Wow, time really flies and it has already been 2 months since I last blogged. For a start, I will like to thank all visitors and readers for your continuous support because even though I haven’t been sharing much, our page views have not been adversely affected and we still get emails and questions from time to time. This blog post will be very much a rojak piece as I have a flurry of thoughts going through in my mind right now and I don’t exactly know how to organise them.
On Car Ownership…
I scrapped my car before Chinese New Year this year and as much as I couldn’t bear to see my car being scrapped, I had no other options since my COE was due to expire. Car ownership in Singapore is expensive and as long as you want to have a vehicle on Singapore roads, you have to be prepared to pay a high price for it. So far, public transport has been a viable option for me and with a monthly fixed price of SGD$120, I could enjoy unlimited rides on the buses and trains. However, travelling via the public transportation has its own set of problems as well and I don’t have to elaborate on that.
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I have contemplated getting a motorcycle to travel around but I honestly don’t have the confidence that I will be able to ride safely after seeing multiple videos of how drivers and riders operate their vehicles in Singapore. Then again, it is an option that I still keep with an open mind.
A photo posted by Melvin Lee & Jacqueline Teo (@awinsomelife) on
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Another interesting option to get around is cycling and I have tried to cycle from Dairy Farm (my workplace) all the way to Punggol (where I currently stay). I have to say, it was indeed a fun but tiring way to get around and will I ever do it again? Yes, I will! With NParks, LTA, and URA working on improving accessibility, I am looking forward to more cycling tracks and park connectors to get around.
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On Mobile Data…
MyRepublic looks set to be Singapore’s 4th telco and consumers like myself certainly welcome their entry to this oligopoly that is currently dominated by SingTel, M1, and StarHub. Back then, StarHub Mobile was a game changer when it introduced free incoming calls but now, MyRepublic is going to be the next game changer with unlimited data plans and I foresee it will become Singapore’s fastest growing telco if the other telcos still decide to have a data cap on all their mobile plans.
On a more serious note, I was very angry when I recontracted my StarHub mobile plan on 6 March 2016 because on 10 March 2016, StarHub announced their latest 3GB for SGD$3 promotion and it was applicable only to new lines and recontract lines from 10 March 2016 onwards. Had I known that the promotion will be rolled out on 10 March 2016, I would have chose to recontract my line later so that I can be eligible for the promotion. Now, I can’t wait for my contract with StarHub to expire so that I can make the switch over to MyRepublic… all thanks to StarHub’s unethical business and marketing promotion.
On The Outdoors…
Some of you might have noticed that my focus right now is very much based on the outdoors and it will be the direction that I will be heading towards in the next 2-3 years. This will also mean more sharing about the outdoors and some pretty personal reflections. Sponsors in the sports, adventure and outdoors arena are welcome and I am open to reviewing apparels, equipment, and footwear. Companies who have upcoming events in these fields are also welcome to email me for event listings.
A photo posted by Melvin Lee & Jacqueline Teo (@awinsomelife) on
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On Upcoming Events…
Mizuno Ekiden is back in Singapore after its successful inauguration in 2015 and for its second edition that will be taking place at The Promontory @ Marina Bay on 16 July, the race will take place in the evening!
I would say, the decision to hold the race in the evening is a welcomed one because previously when the race was held in the morning, the weather turned extremely hotter towards the early afternoon and it was very challenging to run.
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In Japanese terms, Ekiden refers to a relay-styled long distance running and the Mizuno Ekiden 2016 strives to instill and portray remarkable Japanese values such as individual perseverance, teamwork and the ability to showcase a high level of performance in intense and challenging situations.
Runners will participate in teams of four where the first runners of each team will start at The Promontory @ Marina Bay while donning a traditional tasuki sash. Upon completing his or her leg of the relay race, the sash will be passed to the second runner who will be waiting at the transition area. This process will continue until the sash is donned by the fourth runner, who will finish the race and join the rest of his or her team members at the finish line.
A photo posted by Melvin Lee & Jacqueline Teo (@awinsomelife) on
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While waiting for the final runner to cross the finish line, the rest of the team members can enjoy a spread of Japanese gourmet such as ramen and desserts at the Matsuri Race Village. Matsuri refers to a festival or a holiday in the Japanese context.
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Ultimately, the entire Mizuno Ekiden 2016 experience will provide a holistic Japanese experience for all.
Runners can register in teams of four across three categories; the Open Category (42.195km), the Open Category (21.1km) and the Corporate category (21.1km).
You can find more information about Mizuno Ekiden 2016 by visiting http://www.mizuno.asia/ekiden or https://www.facebook.com/MizunoEkiden.
