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In Entertainment 3 Mins Read

[Post-Event Review]- Sundown Festival 2013 @ F1 Pit Area

Thanks to Jabra Singapore, we were at the Sundown Festival 2013 that took place at the F1 Pit Area two Saturdays ago and we had a blast listening to all the awesome hits by the various bands from all over Asia.

Of all the performances, our favourite singer and band has got to be Yoga Lin from Taiwan and No More Tear from Thailand.

Yoga Lin, Taiwan

[Image Credits to Sundown Festival 2013]

Yoga Lin’s claim to fame was as the winner of the first season of Taiwan’s reality TV singing competition, “One Million Star”. In the competition, Lin impressed the judges with his vivid interpretation of “Steel Rope Walker”, originally by James Li. After beginning his 2012 to 2013 concert tour, “FUGUE”, his latest Jazz-inspired live performance compilation album, “Jazz Channel”, was released on 5 February 2013.

No More Tear, Thailand

[Image Credits to Sundown Festival 2013]

No More Tear is a female-fronted pop-rock band from Thailand and it is currently made up of FukFang the vocalist, Chay the guitarist, Ice the drummer, and Tae the bassist. Not quite a band that wants to be pigeon-holed into a particular music genre, band leader FukFang hence defined one for her band, Power Pop. According to the pint-sized dynamo, it is a kind of rock that is super energetic, upbeat, and one that just wants to make everyone get up and dance.
audience.

Even though we had a hard time trying to appreciate the performance by SCREW, we saw tons of fans head-banging to their music and expletives.

Prior to the performances taking place, we took the liberty to pop by Jabra’s booth and we took a look at some of the wireless Bluetooth products that Jabra is offering. Designed for sound, engineered for life; Jabra’s products are definitely eye-appealing and one of Jabra’s products; the Solemate, an Ultimate Portable Speaker has certainly caught our eye.

Portable in size but massive in sound, the go-anywhere, do-anything portable wireless speaker with massive Dolby® Digital Plus sound allows users to share their music everywhere. Its durable design is dust and splash resistant and the rugged rubber sole can handle the bumps and knocks while on the move.

With Solemate, users will always be well-connected as they can pair it wirelessly via Bluetooth or NFC [near field communication]. Solemate also works with a 3.5 mm audio cable or USB cable. With the exclusive Jabra Sound App, users can also get an enhanced music experience. The app will gives you the full Dolby Digital Plus sound and you can use the App to create and browse through playlists, share music, and adjust the graphic equalizer so that you can play your tracks the way you want to hear them.

Well, with Christmas just round the corner, the Jabra Solemate is a suitable gift that you can consider getting for your techie/geeky friend who loves to share their music with others, and since we are on the topic of gift ideas; we will also be publishing a few more blog posts about some other recommended gifts that you can get for all your loved ones and friends so do look out for that. 🙂

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In Gift Ideas 3 Mins Read

How I Enjoy Music On My Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds While On The Move!

Offering very good mid and high end sound quality, listening to my favourite hits while on the move with the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds has allowed me to enjoy life more comfortably. Whether at work, at play, or even at home, the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds has given me space and time to enjoy music wirelessly; no matter where I may be.
Jamming to my favourite hits with the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 Earbuds

Listening to some soothing music while working on my laptop.

I really enjoy my weekly runs and gym workouts ever since I’ve gotten the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds. With the P2i military-grade nano-coating on the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds, it effectively waterproofs the headset and protects it from sweat and other moisture. Hence, it allows me to run and gym with a peace of mind knowing that my Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds is well protected no matter how much I sweat it out during my workouts. With the ability to pair with up to eight devices instead of just one, I can conveniently switch from one device to another with no hassle.

Coupled with the battery charger cum carrying pouch that comes with a short micro USB cable, the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 can be plugged in to add an additional 10 hours of listening time. A small button and two LEDs on the pouch indicate the pouch’s charging level and if it is charging the headset.

With so much to offer, you definitely can’t miss the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds!

If you enjoy music the way I do, go grab your very own Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds now! And with Christmas fast approaching soon, the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds certainly makes a very lovely gift for the techies!

Here’s 5 easy steps to purchasing your very own Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 earbuds with 15% discount off!

Step 1: Go to http://mbpr.sh/1cjnw0k and you will land yourself at this page.

Step 2: Scroll down, key in 15omymelee in the promo code field, and click “Apply”.

Step 3: You will see the discounted price and thereafter, click “Pay Now”.

Step 4: You can pay through your PayPal Account [if you have] or you can also proceed without having a PayPal Account.

Step 5: If you’re paying without a PayPal Account, you have to key in your details and then click “Review & Continue”. Thereafter, you can make your payment and that’s it! You now own the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Bundle that consist of the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 earbuds and the portable Charging Case!

Do note that the 15% discount is only valid for the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Bundle [Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 earbuds + portable Charging Case] that cost SGD$199 and not the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 standalone earbuds that cost SGD$159.

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In Beauty and Fashion 3 Mins Read

L’ILE AUX ASHBY’s Spring/Summer 2014 Women’s Wear and Men’s Wear Collection

Last Sunday, we were at the Digital Fashion Week at the National Design Centre to catch the runway showcase of L’ILE AUX ASHBY by Rayson Tan and we got a glimpse of the stunning Spring/Summer 2014 Women’s Wear and Men’s Wear Collection that are now available at ASOS Marketplace.

The Door Gifts [Instant Photo Prints] at the Digital Fashion Week is a pretty interesting affair!

What’s L’ILE AUX ASHBY [pronounced as “L” “OR” “ASH” “B”]?

L’ILE AUX ASHBY is a fashion label by Rayson Tan for the discerning urbanite. With designs that encompass three distinctive attributes; quality, detail and exclusivity, it is no surprise that the masterpieces of L’ILE AUX ASHBY by Rayson Tan have been featured in the local and international media including VOGUE, VOGUE Italia, Glamour UK, Surface Asia, W Korea, Highsnobette.com, CNNGo, and Refinery29.com.

Rayson Tan [far right] with Elim Chew [in the middle], founder of 77th Street.

Entitled “Till Genesis Comes”, the Spring/Summer 2014 Women’s Wear and Men’s Wear Collection from L’ILE AUX ASHBY by Rayson Tan celebrates the idea of vitality in life and the tangible strings of existence in nature.

Its immerse focus on digital prints are engineered to tell the story of rebirth and creationism, from morning to noon, and thereafter to night, and how the cycles of day and the notion of time ignites the hope of new beginnings.

Taking a minimalist approach amidst the illustrative printed fabrics, the colours for the collection range from the brighter scale of bold fuchsias, orange, and sun yellows to showcase daytime. They are juxtaposed by contrasting darker shades of Persian blues and quintessential black in solid forms to signify the closure of day.

Made with a diverse mix of comfortable yet luxurious materials, the collection is in essence, an exploratory realm that is constructed for the sunny days ahead, with new beginnings, processes, and hints of rejuvenation instilled in all stylistic aspects.

This has got to be my personal favourite for the Spring/Summer 2014 Men’s Wear Collection and I am really hoping to buy it from the ASOS Marketplace soon!

Truly, the products of L’ILE AUX ASHBY are delicately made with full emphasis details of a work and because all these designs are limited in pieces, it gives access to a privileged minority. This allures the exclusivity of L’ILE AUX ASHBY.

What goes on behind-the-scenes in order to make L’ILE AUX ASHBY’s runway showcase at the Digital Fashion Week a success.

Rayson Tan, founder of L’ILE AUX ASHBY, believes that design is the welcome mist of air in our environment. Quoting him, “Design envelopes us, creating an impact in our daily routine. I have a strong desire to create the best designs that will hopefully revolutionize the way people perceive their surroundings; my intentions are to unlock the eyes and provoke thoughts. I am often spellbound with the world around me and that is where I find my inspiration.”

A closing photo with our dear friend whom was involved in helping to coordinate the runway showcase for L’ILE AUX ASHBY. 🙂

To discover more about Rayson Tan or L’ILE AUX ASHBY, do check out Rayson Tan’s Website or L’ILE AUX ASHBY’s Facebook Page!

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In Gift Ideas 5 Mins Read

[For All Tea Lovers]- Betjeman and Barton Opens In Singapore @ Raffles City Shopping Centre

Betjeman & Barton is a tea boutique that was started in France in 1919 and they sell over 200 varieties of tea. With over 20 outlets across France, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada and even Japan; Betjeman & Barton is more than a century-old name.
For many years, Betjeman & Barton relied on pioneers with an entrepreneurial spirit and they have established the company’s reputation and credentials of tea “à la française”. If you’re wondering what’s “à la française”, it basically means “in the manner/style of the French”.

Offering the finest teas from the world’s greatest gardens and plantations, tea lovers like yourself can now enjoy the wide range of tea selections from Betjeman & Barton right here in the little island of Singapore!

Located at Raffles City Shopping Centre [#B1-33], the shop front of Betjeman & Barton exudes a very charming and welcoming Parisian outlook and upon stepping in, you can see rows of interesting and colourful tea caddies that are all neatly lined up on the shelves.

For the Betjeman & Barton Tea Boutique in Singapore, they carry 100 over varieties of tea collections and there are plans to bring in even more varieties. The tea collections from Betjeman & Barton are mainly grouped into 4 different types; the reds, the greens, the blacks, and the whites. If you have problems deciding on a particular tea blend, knowing your personal tea preference would help you make a better decision. However, if you are unsure and you need some recommendations, the service staffs from Betjeman & Barton will be glad to assist you.

If you are new to tea or if you belong to the Millennium Generation, your idea of tea would probably be those that come in the forms of tea bags for example, “Lipton”. Now, those type of teas are sometimes considered inferior because the tea leaves used are of a lower grade and quality. However, we’re not saying that all teas that come in tea bags are inferior. For Betjeman & Barton, the tea leaves used in their nylon tea bags are of the same type and quality as those that are in the tea caddies. Each of their tea bags contains 2 grams of tea leaves to be exact and that is the same amount of tea leaves used for steeping even if you purchase loose tea leaves. Hence, you get the same type and quality of tea, whether you purchase loose tea leaves or the tea bags.

For the tea connoisseurs, you would probably purchase loose tea leaves and if you’re the sort of person whom enjoys hosting tea parties at home, you might want to consider getting the intricately-designed caddies which you can display at home to impress your guests with your other extensive collections of tea, while at the same time, use it to store your loose tea leaves.

In case you’re wondering about the storage of tea leaves, they can be kept for 2-3 years in a cool and dry place. Do also make sure that the tea leaves are not exposed to light. If you are serious about keeping your tea properly, you can also purchase a tea storage box from Betjeman & Barton!

Apart from tea leaves, the Betjeman & Barton Tea Boutique at Raffles City Shopping Centre also carry teapots and tea accessories such as tea infusers and tea strainers.

Tea Infuser

Tea Strainers

The hand-crafted teapots are directly imported from England and they are unique because no one teapot is the same.

And since Christmas is just round the corner, we’re pretty sure you will be able to find a suitable gift that will delight all your tea-loving friends.

If you are still clueless about what teas to get, here’s a list of the 5 best-selling teas at Betjeman & Barton; they are:

1. Pouchkine

The recipe is secret since its creation 40 years ago. Like a magical elixir, its taste is a reminiscence of Russia and it is forever the oldest and most enjoyed Betjeman & Barton tea; loved by the company itself and its faithful customers throughout the world.

2. Autumn Blend

One of Betjeman & Barton’s most successful creations ! Figs, grapes, quinces, nuts, raisins and sunflower petals create a warm and intimate atmosphere on a base of black teas. It is a tea you will enjoy by the fireside, while looking at the falling leaves.

3. Parlez Moi d’Amour [Speak To Me Of Love]

When the heady jasmine, velvety raspberry, sunny orange flavours and ylang-ylang essential oils are combined with a green tea, it is more than an intoxicating potion for a night of love. As Lucienne Boyer used to sing it, they are “tender things” and we are never tired of “hearing” them. Truly, this is a tea to be savoured together!

4. Rooibos Stracciatella

Red tea from South Africa perfumed with chocolate, vanilla, pieces of dark chocolate, and coconuts.

5. Lundi Light! [Monday Light!]
This unique tea combines green tea, oil of lemon, ginger and lemongrass from Mexico. Perfect for reviving your energy and peps and for driving away the blues! A real delight when drunk iced!

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A brand of excellence tinged with originality and coupled with a desire to offer products that meet the most intimate wishes of each visitor, Betjeman & Barton definitely has a multitude of teas to delight and enchant! Do feel free to browse around the Betjeman & Barton Tea Boutique at Raffles City Shopping Centre and take a whiff of the blended perfumed teas that are available.

Also, for a limited time only, you will receive a complimentary Tea Pouch with every purchase; while stocks last!

Hurry & go check out the Betjeman & Barton Tea Boutique at Raffles City Shopping Centre to get your tea-cravings fixed and if you would like to be kept updated about the latest promotions and offers, don’t forget to “like” Betjeman & Barton Singapore’s Facebook Page!

Happy Tea-ing!

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In Gift Ideas 4 Mins Read

[Blog Giveaway]- LEGO Friends Friendship Campaign

LEGO Friends has recently launched their new Friendship Campaign and as part of the Friendship Campaign, they have rolled out a short film duology webisodes entitled, “How to Build a Friendship”. This short film showcases five young friends gathered around a table, sharing tips, thoughts, and opinions of friendship while playing with LEGO Friends. As we watched the video, we found it really heartwarming and pretty funny at the same time!

The videos are a very cheerful take on interaction between friends, and the joys associated with coming together in play, as each girl candidly shares her views on topics and scenarios about friendship. These include lovely moments when one young girl for example, mentions that she would do a chicken dance to cheer a friend up, and another saying how being truthful is one of the most important elements in friendship.

In addition to the short film, LEGO Friends has also rolled out a Limited Edition Friendship Diary that encourages children to jot down their thoughts and feelings.

The Friendship Diary is also filled with several engaging activities such as drawing spaces, craftwork, and an assortment of games that children can play with their friends. To add on, the diary can be personalised with an array of bright and colourful stickers that come with the diary.

To redeem one of these delightful limited-edition Friendship Diaries, simply spend a minimum of SGD$60 on LEGO® Friends products in a single receipt and submit a photo of that receipt together with the purchaser’s name, address, product code, and contact number to LEGOFriends@legosingapore.com before 31 January 2014!

In partnership with LEGO Friends, we will be giving away 3 prizes that would definitely delight your little ones. The Top Prize will consist of a Friendship Diary and a Heartlake Pet Salon worth SGD$59.90 and the 2 Runner Up Prizes will consist of a Friendship Diary and a Mia’s Magic Tricks worth SGD$19.90.

Friendship Diary

Heartlake Pet Salon [Includes Emma and Joanna mini-doll figures and a poodle]

Celebrate the grand opening of the Heartlake Pet Salon! Everyone’s excited to check it out! The little ones can help Joanna to shampoo her friend Emma’s pretty white poodle in the bubble bath, then trim and clip her on the rotating grooming table.

Use the blow dryer and brushes to make her perfect! While Emma is waiting for her puppy to be groomed, help her to shop for new pet food and lots of accessories in the salon’s shop. Then fill up the water dish at the tap for the poodle to drink. With all of these accessories and functions, the little ones can really pamper all of the pretty pets in Heartlake City!

Mia’s Magic Tricks [Includes Mia mini-doll figure]

Mia’s practicing hard for the big Heartlake City magic show. The little ones can help Mia to learn tricks with cards, a magic wand, flowers, her bunny and a top hat.

Build her stage for the big performance then stun the crowds with a cute performing bunny that disappears into its own magic cabinet. Amaze the crowds when the bunny disappears!

To win these delightful prizes, all you have to do is the following:

Step 1. Like LEGO Singapore Facebook Page & A Winsome Life Facebook Page.

Step 2. Take a photo of you and your good friends having some fun.

Step 3. Submit your photo, accompanied with a short write-up on your thoughts about what “Friendship” really means to you, to admin@awinsomelife.org by 15 November 2013 [Friday], 2359 hours.

The 3 most heartfelt entries will be selected by us to win prizes from LEGO Friends and your submission will be featured on our Facebook Page and the LEGO Friends Friendship Campaign’s Website.

Have fun and be merry!

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In Gift Ideas 6 Mins Read

LG G2 Singapore Launch @ The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

We were invited to the launch of the all-new LG G2 smartphone that took place last Thursday at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore and we were blown away with the innovative features that LG has packed into the LG G2 smartphone.

As the LG G2 is packed with tons of features that would make this blog post an extremely lengthy one, we will only be zooming in on the features that we found pretty awesome and worth mentioning about.

Born from LG’s consumer-centric innovation, the LG G2 is the ultimate premium brand in the G series and it provides the most advanced smartphone experience for a very distinctive purpose; that is, offering real-life benefits to users.

Design

More often than not, smartphones with strong performance tend to be bulky, thick, and crude in design, and sometimes you probably might find yourself getting stuck in a situation where you either sacrifice performance for design or vice-versa when choosing a smartphone.

Now, who says you can’t have the best of both worlds? With the LG G2, there is absolutely no compromise in both performance and design because the LG G2 provides a comfortable grip feeling even with a wide screen and slim design. Also, what is extremely unique about the LG G2 is that there are no buttons by the side of the phone but instead, the Rear Key has been ergonomically-designed and placed at the back of the phone.

The refined Rear Key carries out a myriad of functions and it utilizes the natural and frequent use of the index finger to provide a new level of convenience. When a user wants to turn the volume up or down, he/she doesn’t have to change the grip of the device because the Rear Key is place on the back where the user’s index finger is naturally placed. With the Rear Key, users are able to operate a number of frequently used features conveniently such as QuickMemo or Camera.

Hardware

Display

LG G2’s Stunning and Uninterrupted Wide Viewing with 5.2-inch Full HD IPS Display provides superior graphics, accurate colors, sharp text, outdoor visibility and dazzling images without distortion. The Full HD IPS display of LG G2 outperforms current Full HD smartphone display panels.

Camera

There are other smartphone cameras in the market with Optical Image Stabilizer [OIS] technology but it has mostly been available on 4 MegaPixels or 8 MegaPixels smartphone cameras. As such, the LG G2 is the first smartphone with a 13 MegaPixels OIS camera without any boxy bumps or unsightly lens housings; hence maintaining its slim and sleek design.

With LG G2’s OIS camera, users are liberated from the concerns of taking blurred pictures because the OIS technology constantly makes micro-adjustment that helps to keep the image clear, even when presented with shaky movement. Therefore, users also no longer have to worry about blurry images taken under dim light conditions.

Don’t believe the wonders of the LG G2’s OIS Camera? Well, we actually shared similar sentiments until we saw for ourselves this video that was captured by the LG G2’s OIS Camera.

Battery
LG G2’s 3,000mAh high-density battery backed by the SiO+ technology provides the best-in-class energy capacity.

Performance

The Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor redefines the smartphone experience through performance that no one can defeat. With Qualcomm, LG was able to deploy the chipset that is tightly integrated with the device in the LG G2 to offer a stable and striking performance. The LG G2 is the world’s first smartphone to be globally launched that incorporates this processor.

Audio

The LG G2 is the first Android smartphone featuring 24bit, 192kHz Hi-Fi sound playback. When users listen to 24bit, 192kHz Hi-Fi sound under an ideal condition, they can experience high quality ample sound that stands out compared to other sound sources such as CD.

Audio Zoom is a feature that allows you to focus on what you want to hear. It enables users to zoom in the sound, as they zoom in the images while video-recording. Not only is the image enlarged, the sound associated with the area is also amplified, thanks to LG G2’s multiple stereo mikes that amplify the sound from a specified area and de-emphasize the surrounding noise for video recording.

Here’s a video to illustrate the Audio Zoom feature.

Our Personal Take On The LG G2 smartphone?

The LG G2 smartphone is a worthy contender amongst the various Android smartphones that are currently available in the market. In terms of performance and specifications, the LG G2 is on the high side and coupled with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core 2.2GHz processor with 2GB RAM, the LG G2 is rather intuitive and responsive. What’s more, the LG G2 smartphone is also an entertainment powerhouse where you can take great pictures and play some awesome high-quality audio tracks!

While we have been iOS users for quite awhile now, temptations to switch over to the Android platforms are pretty much in our mind especially with all the really cool and innovative features that Android smartphones can do. If we have to choose between the latest iPhone 5C/5S and the LG G2, we will definitely go for the LG G2.

For the price of SGD$898, the LG G2 will be available at all telcos and authorized retailers from 21st September 2013.

Summary of Key Specifications for the LG G2:
Processor: 2.26GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 featuring quad Krait CPU
Display: 5.2-inch Full HD IPS (1080 x 1920 pixels / 423 ppi)
Memory: 32GB RAM: 2GB LPDDR3 800MHz
Camera: Rear 13.0MP with OIS / Front 2.1MP
Battery: 3,000mAh
Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2
Size: 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9mm
Colors: Black / White

For more information about the LG G2 smartphone, you can check out LG Mobile Singapore’s Facebook Page too! If you want to check out some pretty good reviews of the LG G2, you can either check out Hardware Zone’s Review of the LG G2 or the Asia Cnet’s Review of the LG G2; both of which are pretty credible and balanced.

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In Gift Ideas 6 Mins Read

[Taichung Attraction Review]- Carton King & Banana New Paradise

In our recent trip to Taichung, Taiwan, the last two attractions that we went to was Carton King and Banana New Paradise. If anyone is wondering, we actually planned for a day tour in Taichung because we really miss the Tai Yang Bing [a.k.a Sun Biscuit/Cake] and we found it pretty pointless to spend money on High Speed Rail Tickets to Taichung just for boxes of Tai Yang Bing. Hence, we decided to sniff out other attractions that we haven’t been to so that we could kill multiple birds with one stone.
Carton King

Last year, we were at the Carton King branch in Nantou and this time round, we went to the Carton King Creativity Park in Taichung. The Carton King Creativity Park in Taichung is way bigger than the one we went to in Nantou and there are also more things to look at and shop for.

Ticket booth made of cardboxes and paper.

Entrance tickets to Carton King Creativity Park cost $200 TWD and it also comes with a voucher that we could use to buy souvenirs or food and beverage.

Almost all of the displays in Carton King Creativity Park is made by corrugated paper.

Sitting on the sofa like a boss. The sofa was made out of cardboards.

If you wish to purchase some of these unique displays, you can do so at the souvenir store but you would have to assemble them from scratch. The souvenir store also has some really interesting cards that you might want to check out and purchase as gifts for your family members and friends.

Apart from the souvenir store, there’s also a mini bee/honey museum, a restaurant, and a candy store! As our next destination was Banana New Paradise [a unique 1900s-themed restaurant], we skipped lunch at Carton King Creativity Park. If you’re planning to visit Carton King Creativity Park, do note that the restaurant only serves lunch from 1100 to 1400 and dinner from 1700 to 2030. A meal for an adult would cost approximately 250 TWD to 400 TWD and for children, it would cost about 150 TWD.

The dining table and seats in the restaurant at Carton King is also made of cardboard.

At the mini honey/bee museum at Carton King Creativity Park. This is the reason why I deserve to be an actor.

Jacqueline’s new found friends.

To go or not to go?

Verdict: Carton King Creativity Park is really unique and there are probably no other places like it. There are tons of opportunities for photos and if you’re an artsy person, Carton King Creativity Park might be your source of inspiration for some creativity. The souvenirs available are reasonably priced and some of the DIY kits are pretty interesting and suitable to be placed at home for decoration purposes. Hence, we personally feel that you ought to have Carton King Creativity Park in your itinerary if you’re planning to visit Taichung. In fact, we would definitely return to get some more stuffs from their souvenir store because they are really unique and inexpensive.

Banana New Paradise

Banana New Paradise is situated near to the Confucius Temple, the Taichung Broadcasting Bureau, and Yizhong Night Market. It was a pity that we didn’t have much time to explore this part of Taichung because we uncovered quite a number of attractions in this vicinity where Banana New Paradise is at.

Banana New Paradise has an old train carriage right outside their restaurant.

Old telephone communication system onboard the old train carriage.

If you wondering what is Banana New Paradise, it is essentially a theme restaurant that serves Chinese and Taiwanese meals. The decorations and displays in the 1900s-themed restaurant is really unique and you will get a taste of what it feels like to be living in Taiwan during that era.

The restaurant even has an entire, authentic-looking replication of a Taiwan street from the 1920s to 1940s. Apart from the colonial-era store fronts and the displays of real antiques, there’s also old mailboxes, signs and posters, a 50-year-old taxi, motorcycles, fully-stocked camera store, dentist office, barber shop, movie theater, and a candy and toy store too. All these can be found in Banana New Paradise and they are really a sight to behold.

The toy and candy shop!

Yes, they even have features from the Ching Dynasty!

Old school barber shop.

An old school cinema booth! We used to have something like this in Singapore too.

Old school cinema posters.

Real antiques that are extremely rare.

I don’t really know what this is but it sure looks like a machine used for shaving ice.

Your eyes ain’t tricking you. This is not some part of an alley. In fact, they are inside the theme restaurant itself!

It’s time for school!

We were quite surprised to see this fire hydrant inside the restaurant too!

Jacqueline posing for a photo with the fire hydrant.

Old school cameras.

Visitors can sit at tables along the “street”, or inside “shops”, and enjoy Chinese and Taiwanese meals.

The super duper unique food menu.

And how was the food?

It was really superb!

When we were there, we did not manage to arrive in time for their normal lunch hours and as a result, we only managed to order some light snacks to fill ourselves. Hence, it was more like a high tea session than lunch.

Char Siew Pau

Carrot Cake

Fried Beancurd Roll

Fried Sticky Rice

Ice Lemon Tea

Icy Mango

To go or not to go?

Verdict: Banana New Paradise is definitely one of the most extraordinary theme restaurants in Taichung and the food is relatively superb as well. The cost of having a meal at Banana New Paradise is reasonable though it is considered to be on the higher end by the locals. If you’re a history buff and you want to have an experience of what living in Taiwan during the 1900s is like, you might want to include Banana New Paradise in your itinerary. Furthermore, there’s no entrance fees and you pay only for what you consume in the restaurant.

Overall, our one day tour at Taichung was a really fruitful one and as you can see, we bought lots of goodies on just one single day.

I was personally very tired from the one-day trip in Taichung and here I am taking a quick power nap before arriving in Taiwan for the rest of our trip.

 

In our few upcoming blog entries, we will be sharing with you some of the interesting places that we have been to in Taipei and New Taipei so do look out for that! Have a lovely weekend! 🙂

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In Entertainment 4 Mins Read

The Phantom of the Opera Gala Night @ Marina Bay Sands [Mastercard Theatre]

Two days ago, we were extremely privileged and honoured to have been invited to the Gala Night of The Phantom of the Opera at the Marina Bay Sands [Mastercard Theatre] and we really enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

We felt like superstars! 😛

In case you’re wondering, The Phantom of the Opera is a musical that tells a heart-wrenching story of the mysterious, hideously disfigured Phantom who lives beneath the Paris Opera House, and his obsession with the young singer Christine. Disguised as the ‘Angel of Music’ he devotes himself to creating a new opera star, and winning her love from his rival, Raoul, while exercising a reign of terror over the Opera House.

The theatre was packed with people even before the performance commence.

The really beautiful and stunning stage decoration.

The team from The Phantom of the Opera has performed in Singapore at the Kallang Theatre in 1995 and at the Esplanade Theatre in 2007. This year, The Phantom of the Opera will be showing at the Marina Bay Sands, Mastercard Theatre and they will performing here in Singapore till 25 August 2013!

Now, if you haven’t watch The Phantom of the Opera before, you absolutely have to catch it! Even as we’re typing this blog post, recalling our experience certainly gives us the goosebumps because it was our first time watching The Phantom of the Opera and it has left quite a lasting impression on us. In fact, we felt our emotions running high when we were in the theatre watching the splendid performance.

A photo with the suave Anthony Downing whom acted as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera.

With 130 cast, crew and orchestra members, jaw-dropping scenery, breathtaking special effects, and more than 230 stunning costumes, The Phantom of the Opera contains some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous and stirring music.

Music of the Night is our all-time favourite music in The Phantom of the Opera.

To be honest, The Phantom of the Opera is a show that you must catch at least once in your lifetime. As for us, we will definitely be catching it the next time it returns to Singapore or if we’re travelling overseas to London/New York.

The Phantom of the Opera is the world’s most successful and popular musical, and the longest-running show on Broadway. It celebrated its 27th anniversary on the West End stage last year, and continues to play to full houses nightly in London, New York and around the world. The Phantom of the Opera has been seen by over 130 million people worldwide, has been performed in more than 27 countries, has won over 50 major theatre awards, and has grossed more than US$5.6 billion.

The Phantom of the Opera is truly God’s gift to musical theatre.

Don’t miss this rare chance to catch such an awesome production right here in Singapore because nobody knows when The Phantom of the Opera would return to haunt Singapore again. So hurry along and book your tickets fast because it will definitely be a sell-out event!

Here are some details that you might like to take note of.

Showtimes:
16 Jul – 25 Aug 2013
Tuesday – Friday: 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 2pm & 8pm

Duration:
Approx 2 hours and 30 minutes [including 15 minutes interval]

Interval:
Approx 15 minutes

Ticket Price [Exclude Booking Fee]:

[Image Credits to Sistic]

VIP [includes drink + programme] – S$230
A Reserve – S$165
B Reserve – S$145
C Reserve – S$125
D Reserve – S$95
E Reserve – S$55
VIP Box (4 Seats) – S$920 [includes drink + programme]
Box Seats (2 Seats) – $250

Restricted Views
F Reserve – S$165
G Reserve – S$145

Tickets can be purchased from the ticketing counters at Marina Bay Sands or via the hotline phone number, 6688-8826. For greater convenience and accessibility, you can also purchase the tickets through Base Entertainment Asia’s Website. 

The Phantom awaits your presence..

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In Gift Ideas 5 Mins Read

[Smartphone Preview]- The LG Optimus G Pro Arrives In Singapore!

Some time ago, we were invited to preview the Optimus G Pro Smartphone at the Patisserie G @ Millennia Walk, and we had the opportunity to touch, feel, and play with the Optimus G Pro Smartphone.
[Credits to LG Mobile Singapore for the image]

The Optimus G Pro is the first smartphone in Singapore with a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display and it has double the resolution compared to a HD IPS display. With the immersive Full HD IPS display on the Optimus G Pro, it offers users an optimal image quality.

The Optimus G Pro sports a very urban and sleek look and with its crystal reflection, the Optimus G Pro is stunningly attractive as well. Available in two colours, Indigo Black and Lunar White, the Optimus G Pro has a size of 150.2mm X 76.14mm X 9.4mm and weighs 172g. Due to its slim design, the Optimus G Pro allows users to have an optimal grip that fits perfectly into their hands.

Utilizing the latest advanced technology, the Optimus G Pro features an array of multi-dimensional user experience [UX] features that enhance the users’ engagement with the smartphone and we really like a few of them. In case you’re wondering, some of the UX features like the QSlide 2.0 are already available on the LG Optimus G Smartphone.

QSlide 2.0

The QSlide 2.0 function allows users to overlay two different screens simultaneously on one display. This hence allows users to do two things at once, such as send a text message or search the web while also watching a video.

QuickRemote

The Optimus G Pro is the world’s first smartphone that is equipped with an all-in-one remote control. To use this function, users just have to register the home appliances into the Optimus G Pro and thereafter, the user can control the electronic devices through infrared signal. The QuickRemote supports up to nine home electronics or appliances such as TV sets, set-top boxes, air conditioners, audio visual equipments, projectors and blu-ray players from a variety of brands. This is definitely one UX feature of the Optimus G Pro that we really love!

Smart Video

With advanced eye recognition technology, Smart Video recognizes the position of the viewer’s eyes and automatically plays or stops the video without any manual input from the user.

Dual Camera and Dual Recording

The Dual Camera and Dual Recording functions allow users to capture pictures or videos with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously. Users can now partake in the video during any special moments and capture all the wonderful expression made from both sides of the camera.

VR Panorama

The VR Panorama function allows the creation of seamless and picturesque 360° view of scenic shots horizontally and vertically.

Pause and Resume Recording

The Pause and Resume Recording feature allows for the recording of short snippets of videos which can then be viewed as one uninterrupted video, thereby reducing the time and effort taken to string the clips together to form a continuous running clip. This is a rather useful UX feature that will come in handy for users whom are constantly producing videos as it will cut short the time needed for video-editing.

In addition to all these wonderful UX features that are available on the Optimus G Pro, the swift 1.7 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ quad-core processor enhances the processing power of the smartphone by up to 24%! This hence supports data transfers and the launch of resource-intensive applications at blazing fast speed.

The Optimus G Pro runs on the Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 platform and has a 2GB DDR RAM and an onboard memory capacity of 16GB. The memory capacity is expandable with a microSD card of up to 64GB. The Optimus G Pro uses the MicroSIM card and it supports 4G mobile networks.

The Li-Ion battery on the Optimus G Pro is removable and has a capacity of 3140mAh. This is the largest battery capacity for a 5.5-inch smartphone. Besides charging the smartphone using the USB cable, the Optimus G Pro can also be charged using a wireless charging dock that is sold separately. As such, you can charge the Optimus G Pro conveniently anywhere, any time.

With the growing demand for 4G smartphones, the Optimus G Pro smartphone is a phone not to be missed as it supports all LTE frequency bands. This makes it compatible with any 4G LTE network in the world. With a quad-band mobile antenna, the Optimus G Pro is able to secure the fastest LTE speeds, supporting both 2×2 and 4×2 multiple-input-multiple-output [MIMO] channel configuration. Hence, it is no surprise that the LG Optimus G Pro was awarded the Best LTE Device/Handset Award at the LTE World Summit 2013 that took place at Amsterdam.

[Credits to LG Mobile Singapore for the image]

The Optimus G Pro will be available in Singapore early July for the price of $868 and if you’re looking for a high-performance smartphone that is stylish and sleek, you might want to consider the Optimus G Pro for your next phone purchase.

For more information about the LG Optimus G Pro, do check out LG’s Website and  and if you would like to be kept updated about LG’s upcoming mobile phones and promotions, do like LG Mobile Singapore Facebook Page.

In our next entry, we will be sharing about our user-experience with SingTel’s 4G Network and it will definitely be an insightful read because with more and more upcoming 4G smartphones that will be launching soon, it would be good for you to know how you can benefit from SingTel’s 4G Network.

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In Gift Ideas 6 Mins Read

Lavender Cottage @ Taichung

It is now time for us to indulge in sharing about our recent trip to Taiwan. For this year, we spent only 4 days in Taiwan and though it was a short vacation, we managed to cover quite a number of attractions and we returned back to Singapore tired but happy.

Our 4 Days 3 Nights itinerary were as follows:…

Day 1- Taichung & Taipei Taiwan: -Lavender Cottage -Xinshe Castle -Mushroom Farm -Carton King Creativity Park -Banana New Paradise -Xi Men Ding

Day 2- Taipei, Taiwan: -Xi Men Ding -Raohe Night Market

Day 3- New Taipei & Taipei, Taiwan: -Jingtong Railway Station -Shifen Old Street -Shifen Waterfall -Jiu Fen -Gold Ecological Park -Golden Waterfall -Shuinandong Smelter -Ying Yang Sea -Shilin Night Market

Day 4- Taipei, Taiwan -Shuang Lian

As we have previously written some articles about our earlier trips to Taiwan in 2011 and 2012, we might be repeating some of these entries as there are some new and updated information to include. Hence, do give us some time as we do our best to consolidate our various experiences in Taiwan.

As usual, we took the midnight flight to Taipei via Scoot Airlines and we arrived at Taoyuan International Airport at 05:55am in the morning. Having picked up our baggage and cleared the customs, we took the U Bus, Bus Number 705, to Taipei High Speed Rail Station. The cost of the bus trip is NT$30 per person and it took about 20 minutes.

Since we arrived early at Taipei High Speed Rail Station, we had some light breakfast and then boarded the High Speed Train to Taichung.

Last year, we took the Business Class Seats but for this particular trip, we decided to go for the Economy Class Seats as we wanted to save more for our shopping spree. The cost of the train trip was NT$540 per person and it is way cheaper than the Business Class Seats. Furthermore, the only difference between the Economy Class Seats and Business Class Seats is that the Business Class Seats are wider and Business Class Passengers get some complimentary light snacks.

Before we even embarked on our flight to Taiwan, we had prearranged with our hired driver to pick us up at Taichung High Speed Rail Station. Hence, this really save us a lot of hassle and trouble from having to lug our luggage around, and the best part is, we had more time to cover more attractions.

Our first stop for the first day was the Lavender Cottage.

Having done some extensive research, we decided that we wanted to reconnect with nature and hence this was the very reason why Lavender Cottage was part of our itinerary. The car journey from Taichung High Speed Rail Station to Lavender Cottage took about 45 minutes and because it is situated in the mountains, there aren’t any public bus that plies the area. Hence, the only mode of transportation to get there would be via private transport and if you’re up for the challenge, you could hike up too but it will be quite a long journey up.

The operating hours for Lavender Cottage are as follows:

Monday to Friday 10:30 – 18:30
Saturday to Sunday 10:00 – 18:30

In case you’re wondering whether there’s any entrance fees to Lavender Cottage, yes there is. It will cost NT$200 per person to enter Lavender Cottage but to be honest, the price is really worth it as the entrance ticket also comes with a NT$200 voucher that you can use to shop for souvenirs or buy food/drinks.

When we were there, it was the season for Salvia Flowers and though we expected to see tons of Lavender Flowers, we didn’t have the opportunity as it wasn’t the season for it. In case you’re wondering, the season for Lavender Flowers is from November to April.

The Lavender Cottage offers tons of opportunities for photo-taking and we really like the setting.

When we reached Lavender Cottage, the first thought that came to our mind was to take a deep breath of fresh air! The sky was indeed beautiful and what do we see? A heart-shaped cloud!

Even the souvenir shop has lots of interesting stuffs that you can purchase too.

We were quite spoilt for choices as there were so many souvenirs to choose from. They had tea leaves.

Handmade Soaps…

Bathing Salts…

Oil Essence…

Scented Creams and Lotions…

Of course there are tons of other souvenirs that are available at Lavender Cottage but it would be too much to list them all. So, if you’re wondering what you should get if you happen to be there, we will highly recommend you to get their handmade soaps or their scented bags.

An overview map of Lavender Cottage.

When you start walking around Lavender Cottage, you might spot some Geckos like these and it is said that they are attracted to people wearing white t-shirts. I’m not too sure if they bite or what not but it is better for you to stay clear of them.

Here are just some shots that we took while exploring Lavender Cottage.

A cart full of logs for the fireplace.

Looks somewhat like our Singapore Botanical Gardens.

The colourful signages that points to the various attractions in Lavender Cottage.

They even have the merry-go-round ride in what seems like a jungle.

Jacqueline playing with the stuffed toys.

One of the food and beverage outlets where you can purchase some cakes and drinks.

If you wish, you can have a picnic in the jungle for that nature-feel.

There are postcards available from the souvenir shop and you can actually buy one and send it to your family members and friends, or even to yourself.

A nursery room in the jungle!

How I wish there was something like this when we were outfield.

Pretty flowers!

The owners of Lavender Cottage stays in this really huge house and in case you’re wondering, yes, there are people currently living in it.

The really beautiful ladies bathroom/toilet that every lady dream to have at home.

To go or not to go to the Lavender Cottage?

Well, we say, “To Go!”

The Lavender Cottage is a worthy attraction and like we mentioned, there are really tons of opportunities for photo-taking. Moreover, the scenery is really beautiful and when you stepped into the surroundings, you will find yourself relaxed and calm.

Given the opportunity, we will definitely visit this beautiful place of nature again. Though it may be quite a distance, the journey is definitely worth it. However, do bring along some insect repellent as there will be pesky mosquitoes that are eager to feed on you.  If you would like to check it out for yourself, the details of Lavender Cottage are as follows:

Address- No. 20, Zhongxing St, Xinshe Dist, Taichung City 426, Taiwan Telephone- +886425931066

If you also want to find out more information about Lavender Cottage, you can check out their website that is written in Mandarin at: http://www.lavendercottage.com.tw/

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