construction contract with Iraq’s South Oil Company to install 120km of onshore and offshore pipelines and three single point mooring units in the Persian Gulf, offshore Iraq.

The scope of work to be carried out under the contract includes the installation and commissioning of two 48-inch diameter parallel pipelines, with 10km onshore and 40km offshore, which will link the new Fao onshore terminal to the new single point moorings (SPMs). In addition, Leighton will install and commission approximately 20-km of infield pipelines and the shore crossing for a third pipeline to be installed during future expansions. On a whole, the project comprises; installation of SPMs complete with subsea pipeline and manifolds, fabrication and installation of a subsea valve manifold and dredging works to achieve pipeline burial.

The fast-tracked project, with a duration of only 20 months from contract award to full commission, will provide enhanced export facilities from the Fao Terminal near Al Basrah, and form a major part of the South Oil Company’s strategic redevelopment programme for Iraq. The two platforms will commence fabrication in March 2012. It will be installed in two campaigns, one in 2012 and another in the 1^st quarter of 2013. Leighton Offshore will use its vessels, Eclipse, Stealth and Mynx, to complete the project. The contract forms part of the Iraq Crude Oil Export Expansion Project which is developing offshore loading facilities to enable export capability of 4.5 MMbbl/d of oil.

Already employing some 200-300 engineers here in Malaysia and with offices in Tanzania and the UAE, Cox also went on to say that, the reason for setting up a base here in Kuala Lumpur is the expertise and experience offered by the work force here. According to him, Malaysia is a very mature oil and gas market which offers plenty of experienced talents to tap into and it is a very cost-effective engineering base as opposed to other places which are cheaper but offer a less experienced workforce.

LE is certified ISO 1800 company as well as ISO 9000 certified, in accordance to environmental standards. The company’s impressive HSE track records in terms of safety of its projects, is tracked through safety studies at the concept stage right through detailed engineering in accordance to all oil and gas company standards as required by ISO 1800 certification. LE considers safety in two areas; the technical integrity safety of the plant that they design as well as the methodology in terms of constructing the module.

“The Leighton Intention in Malaysia is to transform Malaysian engineers from a conservative point of view which has become a pure detailed designed engineer and transform them to a more constructive engineer who is able to perform interface, construction and pre-imposed commissioning. This will bring up the Malaysian engineers standards to a much higher, tier-1 acceptance.”

                                                      Dato’ Ismail Mohamed – Managing Director DPS Bristol (M) Sdn Bhd.

Media Camp for La Salle Youths

TWO weeks ago, Cahayasuara Communications Centre organised a four-day, media-related youth camp in Cameron Highlands for 30 members of the Catholic Students Society (CSS) of SMK La Salle Petaling Jaya.

Held from June 3 to 6 during the school holidays, the Annual Leadership Camp was conducted at the Infant Jesus Convent in Cameron Highlands, Perak.

It was not the usual kind of fun teenagers normally engage in during their term break.

The main aim of the Cahayasuara Media Youth Camp was to build new leaders through the media, said CSS president Mark Luhan, who added that they chose Cameron Highlands for its clean atmosphere and fresh air.

On the first day, after arriving at the convent at 3pm, the participants watched the movie Ice Age and then analysed the features and forms of entertainment used by the animators.

The next day started with a session on how and why the media uses music video clips.

They were then divided into three groups and given time to rehearse and produce their own music video clips, before presenting them in live performances.

After that, the group went into Brinchang town and took note of signs, symbols and services for their analyses.

They were treated to another movie, The Matrix Reloaded, which they analysed as well.

The final day involved a session on media work in which the participants debated on the topic "'The Media Influences Our Choices".

After the opposition side won, everyone sat together to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments with the camp facilitators.

The facilitators then organised a session at which the campers explained how they benefited from the camp.

Two third-formers, Ronald Reyes and Luke Ashwin, both agreed that the camp was not just about having fun but being exposed to new and exciting experiences.

Published on July 13, 2003 in The Sunday Mail