5 Benefits of Upgrading Your HVAC

By delta January 5, 2020

The HVAC unit is the environmental workhorse of any home. It performs day and night to keep your home comfortable. However, most homes have an HVAC unit that is at least 10 years old, and any unit that is more than 12 years old should be replaced. Luckily, there are many benefits to upgrading to an energy-efficient unit with modern features and functionality.

Go Green, Save Money

Heating and cooling can cost around $930 a year. According to the Energy Star site, all Energy Star-certified HVAC units use 8% less energy and can save you up to $115 a year. Such devices can save you even more when paired with a smart thermostat. Keep in mind that both the condenser and the blower should be replaced when you upgrade your HVAC system so that it will perform at optimal efficiency. You could save up to 30% on your cooling costs by upgrading to a new unit. While the cost of a new HVAC unit may seem daunting, it’s a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself in savings and comfort.

Fit Your Needs

When choosing a new HVAC unit, select the size that fits your home and needs. Consider the square footage of your home and take into account how many people and pets are in the home. This will help you determine what kind of filters you may need. If family members have allergies, asthma, or other breathing problems, consider adding special features like an electrostatic or high-MERV filter to trap even more airborne contaminants. You can even add a UV light to kill bacteria and mold in the air.

Reduce Repairs

If your existing HVAC unit has been having issues, it may be time to upgrade. Why spend money repairing an old, inefficient unit when you could upgrade to one that is more efficient and better for the environment. The A/C Guys recommend planning a regular maintenance schedule with your HVAC professional to keep your new investment in tip-top shape.

Improve Performance

A new HVAC unit will heat and cool more effectively. Older units may have worn-out parts or may be clogged with dust. With a new HVAC unit and proper maintenance, your home will reach its desired temperature with less energy consumption. Newer units also filter out more contaminants from the air, leading to overall better health.

Make Smart Choices

Don’t forget to update your thermostat while you’re upgrading your HVAC system. A smart thermostat can integrate directly with your new system and be installed by an HVAC professional. Many smart thermostats will learn your preferences and automatically increase or decrease the temperature, according to CNET. Many smart thermostats also let you regulate the temperature via a mobile app when you’re out of the home.

To increase home value, comfort, and savings, consider installing a new HVAC unit. It will work tirelessly to keep your home perfectly comfortable. Plus modern optimisations can do so with less electricity. Remember to keep up regular maintenance to ensure a lengthy life span for your new HVAC unit.

How Google Can Help You Run Your Business

By delta December 12, 2019

The road to being an entrepreneur is long and tough but it doesn’t have to be if you know where your endpoint is. Some people come out and become an entrepreneur because they are tired of climbing the corporate ladder while others become an entrepreneur simply because they want to be of service to others.

Whatever the reasons for becoming an entrepreneur, the modern entrepreneur must have the knowledge and ability to harness the power of modern technology to run their business.

With modern technology, you can own a mobile virtual office for just less than SGD$10 a month and not worry about paying unnecessary recurring monthly rents for an office space which can amount to the thousands; thus keeping your operating costs really low.

In this article, I will be sharing with you 5 tips on how Google can help you run your business in the most cost-efficient and time-saving way.

Tip #1: Using the G Suite

The G Suite is a set of cloud computing, productivity, and collaboration tools, software and products developed by Google Cloud. As an entrepreneur myself, I use Google Office Suite to create documents such as contracts, presentation decks, and financial reports. What I really like about the G Suite is that I can access my files anytime, anywhere and it is entirely web-based. What this essentially means is that as long as I have access to the Internet, I can pretty much get my work done while on the move.

Tip #2: Gmail for Business

You don’t necessarily need to have an email address that ends with @gmail.com to use Gmail. Even if you already have an existing web domain name for your business, you can still use Gmail to send and receive emails.

There are many features that I like about using Gmail but one which really stands out for me is the “Smart Compose” feature that really saves me time when composing an email reply.

Tip #3: Google Calendar

If you’re often on the move and travelling for business, Google Calendar can help you manage your schedule more efficiently. I personally use it to keep track of my appointments and to remind me of important occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. One of the features that I like about Google Calendar is that it works in tandem with Google Maps where I am being sent a reminder to leave for my next appointment and estimates the time for travelling to my next meeting location.

Tip #4: Google Drive for Business

Google Drive is a Gamechanger and I absolutely love it because it is highly functional and it allows for the ease of collaboration with others. With Google Drive, I can easily backup and store all my files in the cloud or share them with others.

Furthermore, the documents, presentation decks, and spreadsheets that I create are saved directly onto my Google Drive and it saves me the hassle of having to bring any additional storage devices around.

Tip #5: Google Photos

Google Photos is a rather nifty service that is part of what the G Suite offers. As I travel a lot for both work and leisure; I do take lots of photos on my phone and that can be a real problem because there are just so many photos to store and organise. With Google Photos, I don’t have to worry about running out of storage space because it gives users free, unlimited storage for photos up to 16 megapixels.

What’s more?

You can store unlimited videos as long as they are below 1080p resolution. Just so you know, Google Photos also uses Google’s image-analysis technology to organise the photos and videos that are uploaded; thus, making them easier to search, share and even edit

Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable and comprehensive option that fosters collaboration with others, the G Suite is certainly at the top of my list.

The G Suite Pricing in Singapore (G Suite Basic) cost SGD$97 per user per year and you can sign up for G Suite with a G Suite Premier Partner in Singapore.

If you are based in Malaysia, the G Suite Pricing in Malaysia (G Suite Basic) will cost RM270 per user per year. However, do note that from 1 January 2020, a digital tax of 6% will be imposed on foreign digital service providers. Hence, it will be worthwhile to sign up for an annual contract with a G Suite Premier Partner in Malaysia before 31 December 2019.

Shopping for Souvenirs and Gifts at Naiise Iconic, Jewel Changi Airport

By delta November 12, 2019

Jewel Changi Airport is becoming quite the hot place to go to during the weekends and if you are looking for some uniquely Singaporean gifts to get, one retail shop that comes to our mind is Naiise Iconic!

Since its humble beginnings in 2013, Naiise has grown tremendously and is now one of the largest and fastest-growing design retailers in the region. With more than 25,000 products from more than 1,000 emerging and established designers from around the world, there’s definitely something for everyone!

When you arrive at Naiise’s shopfront, you will notice that its entrance is decorated with circular wood carvings which might seem like, “it’s just another design” but when you look at it for some time and ponder deeply, you will soon realise that it has a subtle meaning behind it. If you still don’t get it, think about the scales on Singapore’s iconic Merlion. These wooden Merlion scales are handcrafted by local artisans and the wood comes from locally-sourced fallen Rain Trees, also known in Malay as the Pukul Lima or “5 o’clock Tree” as its leaves open during the day but shut when sunset comes around.

Once inside the shop, there’s just so much stuff to explore, experience, see, feel, touch, and taste that you probably will need an hour or so to truly appreciate the different zones that have been thoughtfully crafted. If you’re planning a visit to Naiise Iconic, there are 3 Key Experiences that you shouldn’t miss!

Naiise Iconic Key Experience #1: The Pantry

Step into Naiise’s first foray into the Food & Beverage (F&B) scene with The Pantry, an open-source cafe that connects diners to interesting homegrown F&B brands such as Nuude by Udders, Joe & Dough, Bettr Barista, Doki Doki and Fossa Chocolate. With The Pantry, you can now “cafe hop” to these local F&B brands at just one location and what’s more, the prices for the food and drinks are pretty reasonable.

If coffee’s not your cup of tea, you can hop over to the Tea Bar operated by local tea aggregator Teapasar and sample quality teas from more than 30 brands, get educated on farm-to-table teas, and catch a glimpse of tea roasting happening live at the bar. The Tea Bar also provides tea sampling services where you will be served teas based on a combination of your taste preferences and technology-enabled taste profile recommendations.

Naiise Iconic Key Experience #2: The Gift Bar

Check out Singapore’s first in-store Gift Bar where you can customise gift wrapping on the spot by choosing from more than 100 gift wrappers, ribbons and other accessories. From just SGD$3, select from more than 100 different gift wraps, ribbons and accessories like dried flowers and pom poms to truly make your gift personalised. The Gift Bar also provides free wrapping services and other customisation add-ons such as calligraphy services and wax seal stamping.

If you are looking to customise some products for your loved ones, The Gift Bar offers on the spot jewellery engraving, hot foil stamping, and perfume label customisation. These services are provided by Naiise in collaboration with The Mindful Company and perfumier, The LAB Fragrances.

If all that doesn’t entice you, pop by the ana tomy, a notebook maker whose artisans will customise notebooks for you on the spot or head to the upper floor for a more intimate and luxurious experience where you can get your own personalised skincare product that’s created by homegrown skincare brand Alche{me}.

Naiise Iconic Key Experience #3: The Workshop

A regular component of Naiise’s retail-experience since its founding includes its monthly workshops, talks and events. The Workshop space at Naiise Iconic play hosts to weekend craft workshops for consumers, as well as a series of curated monthly talks and events to promote dialogue and collaboration among its community of designers, makers and consumers. If you’re in need of some inspiration or if you’re thinking of taking up a new hobby or interest, The Workshop at Naiise Iconic is the space for it!

Some upcoming workshops to look out for are the Introduction to Floral Embroidery and Miniature Wheel Pottery Workshop!

In Summary…

Boasting the largest selection of locally designed products and souvenirs with more than 140 local brands stocked, Naiise Iconic should be the first stop for tourists to Singapore! Even if you’re not a tourist, there are so many things that you can see and do at Naiise Iconic and if you ever run out of ideas for gifting (like I always do), head down to Naiise to get some really Naiise presents!

Writing a Short Story: 6 Skills You Have To Master to Write Briefly

By delta November 12, 2019

Are you working on your short story writing skills? Writing Short stories is the best way to get into the writing game. Short stories help you test your creativity and hone your writing skills before you get into something bigger.

In this informative piece, we will take you through on how you can develop your writing skills so that you can write short stories effectively.

Before we get into the main course, here is a caveat:

Short stories are fiction pieces within the range of 8,000 to 10,000 words (except for micro fiction which can be less than 500 words). There are longer forms of short stories that are about 20,000 words in length.

Most respected writers in the world today started off by writing short stories. Thus, short stories will give you a break into the literary world and help you gain your desired audience.

Many readers prefer short stories because they are easy to read. Thus, you can make an impression on the minds of your audience with a concise but eventful short essay.

Also, learning how to write short stories helps a student develop brief writing skills which will come in handy when writing essays and homework assignments.

Mastering the art of short writing will go a long way to sharpen your overall writing skills and prepare you for more significant writing projects.

Short Stories Don’t Follow the Conventional Novel-Writing Process

That’s why they are called short stories. You don’t have to go through the process of creating significant and minor events, character profile and story structure for your quick writing project.

Everything has to be spontaneous, with more surprises until the end. This doesn’t mean that you should not plan your story; all you need is a few characters and one or two significant events to piece your story together.

A short story needs lesser work and more creativity. Your aim is to leave your readers wowed by your story, so you need the right emotion to achieve that.

Now let’s get down to business. Here are six skills you need to develop to help you write effectively.

1. Write in One Sitting

Try to write the first draft of your story within the shortest possible time. Write short stories in one sitting and novels within the space of three months. You should not worry too much about plotting as long as you have a good story to tell.

The first draft often serves as a discovery process, so you should see yourself as an archaeologist whose primary concern is to prove that ancient cities are buried within the earth but waits excitedly and patiently to see how they look.

2. Good Dialogue is Key

You can write a good dialogue only when you have an in-depth knowledge of the characters and have equally done much rewriting around your story.

The characters in your account must have unique voices, and you can achieve that if you make sure what they say in dialogues truly represents who they are. In order not to distract your readers, your speaker tag should merely go with “he said” or “she said,” And avoid the use of words like “she exclaimed,” “he announced” or “she spoke vehemently.”

3. Write about Death

Death is a natural phenomenon, and any good story should involve death. Check up all the stories you have read so far, and you will find they contained this theme.

The Hunger Games, The Lord of the Rings, Charlotte’s Web, and even Harry Potter all had death scenes. Include death in your stories and let it stand out.

4. Create Suspense and Drama

Suspense makes your story attractive and your readers eager to know what happens next. However, to do that, try to make the fate of the protagonist hang in the balance. Don’t reveal everything to your readers at once or you will end up making them know what come next already.

5. Edit like a Pro

Even professional writers write about three or more drafts before their story is complete. Your first draft is like a secret trying and error which should not make it public. Your second draft is to work out the structural changes, plots, and character development, while the third draft is for deep polishing to make the story come out perfect. Without the first two drafts, don’t make the mistake of polishing your work.

6. Share Your Work

Your story writing comes out better when you know people will be reading it as soon as it goes public. If you want to know how your story will fare, don’t hesitate to share it.

Nothing else reveals your areas of strength or weakness like receiving feedback from those who read your story. You stand a better chance of writing a better story next time after you might have experienced the possibility of failure.

The best way to share your story is by entering a writing contest. It makes you sit up when you know that you have a deadline to meet and a prize waiting for you if you win.

Perfecting your short story writing skills will help increase your chances of acing all your college essays and develop a career in writing.

If you, however, need someone to guide you through on how to develop your short story writing skills you can sign up at a qualified essay writing service and have advanced writers prepare a few essays or short stories from scratch.

8 Tips To Boosting The Aesthetics of Your Bedroom

By delta October 24, 2019

Making a few changes around the house from time to time can refresh its look and improve your comfort; and where else to start if not the bedroom, the room where you spend most of your time?

Because visuals can influence your mood and often your sleep quality as well, you should ensure that your bedroom aesthetics are on-point and suit your taste.

If your current space is rather dull and not that inspiring, perhaps it’s time for a few changes. Improving the overall look of your room isn’t as difficult as you would expect and a few tricks will help you change the design of the space for the better.

So what exactly should you try doing first?

Here are a few useful tips that can provide you with the most appealing results that you are after.

Change Your Curtains

The curtains you use can have a strong visual impact on the overall décor.

If they are dull-coloured and there is a mismatch of style, your bedroom aesthetics will be affected. A simple change of curtains can go a long way.

Choose a high-quality fabric and opt for shades or patterns that match the rest of the décor.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on new curtains, you can even make them yourself. With some nice fabric, a sewing machine, and some basic DIY skills, you can design new curtains that suit your bedroom’s aesthetics better.

Get New Sheets For Your Bed

The bed is the focal point of the entire room; it is what catches the eye when you enter a bedroom, hence, it does also contribute to the aesthetics of the space.

With boring, plain bed sheets, you won’t be able to obtain the décor results that you desire, so one of the first things to do is getting new sheet sets.

Nowadays, you will find bed sheets in a variety of beautiful styles, vibrant colours, and patterns that stand out. Focus on quality when you are buying new bed sheets; the higher the quality, the better these will look and feel.

A simple change of sheets can do the trick whenever you get bored of how your bedroom looks like.

Repositioning Your Bed

Rearranging the furniture in your room is another effective way to improve the aesthetics of the space. Repositioning your bed, for example, will allow you to change the entire layout of the area. Try out different spots and figure out how to position your bed to maximize the room’s available space.

Hang Some Artwork

A room full of colour and art will always look better than a monochromatic décor with no elements. You can get affordable wall prints online and hang them on the walls or if you would like, you can even hang paintings or photographs that you have created yourself.

Play around with unconventional décor pieces, and combine electric colours for a décor that “wows” you as soon as you step inside the room.

Bring Some Greenery Inside

Bringing a bit of nature indoors can make any décor seem more vibrant and inviting. Potted plants are a great option here and having a few plants placed around the room will help you create a more relaxing and visually-appealing ambience. Besides adding potted plants, you can also even choose to paint one of your bedroom walls in a soft shade of green.

Add a Mirror

If you want to create the illusion of a bigger space, a simple and effective trick would be to install a mirror. This will not only help make the room feel more spacious but it will also add more light because the mirror will bounce back the natural light that enters your room.

Declutter – Get Rid of Stuff You Don’t Need

Clutter is one of the things that might be currently affecting how your room looks like. Too much furniture in a small space and all sorts of objects left disorganized across the room might be the main issue that is preventing you from having a beautiful and visually-pleasing room. Get rid of furniture items you don’t use and free up some of the space. Throw away stuff that isn’t useful nor contributes to the overall décor. A simple decluttering exercise will make the room feel and look entirely different.

Splurge On Some Lush Pillows

With pillow covers coming in different colours and patterns, you can “dress” your bed and make it the focal point of the bedroom. Throw a couple of pillows on your desk chair and add a fluffy blanket on the side of your bed for an even cosier vibe.

If you want to give your bedroom a different look, these are the things you should consider trying. Changing the aesthetics and feel of the room doesn’t necessarily have to involve extensive renovations or remodels. Sometimes, a few small adjustments can upgrade the space.

The suggestions highlighted here can help you boost the appeal of the area without much effort from your part. Look over these ideas and decide on the options that you think would work best for you personally.

Top 4 Office Dressing Tips for Men

By delta October 9, 2019

Did you know that people can judge your performance just by how you dress? Most people wonder why some guy in the office got that promotion and someone more qualified did not. The reason could be how that guy dresses because when you look dapper, you feel more confident and it oozes all over everything you do.

With that in mind, here are the top 4 office dressing tips for men that may come in handy:

Tip #1 Always Stand Out

When you look like everybody else, nobody notices you. Your style should make a statement about you. It should say you pay attention to detail and you care about how you look. This doesn’t mean that you should be wearing neon-green suits to work so that you can stand out though. What it means is that you can add something to your navy blue or black suit and make a statement. Lapel pins are becoming increasingly popular among distinguished men. Choose a metal lapel pin for formal wear and flower pin for weddings and corporate events.

Tip #2 Add Some Statement Pieces

Over and above wearing a well-fitting suit or casual wear, you can add something to bring the entire look together. A bold formal watch and beautiful cufflinks are some of the things you can wear to work without looking like you are trying too hard. If you are wearing a jacket for a business casual look, you can add a pocket square like Steve Harvey and look like a million bucks. Tie clips are also excellent if you wear ties every day.

Tip #3 Match the Colours

It’s imperative to stay within the neutral range when going to the office. That means wearing blue, grey and black unless you are very daring. However, you can add a brown shoe which must match with the belt.

Another secret is to match your socks with your trousers and avoid those with weird colours and whimsical motifs. If you choose to wear a tie, make sure it goes well with the shirt that you’re wearing. You can have an idea of whether a tie matches the shirt by laying them together on the bed before you dress.

Lastly, choose a shirt that goes with the colour of the suit. For example, grey suits do well with light pink shirts while blue suits go well with either white or light blue shirts. If you’re unsure, stick to white as a universal principle.

Tip #4 Stay Within the Office Dress Code

Every office has got a dress code. Some prefer that you wear business formal from Monday to Thursday while others are more relaxed. The worst injustice that you can do to yourself is to wear a full suit complete with a tie every day in an office when everybody else wears business casual. You will look weird and you might be seen as trying overly hard. Aim to stand out but make sure you are still within the dress code.

Gone are the days when style was a female thing. Today, every man has to compete with hundreds of other good-looking professionals in the office where style is concerned. With these dressing tips, well-kept hair, shining shoes and mild cologne, the sky is the limit for your professional career growth.

Pet-Friendly Places In Singapore

By delta September 19, 2019

In the 2017 statistics of the Singapore Kennel Club, there are approximately 62,000 dogs in Singapore. As the country’s dog population continues to rise, there is also an increase in pet-friendly places around Singapore. Pet cats and dogs are social creatures and they thrive when they are able to spend time bonding and interacting with their pet owners regularly. Unfortunately, today’s busy lifestyles often make it a challenge to spend time with pets. In order to meet this basic need, pet parents should find ways to spend quality time with their pets. Luckily, there are now many pet-friendly establishments ranging from cafes to malls and even parks that are easily accessible.

Proper planning is the key for a hassle-free day out with your pet. You need to pick out a good collar and leash, and a great outfit to boot! And don’t forget your responsibility in cleaning up after your pet. Arm yourself with pet wipes and poop bags so you can dispose of waste properly.

Here are some of the best pet-friendly places in Singapore:

Tiong Bahru Bakery @ Eng Hoon Street

Address: 56 Eng Hoon Street #01-70 Singapore 160056
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 am – 08:00 pm

Tiong Bahru Bakery has an outdoor seating area that is perfect for owners to go on a date with their pets. They also have signature pastries that your canine buddy will surely love.

Happenstance Café (Our Personal Favourite!)

Address: 35 Opal Crescent, Singapore 328425
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 12pm – 9pm | Sat & Sun: 11am – 9pm

The café allows pets indoors and they have a “create your own fur kid pasta menu”. You also have the choice to customise your menu from a wide variety of choices. The place is spacious and has a big space just for pets to mingle and interact with one another.

Happy Daze

Address: 11 Maju Avenue, Singapore 760849
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 15:00 – 01:00

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

This is a 3-in-1 pet-friendly bistro –they are a deli, board game café, and a sports bar. Aside from mouth-watering Asian and Western cuisine, they also serve healthy doggie meals that your pooch will surely enjoy.

Bishan Park

Address: 453 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Singapore 569972
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

There are several wonderful reasons why you should visit Bishan Park’s Dog Run with your pooch. It has a fenced dog run where your pet can go off leash and play with other dogs in the park. If you don’t have time for a park excursion during the day, you can always schedule it at night because the park is open 24 hours! Spending time at the dog park is a great way to enhance your pet’s social skills while getting that much needed exercise.

Punggol Waterway Park

Address: Sentul Cres, Singapore 821313
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Punggol Waterway Park is another pet-friendly place that is open 24 hours. Enjoy the great outdoors and breathe in the fresh air as you and your pet dog take a walk around the park. Isn’t this a great way to workout with your pet?

Nex

Address: 23 Serangoon Central, Singapore 556083
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 10:30 – 22:30

This is the only mall in Singapore that allows pet owners to bring along their pets when they go shopping. In fact, it is often known as the first pet-friendly mall in Singapore! Pets and their owners pass through specially designated lifts and escalators as they enter the mall. There is a K9 Park at the mall’s rooftop, which is the first dog park in Singapore that is built within the premises of a mall. The DoggieStyle café at the rooftop is a spot where dog owners can enjoy a cup of their favorite brew with their pooches.

The Garden Slug

Address: 55 Lor L Telok Kurau, Singapore 425500
Opening hours: Mon, Tue 6pm-10pm | Wed, Thu, Fri 11am-10pm | Sat, Sun, Public Holiday 9am-10pm

The Garden Slug is a café that doubles up as a workspace. What’s great about the establishment is that they have a menu for pets so you can choose from a wide array of mouth-watering treats that are perfect for your date.

There are many other pet-friendly places in Singapore where you can enjoy quality time with your canine buddy. As the number of responsible pet owners and pets increase in number, more and more establishments are now opening their doors and creating facilities for pets and their owners. Wherever you may choose to spend the day, always remember that adequate preparation and planning are essential to a hassle-free excursion with your pet.

2019 Movie Review- Fagara

By delta September 8, 2019

Thanks to the kind folks at Filmgarde Cineplexes, we were privileged to have been invited to the Singapore Gala Premiere of Fagara and truly, we had such an enjoyable and emotional experience at the theatre that we just have to share our personal view and opinion of the movie.

Fagara, co-produced by Ann Hui and Julia Chu, is the screen adaptation of Amy Cheung’s novel “My Spicy Love.” The movie is written and directed by Heiward Mak and stars Hong Kong’s Sammi Cheng, Megan Lai from Taiwan, Li Xiaofeng from mainland China, and a guest appearance by Andy Lau.

Fagara will be released in the theatres on 12 September 2019.

Our Personal View & Opinion of Fagara

After the movie, we asked ourselves this question, “Would we have spent the money to watch this movie if we haven’t been invited?” Our honest answer would be, “No” and it’s not because the movie isn’t great. We swear the movie is really excellent but because there hasn’t been much attention given to films like these; we would have instantly overlooked it and gone for the usual blockbusters instead (think Disney, Marvel, DreamWorks, Universal, Warner Bros).

Hence, Fagara is like a hidden gem that’s competing for the world’s attention alongside the big industry players and we feel compelled to share about this movie because there are just so many valuable lessons within the short time span of close to 2 hours. If Fagara was available on mid to long haul flights and accompanied with a brief write-up on the in-flight magazine, I’m pretty sure I would have watched it. In fact, if Fagara was available on Netflix or the likes, its reach might be even greater.

For us, we personally like the movie because of its heartwarming and candid storytelling approach. We were fully engaged throughout and it was one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride that left tears rolling down our cheeks. Though the movie is mainly in Cantonese and Mandarin, English subtitles are available.

Our Personal Rating

4.5/5

Movie Trailer

Movie Synopsis

After her father died, a Hong Kong girl discovers she has two hitherto unknown sisters, one in Taiwan and one in China. To settle her father’s debt, she must reunite with them to run the family’s hot pot restaurant. While the androgynous Taiwan sister is plagued by her toxic relationship with her mother, the fashionista sister from China is trying to fend off her grandmother’s pressure to get married. Meanwhile, she is striving to unshackle herself from her ex-boyfriend in order to start a new relationship.

World’s First Sesame Street Run Comes to Singapore for It’s Southeast Asia Tour and 50th Anniversary Celebrations!

By delta September 1, 2019

Sweep the clouds away with sunny days ahead with the world’s first Sesame Street Run Tour making its stop in Singapore as part of its Southeast Asia tour following a successful run in the Philippines earlier this month.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Sesame Street Run will make its debut on our sunny island on 17 November 2019 at Our Tampines Hub (OTH).

Tickets go on sale from now till 30 September 2019 via sesamestreetrun.com.

Fans of the popular American children’s television show can relive their childhood memories by meeting their beloved Sesame Street characters up close without having to make a trip to the US. The 50th anniversary celebrations doesn’t just stop in Singapore. More joy will be spread across to other neighbouring countries such Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia when they host their respective Sesame Street Run events in 2020 next year.

In contrast to other running events, the Sesame Street Run promises a fun-packed day with loads of activities for the whole family! The five kilometre family run caters to all ages, from first timers to experienced runners.

Witness the star studded line up of your favourite Sesame Street characters such as Bert and Ernie, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and many more!

For families with younger children and grandparents in tow, the run will also have separate three and one kilometre leisure walks so everyone can cross the finishing line together!

The 50th year run will have all participants witness a giant birthday cake blowout and be flagged-off with a countdown by Sesame Street’s very own Count Von Count.

Additionally, guests signing up will also get to experience fun activities and themed Sesame Street carnival games and quizzes as well as photo opportunities with their favourite Sesame Street characters.

TICKETING DETAILS

The five kilometre Sesame Street run offers attractive merchandise with different ticket categories that will have you spoilt for choice.

With categories ranging from $42 to $126, each ticket category will come with a myriad of colourful items that will have you squealing with delight such as a dri-fit Sesame Street t-shirt, a Sunny Day’s medal, a smart scarf, a pair of socks, a sweatband and more.

An e-certificate will also be sent upon completion of the run.

Basic Training for a Triathlon: What You Need to Know

By delta September 1, 2019

Triathlons, as a sport, are growing in popularity, as evidenced by the increasing number of big competitions held all over the world. Not everyone who joins these events aims to win, but everyone does make it a goal to finish the race. For beginners, training for a triathlon is a step-by-step process that starts with a visit to the doctor for a health check.

If you’ve recently found yourself interested in training for a triathlon, be armed with some basic knowledge below.

The Gear

After getting a clean bill of health from the doctor, you’ll need to get some basic equipment to start training for your first triathlon. It might be a good idea to borrow some of these equipment for your first few training sessions so that you will have some time to shop around as they tend to be rather pricey.

Essentially, you’ll need the following:

Swimsuit, training goggles, a swim cap if you have long hair
Cycling shorts or chamois if you have it
Running shoes that fit (cycling shoes are optional)
A bicycle that suits your preference
A water bottle for long bike rides

You will also need access to a swimming pool or at least an open body of water to train for the swimming part of the competition. Look for a pool that’s closest to your home and is open for your preferred hours of training. If you plan to train in open waters, be sure to have someone with you in case of any emergency situations and remember to apply some sunscreen!

The Run

Running can be done practically anywhere, but as always, be sure to stay on the safe side of the road or pathway in order to avoid any unintended injuries. Wear reflective gear when running on the road. The goal of training is to work on your endurance and gradually increase the distance (and time) that you’re able to run comfortably.

In the beginning, start with a full minute of walking followed by a full minute of running. Increase your runs by a minute every week while keeping the same minute of walking breaks in between. You should be able to run at a pace that allows for conversation to be maintained without exerting too much effort.

The Swim

Out of the three sports in the triathlon, the swimming portion requires the most technique. Getting the strokes right from the start will help you swim efficiently and not waste energy; hence, consider hiring a swim coach to help you out. When you’re in the water, find your center, or what is commonly known among swimmers as the “sweet spot.” Once you’ve found it, you can then begin to build your endurance comfortably.

Start with a two-hundred-meter training distance, broken down into four-by-fifty-meter laps with short rests in between. As you start improving your technique, slowly work toward being able to swim the whole distance comfortably without stopping for rest in between each fifty-meter lap. As the race date draws nearer, make time to practice open-water swimming.

The Bike

Before you start cycling, take some time to have your bike checked out so that you can be sure that it operates properly, allows you to get a comfortable position, and has all the safety features you’ll need. Wear a helmet that fits you and sunglasses to keep the glare of the sun out of your eyes. Master some bike-maintenance skills like making minor adjustments or changing a flat tire so that you won’t have to deal with the possibility of being stranded during a race.

During training, focus on your cadence and try to keep it between 80 to 100 comfortably. Choose a route that offers some hills in order to give some intensity to your cycling practice and don’t forget to warm up before hitting the trails.

Consider getting a power meter that can measures the power, or torque, that you generate when you turn the pedals. You can check out this 2020 Buyer’s Guide for Cyclists if you are serious about your triathlon training.

Recovery Is Important

Recovery periods are as important as the triathlon training itself and it involves more than simply taking time off to lie on the couch. It consists of in-between days of lower-intensity workouts, lifestyle amendments to include a healthier diet and high-quality sleep, and time for massage, stretching, and compression sessions. During recovery, your body is working on rejuvenation to prepare for more intense training sessions.

Training for a triathlon requires plenty of preparation and a good deal of perseverance. Find a coach or training partner to help you train the right way and keep things fun. More importantly, keep a positive attitude! Every great athlete started somewhere, and you’re only just beginning to work on your fitness potential!

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