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!

到乌敏岛迎夏

 

Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES)

I am born with what science has yet to diagnose as Tarzanitis (if I were a woman, it would be Jane-o-philia). Symptoms include an impulse to hug trees, irrepressible urge to photograph nature, and an ’unhealthy’ concern for the welfare of animals.

However, in the hyper-urbanised Singapore, our encounters of nature are rather limited. So to cure my Tarzanitis, I grew up with pets of all shapes and sizes… from guppies to fighting fish to discus to bloated goldfish; from pond shrimps to frogs (hatched from tadpoles) to red-eared sliders; from mum-repelling white mice to hamsters to rabbits (at one time, I had eight of them); from Pomeranian (called Mini) to Poodle (Jack) to Dachshund (Lucky) and my current two princesses, Joy (Miniature Pinscher) and Jack Russell (Rainbow); and not forgetting the kitten and a bird (can’t remember the species) I rescued and kept for a while before letting them go unwillingly.

In my latest fancy for a pet, I was contemplating something more exotic. Something furry with eight legs… the Mexican Red Knee Tarantula. So I started Googling if they are sold in Singapore but instead, got slapped with the Agri-Food & Veterinary of Singapore (AVA)’s list of prohibited pets. Tarantulas are a no-no here.

I was rather disappointed but went on to browse the other links captured by the search and discovered ACRES (Animal Concerns Research & Education Society).

ACRES rescues the wildlife of Singapore as well as abandoned exotic pets to nurse them back to health for release back into their habitats or provide them with a shelter.

I’ve never heard of ACRES and after reading about the work they do, I was very curious to find out more. So I emailed ACRES to ask for a visit to its facility as it is closed to public and walk-in visits. But I got more than I asked for… I was invited to go on a wildlife rescue mission with the ACRES team!

Would they end up rescuing me instead?

The Rescues

When I think about wildlife, the first images that come to mind are the dusty Afrian safaris grazed by herds of predators and preys . Stray cats lounging at HDB void decks, pigeons tip-toeing housing crevices, and that occasional rat making a dash on the pavement don’t count.

But to ACRES, they are equally cherished. A life is a life, be it fully sustained by nature or well-fed by humans.

In action : Charlene, Director of Wildlife Rescue, carefully handles a distressed Javan Myna who had gotten glue on its feathers and unable to fly.

For dogs, cats and all critters furry and cute, there’s the SPCA and Cat Welfare Society. But for the less common animals who find themselves in sticky situations or kept illegally as pets, they have no one to champion their welfare. Thankfully, there’s ACRES.

It doesn’t matter if the animal is the common Rock Pigeon, Myna, monitor lizard or a dangerous cobra, ACRES operate on the principle of respect and value of all sentinent lives.

Don’t worry, you’re in good hands.

Angry Bird… Now we know where Rovio got its inspiration from! The Myna was cleaned to remove the glue and released back to the wild.

It was a privilege to observe the rescue officers at work as I gained a higher level of sensitivity to the small creatures that share our living space. More than just rescuing the animals, the ACRES team take the opportunity to educate the public about proper care for injured animals and organisations to contact for picking up strays.

Apparently, the AVA is the last place to call if you encounter a stray cat or dog as the agency will usually put the captured animals to sleep.

While Charlene shared rescue tips with the gentleman who contained the distressed Myna, Lester documented the rescue.

But before work here was done, he received another call for another rescue. ACRES receives an average of 140 calls per month.

The second call was to pick up a cobra that had wandered into a car rental garage. For safety reasons, I wasn’t allowed to photograph the contained cobra. I was surprised Singapore has cobras!

The Facility

After a morning following Charlene and Lester on a couple of rescues, Juliana and I arrived at ACRES’ base. We’d rented a car for the weekend to come on this expedition and we felt so Indiana Jonesy riding in a metal horse to explore Singapore’s ‘outback’ where ACRES calls home!

After a wrong turn, we finally GPS-ed our way our destination.

ACRES office and ACRES Wildlfe Rescue Centre (AWRC) : 91 Jalan Lekar, Singapore 698917.

Currently, the premise houses an education centre, an office unit (shared by nine full-time staff), and a treatment and recovery annexe (AWRC). ACRES was supposed to have a permanent shelter for displaced animals but construction was disrupted due to toxic materials used by the builder they engaged.

Out of respect for animals, the centre is vegetarian although it doesn’t require staff to be vegetarian. We packed tuna sandwiches for lunch but was told that we should consume them before entering ACRES. The meat exception is for feeds given to carnivorous animals.

We felt the love for animals the moment we stepped in through the gentle ways staff treats the stray dogs adopted by ACRES. Kalai, the Wildlife Rescue Officer who let us in used to be a graphic designer but gave up his job due to office politics and found his calling amongst the straightforwardness of animals.

Her name is Mocca and she’s known to brew trouble with a habit of nibbling at strangers. Luckily we seem to be on her good books and didn’t get a taste of her jaws.

The Sanctuary

While most trapped animals are rescused and released back to the wild immediately, the badly injured ones are brought back to the centre for treatments and care till they can be released. ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre was opened in 2009 and has saved over 2,700 animals so far. The centre currently houses about 90 residents.

To visit the containment area, I had to follow a protocol of wrappnig up my hair and shoes to avoid leaving contagious debris that may infect recuperating animals. How’s this look for the cover of Vogue?

There’s a strict no-handling unless necessary policy here that applies not just to visitors but ACRES staff as well. This is to reduce stress to the animals.

What I found really amusing were the names given to the animals and staff are expected to know all of them! Tom, Dick and Harry and NSL are 4 Star Tortoises rescued from abandonment.

Star Tortoises come from India and are an endangered species. Because of their beautiful shells, they are popular in the illegal pet trade. While the swollen nodes on this Star’s shell may look interesting, it is actually a deformity. Pyramiding on Star’s can be caused by a variety of reasons such as an overtly high protein diet, insufficient sunlight or poor living conditions.

The ‘furnitures’ of their enclosures are rearranged constantly to provide the Stars with challenges to exercise them and simulate the changing terrains in their natural habitat.

The Stars are also given artificial sunlight for their biological manufacture of vitamin D.

One of the Snake-Neck Turtles at AWRC. It looks rather phallic when it’s head is extended fully.

Another of my fave forbidden pet is the Green Iguana.

This Green Iguana is called 10-10-10 because it was rescued on the 10th of October at 10 o’clock! It’s poised and beauty sure scored a perfect 10 with me.

Very sick animals are separated from the recuperating ones in another part of the centre. Kinda like the ICU for animals.

A Snapping Turtle getting treatment for a puncture on the underside of the shell. Animals feel pain like we do.

Wow, an injection to the shell? This is an eye-opener.

Food preparation for the animals.

The house of cure for Singapore’s wildlife and rescued exotic pets.

Tasks and observations of the health of animals are charted on this board so that staff can administer the best care.

Although I was somewhat disappointed at not being able to have a hands-on interaction with the animals, I totally understand why leaving the animals alone is the best thing we can do for them. Many of the rescued Star Tortoises are awaiting transportation and release back in India, a process that can take a few years as paperwork and approvals crawl at a pace slower than the Testudine residents.

Seeing how the animals are being regarded, I’m heartened that they have a fighting chance at survival and saw how irresponsible pet ownership can cause so much pain to the animals, who suffer helplessly in silence.

The Education

The most sprightly and colourful space at ACRES is the education centre, where school groups can learn more about the illegal pet trade and animal abuses.

From preschoolers to older kids, the education centre invites children on an interactive learning journey of animal equality.

Exposed! Panels after panels expose the cruelty exacted on animals from product testing to entertainment.

Captive animals used for photography at zoos and small-time attractions are often drugged and ill-treated to deliberate control. I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t want to be a living puppet.

Traditional medicines and folk remedies are also one of the biggest contributions to continued animal abuse such as Bear bile extraction. Bear bile is believed to have potent medicinal qualities (though not scientifically verified) and extraction requires the bears to be housed in crush cages that limit their movements and provide easy access to their abdomens. Their stomachs are cut open or metal tubes inserted permanently to milk bile fro them. This could last for 10 to 12 years of the bear’s life until it no longer produces bile and is killed for its meat, fur and paws.

I didn’t read every poster of information because there are just too many, showing just how widespread and varied in form animal abuses are.

Stop this fishy business. Shark’s fin being the most prized part, fishermen typically slice the fins off while the shark is still alive and throw the definned fish back into the ocean. Unable to swim and hunt, the shark sinks to the bottom and slowly dies of starvation in a week. Every year, approximately 73 million sharks are killed. Being a slow breeding species, over 180 species of sharks are now considered endangered.

A small, unmanned gift shop at ACRES retails these t-shirts at S$20 each. Bought this Go Veg tee as well as the Sharks Fin one to support the causes. I’m contemplating to go vegetarian for better health.

The Beginning

Having witnessed the TLC given to the animals, I can’t help feeling a deep sense of respect for the devotion ACRES’ staff and volunteers have for the work they do.

Presently, ACRES has 9 full-time staff running its operations. As a not-for-profit organisation, ACRES depends wholly on public donations to continue their mission. To support ACRES, click here. Donations are tax deductible. Volunteers are also needed so if you love animals but don’t have time to keep pets, why not shower your care on ACRES’ rescued animals?

Not all animals make suitable pets.

For making this blog post possible, I would like to thank the staff of ACRES who allowed me a rare insight into their work and learn about the plight of animals abused for our entertainment and as a food source.

Although the visit has come to an end, my awareness that Singapore has wildlife, knowledge about the illegal pet trade as well as the cruelty animals endure to feed us have just been awakened.

And my Tarzanitis has finally found a cure.

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!

Stranded in the City

A late afternoon presentation to a client wrapped up during the end-of-work-day rush hour and I found myself stranded in the heart of Singapore’s financial district. I waited for about 40 minutes but couldn’t get a cab back to my office.

Since I couldn’t get a taxi, I decided to diffuse and distract my misery with some snaps. This photo is the strapping UOB Plaza reflected on a building hobbitised by the former’s height.

Failing to out-queue the suits for a taxi, I decided to take the long walk to Clarke Quay MRT Station and prepared myself to slip into the sardine jacket that is our public transport since our population has burgeoned to the current 5.31 million from 4.59 million just under 5 years ago. And we are not stopping.

The recent White Paper projection of 6.9 million by 2030 has brought Singaporeans out on the streets to protest.

Singapore River was very muddy and brownish today but after applying a fliter from Instagram, it turned gold!

Having been a Singaporean for almost 4 decades, that was the first massive protest I can recall, crowding during last year’s hotly ‘contanted’ General Elections not counted.

What’s my stand on the government’s population ambition? When 69 ceases to be a position but a survival proposition, will we still be having fun?

Elgin Bridge. It’s one of the oldest bridges in Singapore believed to be present since 1819 as a foot bridge, the only bridge across Singapore River. Today, it is a vehicular bridge and makes for a rather beautiful retro photo in black-and-white. But of course, standing in the middle of the road to take a picture is foreplay with the Grim Reaper!

Personally, I feel the world is so borderless now. We are kind of a global tribe. If population growth is identified as the way to go for economic sustainability especially for natural resource-poor Singapore, my question is whether do we have the long-standing power to attract high-calibre foreign talents to take root here in competition with other nations who are also tapping the same pool to boost their demographic reliant GDP (as opposed to an economy supported by agriculture, export and industry)?

We are not the only country facing the woes of a low birth rate and rapidly greying population. According to a 2050 projection by the Taipei’s Department of Manpower with data drawn from a 2009 population survey by the United Nations, Singapore is amongst the top 5 fastest greying population (also making the list are United States, Japan, Hong Kong and Taipei). Competition for young mouths seems perched to heat up. Why will foreign talents want to come here? Will they stay? Xenophobia is definitely not going to make Singapore attractive. So is congested roads, packed public transport, and living so close we can smell each other’s laundry.

As the sunset begins to fade, street lamps along the Singapore River flickered to life.

Will Singapore end up as a country of massage parlours? They are everywhere now. Not that I’ve anything against legit businesses that knead and soothe our high-strung backs crushed by inflation and rising costs of living, but my concern is more of the make-up and credentials of foreigners being offered the Singaporean citizenship. I’m proud of my country and I just don’t wish to see our citizenship being lelong-lelonged just so we can meet a quota.

Anyhoo, I’m not a political analyst or population specialist. Not being able to get a cab, of which there could be many reasons not linked to our need for headcount, just ruffled my feathers since I had lots of work to complete. Singapore is facing another prosperity challenge, like it always had, and instead of protesting or asking questions, what solution/s can we as a people propose?

No wonder Yusof Ishak looks pensive on our dollars. He isn’t smiling. Who can when our nation’s growth, or any country for that matter, is dependent on foreign investment, trade and internal consumption. We have no natural resources  such as land, produce, petrol, precious metals or gems to sell, remember? Ours is a people economy. If Singaporeans are not delivering more Singaporeans because of high living costs, long working hours and no fire to stoke the libido (pornography is outlawed and sex remains a taboo subject), how can we turn Mr Ishak’s blank stare into a triumphant glare? What’s our Vendetta agenda beyond anger?

The colourful underpass linking Riverwalk to The Central Mall at Clarke Quay. I’d seen illegal graffiti with more soul than this.

Unknowingly, I’ve walked through a key part of our country’s history that started at the very mouth of this river where many of our ancestors first stepped foot on Singapura.

A vibration of the old, neo-colonial and modern footsteps of Singapore coursed through me. We have always been a population of immigrants. Our today is the light from yesterday, and tomorrow, is what we set aglow today.

On the Heels of Nature

Superb weather today for a jog to torch my binge on Chinese New Year goodies before the festivities even begun. It’s the Year of the Snake but I’m snacking like a pen full of pigs.

Since my not-so-recent woes with a bad neck that has rendered me ungymmable, the only retaliation I have against my runaway appetite was cardio laps at the pool or any distance my legs would carry me. On this sun-drenched day, a long-haul jog itched my chicken feet so I decided to take on the running terrain of MacRitchie Reservoir.

Macaque monkeys run wild at their waterside sanctuary and give city dwellers like me the thrill of encountering wildlife.

After I did a photoshoot at the reservoir some months back to test-drive the Casio Exilim ZR200 compact camera, my affection for the oldest reservoir in Singapore was rekindled. The waterside oasis is a less than 15-minutes bus ride from home yet I wasn’t visiting it often enough. Jogging here provides a much needed escape from urbanity and really refreshing.

But the bad thing is, I tend to do more photographing than running. A one-hour jog usually get extended beyond two hours with all that camera breaks to snap anything from scenery to flora and fauna. Then again, the beauty at MacRitchie Reservoir is a welcomed distraction and definitely made the run more interesting!

Say cheese? This fella was shy at first but when it saw my handphone pointing at it to snap pics, it promptly moved towards me through the foliage. I think it wanted to snatch my phone so I backed away. After a few rounds of our back-and-forth tango, it stood there and opened its mouth as if to scold me!

Felt great running so close to a body of water with the dusking sun reflected on ripples of gold.

Awesomeness!

My favourite photo from this evening’s jog. I took a new trail and came across this scene just as the sun was dipping behind a low hill. I was so awed by the beauty before me.

The run led me by the waters and into the dense forest. Light was fast failing and being caught in the forest when it’s dark unnerved me. So I ran faster…

… and continued to stop to take photos. I should be running but this bald tree rooted my feet. All around it, every plant was leafy green but this one stood solemnly naked by itself. “Don’t leaf me alone,” I seem to hear it say. I was all alone on the trail with nary an idea of where I was in the forest too.

My heart was racing. Not from jogging but the panic of still being in the thick of the forest while darkness weighed in. I wanted to backtrack my route of the past 1.5 hours but decided to continue forward. Boy am I glad I did! Fifteen minutes later, I saw the glimmer of electric lights. I’m back to the comforts of organised chaos. In life, some people take a long tme to reach their destinations on foot while others get there faster by cars, but ultimately we get there. The speed is vastly different. So are the rewards.

Sweat drenched and following a road that I had no idea where it leads, I was enchanted by this scene that juxtaposed the light from a street lamp with the ample moon. They seem to be of the same size here, but we know the scale and reach of their illumination differ at a level beyond comparison… Kinda like what small minds see, and what big hearts show.

I got more than just a cardio workout with this jog as I exercised my eyes and spirit at the same time with beautiful encounters of landscapes both external and internal.

Much of the paths I’d trodden were new to me and although I didn’t know where I was most of the time, having only one road ahead of me provided a consolation that while I’m clueless, I’m not totally lost. If only life is just as clear-cut!

Will definitely jog here more often from now on. And leave all image recording devices at home!

Day 351 : Living Rituals

I’ve always found Hindu temples to be somewhat overpowering. If not because of the cacophony of figures on the gopura, then it’s the half-naked temple sages who serve the gods. The temples echanted, but at the same time, intimidated me to go no further than the door.

One of my biggest worries of stepping into a Hindu temple or mosque is that I may upset some rituals or sacred rules. I’m not sure if photography is considered disrepectful except during Thaipusam and if it’s okay to be wandering around the temple halls like a lost soul.

Photographed here is the side wing of Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple along Serangoon Road. As a boy, the giant statue of Hanuman (the monkey god) was the object of my profuse fascination. To this day, whenever I pass by it, the huge green figure continues to be the only thing I see of the temple.

I’ve never once been inside the temple even though I’d pass it by so many times. I hope me and my camera will be welcomed.

Day 349 : Friend from Taiwan

Whenever I play host to overseas friends, my lack of knowledge about Singapore shows up a little more. Sometimes, my non-local friends bring me to more interesting places on our Little Red Dot than I should have been. With our country being so small and tourist attractions so accessible, it’s embarrassing to admit that all I know about Night Safari, I heard from my non-local friends.

But it’s the same with my vacationing friends. I probably know more about the attractions of Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok than some of the locals. We are all aliens in our own homes… busybodies about what grows in our neighbours’ backyards but too lazy to mow our own lawn. Heh heh.

Tonight, I met up with a friend I made during a trip to Taiwan in August this year and she took me to her hotel. In case your imagination runs wild, I’m here because I’ve not been to Holiday Inn Atrium Hotel and Yuca convinced me it’s worth a look.

She’s right. I was enthralled by the upward tunnel that felt a little dizzying looking down from the top. The circular design has a certain hypnotic draw to it and makes for a geometrically interesting shot. Yuca sure knows how to recommend good stuff!

Bubbly and ever full of life, going on an outing with Yuca is never boring. It’s a pity we didn’t get to spend more time and will have to wait till next time to show her my side feel of Singapore. Hopefully by then, I’ll be a walking encyclopedia of all the interesting places in my homeland!

Day 342 : Casio Exilim EX-ZR1000 Review

‘C’ is also for ‘Celebrate’… and I have good reasons to coz the kind people at Casio Exilim Singapore gave me their latest compact camera, the EX-ZR1000 to test drive. I get to keep the camera after reviewing so it’s like an early Christmas present from them. Thanks!

The camera is definitely worth getting nuts over with its many ground-cracking functions and features. I foresee a beary good time with it!

The camera comes in white, black and red. I chose rad because it’s so boomz! An innovative feature of the camera is the twist-ring circling the lens that can be programed to control zoom, focus, ISO setting, etc. Although the feature allows for quick access to vital shooting configurations, I’ve yet to find meaningful use of it.

The Ferrari of Compact Cameras

Casio has always been forerunning with their digital watches and calculators but it seems that the maverick of  personal electronic gadgets is carving out a substantial share of the compact camera market with its recent line up of impressive shooters.

Initially, I had my doubts about Casio as a worthy contender of the big boys but having used the EX-ZR100 and EX-ZR200, I was impressed by the photos quality, cam features, ease of use and speed. About 80% of photos taken in my FUNicating 2012 daily shots were the work of either camera.

With Casio EX-ZR1000, the company has brought their compact cameras to another level. This camera is not an enhancement of EX-ZR200 but in a different class because it comes with a flip-up screen, twistable front ring, RAW imaging, and a bevy of features that had me wondering how can so many functions be packed into such a small camera?

To satisfy my curiosity, I went on a shoot of this year’s Christmas decor and lights along Orchard Road to see if the cam is naughty or nice. It was a very brief shoot so I didn’t explore every function or covered all the malls but I think the photos give a pretty good glimpse into what the camera can do and the festive colours electrifying downtown this yuletide…

Shot with ART (HDR Art) Mode. This mode is one of my favourites. It was available in both the EX-ZR100 and 200 models too but ZR1000 took it up a notch with 5 levels of ‘artifying’ your shots. This was taken with level 3 of the HDR Art setting,

The photo on the left is taken under normal auto mode while the one on the right is taken with HDR Art (Ex 1) setting. Compared to the level 3 setting used in the photo above, Ex 1 produces more natural colourations. When shooting in HDR or HDR Art modes, the camera takes 2 photos at once so that you have the option to use the normal auto version or the HDR version.

Lovers under the mistletoe at Mandarin Gallery shot with Casio EX-ZR1000′s P Mode. The photos in this post (except the first 2 shots taken with Instagram) have not been Photoshopped except to resize for quicker uploading.

One of the shooting modes new to Casio compact cams is Light Tone filter that adds a soft glow at the photo edges for a dreamy effect that draws focus to the subject. The filter comes in 3 colours – Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta. This is shot in Cyan.

Shot in ART (HDR Art) mode at level Ex 2. Compared to Ex 1, 2 looks even more natural while hyperising the colours.

More HDR Art mode (Ex 2). Simply love it!

Another in-built camera filter also found in the ART mode is Toy Camera. Again, there are 3 colour modes to choose from and what it does is that it changes the tone and temperature of the shot. This is taken in chrome colour.

Another shot taken in Toy Camera mode. It seems that the filter will turn out different effects depending on the light metering. Compared to the above photo, this shot looks more muted in colour. This is taken with a blue coloured filter.

Also taken in Toy Camera (Green) mode. This colour kinda turned the whole Christmas mood around to Halloween!

The Casio EX-ZR1000 comes with a Manual and Shutter Priority shooting modes that are really useful for long exposure photography.

Tunnel of light at Orchard Central. Experimented with long exposure (2 secs) while riding up the escalator in this shot. God knows how many times I got on and off the escalator to get this shot! To shoot this, I placed the cam on a mini Gorillapod and set it on the escalator. With a conventional compact cam, I would not be able to frame my shot but with EX-ZR1000′s flip screen, I could see what I am shooting. It gives me the flexibility to shoot from weird angles!

Another photo made possible by the flip screen which allowed me to frame myself. I placed the camera on the escalator, set it on Manual and self-timer, and posed as we rode the moving stairs down the tunnel of light. There are so many ways to have fun with the camera!

Wave goodbye to bad self-portraits. Casio Exilim ZR1000 comes with a revoluntionary motion sensing technology for self and group shots. This photo was taken by placing the camera on a platform, framing the scene, walking into it and adjust my position by looking at the flip-up screen till I’m satisfied. Then I simply waved at the camera for the shot to be taken. So cool!

Orchard Central’s wintry forest decor won this year’s Best Dressed Building along Orchard Road for Christmas 2012. I wish the white reindeer was facing the camera though.

When the surrounding is too messy, use the EX-ZR1000′s ART (Miniature) mode to blur out the distracting elements while keeping a sharp focus on the subject.

There are a few positions to select where the focus can be placed in horizontal or vertical framing. The above photo was taken with the in-focus strip placed to cam right and this was taken with the strip placed in the middle.

Get dizzy this Christmas with a kaleidoscope of you! This pop-up photo booth added a touch of crystal magic outside Wisma Atria. shot in P Mode.

A starry, starry night. This is a shot inside the gigantic walk-in Christmas tree at ION Orchard. For this shot, I set the camera to self-timer mode, placed it on the floor and framed the photo with the flip-up screen. No longer do I have to approximate my framing when placing my cam on the ground for such wide angle shots. Nice!

As I mentioned, this test-drive session was very short but I’m very satisfied with the results, especially since the photos were taken at night. Night photography is one of the best way to test how good a compact camera is because many struggle to capture well-exposed pictures without the graininess of high ISO settings. From the photos here, you can see that they are blemish-free.

On top of the impressive store of in-camera shooting modes, what makes the Casio EX-ZR1000 truly outstanding is its speed. It is built with dual-core processors which translates to amazing speed. The camera has a very fast sleep-to-shoot startup time and its incredible ability to take sharp images under any condition is the result of its high speed capabilities. Casio EX-ZR1000 is definitely the Ferrari of compact cams and it pretty affordable at only S$599!

Will be taking the camera out for more photography escapades so do check back for more shots taken with it on this blog. :)

Day 329 : I Love My Public Housing Estate

One of the things I’m very grateful for is the public housing estate I live in. I think the government has done a darn good job in planning and housing our nation. Even if I can afford a condominium or landed property, I would still choose to live in a HDB estate for the convenience and neighbourliness of hoi polloi Singaporeans.

This block of flats in the photo is about a 5 minutes walk from where I stay. It looked like part of a castle through the trees.

Day 317 : Serangoon Road Diwali Decor 2012

Peacocks on lampost along the Little India stretch of Serangoon Road heralded the Hindu Festival of Lights this year. Of the 3 designated ethnic districts in Singapore – Chinatown, Geylang Serai (Malay Village), and Little India, I always felt the latter retained the most original flavours.

Chinatown is much commercialised with a plethora of clubs and fancy eateries while Geylang Serai felt more like a well-groomed residential hub but Little India is quite something on its own. Weaving in and out of the small streets in the area, the mouth-watering aroma of curry and briyani constantly filled the air. Closer to the temples and traditional garland makers, the whiff of gourmet is infused with the sweet smell of jasmine flowers, a heady overload of the senses. Then there are the fresh produce that spill onto the streets for discerning shoppers while bargain hunters would be thrilled to find S$1.00 sunglasses, S$3.00 shirts and sundries at prices that are considered stealing.

I’m sure this road is going to be bursting with more colours and frenzy when the Deepavali (also spelt Diwali) celebrations happen here tomorrow. It’s great to live in a multi-racial and tolerant society.

Oh and by the way, the message in Tamil (on the photoframe) is meant for all my Indian friends

Day 311 : Flush and Flash

Work today brought me to the recently revamped NEWater Visitor Centre. I’ve been assigned to shoot the centre and its new exhibits since I have some experience with photography. It is not within my job scope but I don’t mind helping my company, Digimagic Communications, save some cost.

Procuring clean and safe drinking water for an ever growing population has always been a strain on our land scarce petite nation and a politcal tumour with Malaysia where we import most of our water supply from.

To satisfy our thirst, Singapore began recycling water in 1974 for industrial purposes to free up reservoir catchments for human use. More than 20 years later, water purification technology came of age and the reclamation of wasterwater from sewage was made possible. In 1998, NEWater was born.

The NEWater Visitor Centre traces Singapore’s hydro-struggles and the evolution of NEWater as our long-term solution to hydrating the nation through a highly interactive gallery and a peek into the wastewater treatment processes.

More than 70% of earth is covered in water but only less than 1% of that ratio is fresh water. A human can generally survive for 3 weeks without food but only 3 days without water. That’s why clean water is so precious!

Getting to the NEWater Visitor Centre can be inconvenient as it sits at an obscure location. I took a cab here.

Reception lobby of the centre with a mosaic of images showing people’s relationship with water.

The gallery comprises 2 zones – 1 zone features a hive of interactive exhibits to help visitors learn about water conservation; the other is a walk-in tour of the NEWater factory that helps visitors understand the various filtration and purification process that NEWater deploys.

The night soil man brings back memories of my childhood staying at my grandparents’ shophouse at Bencoolen Street. Back then, our toilets didn’t come with a flushing system and we depended on these men to clear the wastes daily. The stench was unbearable.

Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the NEWater production facility to learn about the various steps in reclaiming sewage water.

These are not bolsters for a mega pyjamas party but a magnification of the filtration barriers that block large sediments.

Purification capsules at work to clean wastewater.

A commitment hall where visitors can post a digital pledge to conserve water.

This replica of a deep sewage tunnel links one zone of the gallery to another.

Learn more about water usage and wastages in our daily life with this installation to identify areas and ways to conserve water.

Partial pano view of the interactive zone of the gallery which features some pretty cool games.

My company produced the floor-to-wall interactive map projection where visitors can learn about where our water sources come from. Known as the 4 National Taps, Singapore gets our water supply from reservoirs, purchases from Malaysia, desalination of seawater, and NEWater.

It’s a long way in and out of the NEWater Visitor Centre. After my photography session, I waited for a long time but no cabs came to the centre so I walked all the out to the main road to get one. Shortly after I got into a taxi, heavy rain came. Phew!

NEWater Visitor Centre

Address : 20, Koh Sek Lim Road, Singapore 486593

Tel : 6546 7874

Opening Hours : 9am - 5pm (Tuesday – Sunday)

Guided Tours : 9am, 10.45am, 12.30pm, 2.15pm, and 4pm

Admission : Free

Day 308 : We are Loving Marina Bay!

If there is one place in Singapore that has gone through the most dramatic changes in the past 30 years, in my opinion, it has got to be Marina Bay. From reclamation works starting in 1971 that expanded our bay mass by another 177ha to the progressive developments that transformed the downtown waterfront area into a showcase of trophy skyscrapers and iconic architecture, Marina Bay would have people falling in love with our little red dot in a heartbeat.

So when I was approached to be one of 20 featured photographers and bloggers for the Loving Marina Bay outdoor photo exhibition, I was struck with cephalgia for decent shots to submit. The pressure was high because my photos will appear alongside pro-photogs and multi-award winning photo enthusiasts. I didn’t want to be the weakest link that bring down the overall standard of the exhibited works.

Launch of Loving Marina Bay exhibition at San-Sui Sumiyaki & Bar at One Fullerton. Food was simply amazing with top marks for taste and creativity.

To hunt for the photos, I scoured through folders after folders of photos I’d taken of and at the bay area within the last 2 years while reaching into my memory bank for personal Marina Bay encounters.

My most enduring awareness of Marina Bay began at the now defunct Satay Club where my mum used to work as a beer promoter at night. While waiting for her to get off work, I spent many hours playing by the Tan Kim Seng Fountain which marked the entrance of Satay Club. The fountain still stands today but the waters have dried up like my very distant childhood.

Good thing is, there are so many more avenues around the bay for new memories to be born and the Loving Marina Bay photo exhibition is a collective dialogue with our darling waterfront!

Met up with many photographers and bloggers whose works and words I follow on Facebook and their personal sites. I feel so little in the presence of their mammoth talents and creative capacity.

All featured AmBAYssadors were presented with a token of appreciation with one of our photos printed in canvas. It was wonderful that URA recognised our contributions for the exhibition with such a thoughtful and unique gift.

Occupying a stretch known as Clifford Square (between One Fullerton and Collyer Quay), the outdoor exhibition is high on gawk factor with stunning shots of Marina Bay through the unique perspectives of individual AmBAYssador.

Photos ranged in subject matters from architecture, celebrations, festivals, people, Marina Bay at dawn, and at night.

Retrace the footsteps of Marina Bay’s development with Street Museum style photos where heritage photos are mapped onto current scenes around the bay.

Scene with the old General Post Office (right) which has been given a new lease of life as the luxurious Fullerton Hotel.

Collyer Quay then and now.

I chose these 4 photos to show the different aspect of Marina Bay… the abstract, the fiery, the contemplative, and the vibrancy.

Frame your love at Marina Bay!

Loving Marina Bay.

Loving Marina Gay?

Loving Marina Yay!

The photo under the Esplanade Bridge was taken with Casio Exilim ZR100 and this goes to show that compact cameras can take exhibition-worthy pics too!

Map showing the location of Loving Marina Bay exhibition and Fullerton Hotel where you can drop off postcards produced in conjunction with the event and it will be sent anywhere in the world free-of-charge. One of the 6 postcards is my dawn over Marina Bay photo.

The Loving Marina Bay photo exhibition runs from 3 Nov – 3 Dec 2012. It is a free-to-public event with special photography workshops, activities and heritage walks conducted by AmBAYssadors happening every weekend. So come on down and check out the photos! … and discover a piece of Marina Bay that you love

Day 305 : A French Affair at 2fifteen Kitchen

When I think French cuisine, I think of snooty menus with hard to pronouce dishes and stuffy atmospheres where not a strand of hair is allowed to be out of place. So I was kinda apprenhensive when I received a meal invitation to 2fifteen Kitchen, a nouveau French eatery by Epicurean Concepts.

But I’m glad the unpretentious restaurant took the pain out of un dîner français (unlike how I’m trying so hard to be chi-chi by peppering my post with Googled French phrases. Heh heh).

2fifteen Kitchen is a short walk from Bouna Vista MRT Station and the restaurant’s name is as casual as it’s approach to French dining… it is located at unit #02-15 of Rochester Mall, hence the name 2fifteen.

“We put the unit number in the restaurant’s name so there’s no need to guess our address,” 2fifteen Kitchen’s Executive Chef Kenny Yeo shared. Likewise, the menu is well spelt out and listed in English so that diners need not second guess their orders. For a palate like mine which is untrained on French food, I instantly know what I’m getting; which is nice when compared to menus I had to wrestle with previously from other restaurants who insist on naming their dishes in French and I had to read the descriptions to know what they are. Sophistication shouldn’t come at the cost of convenience.

Enough of my misadventures with French food. Here’s more about the correction facility I went to that got me to re-like the taste of France. Food portions pictured have been reduced so I can sample more dishes.

The frills-free decor is pleasant and I like the bright lighting as I can see my food without having to shine my handphone over the plate to appreciate what I’ve been served.

This photo doesn’t show it but the slightly fan-shapped drinking glass is delightfully unique!

Started my dinner with the sinful Warm salad of Duck Foie Gras with Grape petite salad & Raspberry Vinaigrette. Worth every bit of the cholesterol!

Sautéed Escargots with walnut oil, assortment of herb butter & Garlic on toast. The soft, succulent snail meat with the fragant sauce is simply délicieux!

Lobster Bisque with Crab meat & Pistachio (front) and Pan-seared Hokkaido Sea Scallop, braised Cannellini Bean Lobster Bisque Foam (back).

The lobster bisque was thick and creamy and went really well with bread. The scallop, however, sat on the fire for a little too long I think as it was rubbery.

Grilled Angus Flank Steak, garlic Potatoes, shallot Confit in red wine sauce. Ordered this to be medium done but probably should’ve gone with medium rare as flank steak tend to get chewy when overdone.

Roasted Lamb Loin with Provencal Vegetables & Garlic herb crust.

Crispy Duck Confit from Périgord, Medley of Mesclun, Balsamic Vinaigrette. One of my fave dishes. Crispiness of the skin is perfect and the meat slides right off the bone. I would eat the bone too if I could!

The winner at 2fifteen Kitchen is the Prawn Cappellini in Aromatic Oil. Cappellini is also known as angel hair pasta and the texture resembles bee hoon. This is one of Chef Kenny’s special creation and it’s flavoured beautifully.

Trio crème Brulee Custard with Caramelised Sugar (espresso, classic and pumpkin). Can you see the grape-sized kiwi fruit on the plate? So cute!

Home-made Apple tart, Vanilla Ice Cream & Almonds. Love this too… the amazingly thin crust is so light and crispy.

Photo with 2fifteen Kitchen’s Executive Chef Kenny Yeo…. a really friendly and warm face of the restaurant who’s ever ready to give an insight into the dishes. Chef Kenny’s culinary flair is much sought in Singapore and Taiwan. He headed several restaurants here before spending a year coaching chefs in Taiwan.

Having tried a 5-course appetiser, soup, main, pasta and dessert meal at 2fifteen Kitchen, my appetite for French spreads was rekindled. Chef Kenny, the service staff’s Singaporean-ness and the simple chic of the restaurant made French dining so much more accessible without compromising on presentation and taste. Bon appétit!

2fifteen Kitchen @ Rochester Mall

Address : 35 Rochester Drive, #02-15, Rochester Mall

Reservation : +65 6659 8215

Website : http://epicurean.com.sg/2fifteen.html

Day 301 : In the Affairs of Cats & Dogs

It’s raining cats and dogs inside Esplanade’s foyer as artist Chua Boon Kee turned the Prime Minister’s Nation Day Rally speech last year about culling cats and saving dogs into a light-hearted art installation.

Titled ‘In the Affairs of Cats & Dogs, the Government’s Involved and So Shall We’, Boon Kee’s proposal won the most votes at the Esplanade’s 13 Steps art competition to celebrate its 10th anniversary. I found the whimsical assembly of cats and dogs so adorable. Paw this way to check out the installation from 11 Oct 2012 - 1 Jan 2013.

Aren’t they just so adorable? The good news is, there’s a chance for you to own one of them! Some of the cats and dogs on display are up for adoption and you just need to email a short explanation of why you would be a responsible adopter and include your name, NRIC number, address and contact details to visualarts@esplanade.com. Good luck!