Sweet Potato The Kit Kat search continues and I made a discovery some time last week in office when I spotted a sweet potato flavoured version of that lovely chocolaty confection. Unfortunately I was sick and coughing my lungs out for the past two weeks. So there goes the taste test. Adding to that, my mean colleagues did not allow me to keep (steal) the pack leaving me sulking the entire week. I’m sure there will be other opportunities.. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite The return of the MacSafe Power Adapter So after a fruitless weekend plus the National Day holiday without my trusty MacBook, I called the folks from Apple (the real ones, not the authorised ones) in hopes of getting my dead MacSafe Power Adapter replaced..for free of course. Initially skeptical, I constantly reminded myself to keep my composure while explaining my predicament to the dude at the other end and at the same time, prayed silently for a miracle or a sign that would give me a glimmer of hope for a free replacement. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to be a miser here (well, maybe a tad bit) but I’d rather spend the $150 on something else than on the MacSafe Power Adapter, which till today I believe shouldn’t have taken a permanent break given that I rarely take it out (so strange). Thankfully, the two service dudes I spoke to in the morning and the night (long story why I had to call twice) managed to somehow woo me back to loving Apple again with their customer service. It isn’t so much that I got a free replacement, but rather the effort they have put in. Its basic customer service – if you don’t know, go find out, even if you have to put me on hold.  I don’t mind waiting and I kinda like the music they played. They have shown that they are trying their best to resolve the issue (free replacement or not) and restored my confidence in their customer service. I won’t go into the details, I’ll leave that for the feedback they asked me to fill. Top notch guys. Heading back to the EpiCentre the very next day knowing that a replacement code with my Mac’s serial number was entered into the system all thanks to the Apple dudes, I faced the same lady that served me the day before. You know, the one that had to put up with my attitude (though I still stand corrected that I have the right to, after being treated ‘wrongly’) and left me leaving the service centre extremely unsettled. Putting our awkwardness aside, we got into the replacement process with her smiling most of the time. I have to give it to her, she is a bigger person that I am, because I don’t remember pulling off even the weakest grin. To cut the long story short, I headed back home with my MacSafe Power Adapter and my MacBook is fully charged. Welcome back Mac!! Okay I admit, not a very well taken photo of my replacement Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Apple customer service leaves something to be desired So we all have seen their marketing efforts – how they have proudly and profoundly proclaimed that their products are more superior than their competitors. Just throw in a dash of carefully and well crafted finishing touches giving it that cool factor, and what you have here is a ’successful’ line of ‘must have’ products with a huge cult following. Yes, the Apple has somehow brainwashed a significant number of the global community to switch from PC to the Mac, me included. Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of Apple (wait..its was not am) and one just can’t get enough of their sleek, clean and less is more designs. Nevermind that the prices for both their accessories and products are through the roof or that you need to pay a significantly huge amount for extended warranty, unlike their competitors where they will give you up three years. We are all suckers and want a piece of Apple from their Macbooks to iPhones and don’t we know it. But when their customer service is not up to par, everything  Apple promises suddenly seemed like a huge cloud of fluff. My MacSafe Power Adapter for my Macbook died on me yesterday afternoon to my dismay. Being a regular user of my Macbook, I was rather disturbed given that the long weekend will allow me more time for surfing and everyone knows we need sufficient power to ensure long usage. Running on my battery, I did a quick check at Apple’s website that noted: ‘Whether your product is in or out-of-warranty, you can take your adapter to an Apple-Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store for evaluation and replacement if necessary. You may be eligible for a replacement adapter free of charge provided there are no signs of accidental damage.’ So with a huge sigh of relief, I popped over to the EpiCentre at Wheelock yesterday night hoping to get a quick exchange. After a few checks here and there, they told me that my Macbook is no longer under warranty and that I would need to get a replacement. To me it means exchange, but the to the folks at Apple, it means forking out a whopping $150. I must admit that having experienced a number of really bad customer service recently, especially from Nokia, I wasn’t exactly the nicest customer there. Although I was smiling and tried my best to reason, I was flustered and was not in the mood to take my non-working MacSafe Power Adapter back. When I told them that the Apple website clearly indicated that a replacement can be done whether it is in or out-of-warranty, the lady at the counter gave me a small slip of paper asking me to contact Apple first. Once Apple gives the okay for replacement, all I need to do is to pop back to Wheelock again and get a replacement. This means that they will only evaluate upon Apple’s blessings, contrary to the website. What we have here is a new layer. Troublesome and somewhat shocking their policy may be, I unwillingly agreed and looked at the paper hoping to get my problem resolved the very next day. That was when the second wave of shock hit me, they are not opened on Sundays and public holidays. I’m pretty sure Apple thinks that is good customer service, but to me, it is two more days of Macbook inactivity…there goes my weekend. While I can’t fault Apple for a spoilt MacSafe Power Adapter (I mean gadgets do fail from time to time), I question their quality service. I’m pretty sure I am not the first person with such an experience and God knows there will be a string of other similar Mac users with the same issue. I shudder to even begin thinking about Apple’s thought process for customer service. A keg of beer and a couple of shared hash in a meeting room does not make good management decision. After a few taps (not bangs) on the table and reasoning with the service centre for the slightest solution possible to allow me to continue using my Macbook through the long weekend, I left extremely upset and even more flustered, wondering if switching to Apple from a PC was even a good choice in the first place. They were apathetic and unapologetic. Until Apple gives me another reason to think otherwise (and no, the new 3G iPhone does not cut it), I believe they have lost a fan. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Late night dinner at the Read Bridge In a bid to celebrate the end of her examination for this trimester and do our part to participate in the Singapore Food Festival, Lyn (my boo) and I headed to the Food Street at Read Bridge for a late night dinner. Converted into a Food Street from last Friday until this Saturday, the 30 food stalls at Read Bridge feature a treat of local fare such as Peranakan, Chinese, Malay and Indian delights as well as a little bit of western. For a temporary food area, the prices are not extremely costly with prices starting from $2. Adding to that, with one hour to closing time, the Read Bridge was still bustling with both locals and tourists looking for great deals and last minute specials in particular, not too shabby for a Tuesday night I think. Given that it was rather late into the night, Lyn and I were extremely famished and forked out a good $28 for dinner, with about a third of it going to beer. Here’s what we ate that night: Left: Some omelette and lasagna from Cuba Libre | Right: Chicken skewers and fried chicken from the same stall Left: Hokkien mee | Right: Man tou with chicken (I think) Chicken tikka Yes as you can see, we went overboard ordering chicken. Being the alcoholics that we are, the highlight of the night was the beer. At just $4, you can buy yourself a nice cup of frosty Chang Beer on tap. For those who think that a cup is not enough and are looking a great deal, how does $10 for 3 cups sound like? Sweet eh? You beautiful thing you.. Soaking in the festival and food atmosphere aside, the stall owners were not only friendly, but took time to smile for the camera. On a number of occasions, I see some stall owners and assistants walking out of their stalls for a couple of photo opportunities with the tourists. Service although was slow due to the big orders were excellent. Heck even a dude the beer stall delivered one cup of beer to my table (I was holding on to two and wasn’t confident carrying three at a go). Smiles smiles smiles With two more days to go (yes another late entry, I had intended to write about it but was rather lazy..surprise surprise), I recommend you head down to the Read Bridge for a night (or afternoon) of great food food and food… Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Garlic comes home I’m pretty sure fans of MacDonald’s here rejoiced a few weeks ago with the return of the garlic chili sauce. After making a quiet exit some time back, MacDonald chili lovers like me and especially a fellow colleague of mine were left scratching our heads wondering how the heck we are going to get used to the crap they replaced. I guess some folks out there voiced their opinion and before we knew it, they made a quiet return. Well…not so quiet..anyways . Welcome back you beautiful sauce you… Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Good ad for an attention seeker Its not very often that you will come across an advertisement that is so unique, so creative, but yet so simple that leaves you wondering why the heck didn’t you think of that. My favourite camera brand Nikon (or rather one that I’m stuck with now) has one such example in a Seoul subway station with their sensory lightbox advertisement. What was initially thought to be just a normal billboard with an image of photographers taking photos of you, turns out to be an interactive one with camera flashes firing straight at anyone who walks by. With a simple idea of installing motion sensors that will trigger off the flashes and complemented with a stretch of red carpet treatment, it will give any passerby that superstar feel. Something a camera slut/whore (there are loads more to that list and don’t I know it) like me would enjoy. My only question is..where is the velvet rope? . [Taken from: adgoodness and Funny Commercials World.] Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite When our Merlion visits instead… Got this from a colleague of mine. Beyond hilarious I say.. Merlion Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite We’re so screwed, bye bye home ownership Yesterday’s news in the Straits Times Online about how the prices for HDB resale flats have risen despite the downturn (wait, there is a downturn right?) is a real downer for us especially when Lyn (my boo) and I are contemplating getting one sometime late this year. Given that prices are going up while our pay, bonuses and pretty much anything related to money is heading the other direction, everything seems to be going downhill. Don’t get me wrong, we can still afford a new HDB, but waiting for a good three years for one to be completed isn’t exactly what we have in mind. Yes we do want our privacy after the big project. And adding to that, a new one would be located so far that it would take eons for us to get to work or anywhere else. Sure we do have an Off Peak Car but we like it the way it is and have no plans for a conversion. At the rate things are going, keeping our heads up high and and looking positive amid the gloomy future don’t seem to cut it for us anymore. How we managed to keep ourselves optimistic all these years despite getting screwed from just about any direction is a wonder to me. So where do we go from here? HDB resale prices up 1.2% – Taken from Straits Times Online Surprise increase in index reverses first quarter’s dip to reach new high PRICES of HDB flats have staged a surprising comeback, reversing a first-quarter dip of 0.8 per cent to rise 1.2 per cent in the second quarter and reach a historical high. Flash estimates from the Housing and Development Board (HDB) released on Wednesday show the resale price index rising to 140 – a record level not seen since the current index started in 1990. It beats the previous record set in the fourth quarter of last year when it hit just over 139. Market analysts said they were caught off-guard by the turnaround, as many had been predicting 2 to 10 per cent declines in HDB resale flat prices for this year after a descent began in the first quarter – the first one since 2006. Wednesday’s numbers have changed expectations, with analysts reversing their forecasts for HDB flat prices to hold or increase by up to 5 per cent this year. Industry observers attribute the latest surprise figures to three factors. First, talk of an economic recovery has gathered momentum, backed by the recent stock market rally and brisk private property sales. This has slowed the slide in private property prices islandwide. Flash figures capturing sales prices in the first 10 weeks of the quarter, released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday, show prices falling 5.9 per cent in the second quarter, compared to a 14.1 per cent decline in the previous quarter. The marked slowdown in the price decline is in line with rising transaction prices evident since the strong rebound in home sales since February, said Colliers International’s director for research and advisory, Ms Tay Huey Ying. More bullish sentiment, coupled with the strength in HDB resale prices, has supported the private market, say analysts. High HDB valuations is another key factor. HDB upgraders – buyers with HDB addresses buying private property – have been able to sell their units at high valuations and for tidy profits to fund private property purchases. Due to the high valuations, buyers do not need to dig deep for upfront cash – otherwise known as cash-over-valuation – to purchase resale flats. The third factor, flagged by Chesterton Suntec International head of research Colin Tan, is that demand far outstrips supply. HDB launched 7,793 new flats last year and will launch another 3,700 in the first nine months of this year. A Credit Suisse report released recently notes that total public and private housing supply for 2008 to 2012 is 16,000 on average per year – 42 per cent lower than the 10-year historical average. At the spice rack.. To be honest, my only relation to food is just eating and talking about it. I can’t cook to save my life and all the hours spent watching the Asian Food Channel with Lyn (my boo) does absolutely nothing to inspire me to don an apron, pick up that pan and whip up something bold and spicy. But if you have spent enough time in the supermarket while your other half takes eons analysing the ingredients of just about everything within the line of sight while picking on how unhealthy they are, and given that your only comfort is that pair of shoes you’re wearing (not comfortably on a bed or a chair like at home), you are bound to notice something. Lyn and I popped over to the Market Place at Tanglin Mall a couple of months ago to pick up some groceries after a wonderful lunch at Yantra. The drill is just about the same. I push the cart around staring into blank spaces while she does the selection. At the spice rack, a place where Lyn spent most of our time that day, I can’t help but notice two unique spice packaging. Left: Pure Vanilla Pods in a cigar (look alike) case | Right: Any empty bottle of Saffron Strands? Nope, just a small packet in a big bottle. I can never understand why they did that. My supermarket adventure continues… Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Coolest cab ever! Check this out! The coolest cab ever in my view. I was heading back home from the Marina Barrage a couple of weeks back and hopped into a cab that’s equipped with an Asus Eee Top loaded with a huge selection of music, videos and my favourite…Internet access. And to top it off, you don’t need to pay a cent for usage…nothing, nadda!! Nevermind that the driver and I share the same name and the first four mobile numbers (yes I really needed to bring it up), this dude is really serious about providing the best service to his customers and I’m loving it. He sure has my vote for coolest cab ever..and oh great service . Really, I wasn’t lying.. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Your Singapore River Festival itinerary So you are bored of those usual hang around places and are looking for one that is not only different but filled with a tonne of exciting activities and performances. That area is the Singapore River! Beginning last Friday (yes, once again a late entry), the Singapore River Festival returned for the second year promising 24-hours worth of entertainment from magic shows to Bacardi Mojito parties. Left and Right: Scenes of the Singapore River Festival launch After visiting their site, I feel that the number of activities stretching from Empress Place all the way to Robertson Quay is like visiting a buffet laden with so much delicacies leaving me wondering where the heck I should start. I’m not kidding, there are loads. So with that, allow me to draw a simple itinerary starting tonight that you can consider. Oh by the way, information on the specific events were extracted from their website. Of course you can view the entire calendar here. Wednesday - Start off at Robertson Quay with the River Romance: Bumboat Parade at 7:30pm followed by the The Bacardi Mojito Party at eM by the River that ends till late. A RIVER ROMANCE: BUMBOAT PARADE Date: 19-27 June Time: 7.30pm-8.30pm Venue: Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay and Boat Quay Experience a spectacular water and land boat parade in celebration of Singapore River’s historic trading port and the people who lived and worked along the River. The bumboat parade will feature kampung boys, traders, coolies, samsui women, rickshaw pullers, Chinese opera singers, street hawkers and vanishing traders—all on water. There will also be 2 giant floats berthed at Boat Quay depicting a fishing village THE BACARDI MOJITO PARTY AT eM BY THE RIVER Date: 24 June Time: 7pm till late Venue: eM by the River, 1 Nanson Road #01-05 Gallery Hotel A unique party, probably first of its kind, this will be a session that will tease both the palette and the ears. Bartenders from the Emerald Hill Group will feature different flavoured themed Bacardi ingredients explained the consumers. Each setting will be accompanied with an appropriate tune and music purposely styled to match the nature of the Mojito served. As part of the Mojito Fiesta, each Bacardi Mojito served will be attractively priced for the occasion. Thursday – Begin with the Milestones: Music Festival and Flea Market at Empress Place from 6pm followed by the Read Bridge Spectacular (a must watch) at Clarke Quay. MILESTONES: MUSIC FESTIVAL AND FLEA MARKET Date: 23 to 26 June, 27 June (Double Bill Concert) Time: 6pm (Flea Market) 8pm (Music Festival) Rock on to the rolling good Groove to the sounds of Singapore’s yesteryear as Milestones brings Singapore’s top bands and music from the ‘70s- October Cherries, 80s- Robert Fernando and 90s – Concave Screamm, Force Vomit, West Grand Boulevard and Goodfellas reunite for this Festival. Don’t miss the Milestones Market where you may also discover great vintage finds as well as the Vintage Flea Market.The Double Bill Concert on 27th June features talented Cuban pianist Nachito Herrera whose classical pieces are heavily inspired by Cuban beats that would not fail to excite you. The concert will also feature opening act Lorraine Ayensu from the UK who possesses a soothing sound accustomed in delivering a seamless medley of genres ranging from ballads to Latin-influenced tunes to urban jazz. READ BRIDGE SPECTACULAR Date: 21-27 June Time: 8.30pm to 9pm and 10pm to 10.30pm Venue: Read Bridge For the first time, the iconic Read Bridge will be the stage for spectacular performances like aerial acrobatics, water ballet and more plus an amazing performance on the water on this iconic bridge. Friday – Have a nice dinner at Boat Quay and head over to UOB Promenade to catch A River Romance: The Dance Musical. After that, cross the Cavenagh Bridge to Empress Place for Jazz by the River: An evening of Cuban Jazz (with the original Bacardi Mojito Fiesta. A RIVER ROMANCE: THE DANCE MUSICAL Date: 19-21 & 26–27 June Time: 8.30pm-9.30pm Venue: UOB Promenade, Boat Quay Soak in the sights of the river. Don’t miss this specially-commissioned romantic dance musical that combines movement dance, music, and acrobatics and stunts. A River Romance is a grand visual spectacle not to be missed. JAZZ BY THE RIVER: AN EVENING OF CUBAN JAZZ (WITH THE ORIGINAL BACARDI MOJITO FIESTA) Date: 19 and 26 June Time: 930pm to 1130pm Venue: Outdoors at Asian Civilisations Museum “Luxuriate under the stars as Latino Jazz singer Fabiolo Zuniga enthralls you with her sexy, soulful vocals on 19 June. The Martin Reyes Latin band takes to the stage on 26 June with their brand of infectious latino jazz music which will definitely get your head nodding and feet moving. Bring your picnic baskets, sip on refreshing Mojitos and chill out outdoors at the Asian Civilisations Musuem by the river. Saturday – Pack the last day of the Singapore River Festival with a hearty dinner at Clarke Quay followed by a 30-minute Hippo River Show (boarding at Clarke Quay). Next, hop on down to Central to witness history in the making as Singapore’s illusionists J C Sum and ‘Magic Babe’ Ning attempt to set a world record by performing a record-breaking number of mega illusions in just 5 minutes. Finally, top off your night with a party at Robertson Quay with DJ Audio Misdemeanour. HIPPO RIVER SHOW Date: 19-21 June and 26-27 June Time: 8pm to 11pm (15 minute intervals) Venue: Boarding at Clarke Quay Cruising down the Singapore River takes a new twist with musical performances on board the Hippo River Cruise. Enjoy a 30 minute cruise down the ever while listening to the soothing sounds of a string quartet or the guzheng. THE IMPOSSIBLE RECORD: 2 ILLUSIONISTS, 5 MINUTES, 1 WORLD RECORD Date: 27 June Time: 9.30pm to 10.30pm Venue: Central Promenade Be awed by renowned illusionists. Catch this never-to-be-repeated performance as Singapore’s illusionists J C Sum and ‘Magic Babe’ Ning as they attempt to set a world record by performing a record-breaking number of mega illusions in just 5 minutes. SINGAPORE RIVER CIRCUS POP SERIES, FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL Time: 9pm onwards (Circus Party) Venue: In front of Brussel Sprouts The circus travels to Robertson Quay on 27 June as it kicks off with a food and wine carnival by the river featuring outlets like Epicurious, Queens Tandoor, Brussel Sprouts, Red House and Harry’s followed by more revelry and great music as the party moves outside Brussel Sprouts by Singapore River featuring DJ Audio Misdemeanour one of the hottest rising talents in the Australian house music scene. An absolute circus mayhem is guranteed with roving circus acts, great music and fantastic promotions. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Video Games Live in three days Here’s an interesting concoction for you. Take a popular symphonic orchestra, draw music scores from ledgendary video games you could ever think of such as Halo, Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy, throw in special state-of-the-art lighting accompanied by interactive videos of the games, add in the excitement of a rock concert attended by the most hardcore gamers you ever know, who does pretty much nothing but live, breathe and eat in the world video games and what do you get? An electrifying night of multi-sensory experience (I’m talking about level 10 goose bumps here baby!!) any gamer could ever wish for. Yes, the popular and mostly (if not always) sold out Video Games Live is in Singapore. For one night only, the biggest and most popular game concert in the world will debut in Singapore’s Indoor Stadium. Packed with pre-show festivals such as Guitar Hero Competition, Arcade Legacy and Console Challenge that begins at 6pm, this is one event any true and genuine gamer can’t miss. Its one of those, “if you miss then you really know you ain’t really a gamer and can finally stop calling yourself one” kind of thing. Yeah its that serious. I wish I could go on but honestly, as a Playstation 3 owner with only just two games (Guitar Hero World Tour and NBA 09 The Inside), I know I’m not worthy. So to gamers in Singapore who have yet to get their tickets, well you have just three days ~plays errie music and fades with evil laughter~. Tickets are still available at Sistic. You can read more about the event at Nic’s CNET blog, its filled with more comprehensive details and yes…I think its safe to say that he’s a real gamer . Here’s a trailer of Video Games Live: Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Omu lost and found Last weekend was pretty dramatic for Lyn (my boo) and I as our puppy Omu (well not exactly puppy) went missing after a family member ‘accidentally’ left the door opened. Not knowing that she wandered out of the door, the door was closed and her disappearance was only discovered about six hours later. Bad parenting aside, Lyn and I kicked into full search mode spending most of our late Saturday night looking, calling and whistling for her but to no avail. Although in our devastated state, both of us pretty much knew what to do. Yes this is not the first time Omu pulled off one of her Harry Houdini stunts on us, but we were thankful that we managed to find her. With Saturday night gone bearing no fruits, Lyn and I printed out posters and a cover letter and faxed them to over 30 vets in Singapore. The next morning, we headed to her estate of about 26 blocks with our loving and very helpful couple Justin and Junn and pasted a number of missing posters at vantage points including lift landings and stairwells ensuring all bases are covered. This is all thanks to the police post and town council who gave us their temporary (about one week) blessings. To be honest, I think Moove Media would be proud of our advertising placements. Finally, we made a call to SPCA reporting our loss and detailing every single physical characteristics (or rather problems) Omu has. The next step was to play the waiting game. But before you go all how calm and collected we were, I assure you we weren’t. There was much frustration, angst and regret between the both of us but we managed to pull through. With no phone calls on Sunday, we were pretty much resigned to fate thinking that Omu has lucked out this time. That was until we got a call from SPCA the next morning. Apparently, the police from the Cantonment Complex picked her up and sent her to the SPCA on Sunday night. The folks from SPCA did a cross check with our report and made the call. Thankfully, we took a day off work on Monday to finalise some details in our big project and rushed there immediately. Nevermind that Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers went into overtime and I was on my feet cheering for whoever, Omu was more important. Thank you SPCA and erm, the police… . Left: One of the many posters we put up | Right: Omu on her way back home Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite GSS Shopping Challenge Last Saturday, my colleagues and I volunteered our services for the opening of one of our favourite signature events, the Great Singapore Sale (GSS). Filled with a tonne of the not so usual compelling deals and best bargains (and alot more), the two-month GSS was highlighted by the annual shopping challenge with more than twenty (or more) teams of two from about ten countries participating. The teams were invited by our regional offices making up of an international cast of celebrities, media and consumers. Countries include Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, China, UK and loads more. Their task - a three-hour shopping spree with a budget of $950 and the team that returns with the most savings within the allocated time wins. Not a bad deal I must add. This year’s winning team goes to the ladies from the United Kingdom who not only spent two-thirds of their money (about $600) but returned with savings of an amazing $25,500. I have absolutely no idea how they did it but I’m extremely impressed, these ladies really know how to shop. To add to their already wonderful experience, they returned home with a prize money of a whopping $10,000 cash!! The second team was from Australia ($5,000) and the third from Vietnam ($3,000). The rest of the teams were not in anyway losers as they went home with all their shopping. Yes you read right, they get to keep all their shopping. Sweeeet!! Here are some of the photos I managed to squeeze out: Left: Some of us volunteers | Right: The UK ladies are in sunglasses (extreme right) Left: Participants ready to go… | Right: …and off they go.. Left: The actor team from Vietnam returned first… | Right: …and headed straight for the massage chair Left: The ever so wonderful Yee from our Thailand office | Right: Miss Malaysia, Wincci Soo and her manager Kenji (really funny guy) More photos in my Flickr album. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Clown Princes of Basketball Lyn (my boo) and I popped over to the Indoor Stadium last Sunday evening to catch the Harlem Globtrotters in action. Dating way back in the mid 1920s, the Harlem Globetrotters have been around before the NBA and with humble beginnings, fighting oppression and segregation due to the nature of their skin. Yes, they really go way back. Although the team is made up of professional basketball players with some hailing from the NBA, their style of basketball is pretty much unorthodox with a huge focus on entertainment. In this case, humour…lots of it. My memory of the team dates back in 1991 when they first visited Singapore. I was in my early teens with absolutely no money (pretty much like my current status) and my brother-in-law was kind enough to take me to the game. Back then, a legend who went by the name of Fred ‘Curly” Neal dazzled us with his ball handling skills. But that was no surprise given that he was known as the greatest all-time dribbler (or so I found out very much later). Now with a fresh batch of players led by a towering 6′ 9″ Big Easy Lofton from Louisiana, the current team has successfully mimicked a number of the Globetrotters’s style of play with some new moves and comical materials. Sitting comfortably with a huge serving of beer, we laughed into the night as the team attempted to defeat the cheating Washington Generals (who have been part of the Globetrotter’s entourage for a few decades), with amazing dunks, spectator participation (mostly players playing tricks on them) and loads of comedy. Heck, even the referee is part of the show. So you know its all entertainment. Needless to say, we had a blast and look forward to their next visit. Here are some photos I took. Once again, my camera has failed me on countless occasions. Time to get a new DSLR I think… . Left and Right: Some tricks in the famous Magic Circle Left and Right: More tricks Left: A moment with the spectators | Right: A behind the back half court attempt Left: A Globetrotter (can’t remember who) had to be carried off for laughing too hard | Right: Some ball juggling Left: Referee ordering Hi Rise Brown to get down from the rim | Right: Bull Bullard skies for the two-hander Left: The Globetrotters thought it would be fun to include a spectator in the game | Right: More goofing off Left: Big Easy trying to distract an opponent’s free throw attempt by pulling down his shorts… | Right: …only to be avenged by the same player (and yes, that is a pair Guitar Hero boxers) More photos of the Harlem Globetrotters in my Flickr album. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Chill & Grill with Archipelago In a bid to mix both pleasure and work, Lyn (my boo) and I popped over to the closing event of the World Gourmet Summit about two weeks ago to meet a media who was in town to cover the Summit. Basically, she eats while I network with the media, good deal for her I say… . Unlike the other events that were held at posh locations from hotels to restaurants, the Chill & Grill with Archipelago was one of the fewer ones located outdoors, in this case at Sentosa’s Sapphire Pavilion and a small part of the Siloso Beach. A refreshing change I must add. As the title of the event suggests, the gourmet fare served that night were mostly grilled meat, much to our enjoyment. This time round, I was unable to take a whole lot of photos of the spread. The main area was packed and really not easy to capture anything with a plate on one hand and a drink on the other. But here are some I managed to squeeze out . Left: Beef cubes satay style | Right: Ice cream..mmm… Left: Kebabs | Right: Two choices of beef, one flavoured with wine and one without, the latter tastes better in my opinion Left: My portion | Left: Lyn’s portion As the dinner continued into the night, we had a few more glasses of wine with our beloved media while sharing our personal experiences (he is a music enthusiast) and keeping work conversation at a minimum. I think he has enough of our endless ’soft-selling’. We parted ways about an hour later with us heading back and our guest heading for more parties. Another successful World Gourmet Summit amid the current economic climate I must say… . Until next year. More photos in my Flickr album. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Yantra + first anniversary = sweetest deal of the year…I think… For those who are currently looking to take advantage of a really fantastic gourmet meal in a posh set up (for a limited time), I’d suggest you give Yantra a shot. Tucked nicely in the corner of Tanglin Mall, Yantra is a popular fine dining restaurant that serves up a wonderful host of Indian delicacies including the Tandoori chicken, lamb, naan, grilled mushrooms, bryani and other seriously mouthwatering desserts. The restaurant is currently celebrating its first anniversary and all their a la carte dishes for both lunch and dinner are going for just $7 (yeah I know, its really sweet). Of course as compelling deals like this go, it only last for a week (until 14 May 2009). Given that it is mother’s day and Lyn (my boo) and I love fantastic deals such as this, but still wanting to pamper my parents a little, we popped over to Yantra this afternoon for lunch. I am no dining expert nor food critic, but in my humble opinion, what sets Yantra apart from other fine dining restaurants (not that I patronised many) in addition to their food, is the level of detail the staff would pay attention to. One such incident was when a wait staff who upon witnessing my table napkin slipping from my lap and onto the floor, immediately picked it up and replaced it with a fresh one. To top it off, they were extremely courteous were able to use the right words, especially when they were trying to politely kick us out. “Excuse me sir, may I present you the bill as we are preparing for the second seating?”. Yeah I love to be pampered too… . Food wise, it was amazing. This is the second time I have tried gourmet Indian food and the symphony of flavours just takes you to another world. With sweet deals like this, we were able to order a number of dishes and shared them amongst the four of us. Nevermind that we only had just a piece each, this allows for a reasonable variety and in all honesty, each of them just blew us away…well…except the lamb chop, they were mainly bones… . At the end of the meal, we left the restaurant extremely satisfied and my parents are planning for another visit with their friends before the 14th. Not too sure if they can get a seat though, heard that their phones were ringing off the hook since the public got word of the promotion and chances are that reservations are full. But no harm trying I always say…~Crosses fingers~. Just in case you need a little more push, you can read more of Yantra’s food reviews at hungrygowhere.com. They are mostly positive… . Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Singapore longest-ever catwalk Thanks to my colleague who scored me a couple of photographer’s passes, my fellow shutterbug colleague Ryan and I popped over to Ngee Ann City last Friday to catch Singapore’s longest-ever catwalk. The event by the Singapore Press Holdings’ (SPH) Female and Nuyou magazine was the start of a three-week campaign called Orchard Reloaded that launches Orchard Road’s recent makeover. The catwalk stage spans about a good 163 meters beginning from the main tent at Ngee Ann City to the outdoors along the streets and back into the tent. While taking a little photographers’ walkabout, Ryan and I were honoured to be allocated a couple of official spots. This means that we didn’t need to fight with the hundreds of fellow amateur photographers who were waiting outside a few hours before the show started. However, in a bid to beat the heat outdoors, we stayed indoors most of the time with the other official photographers and furiously snapped away in the cool air conditioned hospitality tent while sipping on some good ‘ol alcohol. Enough talk, here are some of the photos I took. Left and Right: Gap Left and Right: Jimmy Choo Left and Right: The catwalk takes to the streets Left and Right: The scene and hundreds of photographers trying to get good shots Left: This lady is about a head taller than me | Right: Lee Hwa Jewellery (think they collaborated with a designer) Left and Right: More from Lee Hwa Jewellery Left and Right: Staying with Lee Hwa Jewellery Left: “Bride” heading back | Right: Entourage heading out to the streets More photos in my Flickr album here and here. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Hello Windows 7 RC I know I had earlier sworn never to install any Microsoft operating systems in my Macbook again. My previous adventure was about a little more than a year ago when I installed Windows Vista via Boot Camp. It was an absolute disaster leaving me very much ashamed and with an extremely corrupted hard disk that decided to to take a permanent vacation (looking on the positive side, I got myself a new paper weight). But when Microsoft last week announced that they released a release candidate (RC) of their latest operating system, Windows 7, I knew I have to give it a shot. Yes, I’m pretty sure this is another one of my classic ‘backside itchy and I will be paying for it sooner than I think I would” moments. Instead of partitioning my hard disk again, I decided to take a different approach this time round and installed VMware Fusion first followed by mounting the operating system as an image. Pretty much similar to the popular Parallels, VMware Fusion allows you to install an operating system as an image within the Apple environment. Think of it as an operating system within an operating system. Don’t really want to go all technical on you and to be honest, I’m not sure how this will pan out given that I was bitten once. But since the operating system is an image instead of a partition followed by a direct installation, I am sure all will go well ~crosses fingers and Jedi wave~. For a light weight operating system (or so I’m told), I must admit that installing Windows 7 was not only a breeze but lightning fast. In fact, it was so quick that all was completed in under a half hour with all the required drivers and network set up. The comedy that I was watching before I started the installation hasn’t even ended. I believe that the folks at Microsoft are trying to redeem themselves after a dismal performance with the Vista and so far, they are heading the right direction. But do allow me to be prudent with my opinion, I have been burnt before and will take the wait and see till it crashes approach ~touches wood~. Meanwhile, HELLO WINDOWS 7!! . Left: Full screen with Windows 7 | Right: An OS in an OS, Windows 7 on my Macbook Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite One year This is a really short post. Today marks exactly one year in my current organisation. Taking a quick look at what I have accomplished with much sweat, blood and tears, and reviewing what is needed for improvement all thanks to my bosses, seniors and colleagues I must admit this - I think I like it here… . Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite DBS ATM + Microsoft Windows = boo boo Popped over to Tanglin Mall last Monday morning to withdraw some cash and saw this: Not exactly sure which version they are using but I reckon they might need an upgrade if the system keeps telling you that it is okay to shut down. Thank God for a UOB ATM just a few metres away. I can’t imagine walking around with an empty wallet. Oh by the way, think DBS might need to get someone to clean their screens on a regular basis . Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Of wines and such Lyn (my boo) and I popped over to the St. Regis last Sunday to participate in the Chianti Classico Symposium. Similar to last week at the Night Safari, this event is also part of the World Gourmet Summit with “the premier Chianti vintners leading us through a journey of discovering nature and colourful history of Chianti Classico”. To the wine untrained (which is very very very much like me), the Chianti Classico wines hailed from Italy. I won’t go into details given that I was not able to comprehend much of what they were talking about. It is not due to the language barrier (they were speaking perfect English), but rather my current knowledge (or rather lack) of wines from anywhere. Featuring 12 wines from Tuscany (I think), the sommeliers brought us through a series of refined taste and appreciation leaving me baffled, confused and ashamed of not recognising a good wine even when I taste one. However, I believe about 90% of the participants begged to defer as they seemed to understand exactly what was going on - a success I reckon. At the end of the day and after going through a number of wine appreciation courses over the years (without much luck), I think I have concluded my right kind of wines…the free ones . Left: The nice staff pouring the wine into my glasses | Right: Each glass is cleverly labelled on the A3 paper below Class is in session Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Brunch at the Night Safari Last Sunday morning, I popped over to Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant at the Night Safari for the Norwegian Seafood Brunch featuring Champagne Devaux. The brunch is part of the World Gourmet Summit this year featuring “a delectable spread of the tastiest catch from the Norwegian seas prepared by the partner restaurants”. Adding to the already amazing list of gourmet food served there is an endless flow of champagne, wine and beer..something no good brunch can go without . Since I was there for work, I was unable to spend a whole lot of time savouring every single dish during the first few hours. However, given that my job was to take care of my media from Bombay and that they needed to eat anyway, I was able to leave my table occasionally and returned with some plates full of Norwegian goodness. To be honest, I am not too sure what constitutes as Norwegian since the event also features some Chinese, Indian, Japanese and European delicacies (just to name a few). But as long as there is good food, I’m a happy camper. Here are some photos of the food served there. Left: Really cold mixed fruits | Right: Desserts I forgot to try..tsk.. Left: Chocolate Fondue | Right: Gratinated Norwegian Salmon ‘Scaloppine’…aaaaaamazing!! Left: Sushi | Right: Indian food Left: I like waffles | Right: Roasted leg of ham More photos in my Flickr album. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Capella visit My colleagues and I popped over to the newly opened Capella a couple of weeks back for a little site visit. I guess it is pretty safe to say that one of the sweetest deal about working in my organisation in addition to an occasional food and alcohol is getting out of the office for field trips. Capella is an ultra-luxurious hotel that sits on a whopping 30 acres of lush greenery in Sentosa island. Catering to the more affluent, the hotel boasts of personal assistants that will assist you in whatever you desire as long as it is kept legal, moral and does not disturb the other guests (or so I heard) as well as 38 villas, 11 suites and 61 premier guest rooms with a fantastic view of the sea. Capella’s driveway, we walked by the way Although the entrance did keep to its colonial feel from the days of way back yonder, the rest of the hotel was designed with a blend of modernity in mind. Just right behind the building facade and separated by a walkway and vegetation depicting rice padi fields is a nice rounded modern architecture. A wide angle view inside Capella with a colonial building on the left and a modern one on the right Left: Padi field inspired greenery | Right: Bob’s Bar and the swimming pool Guests will truly be spoilt with the amazingly furnished rooms with all the bells and whistles fit for the rich. Each room has a huge 42″ (I think) TV, a fantastic full glass view of the sea, a balcony with deck chairs, two sinks for him and her with a nice walk in wardrobe, a bathtub with a view, free internet access and a whole lot more. Left: A living room and study | Right: Nice view from the bed Left: The wardrobe | Right: Sinks!! Left: Bathtub with a view | Right: The balcony with deck chairs As much as I would love to spend a couple of nights at the Capella, I’m afraid that the price is not exactly within reach. Think I’ll stick to the ‘ol motels and three-star hotels. Here are more shots taken at the hotel. More photos in my Flickr album. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Not too good with architectural shots About a month back, Lyn (my boo) and I popped over to the National Museum for a little site visit. Ever since we embarked on our little life changing project, the both of us have been somewhat (not very) busy in planning and preparation. But amid the busy weekends running around the southern part of the island, we still did find some time to be together and do what we like doing best as a couple - eat, sleep, take the dogs out and catch up on some episodes of Heroes and Psych (amongst others). Once again, excuse me for digressing. While waiting for the nice lady at the museum to show us I stood at the main area (you know, the one with the dome on top?) and wondered if I had the potential to be an architectural photographer. So I pulled out my trusty Nokia N95 and fired some shots. So as you can see, I got nothing. Thank God I have a day job and I am keeping to it. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Hello playoffs After a grueling six months of record breaking wins, tough losses, injuries, winning/losing streaks and questionable trades (just to name a few), the Boston Celtics headed to the NBA Playoffs with a 62-20 record, third in the league. To be honest, their performance is not exactly what I had expected for a defending champion. But given that every single team in the league wants a piece of them just to claim bragging rights and prove that they are champion killers, we all know that the journey is no picnic. After struggling to tie at home against the Chicago Bulls for the first two games of the playoffs, I have a funny feeling that the TD Northbank Garden will not be raising banner 18 this year. It also saddens me to know how sports columnists are feeling the same way as they ignore the chants of “Repeat!!” from the Celtic fans and write about a dream finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers . However upsets are always known to happen and I am crossing my fingers. Gooooo Celtics!! This is me keeping track of every single game during the season Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite WGS 2009 Opening Reception Popped over to the Grand Corpthorne Waterfront Hotel on Sunday evening to witness the opening reception of the World Gourmet Summit (WGS) 2009. From 19 April to 2 May, the WGS 2009 will serve up host of epicurean delights spanning across the world and headlined by a number of Michelin-starred chefs (chef list here). I won’t go into the details of the events since you can read more about it at their website. Touted by the F&B industry members as one of the best opening reception in recent years, yesterday’s event saw a large number of gourmands and wine aficionados all converging at one place to get a teaser of what the two-week summit has to offer. As a person whose culinary knowledge go as far as an empty stomach, I’m just happy to be in the presence of good food and people who prepared it. Amongst the variety of fusion and traditional gourmet wonders served that night, here are some unique ones worth pointing out. Left: A concoction of champagne cocktail topped with whipped cream… |Left: …served by Ryan Clift Right: Good ‘ol beef..best eaten while hot | Right: The last few spoons, I got the last one Left: King prawn dumpling in lobster soup | Right: Reconstructed prawn cocktail Left: Frozen dragonfruit… | Right: …dipped in some sort of nitrogen (or something). First time I breathed out white vapour while chewing I know I know, the photos are blurry and faded. Not exactly a good way to caputre the delacies. But armed only with my trusty N95 8gb, this is the best I can get… . You can check out a few more photos in my Flickr album here. Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Maybe it’s my fault Coming out of a very long break spanning over couple of years, my next basketball season will begin in a few weeks time. Given that I haven’t been playing competitively for a while now and that I am pretty much out of shape, not to mention getting a lot older and slower, its easy to convince myself that my mistakes and failures on the court are forgivable. However, knowing how professionally-minded my teammates are in a very much amateur league, there are no excuses. But how can I blame them? Its the same everywhere - to make it in any league, you have to work your butt off through practice…and loads of it. If you are going to be a liability to the team on the court, its best you do it on the bench. To be honest, I am already very late in preparing myself for the season and its going to be tough matching up with players 10 years my junior who are alot quicker and stronger. But if I can’t beat them, the least I can do is to make it difficult for them to convert points. So as I begin my regime in conditioning body in time for the season, I need some form of an inspiration to help me pull through. My recent one is this motivational video from the Jordan website (yes..the #23 guy Michael Jordan) which pretty much sums up what every player should do. Stop making excuses and start working out. Don’t get me wrong, its never my intention to be an all-star there. Its all about keeping fit and doing what I can to be a team player. Even if I don’t score a single bucket, constantly make perfect passes or dazzle my opponents with lighting fast moves, as long as whatever I do on court contributes to the team dynamics and ultimately win games, I’m a happy camper. Its okay to let the younger ones get the honour, I’ll be the supporting cast. So here goes… Green Tea Every once in a while when my colleagues return from an overseas trip for either work or play, they would lug with them a huge stock pile of food and snacks enough to feed everyone in the entire floor. The bunch of us greedy ones have taken to occasional tea time parties such as yam paste with ginkgo nuts and pumpkin as well as other types of biscuits from the premiums to the nostalgia. Such internal events really do help us maintain our sanity (or what’s left of it) amid the mountain of work we are used to receiving on a daily basis. When Pau(line) got back from Japan a couple of weeks back, she fed us with a number of unique snacks from biscuits to sweet treats. Doing my daily rounds disturbing colleagues and searching for food like a scavenging pest, I chanced upon a number of differently flavoured Kit Kats in Pauline’s cubicle. Being the extremely shameless person that my colleagues have already gotten accustomed to, I opened a box of green tea Kit Kat and helped myself to a pack. To be honest, I am always intrigued with the unique flavours of easily acquired products like Kit Kat from other countries. Japan is one such country famous for experimenting with a number of flavours with much success. I remembered back in 2007 when my ex-colleague Slave passed me a Pineapple flavoured Kit Kat. I was extremely elated and happily skipped back to my cubicle. Yesterday, I passed the green tea flavoured Kit Kat to Lyn (my boo) in hopes of sharing it with her today. Problem is, I can’t find it. Hope we didn’t leave it in the cab on our way home…tsk.. . Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Fine free Lyn (my boo) and I passed by the Bishan Library while making our way to the nearby food court last Sunday. Given that have not paid my fine for close to a decade now, I figured its best I go “NETS it” and be a good citizen (or at least closer to one). To be honest, the reason why I opted not to pay earlier on was because of two questionable books the library claimed I borrowed, which I was pretty sure I didn’t. Yes, to me, its the principle but I think it would be an issue that the library wouldn’t entertain if I brought it up. Heck, it was just a little over a dollar… . My receipt Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite