Stress...

Fed up. Lots of things in my mind. Feel very bad that I have already booked the KL trip and have to travel tomorrow. I have yet to pack for my KL trip tomorrow morning. How?

I always get very nervous on the eve of any holiday trip. Even worse now that so much things had happened. I didn't manage to buy any comfortable shoes. How to shop? I also do not have any currency on hand, did not manage exchange just now. My mum took my wallet home by mistake. Was so angry...

Argghhhh~Help!

*Tearing hair out

*Sulking

*Moodless

My Unofficial Travel Guidence

I know you all probably scream or feel frightened when hear " Johor Bahru ". I actually quite like that place. I do acknowledge that it can be quite dangerous, but you must know how to behave in places like that.

Singaporeans sometimes take it for granted that Singapore is very clean, safe and secure, therefore always compared other countries with our's. Some even demand the same kind of peace and order in other countries or looked down upon them just because they are less developed than Singapore. That kind of mentality is wrong and I can assure you will get into trouble no matter what place you go to.

I think travellers has to bear in mind these two points when going on tour - that is to be open-minded and humble. I acknowledge I have not been to a lot of countries, but some of those countries that I have been, find us Singaporeans unbelievable. Yes, we have quite a notorious reputation in other countries. For example, when I went Thailand, people just hear that we are Singaporean, the face changed and refused to let us bargin further. You can see obvious differences in treating tourists from Japan or Hong Kong than Singaporeans.

Anyway, if you are keen to go JB, here are some rules which I find useful :

• Dress down. Don't wear any flashy clothes, leave branded watches, jewellery at home.
• Try to go in a group, although I went there once alone, but you have look out for yourself constantly.
• Speak whatever languages other than English.
• A few lines of Malayu can get you very far. (Not very crutial, but will be helpful. I can't speak malayu though...)
• When take cab, always ask how much is it before you get in. From City Square to Pelangi Plaza can cost you about $6 ringgit, City Square to Jusco is about RM$12-$15, City Square to Giant Plentong RM$15 - $18.
• I find Malay Taxi Drivers (not all) charge the fare more reasonably than Chinese or Indian ones.
• Good food are always found at Coffee shops and the prices are also cheaper than restuarants.
• People are generally friendly that is if you don't try to be snobbish at others.
• When walking try not to stare or give eye contact to others, I find that useful in avoiding unnessary confrontation or attention.

We ordered a table full of food and it cost us in total $35 Singapore dollars. That big piece of Sting Ray only cost $9 Sing dollars... ( I don't think you can get such a big piece even when you pay $15 dollars in Singapore...) Oyster egg cost $4.50 sing dollars ! It probably cost $8 sing dollars if ordered in Singapore. Btw, they have good zhi cha! If you are there, order their Da Lok Mian (cantonese), it is something like hokkien mee in Singapore, but the sauce is thicker, taste is far more intense and darker in colour. I think it is lard they used in cooking for non-halal food that makes it taste so good.

Besides the good food, I love JB because they have factory outlet stores and I can get loads of plus size clothing ! Hmm... My Poly Classmates and I are going to KL this coming weekend. It's time to Shop, Shop, Shop!!!

Yeah!!!

A Simple Life

What would be an ideal life? If you asked me, I actually crave for a simple life. I would want to live in the country side, rear some animals (not for eating) and grow a garden full of vegetables and herbs that you can imagine.

I will cut down on all my Wants and try to live essentially with only Needs. Spend time doing things that are more meaningful and treat people who cares and really matters sincerely.

By then, there is no need to interact with so many people. No need to scheme and fight among one another. No need to say politically correct things or to do things just for the sake of impressing others.

Imagine having to live otherwise. What is the meaning of life then?

Start getting a life. A simple life, that is.

New Voices to Look Out For !

Jillian Marie Thomas - Que Sara Sara.

I was surfing net when my brother told me that I had to listen this voice. I quote he says " I heard this person sing in the radio just now, She sing so well. You must listen to her. Wah, her voice is so nice, but doesn't match the face... " I stared hard at him. Then when I found her on Youtube and it was really outstanding. She is very talented. Not only can she play the guitar, but she was extremely skillful. She sings very well too.

Her music is cross between soul and bossa nova.




Olivia Ong - Sometimes When We Touch

I was at Marina Square with my friends, queueing at ATM near a CD shop. Then out came this simple guitar acommpaniment and a very simple voice singing - Sometimes when we touch. I was amazed by her verson. I have not heard voice that is so pure for so long and her's was so touching. Her cover is simple to the point without being too technical. I went into the CD shop to check out who was the singer and learnt that it was Olivia Ong, a Singaporean somemore!

This song was in the her latest CD. I urge everyone to go buy it. It is smoothing and can touch your soul.

Bugis Junction - V8 Cafe

Besides Suntec, Bugis is my next favourite shopping area. I sometimes would go pray at the Guan Yin Temple near by before dropping by Bugis to do some window shopping. Speaking of which, think I have not dropped by for quite sometime.

Whenever I am at Bugis with friends or there was once I was working with a huge group of colleagues at a Hotel near-by for our DnD. Our group leader asked where should we have lunch at Bugis. The food courts are always crowded and he wanted cheap and good food where everyone can have lunch comfortably. I immediately suggested : "V8 Cafe! "

Off we went and he commented later that I made a good suggestion. Here is why.

Food prices at V8 cafe is cheap. You can get a decent main course for as low as $8.90++ ! The ambience is definately better than food court and it is not as crowded as the food court. For entertainment, they even have movies playing in the cafe itself. Food although cheap, but taste good!

Ham and Mushroom Spaghatti in Tomato Sauce - $8.90

Grilled Lamb Chop - $12.90

Baked Rice cost $8.90 too !!!

For those who have never heard of V8, it is quite hidden away from public view. It is located at Third Storey in Parco Bugis Junction, near Amore Gym. It used to be a subsidary cafe for Sony store, but Sony have since moved out. You may have to wait a little as there are often quite a number of people waiting for dinner, but their table turn-over rates are quite fast !

Top One KTV at Bugis (The One)

Look out Kbox and Party World! You have a strong competitor in the market and they are fierce!I am referring to the newly opened KTV opp Bugis Junction, located near Tan Quee Lan St and Liang Seah St - Top One KTV! I thought the whole business concept is just too clever and the creator really has foresight.

Who would ever thought that the deserted old building could be given new life just like that? I mean ICON tried to model the whole building after flea-market shops in Hong Kong, but failed to attract crowds. Top One came in, throw in loads and loads of capital and converted the whole building into one big cool and chic karaoke joint! Boom and it became the hottest place to go in the Bugis area.

Let me tell you what is so special about Top One and how it differentiate itself from the other competitors.

Service, Design and Special Features

Service

Most of their staff are PRC Chinese. Although there are some Singaporeans who complaint that there are a lot of PRC Chinese people doing service jobs, but cannot speak English fluently etc, but I feel you really have to hand in to them. They are actually very articulate and provide better service than part-timers secondary school students or even some adult Singaporeans. It's just in their blood. Of course, one would beg to differ. I just feel perhaps some Singaporeans take themselves too seriously at times that they feel embarrass or pride less when doing other a favour or when servicing others.

Design of rooms - Being different and proud of it

Amazingly, Top One has different themes for their rooms at every level. Something that was different from their competitors. It's not only the room that is different, but the whole experience is different from the usual one.

For once, their microphones come with a small colour cap for hygiene purposes. Not that it is effectively cleaner, but at least they bother to do something. Also, their microphones did not shrieked once when placed close to each other. This is quite something already. My friend and I can never stand close to each other at other karaoke joints which we always patronised. Haha.

Of course, Top One is new and might end up the same situation later on. I remembered Kbox as being quite good when first started.

I have been there three times so far. The design of the room are quite drastically different. There was Ocean themed rooms at level 6 and Retro theme at level 2.

Special Features



See, their custom-made tables can lit-up. The lights will changes according to the tempo of the songs !

Unlike their competitors who provides remote control for customers to pick songs, Top One provides control console for customers to pick songs instead. First-timer might need some training to get use to it. The negetive points is that the control console is not as easy to use as remote control and whoever needed to pick songs has to move there physically to do so.

The first time we were there, we had quite a huge number of people and thus we got a big room. Goodness, the room was really very big with loads and loads of features to play with. Firstly, there was three big plasma screens.

You can also adjust lightings according to the mood of the songs and the atmosphere. There are soft lightings as shown on the picture above, see the wall and disco lights somemore. Cool hor! However, the most amazing thing is that there is a small stage in the room complete with smoke effect !!! Singing in that room really feel like performing at a concert setting rather than karaoke-ing at some joints.

But wait, there is more. THEY even have a RECORDING STUDIO that you can book and record your own album!!! I checked. The charges are about the same as market rates , recording of one song is $38 dollars (until you are satisfactory), but if you wish to book by the hour is $50 dollars per hour ! Now who is the superstar? It is really a dream factory for singers-wanna-be !

I actually recorded a song before long time ago for my own entertainment and keepsake purposes.That studio (which already closed down) also charged $38 dollars for one song, but they used midi tune instead of karaoke music. The set up is also not as professional as this one. I mean just look at their microphone and the sound muffle (the black mash thing to prevent you from "popping" the mic). Hmm... Perhaps I should record one album for my birthday this year ! Now, what songs should I sing...

Afternote: Wow, I didn't know this entry would attract that many people. Just to answer some of the questions that netters asked.

The rate: We usually go there during Friday night for $28.70 nett ($31.80 without membership card). It is the discounted price as we got the membership card. To apply (they would usually encourage you to get one), you need to pay one time fee of $10 dollars, like Kbox used to do. Just get one and shared the cost among your friends! :)

Just found out that weekday afternoon rate - 11 am to 6 pm only cost $16 nett.

Address: 530, North Bridge Road, #02-01 Bugis Point

Phone number: 6238 8198

Strongly encourage you all to go in a big group as the big room's smoking effect is just amazing! Do book before you go as you can tell from the number of readers, it is always fully booked.

Interested in Karaoke Singing? See also my Karaoke Experience in Kuala Lumpur - http://photosophize.blogspot.com/2008/11/red-box-plaza-low-yatt-kuala-lumpur.html

Velocity - Mingles (With Friends)

Days before she left, we gathered at Mingles cafe for a private lunch. This time round, we kept it to a small group with only the few of us. As usual, we chat, joke, gossip, banter hoping that the good time would last forever, but of course nothing ever will.

They just expanded the cafe to accomedate more customers and it was beautifully renovated.

The menu was also revamped. Besides the usual sausages and rostti, Mingles now has ALL DAY Super Value set from $14.90 ++ for soup, main course, drink and dessert. When I say is super value, it is really super value! The food and dessert all comes in a good portion !

Fish and Chips - Freshly Fried

Honey Glazed Chicken Steak with Side Salad

Chicken with Mushroom Sauce and Side Salad

The best thing is their dessert! A full sized one despite the huge main course. One can choose either one of the following choices:

Classic Brownies with Vanila Ice -Cream

Waffles with Ice Cream of your Choice. I chosen Mango Sorbet!

Or simply Two balls of Ice Cream of Your Choice !!! The above are Green Tea and Strawberries Cream ! Yummy ~!

What more could we ask for? Value Price, Good Food, Friends and Laughers... Hope you are happy in your new place, we will miss you... Until the next time, we shall "Mingles" again.

"Fatigue" Glass Door...

Ok, I should have posted this on STOMP's "English as it is Broken" section. I noticed the glass doors of Top One KTV are "over-worked", so much so that they are "fatigue"! Somebody should call the "Glass Door Union" to complain about their plight. No glass door should be allowed to be "push around" and still "working" especially when they are feeling "fatigue" already! This is just outrageous!

Ok, jokes aside. I think they meant "fragile" instead of "fatigue". Whoever wanted to post this on STOMP must remember to quote me ah. :)