Johnnie Walker Circuit Nights Monaco Party

In anticipation of Formula One 2013 season’s grand prix at Monaco, Johnnie Walker revved up the pre-race excitement with another premium edition of its Circuit Nights party. Held at Avalon, the VIP event thrilled fans and partygoers with a spectacular line-up of superstar DJs and a chance to luxe it up at Monaco!

Walk this way for a night of partying in style with the Striding Man!

Avalon rises out of Marina Bay’s waterfront as the only club-on-water in Singapore.

Juliana turned into Drooliana in the presence of the suave captains.

Inside Avalon before the crowd filled in.

In conjunction with the Monaco grand prix, Johnnie Walker is running an exclusive contest that will send 4 fans on a trip of a lifetime to experience the race in person! Details on how to enter this contest at the end of the post.

My favourite way to savour Johnnie Walker is on the rocks. What’s yours?

My aromatic Johnnie Walker nectar blooming in a glass.

Gold is the way to go!

Caught up with a friend and made some new ones. They are fans who won invitations to the invite-only party on Johnny Walker Singapore’s Facebook page.

DJs Denzel Park from Australia turning on the heat with progressive beats.

DJ Helena got the dancefloor moving to her hypnotic grooving.

I hope they didn’t catch a chill.

The dancing girls above inspired Juliana.

Johnnie Walker packed Avalon with a huge crowd.

Firing up the night with a mega dose of Johnnie Walker’s award-winning whisky.

Would you like to go on a luxury trip to Monaco to live it up at the grand prix in person? I do!

The party is only an opener to the real F1 circuit experience in Monaco. Johnnie Walker Singapore is offering fans a chance to win a VIP trip to Monaco worth $80,000!

The lucky winners (2 winners + 1 friend each) will arrive in Monaco in style by helicopter and soak in the thrills of the iconic street race from onboard a private yacht, before meeting the Vodafone Mercedes McLaren F1 team.

All you need to do is purchase a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label or Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve from March to end of April 2013 and it will include an unique Gold Pass code.  Key the codes on the app on Johnnie Walker Singapore Facebook page.

Bottles with the Gold Pass are available throughout Singapore at all leading clubs, pubs, bars, hotels and supermarkets. The more bottles you purchase, the higher the chances of winning! Good luck!

Bata Spring/Summer Collection 2013

Mention “Bata” and the memories of schooldays come skipping gleefully back. For many in my generation, Bata was the must-go place before the start of every new school year to pick a pair of immaculately white school shoes to complement that new uniform, new schoolbag, new textbooks, and renewed examination terrors.

Bata was synonymous with school shoes. But not anymore. The shoe giant with a spot in the Guinness World Record for being the world’s Largest Shoe Retailer and Manufacturer recently launched its Spring/Summer collection and oh wow, what a buffet for the sole!

Bloggers were treated to an exclusive peek at Bata’s Spring/Summer collection and we get to pick a pair of shoes and a bag of our fancy!

With its first stitch sewn in the Czech Republic in 1894, the household brand has always been a rescue centre for my feet. Once, while at Toa Payoh Central, the sole of my right sports shoe divorced its cushy hull and I had a Cinderella-leaving-the-ball moment.

Thankfully, a Bata store was nearby and my feet had a fairytale ending. Another time, an all-terrain sandals gave up on me and Bata was my knight in rubbery armour.

So many Cinderellahs. LOL.

Why am I such a magnet for shoe malfunctions? That’s because I’m very loyal to my foot soldiers. It’s so hard to find a pair of shoes that feel comfortable so when I do, I wear them till they become giam hu (salted fish) and the seams are gaping.

Currently, I own 6 pairs of shoes (4 sports, 1 canvas and 1 leather) and a pair of slippers. Is that too much for a guy? But after looking at Bata’s Spring/Summer collection, I felt the impulse to own more.

Shoes, bags, scarves and belts… Singapore’s Carrie Bradshaws are spoilt for choices.

I am grateful to the good folks at Bata Singapore for inviting me to view this season’s collection together with Singapore’s many trendy bloggers and picking a pair of shoes and bag of my fancy! I’m not someone who’s really into shopping, but this I LIKE!

If I’m already thrilled, can you imagine what the promise of ‘free shopping’ must be doing to the ladies?

Juliana spotting an emerald suede clutch carry-more while Christine contemplates a tanned faux leather carry-all. Spunky or classy, there’s something of fancy to match every personality.

Some like it funky, some like it feminine.

Bling bling! Even sandals are gem-encrusted… Can use as weapons.

Shoes so soft, they can bend and twist like a second skin. Sundrops made me wish I’m born a woman.

My preferred fashion style places comfort first and matchability second. So my fashion choices are usually simple and conservative although I enjoy experimenting and playing dress-up once in a while.

However, my emulation of Gaga’s fashion principles usually ends up turning on the Haha decibels.

So what style am I rocking with Bata? Read on…

The sign says it. And my barcode t-shirt confirms it. Whatever my style and personality, Bata has shoes and accessories to complete the packaging of me!

Being an outdoorsy sort and avid traveller who adores nature, the rugged, earthy Weinbrenner collection was a natural draw for me. Weinbrenner has been around since 1892 and was developed with the safety of loggers’ feet in mind so durability and comfort are imbued in the brand’s design. But instead of looking like work boots, the multi-purpose shoes and bags got all their styles punk’d up!

The face of indecision. While I liked Weinbrenner’s offerings, I was also drawn to the business wear collection. One of my favourites was the Weinbrenner sling bag that would serve well as a carrier for my DSLR camera and accessories but the unique laptop bag with a crotchet texture was equally droolsome.

Adding to my indecision in picking out my style were these striking moccasin given a whimsical twist with raffia-isque laces. The colours can stop traffic! I almost went for the blue one…

… but I decided to go with something more corporate as I’m lacking in formal shoes. However, I didn’t want the traditional black walkers and eyed the brown collection. They all looked so handsome.

A very popular design amongst the guy bloggers was this pair of red-ochre Oxford/country shoes. It looks a little, for the lack of a better word, tacky, but when we put it on, it just exudes macho coolness. This shoe will definitely be a conversation starter!

So many styles, so many choices, how to decide?! I had such a hard time but I found my pair…

This is THE ONE for me. Love the gradual blending of tans with a simple yet elegant etching that flows along the shoe’s stylish silhouette. Strong. Understated. Yet won’t go unnoticed.

For the bag, I decided on a black laptop carrier that has a really cool design and 2 ways of carrying. Here’s one way…

… and this is the other. The one I’m holding is a showpiece as the bag is currently out of stock and I have to wait about 2 weeks to get it. Can’t wait to show it off in my office!

Great styles, good value! Juliana’s choice of shoes is this pair of neon flats that’s as effervescent as her character. We’ve been Bata-fied! Bata is the must-go place at the start of every fashionable year!

SAFRA Celebrates 45 Years of National Service with NS45 Giveaways

After a 2-year S$52 million revamp, SAFRA Toa Payoh re-opened it doors in early February this year. Since the clubhouse used to be my playground, I popped by to see how my old friend’s facelift went. The makeover surgery was total. Not a shred of its past self was left, and rising in its place is a new paradise!

I joined SAFRA as a member and subscribed to its gym in the early 1990s while serving National Service (NS) because wearing my army green, I was what you would call a toothpick in camouflage…

Ah Boy to He-Man! With needle arms and bony legs, my skeletal frame was the parcel of Grayskull and SAFRA was my magic transformation sword!

… so I joined SAFRA’s EnergyOne gym to pack on some meat. I took up the membership because it was very good value-for-money, and continues to be to this day. I was with EnergyOne for a looooonnng time until 2007 when I migrated to another sweathouse because of proximity to home.

But having revisited my dear friend today, I regretted our break-up. Here are the reasons why…

23 Feb 2013 : Stepping foot into SAFRA Toa Payoh after an almost 6 years hiatus. It looks so awesomely different! And I’m still far from being He-Man.

The handsome visage with a 24-hour McD. How about also making it the first 24-hour club in Singapore, and possibly the world?!

I couldn’t believe it’s a SAFRA clubhouse. With Toastbox, McD, and a wide spread of F&B who’s who in its premises, it felt like a swanky lifestyle mall.

Like-father-like-son made the girls green with envy because SAFRA clubs (5 in total around Singapore) are built to provide men who have gone through or still serving National Service (NS) a destination to foster family ties and link back to that NSmen brotherhood we lived through.

There are 5 SAFRA clubhouses around our island – Toa Payoh (north-central), Yishun (north), Mount Faber (south), Tampines (east), and Jurong (west), and the pool in each club has its own unique features and designs. SAFRA Toa Payoh used to have 2 pools that could at most accomodate an adult elephant each. But now, the water playground at SAFRA Toa Payoh is the kind of stuff wet dreams are made of (pardon the pun)!

Splish and splash for every age. From kids’ waterworld to adult aqua fantasies, the pool area will definitely be making waves!

Not knowing that SAFRA Toa Payoh’s pool was closed for maintenance today, I went in to take some photos but was promptly asked to leave by the security personnel. Rather unfriendly, but she was just doing her job. It’s so rare to get clean shots of the gorgeous pool without people that I felt It was well worth being chided for my trespassing. I don’t think I can ever get photos like these when the pool is fully operational at the end of Feb 2013.

I was really mesmerised by the pool and almost forgot why I came to SAFRA Toa Payoh for… to check out what’s being done to the EnergyOne gym where my attempts to be macho started.

O.M.G. The gym is so different! The old gym used to be an arena where I could look down into from an upper ring but now, it’s on ground level with a designer sleek-chic appeal. The gym comes with steamroom and jacuzzi facilities too! At approximately S$30 a month (excluding a one-time membership fee of around S$200), staying healthy has never been more affordable.

The new gym has 2 levels with the first floor offering a complete range of free-weights tortures while the upper storey torches fats through a cardio zone. What I really liked is the spaciousness. No need to squeeze and jostle with commercial gyms. And there are no sales people waiting at the door to prospect you for leads or extend membership.

If being a being bunny doesn’t appeal, Toa Payoh, and most of other SAFRA clubhouses, also offer additional sporting spaces (badminton, squash, billard, etc) for booking.

Children get to have a good time too with a slew of playhouses such as the Kids Amaze adventure zone and various enrichment establishments (music, fencing, learning, etc) all under one roof. There’s something for everyone.

After all that physical and mental exercise, it’s time to nourish with a delectable selection of yums. There’s a choice to suit every palate… from Asian to Western, from quick meals to sit-down dinners.

Swim-gym-eat-play-learn-chill… all under one roof! That’s the thing I missed about being a SAFRA member and I’ve made a lot of friends while gymming there, many of us still keep in regular contact to this day. I think it’s time for me to rekindle my SAFRA membership.

The great news is, SAFRA is giving away free vouchers and/or membership so all NSmen can access the comprehensive facilities at all the clubhouses.

If you are Singaporean male and had served NS, go to https://ns45.safra.sg/ to register for your NS45 goodies. Registration ends 28 Feb 2014 and all vouchers are valid until 31 Mar 2014. Below is a quick reference of what you’ll be receiving depending on your NS status.

I’ve registered and since I fall under the ‘Currently serving ORNS (Operationally Ready National Serviceman)’ category, I will be receiving S$80 worth of vouchers redeemable at 5,000 outlets islandwide. Woohoo! Don’t miss out on this fantastic giveaway and enjoy the club that has it all – SAFRA!

Day 328 : Love Lettuce to Mum

Recently, Singapore Post celebrated World Post Day (9 Oct) with a very meaningful photo contest on its Facebook page called Posting Moments. The contest encouraged Singaporeans to submit photos relating to moments where they would send and/or receive a post. It could be a letter, a present, or online retail therapy materialised. Submissions must be accompanied by a title and short caption to explain why that post meant something to them. The first prize is an iPhone 5… a very attractive reason for the contest to become the Apple of my eye.

So I obsessed about it day and night, thinking about what photo to submit. The natural thing to do would be to scour for meaningful letters, take a snapshot and upload. Problem is, contents in those letters are for my eyes only. Heh heh. And I don’t have a stamp collection to brag about although I used to dabble in philatelic pastimes for a while in my early teens. I wonder where did my stamp album, once so treasured, had disappeared to.

With no ready material, my enthusiasm faded. I had an idea that sort of examines the relationship between traditional post and the advent of SMS, email, Watsapp, Facebook, and what not, but to execute that photo needed help from friends and good weather. I’m up to my neck with work and some overseas trips so time wasn’t with me. And the weather has been sulky lately. Plus, the more I thought about the idea, the more lame and ludicrous it seemed.

Then today, I woke up with this other lame idea which is easier to execute in a photo, and meant a lot more to me. When I was studying in Melbourne in 2000 and during a period where I could only write letters to my mum because she’s totally un-techie, I always asked about her health and “Stay Healthy” is something I usually sign off with before “God Bless”.

Now that we are living together, I show my concern for her health by making salads for her dinner when I get the time. “Lettuce” and “Letters”, being phonetically similar, got fused in my brain this morning and this photo was born from the womb of wordplay.

My mum and I regularly send SMSes to express our love and care for each other but those are just words. They are heartwarming thoughts, but what if there’s something physical that come with the words. Instead of just saying “Stay Healthy”, wouldn’t it be great if I can send a vitamin pill or a piece of fruit, not virtual ones, that could make a physiological difference?

A SMS, Watsapp or email cannot do that. But with a traditional post, I can send health. Have your letter and eat it too. And that’s what this photo is about and my Posting Moments.

Too bad the brain wave came too late. Today is the last day for photo submission as well as the last day for voting. But well, since I’ve been mulling over the contest for so long, even if it means I don’t stand a chance in the contest, I would still like to have this post, a blog post, to tell mum I love her and please STAY HEALTHY! More letters lettuce will be coming your way!

Day 266 : Johnnie Walker Circuit Lounge

Panache, glamour and class roared into the Lion City with Johnnie Walker’s Circuit Lounge F1 party and I had the privilege to experience the Striding Man’s magic yet again.

Held at the Flower Dome within Singapore’s latest talk-of-the-town attraction, Gardens by the Bay, Johnnie Walker pulled out all the stops to helm yet another winner of a great F1 fringe event. Join me as we step into the exclusive world of the premium Scotch-Whiskey brand…

The air-conditioned Flower Dome is a conservatory that houses flora and vegetation from the Mediterranean and semi-arid subtropical regions of the world. Such an exotic location to hold a party!

The dudes and their pet… a sort of cat and gorilla hybrid.

Three-quarter pants were frowned upon but Anis got the pass for being fashionably put together.

This is about as close as I would get to the action of F1. Heh heh.

Let’s get the party started!

A massive constellation of small spheres created a curious focal point for the ceiling.

Johnnie Walker’s parties are renowned for bringing in superstar DJs to delight the earlobes.

Cheers to the start of a fantastic night with a refreshing cocktail called Singapore Soda. Concocted specially for the event, Singapore Soda consisted of Johnnie Walker Black Label, soda and a dash of pandan leaf essence that paid homage to our local flavour. The result is a fragrant nectar that’s soothing and addictive!

Three special cocktails coaxed guests to let their hair down and have fun. The Johnnie Yuzu Sour had a tangy, light note that would go down well with people who do not appreciate the taste of whiskey.

Walker Colada brought the tongue on a tropical holiday with a delicious blend of whiskey, coconut rum and I think pineapple juice.

Champion mixologist – Manabu Ohtake, Global World Class Winner 2011, adding a twist to enjoying whiskey.

Guests were dressed to kill and in this case, thrill! Bobby Luo and Ritz Lim adding horse power and a touch of sci-fi to the event. Our pet has been upstaged.

Our pet logging into her Facebook account. Throughout the venue were interactive photo booths where we can have our pics taken and posted directly onto our Facebook pages. Cool!

A photo we took at a booth and downloaded from my Facebook page.

Making a pledge the hi-tech way. Guests can have their photo taken and ‘sign’ their names with a laser wand to make the pact of not drinking and driving.

Guests posing for photos with F1 stars… but where are the racers?

This is my favourite booth where we get to ‘take’ a photo with F1 stars! We choose the scene, pose, and snap!

Desperately trying to be dashing.

The resulting photo. Thumbs up for the fun use of interactive media to engage and entertain.

At the stroke of midnight, a 3D projection sequence and pyro confetti marked the start of Johnnie Walker’s Gold Reserve being served. From this point onwards, the heat of the party got turned up several notches!

The little spheres on the ceiling also came alive and lit up in a rhythmic trance.

Spot the out-of-syncers.

Girl gone wild.

Kungfu duo on the dancefloor.

And I became the pet.

We were Johnnie Walkered and loved it!

Day 203 : Singapore Blog Awards 2012

High five to the winners and participants of this year’s blog awards for the battle was hard fought with so many quality entries contending in every every category. This year was a first for me as this blog and Explore Life Lah! both made it into the top 10 of two categories – Best Photography Blog and Best Best Travel Blog respectively. Neither of them won but a big thank you to all who supported with votes

This fifth edition of the Singapore Blog Awards saw a bumper crop of Singaporean and Malaysian blogs and bloggers compete in 10 main and 3 sub categories with the special crowning of 5 Omy.sg Blog Club’s wordsmith as Superbloggers.

Held at Singapore Flyer’s retro-concept open-air eatery, Singapore Food Trail, the awards ceremony saw an explosion of colours and creative energy to a comic superhero theme. I almost couldn’t make it to the event this year due to work but the chance to don my Superman tee and catch up with blogger friends was too good to miss!

There can’t be superheroes without vainlians, I mean, villians. Here’s me being super vain and Juliana with her deliancious interpretation of Kungfu Panda!

The ever spontaneous Christine (left) mans it up with her impression of a Mario Brother in drag while showing all the right buttons to push to become a Superblogger.

The event was packed to the brim on a hot Saturday afternoon.

Omy Blog Club’s Superbloggers (right to left) – Christine, Yong Wei, Peter, Catherine, and Eunice.

With Eunice and Catherine, the two ladies I had the privilege of going on a Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas cruise with. They can use the towels to make the cloth animals we learnt onboard! LOL

Me with my superpower… guzzling alcohol!

I didn’t manage to catch up with as many friends as I would like to or take a lot of photos this time round as I arrived kinda late and the venue was crowded. There’s definitely a tinge of disappointment returning empty-handed although by not making it into the top 3 most voted in either category, I already knew there’s no chance of winning but I went to join in the fun for after all, bloggers are like an extended family. It doesn’t matter who won. Really

Day 112 : Johnnie Walker Jet Black Party 2012

Johnnie Walker’s award-winning Jet Black party returns in 2012 to give invited guests a one-night only clubbing experience that skillfully blends sophistication, glamour and style. This is my third Jet Black party and I continue to be pleasantly surprised by how each party has something different to offer fans of the premium Scotch-Whiskey brand.

This edition of the Jet Black party was extra special for me because I won a micro blogging challenge in association with the event and got 4 extra invites to the party. Sweet! So joined by more friends to drink in the fun, here’s an account of how Jet Black 2012 was a night of partying to remember!

The location of the Jet Black party is usually held secret and released to invited guests just a couple of days before the party. This year, it's held at Mercedes-Benz Singapore Showroom.

To get to where the party was happening, we were picked up by a Mercedes and brought to the level 2 showroom of the centre.

Here with Merwin, Anis and the incredibly smart and hot blogger, Christine (http://chrispytinetoo.blogspot.com/).

Welcome to the world of fastcars, star racers and Johnnie Walker! But remember, winners never drink and drive.

Gorgeously draped in black and hued with gold, the car showroom was transformed into a classy party venue.

Carefully matured with an exquisite balance of wood, climate and location, Johnnie Walker Black Label draws from a brewing origin as far back as the 1870s.

Delicious canapé waiting to meet discerning palates.

Showing the bling with Jak, the ever sharp-looking and affable Brand Manager of Johnnie Walker Black Label. VIPs received a 'gangsta' chain with a pendant of the iconic Striding Man.

Thumbs up to DJ Cassidy (USA) for flying half-way around the globe to spin for the party. This was his first trip to Singapore and he's been introduced to our passion for spicy food on his first night here.

Statuesque, beautiful and ooooh-so-hot! I lost my tongue when meeting DJ Crystal Q (Taiwan) upclose and personal. Part of the trio who played at Jet Black 2012 was DJ Kaku (Japan), but I missed catching him before the party started.

The Mercedes CLS-Class features a muscle of the latest car safety innovations. Will I ever own one?!

Fadilah has this quality about her that seem to light up any room. I gave her a puke facial during our trip for Jet Black Kuala Lumpur in 2011 so I can imagine how worried she must be in seeing me again. LOL.

With fashionistas dressed to nail the Jet Black party... Xueting, Juliana and Hong Peng.

The drink-like-fish gang... Choon Wee, Ian, Gordon, Angela, Merwin and moi.

There's always an element of fun at Jet Black parties with the integration of technology with social media. Jet Black 2012 featured this walk-in photo booth that allowed guests to pose with different backdrops and the photo is posted onto their Facebook wall.

After queueing for some time, we got our turn and I grabbed a shot with the Casio Exilim EX200 before getting all posey for our picture.

The resulting photo that was posted on my Facebook wall with just a tab of the event passcard. Cool!

Gasp! Johnnie Walker's Gold Label Reserve! This nectar in a bottle captures an aromatic note of honey and vanilla that is perfect for any celebration. Love it!

After all the posey photos, it's time to let Johnnie Walker unlock the fun of the night!

Quite early into the party, the event ran out of glasses and there's no way to drink Johnnie Walker except like this.

Juliana the-walking-costume-shop having her thrill of getting me drunk. However, she was the one who got super drunk even before the night was over! I wonder if she woke up smelling like the toilet the next day. Also saw a guy trapped chest-deep in a drain near the venue and had such a good laugh before helping him out of his pedicament. The kind dude helped his friend retreive his glasses that was dropped into the drain but ended up being stuck himself. It was such a hilarious scene.

After a few drinks, Vincent turned into Huang Fei-Hung (黄飞鸿)! ROFL!

Wahahahahaha... Johnnie Walker got a new promoter that doubles as the face that will scare any drunk into becoming sober!

DJ Cassidy in action! His musical choices and set was infectious!

Such a high at Jet Black 2012!

Have you been Johnnie Walkered?

The event's bartenders worked doubly hard to fulfill every drink order from the huge crowd but they never once lost their cool. Awesome!

Big thanks to the guys who served our table for the night and the ever-friendly crew who made the party a great experience!

A big thank you to Johnnie Walker for the invite and picking me to be the winner of the blogging challenge. Congratulations to another wildly successful Jet Black party that will have people walking and talking for a long time. Cheers to that!

Day 111 : Scoot is Cost 0

I went on a vacation today. But I didn’t leave Singapore…

With gratitude to the zany folks at Scoot, I had a chance to meet the brains and crew behind the upcoming budget airline in Singapore and had such a good time, it felt like I was on a holiday!

Scoot's blogger meet-n-greet event was held at Singapore Flyer, a venue befitting the nature of Scoot's business.

A new icon along the coastline of Marina Bay, the 42-storey Ferris Wheel is the tallest in the world.

A full turn on the Flyer takes 30 minutes and offers an awesome aerial perspective of Singapore's central district.

Marina Bay coming to life at night.

Conceived in May 2011, Scoot will offer medium to long-haul flights (above 6 hours) at up to 40% savings! And I can vouch for Scoot’s INCREDIBLY CHEAP airfares because just last month, I booked a return ticket to Sydney for just S$297.17 (inclusive of all taxes and 15kg baggage allowance both ways). The fare is so affordable, it’s like costing nothing to fly. My anagram for Scoot is Cost 0.

I was already a satisfied customer before even meeting the Scoot team. Now, I’ll have to see if the service and aircraft comforts will not also be discounted when I depart for Sydney on 17 Oct and back on 23 Oct. But from the meet-up session, I have a feeling the flying experience would be first-class services at budget prices.

Scoot operates a fleet of Boeing 777 (3-4-3 seating configuration) so it's not the smaller planes that are used by budget airlines for closeby destinations.

Scoot currently flies to Gold Coast and Sydney but will be opening up routes to China and other desinations soon.

The maiden flight for Scoot will happen on 4 June 2012. Here's wishing the airline a successful launch. It will definitely become my air carrier of choice for further travel destinations.

Before being introduced to the upcoming plans for Scoot, we had a game of Draw This on paper high above the Singapore skyline.

Photo by Jerome Lim (http://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com). I can't draw if my life depended on it. Was trying to illustrate Changi Airport Terminal 2 from which Scoot will fly from.

A dinner of sumptuous local hawker fare at Singapore Flyer's Food Trail after the ride and got to know more blogger friends. Here with Darren Ang (http://method86.wordpress.com), Claire (http://claires-flair.blogspot.com), and Suhaimi.

Met an old church cell group mate, Malcolm, and it turned out that he's working as the Marketing Exec of Singapore Flyer! And he blogs too at http://malxc.livejournal.com.

With the effervescent Marina who's such a livewire! She's part of the cabin crew team serving onboard Scoot and I'm sure any passenger experiencing her service would find her warmth and smile very genuine.

It's time to take-off with Scoot! Here with the yellows are Captain Yap Meng Kum, Deputy Chief Pilot; Haresh Tilani, Special Projects Coordinator; Steven Greenway, Head of Commercial; Campbell Wilson, CEO; Marina, Flight Attendant; Sharon, Marketing; See Ling Ling, Assistant Marcomm Manager, and Priscilla, Flight Attendent.

I hadn’t had so much fun at blogger events in a long time and I think that’s because the Scoot team really make an effort to connect with us and the connection didn’t feel artificial. A lot of the meet-n-greet sessions I’ve been to felt like the staff are just doing a job and the PR personnels don’t want to be there. But Scoot’s session was different.

They truly live up to their claim to be “Not Your Usual Airline Name, Not Your Usual Airline”. Personally, I really like the fun and casual approach that Scoot adopts for it’s image. It has got spunk. When I was booking my ticket for Sydney, the notion of fun began the moment I visited the airline’s website to make a booking. But when it comes to safety and service quality, Scoot’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, reminded that it’s serious business.

I would like to thank Scoot for the invite and for making the event so enjoyable. My special thanks go out to Captain Yap who shared with me so many fascinating stories from his previous piloting experience in the armed forces and with commercial airlines (a passenger was thrown into the air, hit the roof of the aircraft and landed on a passenger seated behind him because he did not heed the buckle seatbelt sign when it was turned on).

For great deals on medium to long-haul flights, fly with Scoot at Flyscoot.com.

Johnnie Walker Jet Black Party is Back!

Black is the new gold when it comes to an ultra-chic clubbing experience with Johnnie Walker. And I’m not exaggerating.

Last year, I had the privilege to be invited to attend the world’s number one Scotch Whiskey’s Jet Black parties in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and felt first-hand, the true meaning of partying in class and style!

The good news is, Johnnie Walker Jet Black party is back again and you could win yourself a pair of invites to this super exclusive, by invite-only event!

To whet your appetite of the awesomeness that is Jet Black, here are videos I took during the party series last year at Red Dot Museum (Singapore) and Palace of the Golden Horses (Kuala Lumpur)…

Johnnie Walker Jet Black Party, Singapore – 12 Mar 2011 

Johnnie Walker Black Circuit Lounge, Kuala Lumpur – 9 Apr 2011

The 2 parties were totally hot with not just great music by the superstar DJs but with gorgeous models, celebrities and famous personalities turning up the glam factor! And the best part was, Johnnie Walker flowed freely the whole night! Now you know why the party’s location is kept secret.

Likewise, the location for this year’s party remains a mystery. Up to this point, even though I’ve accepted the invitation, I have no idea where Jet Black 2012 is going to be held. All I know is the line-up of celebrity-status DJs who would be specially flown in to spin at the party…

A celebrity in his own right, DJ Cassidy is a much sought after DJ who's played at weddings and parties of A-list celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, Oprah Winfrey, Tina Turner, The Black Eyes Peas, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, and even President Obama! There's simply no crowd he cannot move so Singapore is in for a real treat!

It's a wonder Crystal can be a DJ. Because I think any vinyl touched by her would simply melt. She's smoking!! Not just in looks but her stellar DJing skills as proven by this Taiwanese vixen's string of appearances in helming the soundscapes of major fashion shows and events. Can't wait to feel her... music that is!

Born in Tokyo, raised in San Francisco, DJ KAKU's cross-continental music influences has gained him a wide fanbase in the hottest clubs in California and Asia. I bet my legs would find no rest when his set is on!

I’m so psyched about the upcoming party just writing this blog post! Can’t wait for it to happpen. And here’s your chance to join in the fun too! Simply answer the following question as a comment on this post and stand to win a pair of invites to the party :

Who are the 3 DJs who will be spinning at Jet Black 2012 party?

Doesn’t kill any brain cells to answer right? Heh heh. Leave your comment-answer here by 15 Apr 2012 and I’ll pick via lucky draw the winner of the exclusive invites. Result will be announced on this post on 16 Apr so do check back if you’ve won.

Meanwhile, think of the place at home to keep your car keys if you are coming to the Jet Black party and click here to become a fan of Johnnie Walker!

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Update (16 Apr 2012) : Winner of Johnnie Walker Jet Black Party Invites

Thanks to all who took part in my first-ever blog giveaway! Here’s a short account of the lucky draw to show transparency of the picking process.

Names of all 17 of you who left an answer-comment on this post.

To be unbias, I got my colleague to do the draw. He mixed up all the name slips, tossed them into the air and grabbed one. And the lucky person is...

Congrats to Juliana! You've won a pair of invites to Johnnie Walker's exclusive Jet Black Party this Saturday! See you there!

Once again, my gratitude to all of you who participated. Really wish I could give everyone invites but alas, I only have 1 pair to share. For updates on the Johnnie Walker Jet Black party and happenings, do check back to Celebrate Life Lah! again.

i Light : Artifying Inside Spaces and Outside Places

More than just an exercise in visual acrobatics, I think art that utilises lights as its medium invites viewers to expect the unexpected and purports a dimension of beauty that’s both transcendental and hypnotic.

Instead of passively viewing a painting or sculpture and contemplating what it does to us inside (I think that’s what it is meant by art appreciation), lightarts heighten the awareness of our surroundsings and renewed an appreciation of what’s on the outside. We start to see how a scenery converse with the changing volcabulary of light. And how sometimes the weakest glow, illuminates things that we’ve never noticed.

So here is a small collection of installations from this year’s i Light that I came across from visiting the festival five times so far. Although inadequately, I’ve classified these works into how they artified an indoor space and outdoor place. I hope this post will turn on in you a different perspective of the art pieces and ways to photograph them.

With the Official Blogger pass, I had the privilege of visiting the exhibits before they were completed and direct access to the artists so I’m incorporating some of these behind-the-scenes moments in the hope that they will add to your feel about the works…

Crystallised by Andrew Daly and Katherine Fife (Australia)

Comprising of 5,000 acrylic icicles, the overhanging canopy of lights looked like a miniature interpretation of auroras in the polar hemispheres. Understated and unflambouyant, the creators of Crystallised attempted to invoke the awe of looking up at a night sky of ever fluctuating lights with the topograhical represntation of glowing stalactites.

The installation at working level before it was hoisted overhead.

Walking under the lighted sticks, I found concentric patterns that made for an interesting shot.

A photo taken on slow shutter speed while zooming in on the lights.

Another zoom out shot of the installation at 1 second shutter speed with the Panasonic Lumix GF3.

Parmenides 1 by Dev Harlan (USA)

i Light Marina Bay saw a maverick of techniques in harnessing the artistic of light. One of my favourites was the hypnotic and mesmerising installation by Dev Harlan. I’m in the experiential media industry that concerns itself with creating an all encompassing digital-cum-tactile experience for visitors, so I can appreciate the technical difficulties what Parmenides 1 needed to overcome in order to reach the visual effect it achieved.

Dev giving an insight into his highly mathetical piece. Parmenides is the name of an ancient Greek philosopher who excelled in logic and a mathematical quantification of the world.

Dev at work in aligning his projection on the 120 surfaces of the Parmenides lantern.

Mapping and alignment of the projections on the multi-faceted structure take a lot of patience.

Bleeding of misaligned projection.

The finished work. So psychedelic!

Zoomed in effect of Parmenides during its black-n-white projection sequence.

Zoom in effect with Panasonic Lumix GF3 of Parmenides during its colour wave sequence.

Parmenides in one of its many geometric incantations.

Sweet Home by Aleksandra Stratimirovic (Sweden)

Diabetics, be forewarned. Looking at photos in this section may cause an insulin surge. Sweet Home by Aleksandra is eyecandy on a large scale. Driven by a desire to turn unsightly places into beauty queens, the Swedish artist had given many places the touch of her saccharine makeover.

Aleksandra sharing her previous works during a meet-the-artists session.

Before the pieces were assembled to invoke a feeling of home under the sitting gallery at The Float @ Marina Bay.

Don't they just look like giant candy-striped jawbreakers?

Or raspberry / strawberry rippled marshmallows?

A swirl of homely charms gives the installation the feeling of walking into a movie set.

A hint of Eastern.

A pet of Western.

The finished Sweet Home installation. Turning a pedestrian space into a welcoming place.

An outdoor IKEA show decor? Lots of people love posing with the furnishings. Definitely an ideal spot to hold a party!

Key Frames by Groupe LAPS (France)

Reinterpreting the pastime of animating stick figures with flipbook sketches, Key Frames used the dark of night as its canvas to create a tactile playground for over 50 stick people made of LED light tubes. Accompanied by a light-hearted soundtrack, the figures take on life and action to excite the senses!

The hands of god creating man?

Olivier putting the veins together to make sure the figures get their electric blood.

The completed Key Frames installation fighting to stand out from the Central Business District lightscape.

Key Frames viewed in the direction of the Singapore Flyer's wheel.

Playful lights framed against the gorgeous Marina Bay Sands and Art Science Museum.

Immersion by Martin Bevz and Kathryn Clifton (Australia)

When I first saw Immersion, it looked like a tele-portal that will be activated by the command, “Beam me up, Scotty!” Resembling a vertical fountain frozen in motion, the installation changes colours in response to motion. Walk around it and the 8m-wide semi-circle of light will throw out a variation of hues and colours.

This photographer so hardworking! He was photographing the installation even though it was raining. Which, ahem, speaks about how 'hardworking' I am too at photographing him capturing the lights under the rain.

I came another day to photograph Immersion and it was again raining. But I think the wet floor made the installation more interesting by acting as a muted mirror that reflects the lights.

Zoom effect of Immersion.

Took the zoom shots on handheld with the Panasonic GF3. Suddenly the light sticks take on a different life.

Panning shot of Immersion. It can be quite boring just taking photos of the stationary lighted tubes so try some light painting. This installation is totally built for that!

MEGAPOV by Teddy Lo (Hong Kong)

With MEGAPOV, there’s more than meets the eye. What looks like a stick of pulsing LED lights actually hid a variety of images when viewed by moving one’s head from side-to-side. I saw quite a number of people shaking their headings violently to see the images. I was in stitches seeing how comical they looked.

I joined it too. But soon found out there’s a better way to appreciate the work. Through the lens of the camera. Here’s how…

A stick of flickering LED lights beguiles a collection of images that required a special technique to reveal them.

To see the images, I set the Panasonic Lumix GF3 to Shutter-Priority mode and panned it to shoot. I tried a couple of speed setting but found that 1/2 seconds was the best with this camera.

King of Spades at Marina Bay Sands Casino... Huat ah!!

Well, that’s all on the collection of works in this inside-outside take on the installations. This is just a skim of the works and the best is to go down to the bay and check them out yourselves. I’ll post about more works soon. Lights out for now

Day 076 : Singapore Arts Festival 2012 Bloggers’ Preview

Singapore's version of Twilight? We call it charp jee diam (Hokkien for 'twelve midnight').

No, it’s not Halloween in March. But come May, Singapore will be infested with vampires. And don’t bother with stocking up on garlic, cruxifixes and holy water. The vampires are immune.

Not even a stick to the heart can kill them and they’re out to hunt us! Only a group of last remaining vampire killers can annihilate them.

They are the last hope Singaporeans have to survive this Pandemic of a vampiral outbreak.

Does this sound like the plot of a video game or movies such as Underworld? Yes it does.

And that’s how the 2012 edition of the Singapore Arts Festival will make art relatable to the young, young at heart, heartlanders, and land-above culture vultures.

I’m never the arty farty sort. I can never tell the difference between Shakespeare and South Park. Or Beethoven from the ting of my microwave oven. But I have a feeling that the Singapore Arts Festival 2012 might just have something for me.

I attended a blogger preview of the Arts Fest and from the rundown of programmes and acts lined up for the 2-week festival starting in mid-May, I had the feeling that many of the performances would be movies brought to the stage in a format that a hoi polloi like me can appreciate.

Received an elegant and functinoal door gift at the event. It's so exquisite, I thought it was a pendant until I realised its true use. Me so suah ku (ignorant) lah!

Titled ‘Our Lost Poems’, this year’s theme is the final instalment in a trilogy of the Arts Fest 3-part journey to bring art to the man-on-the-street. The theme for 2010 was ‘Between You and Me’ and last year’s was a personal ‘I Want to Remember’.

The themes have such so a down-to-earth appeal right? I really appreciate that because my impression of art has always been something that only the very educated affluent (a.k.a. cultured people with too much money) indulge in. But this festival, 70% of the programmes are public and free!

The bloggers' event was held at Goodman Arts Centre. First time stepping into this house of art in Singapore's south-eastern neighbourhood.

Other than the experiential theatre brought on by Pandemic (They Only Come at Night) where the audience is part of the performance, there are a few other acts that piqued my interest.

There’s ‘The Best Sex I’ve Ever Had’, a dialougue-o-rama by a group of women above 65 on orgasm and love; ‘男男自语’, a gay tale spun around love, lies and loss; ‘The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle’ which is a theatrical adaptation of the works by Japanese literary master, Haruki Murakami; and ‘The Flight of the Jade Bird’ by Singapore’s very own man of multiple talents, Mark Chan.

Here’s a sneak of upcoming acts in Singapore Arts Festival 2012…

During the bloggers’ event, we got a treat to catch the very heartwarming, tear-milking documentary of one of the festival’s key acts, Young@Heart. The award-winning documentary traces a choral group in their lead-up to a performance. No big deal right? Sounds like an episode off Glee. Except that the chorus ensemble is made up of members with an average age of 80!

The documentary was inspirational without being cliched, hilarious without trying to be funny, and poignant simply because of the zest for life these geriatrics have. They have so much more purpose and enthusiasm about living than many people I know. And they are coming to Singapore to perform for the Arts Fest from 23 – 26 May (5 shows only)! Definitely a must-see…

My favourite dialgoue from the documentary was when the chorus’ conductor asked a member who had a near death experience if she saw a white light. “I refused to look!” was her response. LOL.

To find out more details about Young@Heart’s showtimes and the schedule of exciting programmes, performances and public acts coming your way, visit the Singapore Arts Festival’s website.

The elegant door gift was actually a well-concealed thumbdrive. Nice! And of course, acts of the Arts Fest is not like a movie you can download. The best way to enjoy is to experience the language of art in person! Tickets are on sale with early-bird discounts of 20%. Book early for great savings!

Day 074 : Transformers Cybertron Con 2012

When it comes to toys when I was a boy, my top 5 playthings were (1) myself (1) Zoids (2) M.A.S.K. (3) He-Man (4) Transformers and (5) Barbie.

Yeah, I have a feminine side and not afraid to acknowledge it. But my parents were rolling their eyes at the sight of me with my Dream Glow Barbie doll. That was until they saw me ‘marrying’ He-Man with Dream Glow. What they didn’t see was the post-wedding plas-rotica.

Being a sort of born-again Transformers fan after the movie franchise, I was curious what a sub sci-fi convention would be like when I heard news about Cybertron Con 2012. Especially since it’s being held in Singapore for the first time (I think). Thankfully, my company, Digimagic Communications, was involved in producing a cool interactive installation for the convention and I got to check it out as a company blog assignment.

Maybe because I went on the last day just an hour before the event was taken apart (had been busy with work and my granny’s hospitalisation), I didn’t think the convention had anything that was ‘more than meets the eye’.

Except of course, the exhibit that my company produced lah. LOL… 老王卖瓜，自卖自夸！不要脸！

This hairstyle and dressing has got to go. A kid at the convention called me 'auntie'! I know this is a Transformers convention but I'm no male-to-female transformer! Hmmm... Maybe embracing my feminine side wasn't such a good idea.

Transformers Cybertron Con 2012 was held at Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre from 11 - 14 Mar 2012. Entrance fee : S$12.00.

Entrance area of the convention was dressed up like a war zone with cut-out robots that were cost-effective to produce and look realistic in photos.

First generation Transformers toys (1984 - 1990). A flash of nostalgia when I saw these packaging boxes.

I think this is one of the first generation Megatron, leader of the Decepticons.

Early version of Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots.

Bumblebee in an actual bee suit circa 2000 under the Beast series.

A pissed off hamster in the Transformers Beast collection.

Movie merchandise. This huge Bumblebee toy by Hasbro is available in stores now.

The centrepiece at the Cybertron Con was a 22-foot tall Optimus Prime.

Prime photo spot with the giant robot. Do I really look like an auntie?!

From no-nonsense mega Optimus to playful Kre-O miniature Optimus.

Kre-O Bumblebee.

The convention saw many creative renditions of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in a redesign the robots contest for professional model makers and hobbyists. This hairy version of Optimus Prime was by my friend Sze J. I wasn't aware it's his work. I thought it looked really unique so I took a photo then I heard his voice behind me saying, "Very nice hor?"

My favourite was this absolutely hilarious piece titled "I Would Kill for Those Shoes". The backstory was that Optimus Prime came to Singapore and joined our nation's favourite past-time, shopping! Hmm... robot and Barbie... looks like the artist, Yang Jian, and I would really get along. LOL.

Now we know why Optimus Prime wanted those heels.

Such a sweet and soft touch to metal that brings out the women in Optimus Prime. Is there a female robot in Transformers?

Optimus Wolf. Winner of the redesign contest (Professional Category).

Optimus White Knight. Winner of the redesign contest (Hobbyist Category).

Cybertron Con's version of the Oscar statue for the contest winners - an all-gold Optimus Prime!

And now… presenting my company’s solution to add fun to the convention – an interactive projection where kids can ‘dance’ and ‘punch’ Bumblebee! Utilising Augmented Reality (AR) technology, we similated a drop-in visit by Bumblebee who would dance with visitors, and when hit, crumbles to form the car.

Visitors stand at the activation area to start the interactive sequence with Bumblebee.

Bumblebee appears onscreen next to these children and invited them to dance with him. It's a boogie-woogie good time for the kids.

The kids 'hitting' Bumblebee. Upon receiving the punch, Bumblebee crumbles on-screen as Kre-O toy bricks and reforms as a car and drives off.

Well, that’s a quick tour of the Cybertron Con 2012. Wished I had more time as there were some other stuff that caught my eye.

I would also have loved to sit down a re-watch retro episodes of the Transformers animated series that were screening during the convention. So fun to feel like a kid again!

Best Model of the World Singapore

Sashayed my way down to Wavehouse at Sentosa yesterday to attend the first public showing of contestants in the Best Model of the World Singapore pageant. The winners of this modelling pageant get to represent our country to compete for the world title in Turkey.

Do our local guys and gals have what it takes to make a mark in the international modelling arena? You decide…

Wavehouse is where Singaporeans and tourists can get a surfing fix with artificially generated wave pools. It looked really fun but kinda tough. Don't think I would get the hang of it since I have feet for hands and butt for feet.

Best Model of the World – Femme Category

Turning the catwalk into a battlefield since 1987, Best Model of the World has been a title of prestiege that many aspiring and professional models sought to claim as a brag badge. I think the annual pageant ran for a couple of seasons in Singapore before fading into obscurity. Well, it’s back in force this year and the dudes and babes of Singapore finally get a platform to link them to the world modelling stage!

And here’s presenting to you the female clothe hangers…

Patricia and Mandy

Jody and Staphni

The girls possess natural looks that one will find living next door.

Mabel and Vanessa

Sharin

Nadhirah and Sherlyn

Saktiyavaani and Xue Li

Best Model of the World – Homme Category

Having nosebleeds yet? I wonder if we can sue beautiful people to claim medical bills. Haha. Kidding!

Organised by Greenhills Entertainment, the key sponsors for this year’s competition include the maverick of beachwear, NewUrbanMale, Zapi Shoes, Sleek Beauty Slimming & Wellness, and See Medical Aesthetics.

I’ve visited See Medical Aesthetics a few months ago to get some work done. The clinic offers a wide range of aesthetic treatments such as botox, intense pulse light therapy (IPL), laser therapies, slimming procedures, etc at affordable rates. I saw Dr Joseph See to have my skin tags removed (excess skin growth) and I really liked the service. Most importantly, there are no hard sell tactics! I heard the clinic has got a new machine in that freezes stubborn fat away. Perhaps it’s time to book an appointment to try it out.

What? Guys have no right to be vain? Heh. After looking at some of the dudes in Best Model Singapore, you’ll understand my insecurity…

Richmond and Yisong

Shawn and Cheng Wei

Greek gods are from Singapore.

Koh Bin and Aaron

Joe

Thomson and Ricky

Ian

Zul and don't know his name

The day’s showing had 23 out of 24 (11 girls, 12 guys) contestants and you’re seeing who they are for the first time on this blog! The official Best Model Singapore website have yet to put up their photos at the time this post is published.

I was surprised at the number of photogs that turned up for the event. By the time I arrived, I couldn't get a prime spot to shoot.

Who will be the female and male title winners?

Our foreign friends getting in on some modelising.

Drink beer and still get abs like that? God is unfair.

If you would like to catch the models in action and get upclose and personal, meet them live at preview shows on 20 and 27 Oct 2011, 8pm at Zouk. The grand finals will be held on 4 Nov 2011, 8pm at Zouk as well.

So gelek your way down to Zouk and give your favourite model/s your catcalls and wolf whistles!

The Gleeful Geek

Friends find it hard to believe whenever I tell them I’m an ex-geek. I grew up being a stick figure with Coke bottles for glasses. And leisure for me was reading the dictionary. I’m not kidding.

All set for the Sexy Gleek Party!

Although I’ve gone through quite a bit of transformation over the years, if I may say so myself, I’m still a geek at heart. Always uncomfortable in the company of the ‘cool’ crowd, my geekness is defined by my persistence with passé ideals such as monogamy, faithfulness and having hope.

That’s why I love the Glee series so much. The show made it cool to be geeky through it’s messages about accepting who we are and not let what we try to be bury our talents and true potential. A winner is someone who has the courage to embrace the inner loser!

Confession of an ex-geek : "Transformation is about reaching the better version of oneself and not about becoming someone else."

As I eagerly anticipate tonight’s unofficial Sexy Gleek Party to celebrate the Glee 3D Concert Movie, I recounted my moments of personal bravery. The Gleek dress-up being one of them. This is the first time I have such a wild hair-cut and wearing a low-cut top to a party!

Hope whatever little cleavage that I have won’t catch a cold.

Singapore Blog Awards 2011 – History Gets Social!

Attracting more than 1,000 entries and over 70,000 votes casted in support of finalists’ blogs, Singapore Blog Awards 2011 came to a conclusion 2 Saturdays ago (23 Jul 2011) at Shanghai Dolly.

Last year, Celebrate Life Lah! won Best Lifestyle Blog. This year, it didn’t even make it into the Top 10. I also entered my newly started travel blog, Explore Life Lah!, into the Best Travel Blog category and thankfully, it qualified as one of the 10 finalists. Phew! Thanks to all who have voted and supported me in SBA 2011. Those who didn’t, please smear some butter on your buttocks and prepare to be spanked! LOL

Similar to last year, there were a total of 10 main categories with some new categories replacing previous ones. This edition, 4 merchant-linked categories were also added. A BIG THANK YOU to all the sponsors for making the Blog Awards possible for the fourth year running!

This is my second year at the awards and it was especially fun this time round because unlike last year where I was a wreck and didn’t know anybody, this year’s event was a catching up with blogger friends I’ve made in the last 12 months. Plus, I got to be one of the mascots for this year’s theme (History Gets Social!) and played emperor! It was whacked-out fun. Check out the behind-the-scenes of our photoshoot here.

What if Emperor Kang Xi had Facebook and Twitter? What would the longest-reigning emperor in the history of China blog about? I could've brought back this life-size wooden standee after the awards as my 'trophy' and it'll come in handy during the Seventh Month.

That's wild and sexy blogger Estelle of loveyouwrongtime.com. She'll be receiving my medical bill very soon. I'm claiming compensation for the nosebleeds she caused in that leopard preens outfit.

Top Left : With Nabil of whywerunn.wordpress.com. Top Right : Love the thematic approach this year and of course, me taking centrestage throughout! Heh heh... Bottom Left : Finger foods, Domino's Pizza and Tiger Crystal kept everyone belly happpy. Bottom Right : All the winners of this year's blog awards. Congrats ya'all! Next year, save a spot for me okay?

A photo oppotunity with Guest-of-Honour, Major-General (NS) Chan Chun Seng, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts. You've met leopard gurl. The hotter version of Chun Li standing next to me is Miss Singapore International 2011 Second Runner-up and Miss Body Beautiful, Cherie Lee (cherielee.sg).

With power blogger Adrian Eugene Seet of superadrianme.com (right) and my former gym buddy, Dennis (left)! Fancy bumping into him here at the awards. Haven't seen him in a long while and looks like he needs to get back to the gym. So do I! (See me sucking in my cheeks very hard to try and appear slimmer next to him?)

With one of the sweetest blogger I know, Germaine Leong of mintleong.sg and sneaking in at the back is funny guy Goh Yong Wei of iamnotfat.net.

A hard-to-come-by reunion of all 10 bloggers who went on the Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas cruise. New friends and amazing experiences are 2 of the best side effects in joining the blog awards.

Family of bloggers! I think bloggers are incredible people. We create contents despite having to juggle with our day jobs and other responsibilities. We spend countless hours to teach ourselves creative writing, graphic design, photography, photoshop, videography, editing, and blog technologies. Each blog post is a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Sometimes, it is very disheartening when our blog readership is not high, we never get into the finals of the blog awards or we never win any prizes. But that doesn't mean we are not good enough. I think so long as our blogs reach out to just one person, that's good enough. And that one person is ourself.

This takes narcissism to another level doesn't it? Well, I'm having fun with myself, this blog documents it, and I hope people will join me to Celebrate their Life no matter what Lah!

Coverage of Singapore Blog Awards 2011 in Wan Bao. Gosh... I can't get over how sleazy I look!

Report of the event by My Paper. This pic is making its rounds! Horros! Dressing up to the History Gets Social theme, my get-up is that of an Ah Beng in the 1970s, a 'historic' character of Singapore's culture. I got the retrosome shirt from Chatuchak Market in Bangkok a year ago and the bell-bottom jeans is an original piece from the 70s! It belonged to my mother! That also explained why I was trying VERY HARD to look chow bin (WTF face) in the photos to match the persona. FAIL.

If I said I wasn’t disappointed for not winning, my nose would grow very long. But there are always people better than ourselves and room for improvements. Winning depended on 70% by the judge’s decision and 30% by votes. I didn’t make it into the top 3 most voted blogs in my category so that’s a lot to reflect upon. Perhaps readers like travel blogs with big photos and minimal writing, somewhat of a vertical photo album with captions instead of detailed history and accounts of tourist attactions.

Then again, it could also be the preference of a sole judge overlooking the category. Fourteen judges were assigned to 14 categories, which meant each judge handles one category and not the case of all judges scoring each finalist’s blog to reach an average tabulation. As much as the contest is a test of each blogger’s abilities, it also depends on what topic shines with the judge and a test on their language proficiency as bilingualism is a highlight of the awards with bloggers posting in English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese. It’s tough being a judge! Kudos to them for agreeing to shoulder this task on a voluntary basis!

I would like to sincerely thank the Omy.sg team for creating a platform for Singaporean and Malaysian blogs to gain recognition and all the sponsors for supporting our individual voices!