We caught the rebooted version of Ghostbusters (aka “Ghostbusters 3”) last week and I must say, it has brought back many fond memories of my childhood days when I was watching cartoons of Casper and Ghostbusters to pass time. I can’t recall if I have caught the 1984 and 1989 Ghostbusters movie before but watching the latest version of Ghostbusters has made me want to dig them up to watch.
I am not sure if the true blue fans of Ghostbusters would enjoy the movie but honestly, I thought it was quite a pleasant movie overall. There were many funny moments and even Jacqueline (who’s not into these sort of movies) enjoyed herself. If you happen to watch the movie, don’t forget to stay until the end of the credits.
The new Ghostbusters movie does feature pretty much everyone from the original movies, minus Rick Moranis (who is more or less retired from acting) and Harold Ramis (who died in February 2014). But while Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts all made time to appear in the new movie, none of them are playing the same characters they played in the first two Ghostbusters movies. Hence, this might probably be the reason why hardcore fans of Ghostbusters may or may not like the movie.
Our final thoughts?
Catch the movie on a work day if you need some laughter to perk you up after an exhaustive day at work!
Movie Plot of Ghostbusters
Paranormal researcher Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and physicist Erin Gilbert are trying to prove that ghosts exist in modern society. When strange apparitions appear in Manhattan, Gilbert and Yates turn to engineer Jillian Holtzmann for help. Also joining the team is Patty Tolan, a lifelong New Yorker who knows the city inside and out. Armed with proton packs and plenty of attitude, the four women prepare for an epic battle as more than 1,000 mischievous ghouls descend on Times Square.
I always hear people saying that Singapore is a pretty small place and that there’s nothing much to do around here. To a certain extent, I agree that it is true but if you look hard enough, there is actually quite a lot of things you can do in Singapore. If you are up for some heart-pumping adventure, MegaZip Adventure Park is definitely the place for all you adrenaline junkies because for just SGD$85, you can have a go at all the adventure facilities that will let you scream your heart out. Should you prefer a slightly milder form of activity, Forest Adventure is also another excellent consideration and they are children-friendly too.
MegaZip Adventure Park @ Sentosa Island
For those of us who prefer an activity that does not require us to spill our guts out, you can consider learning a skill or taking up an adhoc course. With the SGD$500 SkillsFuture Credit, there are plenty of online and offline learning opportunities out there.
Some of the offline learning opportunities include courses like baking, floral arrangement, hairdressing and etc. I even came across an “interesting” course that teaches you how to use WhatsApp for SGD$30. What’s even more interesting to note is that this course is organised by People’s Association and participants can use their SkillsFuture Credit to pay for the course. Then again, I seriously don’t understand why recreational courses like those that I have mentioned can be paid for using SkillsFuture but not courses like Kayaking or Sailing (which People’s Association Water Venture do conduct).
Other than the offline courses that I have mentioned, you could also take up online courses on Udemy and Coursera. Personally, I would recommend Coursera as majority of the courses are pretty academic by nature and they are usually offered by Ivy League Universities like the University of Michigan, Yale University and etc. Both Udemy and Coursera offer users the ability to download the learning content onto their mobile devices and access it anytime anywhere. The best part? Some of the courses can be paid for using your SkillsFuture credits. In case you’re wondering, Udemy offers quite a lot of interesting lifestyle and recreational courses like learning to play the guitar, martial arts and etc.Discover Udemy’s latest courses!
And if all that doesn’t occupy you, you can choose to pick up a sport like martial arts, rock-climbing, sailing or even cycling. Remember back in 2014 when all Singaporeans were encouraged to get active and were given SGD$100 worth of ActiveSG Credits to utilise? Well, you can use that to purchase an ActiveGym Pass or a Swim Pass. Apart from current ActiveSG programmes like Pilates, PILOXING, Aqua Spinning and the likes; I really hope that whoever is in charge of the ActiveSG programmes would consider adding sports like climbing, dragon-boating, sailing, or even kayaking. Are you an avid runner? If you are, stay tuned as there’s going to be an exciting launch happening in 4 days’ time!
Meanwhile, don’t forget to spend your SkillsFuture Credit or ActiveSG Credits.
The Latest Upcoming Movie Blockbusters for The School Holidays
The school holidays are finally here and what that means is that your children will have lots and lots of free time. Now, what can you do with them? Well, why not take your children to watch some of the best movies Singapore has ever seen?
The list of films coming out right on time for the school holidays is never ending but here, you can check out the ones your children will definitely be most excited about.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
One of the movies Singapore is anticipating the most is ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows‘ which will finally be released on the 2nd of June; much to the absolute delight of all the children (and many parents). In this sequel, the powerful turtles will have to fight against their biggest enemy and some other previously unknown ones to make sure everyone on planet Earth is safe.Expect lots of action and as well as laughter throughout the almost 2-hour film; thanks to an incredible cast which includes Megan Fox and Stephen Amell.
We can’t stress this enough but thanks to the kind folks from Sony Pictures and Rovio Entertainment, Jacqueline and I were invited to watch the early premiere of The Angry Birds Movie last Saturday and I must say, the animation film is a fantastic watch for both kids and adults alike.
While the review on sites like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic hasn’t been that kind, I honestly don’t think it is all that bad because I actually enjoyed a movie that I thought I wouldn’t. I mean like come on, when announcement was first made that there will be an Angry Birds movie, I literally rolled my eyes because I was puzzled as to how anyone would want to make a movie out of a game app like The Angry Birds; yes, even right up to the actual day of the early premiere, I was very skeptical.
Having watched The Angry Birds Movie, I personally thought that the storyline is sound and throughout the entire movie, there were a couple of “aww” moments and perhaps a little too much of cuteness in it. For some, there might be some tear-jerking moments and for others, it might be an opportune time to take a power nap while the kids are being engrossed with the movie.
I shan’t spoil the movie for everyone but I have included the plot of the movie and the movie trailer in this review for you to decide whether the movie is worth your attention.
Movie Plot of The Angry Birds Movie
In the 3D animated comedy, The Angry Birds Movie, we’ll finally find out why the birds are so angry. The movie takes us to an island populated entirely by happy, flightless birds–or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red (Jason Sudeikis), a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck (Josh Gad), and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride) have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to.
Presented by Nick Grace Management, Lunchbox Theatrical Group, Sliding Doors Entertainment and BASE Entertainment Asia; Jacqueline and I caught the Blue Man Group at the Marina Bay Sands Mastercard Theatres 3 days ago and it was such a splendid performance that there was never a dull moment from start till end and we totally enjoyed ourselves that delightful evening.
Honestly, it’s been a long while since we last attended a performance like this and we really like how the Blue Man Group captivated the audiences with their humorous and interactive antics. While most of the musical entertainment were mainly instrumental rock with no vocals, it got us rocking and swaying with the crowds anyway.
In case you’re wondering; Blue Man Group is comedy, theatre, rock concert and dance party all rolled into one and for the first time in Singapore, this global phenomenon will blow audiences away with their high energy show. Now approaching their 25th year of creativity, this artistic group has been a smash hit off Broadway and on the Las Vegas Strip and cannot wait to redefine entertainment in Singapore.
We must also say, the backstage crew were certainly well coordinated and the lighting effects were out of the ordinary. There were a lot of 3D digital effects application and they were certainly very mesmerising.
So what can you expect out of the Blue Man Group?
Blue Man Group creates experiences that defy categorisation, taking the audience on a journey that is funny, intelligent and visually stunning, culminating in the trademark Blue Man Group finale in a blissful party atmosphere. Blue Man Group is accompanied by a live band whose tribal rhythms help drive the show to its unforgettable climax.
Having captivated 35 million people worldwide across 15 countries, don’t miss this opportunity to catch the Blue Man Group because it will definitely be the treat of a lifetime!
Reconnect with your inner child, re-experience mischievousness and sheer joy, and see what fun three guys can have with 30 litres of paint and 55 mashed-up bananas in the space of an hour and a half!
If you’re a Standard Chartered MasterCard® card holder, you can enjoy a booking fee waiver on full price or MasterCard pre-sale tickets. To enjoy the booking fee waiver, select the Standard Chartered MasterCard® ticket type only available via Marina Bay Sands Ticketing Website.
Some Additional Information
Event Date Tue, 29 Mar – Sat, 23 Apr 2016 Tue – Fri: 8pm Sat (2 & 9 Apr): 2pm & 8pm Sat (16 & 23 Apr): 2pm, 5pm & 8pm Sun: 1pm & 6.30pm Sun (17 Apr): 1pm Sun (24 Apr): 1pm, 4pm & 7pm
Venue Sands Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands
Ticket Pricing (Excludes Booking Fee) VIP Reserve : S$155 A Reserve : S$135 B Reserve : S$120 C Reserve : S$90
It is a brand new start to the new year and we hope it is not too late to wish all our readers and fans a happy and prosperous 2016 ahead!
We have just gotten back from our honeymoon trip in Thailand not long ago and we really have got quite a lot to share. In our few upcoming blog posts, you will read about the places that we visited during our honeymoon and also find out some of the interesting stuffs that we did in Thailand.
Unfortunately, we also have to announce that we are not able to continue blogging as frequently as we wish we could due to the nature of our new work. Nevertheless, we will try to keep up with the latest lifestyle trends in Singapore and bring you lesser but higher quality content.
For now, we have some really great and exciting news to share with all of you and for those of you who have always wanted to organise a yacht party/event or even plan a simple fishing trip with your friends, this is one blog post you don’t want to miss!
In an exclusive partnership with Island Yacht Charters Singapore, all our readers/fans will be entitled to a 10% discount off the booking rate when you book for any of the following yacht charter packages:
Yacht Charter Rate (Non-Peak)
(Mondays to Thursdays)
SGD$1650 nett (inclusive of 7% GST) SGD$1485 nett (after 10% discount)
5.5 hours charter to Lazarus Island for a maximum number of 20 persons
Fully equipped kitchen with modern appliances as well as electric BBQ pit onboard
Large and spacious saloon with panoramic windows
Free use of Karaoke system
Ice water, 5 x 1.5L bottles of soft drinks e.g. Coke, Green Tea and etc. will be provided.
Yacht Charter Rate (Peak)
(Fridays to Sundays, eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays)
SGD$1850 nett (inclusive of 7% GST) SGD$1665 nett (after 10% discount)
5.5 hours charter to Lazarus Island for a maximum number of 20 persons
Fully equipped kitchen with modern appliances as well as electric BBQ pit onboard
Large and spacious saloon with panoramic windows
Free use of Karaoke system
Ice water, 5 x 1.5L bottles of soft drinks e.g. Coke, Green Tea and etc. will be provided.
Additional Person
(subject to a maximum total of 25 persons)
SGD$100.00 per person on top of the initial 20 persons.
Extension of Charter
(subject to availability)
Mondays-Thursdays : SGD$150.00 per hour
Fridays to Sundays, eve of Public Holidays & Public Holidays: SGD$200.00 per hour
Suggested Itinerary
The WINEDOWN TOO is berthed at the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) which is located at 52, West Coast Ferry Road, Singapore 126887.
The yacht will sail out of RSYC cruising along the new Pasir Panjang Container Terminals and then along Sentosa Coast, passing Pulau Tekukor, Sister’s Islands & St John’s Island to the lagoon on the Eastern side of Lazarus Island. The sailing time from RSYC to the lagoon at Lazarus Island is about 1.5 hours depending on the tide & current.
In case the water/seas at the lagoon is choppy, the yacht will sail to the western side of Lazarus Island and berth at the Seringat jetty (if berth is available) or the yacht will drop anchor around Lazarus and St John’s Island.
On arrival at the lagoon, jetty, or anchorage around Lazarus and St John’s Island, the yacht will stay for about 2.0 – 2.5 hours for guests to do some swimming and water activities such as kayaking & SUP paddling.
Guests are most welcome to bring their own food & beverages for the boat trip and no corkage will be charged.
However, for food which requires cooking onboard e.g. BBQ food, a corkage charge of S$90.00 nett will be payable for the crew to assist in the cooking, preparing & cleaning of BBQ grills, cooking utensils, and etc.
Guests can also bring along some beers, white wines and/or liquors for the boat trip.
Highlights & Key Features
The charter is for 5.5-hours and it is longer than the usual 4.0 hours trips.
The yacht cruising time is much longer as the yacht will cruise from RSYC to/from Lazarus Island whilst others are providing only very short cruising time as they sail from nearby Sentosa or from Keppel Marina to/from Lazarus Island which takes less than an hour.
Timings for the yacht charter is flexible and guests can choose their 5.5 hours slot anytime between 11.00am to 10.00pm unlike others which offers a fixed scheduled timings of 3 daily time slots i.e. 0800-1200, 1300-1700, & 1800-2200.
Guests are most welcome to discuss other preferred timings or charter duration with us and we will try our best to comply whenever available.
For the first 5 readers/fans who would like to make a booking, Island Yacht Charters will be offering a 20% discount off the yacht charter rates and what this means is that for a peak charter rate, it will cost only SGD$1480 nett. If you would like to make a booking, drop us an email at concierge@awinsomelife.org and we will help you to process your booking!
It wasn’t my first time to a circus performance but it was definitely my first to watch a circus performance by Cirque Du Soleil. Entitled, “Totem”, the touring show by Cirque Du Soleil depicts the evolution of humanity from its primordial, amphibian state toward the aspiration of flight, taking inspiration from many of humanity’s founding myths.
To some, circus performances may seem to be the same but what is really unique about Totem is that there is a storyline behind every acrobatic acts. The acrobatic acts were at times mystical but also thrilling and a delight to watch. Every heart-stopping stunts were well-synchronised with the live music performed by the band and it is no surprise that all the performers received an overwhelming standing ovation from the audience during the finale.
The costumes used in the performance were intricately designed and they were inspired by Mother Nature. Interactive projection technologies are used in the show to enhance and provide variety to the types of scenes created for Totem, including swamps, starry nights, lakes, volcanos, and other natural environments.
If you are going to watch Totem by Cirque Du Soleil, here are some fun facts that you might want to look out for during the show!
Fun Fact #1
The Crystal Man’s stretch velvet leotard is encrusted with nearly 4,500 reflective components; 4,001 are mirror fragments. This costume is the show’s heaviest, weighing nearly four kilograms.
Fun Fact #2
During the Scientist’s juggling act, he uses balls made with 96 red, 96 blue, and 96 green LED lights inside. The colours are changed remotely by show technicians during the performance.
Fun Fact #3
A major component of the set is the “scorpion bridge”, which functions as an entrance at times. It is made of 4,500 kg of steel and has eight mineral oil hydraulic motors which allow it to move in three dimensions.
Quoting what a friend of mine shared, “Singapore always do have great shows from time to time” and truly, this is one show that you do not want to miss because it is not every time that we have a circus performance by Cirque Du Soleil here in Singapore. In fact, the last time they were here to perform in Singapore was in 2005; exactly one decade (ten years) ago.
Tickets to Totem by Cirque Du Soleil starts from SGD$98 and if you’re a Mobile One (M1) Subscriber, you can get a 15% discount off the ticket prices. Just present the M1 logo on your mobile phone or your M1 mobile phone bill when purchasing your tickets at the SISTIC counters.
If you can afford to spend more but don’t want to burn a big hole in your pockets and still get a best view of the performance, we recommend that you get the CAT 4 tickets with seats in block 103 and 104.
One thing that we feel Cirque Du Soleil could improve on is to increase the distance and space between each seats so that it will be more comfortable for the audience.
Well, watching a circus performance by Cirque Du Soleil should definitely be one of your bucket list of things-to-do in your lifetime. Have you got that checked? If not, hurry and book your tickets as the touring show by Cirque Du Soleil will only be here till 6 December 2015!
It has been half a year since I last caught a movie at the cinema and last weekend, Jacqueline and I caught the movie, “Our Times” (also known as 我的少女時代 in Mandarin) at Golden Village (Tampines Mall).
Released in Singapore on 22 October 2015, we were rather surprised that tickets to “Our Times” were selling like hotcakes and because the movie was so popular, we had to go for an unpopular time slot that’s way past midnight just to catch the movie.
Our Times Movie Review
Many people might draw some similarities between You Are The Apple Of My Eye (那些年，我們一起追的女孩) and Our Times but they are actually quite different from one another. Although both movies are set in a school , one has a happy ending while the other does not.
A word of advise here, there are many touching moments in Our Times and you will definitely want to bring along some tissues in case you find yourself sobbing uncontrollably (yes, I’m exaggerating but you never know). Watching this movie has certainly reminded me of the awesome times I had when I was a teenager and I really do miss those growing up days. As I do not want to spill the beans too much, I won’t be elaborating much about the movie but what I can say is that, it is a movie I wouldn’t mind watching a second time.
Watched the movie and love it? You can keep yourself updated with the latest news about the movie on Our Times Official Facebook Page!
http://www.facebook.com/OurTimesOfficial
Our Times Movie Synopsis
We all had to live through and rise above the awkward years in high school, and regardless how long it may have been a distant past you wish to forget, there’s always a beautiful memory somewhere waiting to be awakened. A joyful moment that truly belongs to you. An ordinary high school girl Lin Truly (played by Vivian Sung) pines over the most popular guy in school Ouyang Extraordinary (played by Dino Lee). The school’s troublemaker Hsu Taiyu (played by Ta Lu Wang) falls for the prettiest girl in school Tao Minmin (played by Dewi Chien). Together, Truly and Taiyu, work through misadventures to help each other win their dream dates. Through this youthful rite of passage, their friendship evolves and they learn a thing or two about true love.
If you are currently an AMPed Premium Subscriber, you should really be happy because come 11 August 2015, Echosmith will be bringing their unique pop music to Singapore for a one-night only concert at The Coliseum™, Hard Rock Hotel® Singapore Resorts World™ Sentosa and you can get tickets to the concert just by being an AMPed Premium Subscriber!
Echosmith was formed as an American indie pop band in February 2009 in Chino, California; and since then, the Sierota siblings have ascended from baby band to breakout band of 2015 with the worldwide success of “Cool Kids”.
Swiftly becoming an anthem for the youths, “Cool Kids” encourages people to embrace their differences as they are what make each and every individual special. The certified platinum track dominated everywhere, charting in the Top 5 at Hot AC, Top 10 at Top 40, and in the Top 10 of the iTunes singles chart, plus Top 15 of Billboard’s “Hot 100”.
The Sierota siblings have steadily gained a huge fan base with their catchy tunes and dynamic performance. Their new single “Bright” is also gaining popularity on local airwaves as it climbs up the FM987 top 20 music chart.
Should you purchase Standard Free-Standing Tickets to Echosmith Live In Singapore via SISTIC, it will cost you SGD$78 but if you are an existing AMPed Premium Subscriber, all you have to do is download the “Cool Kids” playlist from now till 30 July and the top 100 subscribers with the highest number of downloads will get 2 tickets each.
If you aren’t an AMPed Premium Subscriber yet, you can sign up via AMPed Website and if you sign up for 12 months of AMPed Premium Membership at SGD$94.80, you can get 4 tickets to Echosmith Live In Singapore! Now, that’s what we’re talking about! Should you be interested to catch Echosmith Live In Singapore, do hurry because tickets are only available while stocks last!
Singapore’s most iconic brew receives a makeover, invites the public to cast their vote, and throws the Unofficial Official Party of SG50! On our nation’s golden jubilee year and to celebrate the 50th year since Tiger Beer released its first can to the world, Tiger Beer has lined up a slew of events and activities to commemorate this milestone in the nation’s history.
Image Credits to Tiger Beer Singapore Facebook Page
To uncage the nation from the usual celebrations, Singapore’s Unofficial Official favourite local beer will present a fresh take on how National Day is celebrated by throwing its own epic National Day party, replete with surprising and remarkably unusual party elements.
Truly a party for the people, it puts the power in the hands of the people by getting Singaporeans to vote for what they want to see at their party; the wackier the better.
Tiger Beer will kick off the voting period for the Unofficial Official party of SG50 from 22 June, with the release of a video that will encourage the public to cast their votes to see their favourite party highlights come to life, and also offer them the intriguing possibility of contributing new suggestions.
Eschewing the typical SG50 festivities in favour of something fresh, unique and original; party-goers can look forward to party elements that are recognisably Singaporean and reminiscent of the annual National Day Parade, yet completely unexpected. Imagine a parade flypast done by aerial drones, trishaw massage chairs, beanbags for relaxation that look like giant ‘chope’ tissue packets, or even a chili-crab fountain! The possibilities are endless.
Image Credits to Tiger Beer Singapore Facebook Page
Those above the age of 18 can cast their votes at two mobile polling stations located at Knightsbridge on 4 July and One Raffles Place on 9 July, and as well as online via the microsite at tigerbeer.com.sg. Every vote counts and it will directly influence what makes up the party that Tiger Beer will be throwing for Singapore.
Tickets to the party cannot be purchased and only those who participate in the voting process will stand a chance to win tickets to the most coveted party of the year.
Voting will close on 19 July and those eligible to win tickets will be notified. Party-goers will then see the winning highlights appear at the party.
To top this all off, the party will be headlined by two international music acts that will be performing at the party. Audiences can look forward to the catchy party anthems performed by 4-piece indie-rock band, The Griswolds. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, this will be the up-and-coming quartet’s first time performing in Singapore.
The climax of the party will come with the appearance of a surprise international music act. The identity of the celebrated British alternative band will be revealed shortly.
Just so you know, the party will be held at the newly-refurbished Capitol Theatre, itself a beloved Singapore icon and the grande dame of the city’s cultural heritage, and it will be the first event of this scale to be held at the landmark location. Given the Capitol Theatre’s longstanding legacy for entertainment in Singapore, it is the fitting venue of choice.
Image Credits to Tiger Beer Singapore Facebook Page
If you are keen to win some tickets to Tiger Beer’s Unofficial Official Party of SG50, check out Tiger Beer’s Microsite and cast your votes now!
