A family set sail from New Zealand on their yacht for a voyage around the Asia-Pacific region but made sure to stop in Singapore to celebrate Deepavali with close friends.
Mr Andy Berns, 52, who is from Germany, worked in Singapore for about three years from 2002 for a multinational firm, and one of his sons was born here. His Russian wife Ludmila used to run a language school in New Zealand.
On Nov 9, Mr Berns, his wife and three sons docked their 13m yacht Somerset at the Changi Sailing Club. They have four other older sons, aged between 18 and 30, who are living across the world.
Mr Berns said: “It was a new experience celebrating Deepavali in Singapore. We went shopping at the bazaar, tried traditional food, and the boys learnt about Indian culture from this experience.”
They wore traditional Indian outfits and immersed themselves in the Deepavali experience at the home of their friends – tech firm managing director Saminathan Mathialagan, 54, and his wife.
His son Paul, 17, told The Straits Times: “The culture is more homogeneous in many of the other places I’ve visited because people belong to the same ethnicity there. In Singapore, there is a good mix of different cultures and acceptance among the people.”
The Berns – who have lived in New Zealand for the last nine years – embarked on their sailing adventures two years ago. Their yacht was bought before the pandemic for the price of a luxury car in Singapore, said Mr Berns.
The Straits Times
