What makes some of these local or global creatives tick? In this weekly column, Perng Aw, the General Manager of Greater Club shares her favourite things.
1. Her Best Friend: Dogs keep life simple and incredible. My puppy Dre, a Lab and Alaskan Malamute/Husky mix, has taught me so much about love, care and loyalty. Dogs love unconditionally no matter what. Through him I am reminded to be more caring and empathetic towards others.
Weekends are particularly exciting for me because I can take him to a dog run or dog pool. I watch him play to his heart’s content and live life to the fullest. I feel incredible just being able to make a difference in one life. Their energy is also infectious and reminds me to live in the moment.
2. Cruise Control: I’ve started riding longboards during this pandemic amongst other things. It has become my happy place in a time of stress and uncertainty. The adrenaline-fueled meditation feeling you get and the added health benefits and vitamin D on the side gets you hooked.
3. Tiling Art: Amazing tile art stops me dead in my track. It is a feast of texture, color and intricate tile pattern constructed from small pieces of glass, stone, or other materials. Tiling art is timeless and contributes to extraordinary interior design elements. Its profound the level of talent and dedication that goes to creating some of the world-renowned decorative tile arts from centuries past.
This picture was taken in March 2022 at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. This was my first trip out of Singapore since the pandemic began.
4. Good American BBQ: The U.S. was home to me for almost 20 years prior moving to Singapore. That is why American barbecue is on my list of comfort foods. Barbecue has always been a summer tradition for Americans. My fondest memories growing up in the U.S. is cooking on the grill and chatting with friends as we surround the fiery pit.
In Singapore, we barbecue frequently and share this passion of ours amongst our closest friends. Brisket is our favorite meat to cook because it requires some skill. It is a tough cut of meat and takes twice as long to turn tender. Food is an essential part of life and community, and they are the moments when the best memories are made.
5. Running At Dusk: What more is there say? On top of the long list of health benefits of running from improving cardiovascular fitness, improving muscle strength to reduce stress and boosting confidence, you can also catch views like this!
6. Being a Gastronomic Tourist: Food and culture are uniquely intertwined with one another. One of the best ways to learn about a country and culture is through the local cuisine. I’m sure like many travel enthusiasts, planning restaurants and local dishes to try is the most exciting part of travel planning. To me, there is no authentic travel experience without experiencing the local cuisine.
This picture is a traditional Turkish breakfast that I had during my visit to Istanbul last month.
7. Striving To Be Better: Singapore has provided me a unique opportunity to thrive as a builder of professional communities and eco-systems within multiple industries. My work focusing on women in tech, entrepreneurship and empowerment, fashion and now business professional at Greater Club reflects the range of what I enjoy most: bringing people together.
I admit, being a community builder is not something I had planned to do but had grown to love. Bringing groups together and seeing how community building impacts people both professionally and personally, I revel in the role of being the facilitator to connect these inspiring individuals.
8. Being Fashion Forward: I took a leap into the world of fashion when I was in my mid 20’s. I had a stable banking job at the time, and I knew it would be a risk going back to school for a new career. Banking wasn’t something I could see myself with for the long term and fashion was my passion. This picture was taken during Paris Fashion Week 2022 where a local designer, Carol Chen, had her dream come true and debuted her collection in Paris.
This opportunity was made possible by an initiative that I had spearheaded during my time at the Textile and Fashion Federation (TaFF). When I look at this photo, I am reminded of how that small step I took so many years ago left a big footprint for someone else.
Once you’re done with Perng Aw’s obsessions, click here to catch up with our April 2022 issue!
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