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I’m pretty sure everyone has heard of the Italian brand, MOMO. In fact, if you’re a car enthusiast, it is highly likely that you would more or less have heard of their car accessories. What about MOMO Design? Have you ever heard of them? In case you wondering, MOMO Design is related to MOMO. In fact, MOMO Design was founded as the Style Center of MOMO in 1981. The company soon evolved out of the racing world, with its new found mission of fusing technology and aesthetical value for lifestyle products.
MOMO Design watches are one of the historical products that helped defined the company image. Highly innovated materials – carbon fiber, titanium, and magnesium – in combination with unique and industrial design, MOMO Design watches have found their appreciative followers. As of today, the brand’s line includes Pilot, Magnesium, Essenziale, Diver, Speed, and Jet.

Well, I currently have one MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series] for sale.

From Momo Designer Watch

This MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series] that I currently have is Brand New In Box and Never Worn Before. The reason why I am selling away this watch is because I already own a very good watch [an Omega Seamaster] and I don’t have the need for another watch. As a matter of fact, I won this watch from a competition that I participated in.

The Box that Contains the MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series]

From Momo Designer Watch

Inside the Box contains this Casing which Houses the MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series]

From Momo Designer Watch

Here are some details of the MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series]

Brand: MOMO Design
Watch Condition: 10 (Brand New)
Type of Watch: Fashion/Sports
Model No.: MD2198BK-02BKRD-RB
Suitable For: Men/Ladies/Youths
Country of Origin: Italy
Asking Price: $350
Collection Details: Yours truly will deliver to the place of your convenience

Some other features of the MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series]

Strap: Rubber with Solid “Push Open” Buckle in Stainless Steel 316-L
Case: Stainless Steel 316-L
Movement: Myota OS11
Glass: Mineral
Dial: Black Dial
*Watch comes complete with Box and Warranty till 2014*

The MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series] is covered with Warranty till 2014!

From Momo Designer Watch

The MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series]

From Momo Designer Watch

The Back Casing of the MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series]

From Momo Designer Watch

Here’s 5 Reasons Why You Should Buy the MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series] From Me:

1). MOMO Design Watches are extremely rare to find in Singapore and so far, I haven’t seen anybody wearing a MOMO Design Watch. If you dislike having the same fashion accessories as anybody else, getting a MOMO Watch might be a good idea to pamper yourself this festive season.

2). Retail stores are selling the MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series] for SGD $480 while I’m selling it for SGD $350. That’s SGD $130 off the retail price and you probably can’t find the same MOMO Design Watch that sells at the price which I am offering!

3). The MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series] comes with a 2-Years Warranty till September 2014!

4). The MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series] is brand new and never worn before.

5). I can deliver the watch to the place of your convenience anytime.

Having said and shown so much about the MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series], if you are interested in purchasing this watch from me, do kindly drop me an email at melvin.ocs@gmail.com and I will return your email the soonest. If you’re planning to get a gift for someone this festive season, you might want to consider getting this MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series].

Also, I only have this one MOMO Design Watch [Jet Chrono Series] to sell. If you are really interested, kindly drop me an email ASAP as it is only available while stocks last.

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

We were recently at the launch of the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine at Kinokuniya Bookstore [Takashimaya] and it was a wonderful time of getting to know the people whom were behind the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine.

From Evernote Smart Notebook Lauch 2012

Look at all the wonderful goodie bags that they have prepared for us!

From Evernote Smart Notebook Lauch 2012

If you’re wondering what the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine is, do check out our previous blog entry here:
https://awinsomelife.org/2012/09/19/the-evernote-smart-notebook-by-moleskine/

During the launch, we were shown how we could get creative with the [Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine] and how we could use the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine in our everyday lives.

This is Mr. Ryan Lai, the General Manager of Working Unit

From Evernote Smart Notebook Lauch 2012

This is Mr. Tiang Lim Foo, Market Development for Evernote Application

From Evernote Smart Notebook Lauch 2012

Well, to be honest, the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine is really a perfect gift for your loved ones, friends, and colleagues because the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine is especially suitable for anyone whom needs a place to jot down their thoughts and ideas; and turn them into digital formats which they can access on-the-go.

From Evernote Smart Notebook Lauch 2012

This sleek and contemporary-looking Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine comes with a free 3-months premium subscription to the Evernote Application that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

The Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine has been designed and optimised to work with the Evernote Application and if you’re running the Apple iOS version of the Evernote Application, it works even better.

Here’s 3 reasons why you should get the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine:

1). If you’re the sort of person who enjoys taking down notes and drawing out your creative ideas using a physical pen and paper, then the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine is for you. By using the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine, you can use it anytime anywhere at your own convenience and if you feel like sharing your notes and ideas, you can take a snapshot of it and share it with your friends, schoolmates, or colleagues via the Evernote Application.

2). Imagine you are on a flight for a business trip and you forgotten to bring along your [Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine] with you; and you need access to your notes for the next business meeting. What can you do? Well, fret not because every time you take a snapshot of your notes, it will be sent to the Evernote Application where your notes will be stored. Using your smartphones or mobile devices, you can access them anytime and anywhere.

3). Sick and tired of having all your disorganised notes laying around? Well, with the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine, you can now sort out your notes and categorise them using the Smart Sticker Tags that comes with it. What’s more, you can also customise the Smart Sticker Tags to your preference and search for your handwritten notes simply by keying in words and phrases in the Evernote Application.

The Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine are available in two sizes, large [SGD$41] and pocket [SGD$30], with both grid and ruled page designs, and it will be available at all Kinokunyia Bookstores across the island and as well as online at www.moleskineasia.com

From Evernote Smart Notebook Lauch 2012

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Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine:

1). Can I use the Evernote Application with any other notebooks besides the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine?

Answer: Yes you can; however, the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine is optimised to work with the Evernote Application. In fact, the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine has a unique “Evernote ruled” or “Evernote squared” page styles with dotted lines that is designed to ensure a clean image when you capture it with your Smartphone or mobile devices. Furthermore, the Smart Sticker Tags are only available with the purchase of an Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine.

2). Is the Evernote Application only available on Apple App Store and Google Play?

Answer: For now, yes.

3). Can I subscribe to the premium subscription of the Evernote Application without buying the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine?

Answer: Yes, you can. However, if you get the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine, you will get a free 3-months premium subscription to the Evernote Application that is worth $15!
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Here’s a group photo of the Bloggers whom attended the Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine Launch.

From Evernote Smart Notebook Lauch 2012

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

Are you thinking of owning a smart television [tv] but have a low budget for it? Or, are you thinking of how you can convert your old tv into a smart tv?
Well, technology has been advancing so rapidly that we sometimes find it truly amazing. In fact, what we once couldn’t do, we now could do and there’s so much more to what technology can offer the average consumer. Take for example, I recently bought a 32-inches Toshiba LCD Television [tv] and seriously, I was contemplating whether I should get a smart tv instead. So, after comparing the prices, I decided to buy the 32-inches Toshiba LCD tv that is not so smart and smarten it up by purchasing a separate device known as the MK 808 Google Android TV Player 4.1. The reason why I did so was because the price difference between a normal tv and a smart tv is rather huge.

Can you really smarten up an old tv? Well, yes you can! In fact, to do so, all you need is just hook up a mini pc/computer to your tv and viola, you have an old smart tv.

There are many types of mini pc that are available in the market and you got to really decide which one is suitable for your personal use. As a matter of fact, while Baby was browsing Groupon last week, she chanced upon a Groupon deal that was selling an Android 4.0 Smart PC at $89! Sounds like a good deal?! Well, not exactly. When I looked through the specifications of the device that Groupon was selling, I personally felt that it was a total rip-off!

The Android 4.0 Smart PC that Groupon was Selling for $89! [Image from Groupon.sg]

From Groupon’s site, the specifications of the Android 4.0 Smart PC are mentioned as such:

Operating System: Android 4.0
DDR RAM: 512MB
NAND Flash: 4GB
Network Device: Wireless 802.11b/g, WAPI
Supports Android Apps and external storage via USB Host/TF card
Interface: TF Card Slot, HDMI Input, Mini USB Input, USB Input, and DC Input
Supports most video (Mpeg, Divx, Xvid, AVI etc) and audio (AAC, MIDI, MP3, WMA and M4A etc) formats
Video Output: 1920x1080P, 720P, 576P, 480P, Super HD 2160P, 3D Film
Picture Formats: JPG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG

Now, if you’re the sort of person who’s into impulsive buying behaviour, you probably would have bought this device from Groupon rightaway and thought you have gotten a good deal. Well, allow me to introduce you to the MK808 Google Android TV Player 4.1 that Qoo10.sg is selling.

The MK808 Google Android TV Player 4.1 that Qoo10.sg is Selling for $94! [Image from Qoo10.sg]

From Qoo10.sg’s website, the specifications of the MK808 Google Android TV Player 4.1 are mentioned as such:

Operating System: Android 4.1
CPU: Rockchip RK3066 1.6Ghz Cortex A9 Dual Core
GPU: Mali400 MP4. Quad core. 2D/3D/OpenGL ES2.0/OpenVG1.1.
DDR RAM: 1GB
NAND Flash: 8GB
Network Device: Wireless 802.11b/g, WAPI
Supports Android Apps and external storage via USB Host/TF card
Interface: TF Card Slot, HDMI Input, Mini USB Input, USB Input, and DC Input
Supports most video (Mpeg, Divx, Xvid, AVI etc) and audio (AAC, MIDI, MP3, WMA and M4A etc) formats
Video Output: 1920x1080P@60FPS, 720P, 576P, 480P, Super HD 2160P, 3D Film
Picture Formats: JPG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG

For just $5 more, you get a more recent operating system, a better CPU and GPU, and, twice the Memory Capacity and Storage Capacity! So, why get a lousy product from Groupon when you can get a better one from Qoo10.sg?

Having done extensive research on the types of mini pcs that are available in the market and having done a few price comparisons here and there, I decided to get the MK808 Google Android TV Player 4.1 because of its attractive specifications and price.

The following video will introduce you to the MK808 Google Android TV Player 4.1 and in the video, I will also show you how I actually hooked up the device to my tv. [please pardon me for the video quality; i’m still fiddling around with using Adobe Premiere :P]

With the device now hooked up to my tv, I could surf the Internet, blog, chat, check my emails, and even play games on my tv! In fact, I could even pay a low monthly subscription fees to gain access to tv channels such as Discovery Channel, National Geographic, so on and so forth.

If you are interested in turning your not-so-smart tv to become a smart tv, you might want to check out the MK808 Google Android TV Player 4.1 that Qoo10.sg is selling. In fact, you can click the following link:

*****************************************

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

1). My tv is old and does not have any HDMI ports; can the device still work?

Answer: Well, the device still can work. Most modern tvs come with VGA ports and at the very least, RCA ports. All you have to do is just purchase an additional HDMI to VGA converter or a HDMI to RCA converter; depending on what ports your tv has; and connect them accordingly.

2). Can I upgrade the operating system on the device to the latest Android operating system?

Answer: Technically, you can, but you will need to rig the device and if you’re not technology savvy, I will strongly recommend you NOT to do it as the process can get quite complicated and you might end up bricking the device.

3). Can I watch tv channels, movies, or dramas on my device?

Answer: Yes, you can! However, you will need to search and download the right apps in order for you to do so. For instance, you can download the PPS app from Google Play and stream dramas and movies to your device and watch it on your tv.

*****************************************

Well, if you have any further questions about the device or any other queries about turning your not-so-smart tv into a smart tv, you can always drop us an email at admin@awinsomelife.org

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

It’s 23 more days to Christmas and we are feeling kinda generous. So, for this month, we have an exciting giveaway just for all of you Winsomelifers and all you have to do is just check out https://awinsomelife.org/current-blog-giveaway/ and you can participate in this giveaway by “Liking” our Facebook Page, “Tweeting” about our Giveaway, “Following” us on Twitter, or “Answering” our question, “Why do you want to win the bottle of Moscato D’Asti, G.D Vajra?”
The Bottle of Moscato D’Asti from G.D. Vajra that You Can Stand to Win

Now, this bottle of Moscato D’Asti from G.D. Vajra is our favourite and we really love it because it is really fruity and has a low alcohol content. In fact, we will always order this bottle of Moscato D’Asti from G.D. Vajra whenever we drop by The Straits Wine and honestly, this bottle of Moscato D’Asti from G.D. Vajra is extremely rare and is seldom found in Singapore. Having seeked high and low for this bottle of Moscato D’Asti from G.D. Vajra at various places in Singapore, The Straits Wine is by far the only company that we know is carrying this bottle of Moscato D’Asti from G.D. Vajra.

Wine Bottle Label of Moscato D’Asti G.D. Vajra

So, if you are interested in owning this bottle of Moscato D’Asti from G.D. Vajra, do submit your entry for the giveaway now! This giveaway is only open to those whom are 18 and above and proof of identity is required for verification. The winner will be contacted via Email or Facebook when the contest closes on 21 December 2012, 12PM.

For those of you whom are below 18, fret not because you can still join in our Winsomelifer Programme and accumulate points for “Liking” our Facebook Page and “Tweeting” about us. Each “Like” or “Tweet” will gain you 100 points and when you have accumulated sufficient points, you can use it to redeem for rewards such as Starbucks Gift Card, Popular Gift Vouchers, and Golden Village Gift Card. 🙂

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Some Background Information About G.D. Vajra that is extracted from The Straits Wine Website
[a winery in Italy that has a long-standing history of producing the finest wines]

The winery was established in 1972, but the Vaira family’s history dates back over two centuries from the Barolo. Aldo was a ‘city born guy’ from Torino and he returned as a young man to the farm. Thereafter, he fell in love with the life there and started a winery. To say it was a real challenge in those times to start a winery is an understatement; in fact, Aldo’s family and friends could not understand his decision to go back as most people were doing the exact opposite trying to get to the city and lead a better life.

The Vajra Family

Vajra wines are traditionally driven with longer macerations and they primarily use Slavonian casks for aging. However, Aldo does not use ‘traditional’ to describe his style. He is not conservative in the winery and he makes decisions based on the vintage and what the grapes that year deliver. Very high quality is his style. The wines as a whole are based on elegance and beauty are a benchmark for Barolo.

Today, Giuseppe whom is Aldo’s son, is the winemakers assistant to his father and he is full of the same passion and drive that Aldo has. G.D. Vajra is definitely in great hands for the future.

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Stay tuned to more updates from us and God bless!

Thanks to OMY Blog Club and The Icing Room, we were selected to receive a complimentary Mini DIY Yule Log Set and self-decorate it. In fact, when Baby received the wonderful news that we were going to DIY our own Yule Log Cake, she was so overjoyed that she started planning how to decorate it on paper.
Baby sketched her idea of how she wants the Yule Log Cake to look like on paper.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

So, we planned to collect the Mini DIY Yule Log Set over the last weekend and when we went to The Icing Room at Serangoon NeX to collect our Mini DIY Yule Log Set, we spotted fellow blogger, Ai Sakura [blogger of Sakura Haruka] there too.

Anyways, the Mini DIY Yule Log Cake comes in two different flavours, Vanilla Strawberry and Chocolate. Each Mini DIY Yule Log Set cost $18.80 and it contains a Mini Log Cake, 2 Festive Icing Decor, and 5 Packs of Icing and Cream Piping.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

We were ready to decorate our Mini DIY Yule Log Cake but realised that we were given only 3 and not 5 Packs of Icing and Cream Piping. 🙁

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

Since we only had 3 Packs of Icing and Cream Piping, we decided to make do with what we have and improvise a bit. To start of, we practised our drawing skills on bits and pieces of tissue papers.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

Satisfied with my drawing on the tissue papers, I began to draw a gigantic snowflake in the middle of the Yule Log Cake.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

This was how my final drawing on the Yule Log Cake looks like.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

Since we felt that the decorative items in the Mini DIY Yule Log Set weren’t enough, we bought some additional items such as the Angel Icing Decor and the Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cookie from The Icing Room.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

So…

Here’s a few snapshots of our final masterpiece.

Side view of our masterpiece.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

and Front view of our masterpiece.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

The Mini DIY Yule Log Set from The Icing Room is definitely a perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones because they will definitely be able to sense your sincerity when they see how much thought and effort you have put in to design the most beautiful Yule Log Cake there is on earth. Even if it is not meant to be a gift, you can still buy the Yule Log Set and have some quality family bonding time by designing your very own Yule Log Cakes. In fact, if you’re cracking your head over what games or activities to organise for your upcoming Christmas Party, you can host your very own Mini DIY Yule Log Cake Decoration Competition!

Before we forget, The Icing Room is also organising a photo contest from 15 November 2012 to 16 December 2012 for the Best DIY Yule Log.

To participate, all you have to do is just 3 simple steps:

1st: Purchase a Mini DIY Yule Log Set that cost $18.80 from The Icing Room and start decorating your Yule Log.
2nd: Snap a photo of your completed masterpiece.
3rd: Submit the photo to The Icing Room Facebook Contest Page & garner as many votes as you can!

The top 10 participants with the most votes will get to attend a Christmas Party hosted by The Icing Room and the top 3 winners whom will be selected by the judges will get to walk away with either the iPad Mini, Canon Ixus 125HS, or a pair of USS 1 day Peak and Express Passes.

This was the photo of our masterpiece that we submitted on The Icing Room Facebook Page.

From DIY Yule Log Cake 2012

Do “Like” The Icing Room Facebook Page and vote for our entry via the following link because you can stand to win $20 worth of The Icing Room vouchers:
https://www.facebook.com/theicingroom/app_500301823324458

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

Previously, we have blogged about how the carpet that we bought from Qoo10.sg has contributed to our cosy corner and in this blog entry, we will share with you a wonderful find that we found in Ikea Tampines.
So, having envisioned what our cosy corner was going to be like, we decided that a coffee table with a centrepiece was going to be necessary. Well, since we’re on a tight budget, we decided to check out what Ikea Tampines has to offer.

Even though we believe many people have the notions that Ikea‘s products are of poor quality and workmanship because of the low prices, this is certainly a misconception. In fact, when we were at Ikea, there were many things that were rather contemporary and stylish.

Having browsed through their catalogue, we headed straight to Ikea‘s self-serve corner and gotten ourselves a Lack Coffee Table [Black-Brown] for just $39.90! For the table centrepiece, we gotten a Trygg Serving Bowl for $3.90 and 2 packets of Dofta Potpourri that cost us $2.90 each! In total, we spent $49.60 at Ikea!

There were many other interesting items that we found in Ikea and the prices were pretty reasonable. As a matter of fact, many of the restaurants and cafes that we have dined at uses Ikea‘s products as well. When we get our new flat at Punggol, Ikea will probably be where we will get most of our household furniture and equipment.

If you’re on a budget and you’re worried about the quality of Ikea‘s products, fear not because if you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, you can bring it back unassembled with the original packaging and your receipt within 100 days for an exchange or refund. However, do note that Ikea will not accept returns on cut fabric & blinds, goods damaged after leaving the Ikea store except due to manufacturing defaults, items on sale, products from the AS-IS corner, bed linen, and items that are made to your specific requirements.

Here I am trying to figure out how to fix/DIY my own coffee table.

From Ikea 2012

Thanks to the easy assembling instructions that can be found together with my purchase, I had an idea on how to assemble my coffee table. Trust me on this, the tools that you will need are actually very basic and minimal, and the instructions are pretty easy to follow. Anyone whom has studied Design & Technology [D&T] during Secondary 1 or Secondary 2 would definitely know how to fix the coffee table.

From Ikea 2012

The nice and chic looking Lack Coffee Table [Black-Brown] that is fully assembled with the help of an enthusiastic Baby. If you can see from the photo, the Lack Coffee Table [Black-Brown] has a lower tier which you can put light items such as books or magazines.

From Ikea 2012

If you’re interested in the Lack Coffee Table [Black-Brown], be sure to check out Ikea. In fact, the Lack Coffee Table has two other colours [Birch Effect] and [White] as well.

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

Having just shifted to my new humble abode, we’re still in the midst of settling down and also troubleshooting all the nitty-gritty issues like the television not being able to receive our local tv channels and also other issues like settling the renovation defects we uncovered.
Meanwhile, since my bedroom is super spacious, I have decided to allocate an area in my bedroom just for my personal quiet-time/chilling-out.

To begin with, we envisioned my cosy corner to be warmth and comfortable. So, we’ll definitely need to shop around for things like table, carpet, chairs, and some decorations. In this blog entry, we will share with you a very good carpet deal that we found on Qoo10 [previously known as GMarket].

While searching around for suitable carpets for my cosy corner, we scouted all over Singapore and honestly, we had difficulty finding one that matched our taste and price. In fact, most of the carpets that we found were either attractive but too pricey or cheap but too unattractive. Since we couldn’t find one on foot, we decided to source for it online and lo and behold, we found the right one on Qoo10.

There were two reasons why we chose the carpet that we found on Qoo10. First, the carpet was selling at a very good price of SGD $99 and secondly, the carpet was of the right texture, colour, and size.

Here’s a picture of my cosy corner before the carpet arrived.

From Qoo10.SG 2012

& here’s a picture of my cosy corner after laying the carpet.

From Qoo10.SG 2012

A more closed-up shot of the carpet.

From Qoo10.SG 2012

The carpet is beige in colour and the texture of the carpet is outstanding. Made of superfine microfiber, the carpet that we bought on Qoo10 was made in Korea and shipped all the way to Singapore. What’s more, we were pleasantly surprised that the seller [Home Art] gave us a complimentary floor mat too!

From Qoo10.SG 2012

By the way, we paid an additional amount of SGD $5.00 for our carpet to be shipped via Express Mail Service [EMS] and our carpet was delivered to us within a span of 1 week. The seller [Home Art] was also extremely prompt in responding to our queries and honestly, if you’re looking for carpets to beautify your home/room/office, you should really check them out. Home Art has a wide assortment of carpets that can be customised to your needs and they come in different colours, textures, sizes, and even designs too!

To check out the affordable carpets that Home Art has to offer, you can click on the following link:

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

Thanks to Andy from Sengkang Babies and Yvonne from Singapore Polytechnic [SP], I was invited to SPeLL‘s 1st Anniversary Celebration that was held at the Changi Airport Terminal 3.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

In case you’re wondering what SPeLL is; SPeLL is Singapore Polytechnic‘s Entrepreneurship Living Laboratory [in its long form] but essentially, SPeLL is a state-of-the-art retail outlet managed by SP Business School and powered by Motorola Solutions. It is where Students from SP Business School can put their business acumen to use.

Anyways, Grace from Working With Grace was there too and she said something like its kinda odd that a dude like me is covering a fashion event. Kinda true but well, men also have got to have some fashion sense, if not, how are they going to attract ladies eh? hahas.

So after registering myself, I was seated at the very 1st row and I had a pretty awesome vantage point for nice photos.

The emcees/hosts for the day.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

The Director of Singapore Polytechnic’s Business School Giving The Opening Address

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

I believe they should be the teaching faculty of SP Business School.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

All guests were treated to a splendid performance by the SP Dance Sport and Soul Ignite.

SP Dance Sport

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

Soul Ignite

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

After which, the launch of Verve Avenue Fashion Collection was initiated and the Runway Models were their very own SP Student Entrepreneurs.

Here are just some of the outstanding photos that I took during the fashion show. Of course, they do have quite a number of outfits and if you wish to check out their full collection, you can either head down to their retail store at Changi Airport Terminal 3 or check out SPeLL‘s website [which is currently under construction].

Personally, I find the design of the men’s outfits to be pretty decent, clean-cut, and neat. Though I wouldn’t say that the men’s outfits are formal, but however, the men’s outfits are pretty suitable for occasions such as social gatherings, parties, and for dress down days. It gives people a simple but yet sophisticated kind of impression.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

As for the ladies’ outfits, there are generally quite a number of styles to choose from. Some of the outfits can be rather “loud” while others are slightly more demure.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

One of the group shots for the day.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

I was trying to utilise the artistic filter in my camera for this shot and I think it turned out pretty good.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

The fashion show ended off with a big bang and the Student models were the biggest stars of the day.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

So, after which, we went to their retail store and oh my, there are so many things for the ladies!

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

From accessories and bags to dresses + tops, I’m pretty sure you ladies will be able to find something you like.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

To top it off, SPeLL is having a Christmas Fantasy Promotion where they are giving a 30% off all Verve Avenue items for 3 days till 5th November 2012 [yes, that is tomorrow!].

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

So while I was there, Grace took the liberty to try on some of the dresses and accessories.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012
From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

Of course, there are stuffs for the men’s too. For the men, you might want to check out their tops, bottoms, and also other accessories such as sunglasses and belts.

We can all be young again when we dress up with the Verve Avenue Designer Collection Clothing.

Here is SP’s Principal checking out the men’s outfits!

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

Besides checking out the shop, I also had the opportunity to do a mini interview with one of the SP Student Entrepreneurs whom is from the SP School of Business. Currently pursuing his Diploma in Business Administration, Ian Tan shared with me his personal experience of how it was like to manage and operate a retail store.

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

From designing the clothing and sourcing for suppliers to managing the inventory and budgeting of the retail store, every Student Entrepreneurs are given the exposure and experience to operate the retail store. Ian also shared that this practical hands-on approach has given them a sound solid foundation of business principles and has also contributed to their personal development and growth.

So, if you’re at the Singapore Changi Airport this weekend, do check out SPeLL at Terminal 3 and pamper yourself with their latest Verve Avenue Designer Collection!

From Spell’s 1st Anniversary 2012

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

Hello Everyone,
we really hope you like what we have covered about our recent Taiwan trip. Continuing from where we left off in our last blog entry about the Beitou Hot Spring and the Golden Spring Hotel, we would be covering the Leofoo Village in this blog entry.

As Baby and I have already planned to stay a night at the Mulan Motel, we checked out of the Golden Spring Hotel and left for Mulan Motel right away. Because we were only due for check-in at 6pm, Baby and I left our luggage there so that we could proceed with our plans for the day, that was; to go to Leofoo Village.

Anyways, Breakfast at Golden Spring Hotel was pretty bad. We should have just went to the nearby fast food restaurant but since its complimentary, we shouldn’t complain much.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

The Dining Area for Breakfast at Golden Spring Hotel

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Some photos while checking out.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Ok, from Taipei to Leofoo Village, there are a few ways that you can go about to get there. First, you can either hail a cab [which we personally would not recommend because of the huge costs]; second, you can take the public E-Go Bus which will cost $130 TWD [approx. $5.52 SGD] per person for a single trip ticket; or third, you can take a private chartered vehicle to Leofoo Village which will cost $150 TWD [approx. $6.37] per person for a single trip ticket.

Allow us to elaborate more about the difference of taking the E-Go Bus and the private chartered vehicle.

The public E-Go Bus can be found at the Bus Stop that is situated outside Jingan MRT Station. The bus comes at different time intervals so it is highly recommended that you check out their website to plan your itinerary. The journey via E-Go Bus to Leofoo Village will take more than an hour’s journey.

About the private chartered vehicle to Leofoo Village, we didn’t know it existed until we were waiting at the Bus Stop for the E-Go Bus. A lady in a pink tee-shirt approached us and asked if we were going to Leofoo Village. Then, we found out that the lady and her husband are operating a shuttle service from Jingan MRT Station to Leofoo Village. To be honest, we were rather apprehensive but we decided to give it a go as we were not the only ones in the vehicle. In fact, there were other tourists whom were going to Leofoo Village too. The best part is, the journey took lesser time than if we were to take the public E-Go Bus; resulting in more time for us to spend at Leofoo Village. However, a word of advise here, don’t anyhow just hop onto any private chartered vehicle.

Moving on, an adult entrance ticket to Leofoo Village cost $890 TWD [approx. $37.82 SGD] but all thanks to Taiwan Tourism Bureau [Singapore], we were given a pair of complimentary theme park tickets that grants us entrance to just about any theme parks in Taiwan! So here’s a really nice tip for you, if you are travelling free and easy to Taiwan, be sure to head down to Taiwan Tourism Bureau [Singapore] with your flight tickets/itinerary and your accommodation booking details to redeem some free goodies! Also, do check out their Facebook Page for the latest updates about travelling to Taiwan!

So here we are at Leofoo Village in Hsinchu, Taiwan!

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Some really colourful flowers at the entrance of Leofoo Village

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

There are 5 main areas of Leofoo Village; there are the Magic Water Fountain, the Wild West, the Arabian Kingdom, the South Pacific, and the African Safari.

Here’s a picture of me and the Arabian Kingdom.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

We went to check out the African Safari first as it was quite near to where we were.

Here are some candid photos of us at the African Safari.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

At the African Safari, there is a parrot feeding area. So, to feed the parrots, you can buy the parrot food which cost $10 TWD [approx. $0.42 SGD].

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

An awesome shot of the blue parrots by Baby.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

I looked like I was taking a photo at the Singapore Zoo.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

Our first ride for the day was a harmless slow moving ride known as the Monkey Trail.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

Basically, for the Monkey Trail Ride, you have to pedal the ride with your partner and the track brings you around to the different monkey enclosures.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Here comes the swinging monkey!

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

At the African Safari, you can also have a ride on the Camel but it will cost you some money. We’re not sure how much it cost but well, if you’re interested, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind paying.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

If you like, you can even board the Mini Train at the African Safari which brings you around the Leofoo Village Zoo!

Here are some candid photos while waiting for the Mini Train.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

All onboard the train! Anyways, the total duration of the train ride is about 15-20 minutes because it goes really really slow!

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

The Leofoo Village Zoo is really huge! There are quite a number of animal exhibits.

There’s the Hippotamus.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

The Rhinoceros.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

The Giraffe.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

The Zebras.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

The Emus.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

The Mountain Goat.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

So after the long train ride, we took some more photos before leaving for the Arabian Kingdom.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

Here we are at the Arabian Kingdom in Leofoo Village.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

The Arabian Kingdom has a few main rides and the classic merry-go-round is one of them.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

At the Arabian Kingdom, we had a go at the Sultan’s Adventure, an indoor ride.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

We also had our late lunch at the Oasis Restaurant.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

The quality of the food was average and good enough to satisfy our hungry stomachs.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Baby had the rather cute Bento set while I had the chicken wrap.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

We then moved on to the South Pacific area where we tried the Captain Cook’s Swinging Boat and the Mighty Mountain Flume Adventure.

The Captain Cook’s Swinging Boat is the largest swinging boat in Taiwan, and there are only 3 other swinging boats of its size around the world. The swinging boat is 18.5 m long, 2.5 m wide and seats up to 84 people. A height of 7-stories is reached at the highest point of its swing, and the swing itself is measured at 70°.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

After the ride, Baby’s leg became like jelly and I went to try the Pagoda’s Revenge all on my own.

The Pagoda’s Revenge takes up to 20 brave souls slowly up to a height of 53 m (17 stories) and shows them the magnificent view of the Leofoo Village and the surrounding Guansi area. Then, without any warning, the brave souls are released to the mercy of gravity. This is a true free fall experience not to be missed.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

When Baby has finally recovered from her traumatising experience at the Captain Cook’s Swinging Boat, we went for another exhilarating ride on the Mighty Mountain Flume Adventure.

The Mighty Mountain Flume Adventure Riders embark on a journey through a Jurassic lost world. As the canoe reaches the top of the volcano, riders come face-to-face with a 3-stories plunge. If one terrifying experience was not enough, Mighty Mountain Flume Adventure is the only ride in the world that takes you through the same adventure twice.

We ended up totally drenched after the ride.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

Some fun shots at the South Pacific area.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

When we were done checking out the rides at South Pacific, we went to the Wild West and were just in time to catch a performance.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Some photographs taken at the Wild West.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

As the park was also celebrating Halloween, they had some Halloween features where visitors can take photographs with.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

This is one ride you must absolutely try if you are a thrill-seeker. Known as the Screaming Corridor, this U shaped suspension roller coaster brought from Switzerland is the second in the world and the only one in Asia. The track is 190 m long, and the roller coaster reaches 122 km/h when it rushes down its biggest drop of 56 m. The 90 second suspended experience incorporates 360° spiral acceleration and vertical dives, bringing you the excitement and thrills of an eagle in flight.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

An overall map of Leofoo Village.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

While waiting for our vehicle to head back to Taipei, we sipped some coffee to unwind ourselves after a long but fun day at Leofoo Village.

From Day 4 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

There are a lot of attractions that you can check out at Hsinchu; Leofoo Village is just one of them. Also, we wanted to stay at the Leofoo Village Safari-Themed Hotel but because it was fully booked, we didn’t manage to book it.

Anyhows, in our next blog entry, we will be sharing with you about our stay at Mulan Motel and the amazing dinner we had at Five Dime Restaurant in Taipei.

Stay tuned to more updates from us!

God bless!

Hello Everyone,
in our blog entry today, we will be covering the Taiwan High Speed Rail and also a little bit about Tai Chung City.

So, we were on the last day of our trip in the central region of Taiwan and we were leaving for the Taiwan High Speed Rail to board the High Speed Train from Tai Chung City to Taipei City.

As promised, here are pictures of the sumptuous breakfast that we had at Skylight B&B. There are two types of breakfast choices that you can choose from, either the Oriental or the Western. Being typical Singaporeans, we chose the Western.

A photo of the two different breakfast types that are available at Skylight B&B.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

The Western breakfast type comes with a main dish consisting of hashbrown, mushrooms, bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

There’s also 2 pieces of toast bread, a glass of orange juice, and a cup of tea!

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Oh, I almost miss out this one. There is also a fruit platter that consist of passionfruit, watermelon, grapes, pear, mango, and guava!

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

So, as you can see from the pictures above, the breakfast was a rather filling and appetising affair. Anyways, the breakfast was situated on the 8th level of the property and there is both an indoor and an outdoor dining area; both of which offers you stunning views of Sun Moon Lake.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Here are some photographs that we took whilst having breakfast.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

After our breakfast, we hurried back to our room, packed up everything, and boarded our vehicle to Tai Chung High Speed Rail Station.

A snapshot of Tai Chung City from our vehicle.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

As we had quite a fair bit of time, we told our driver to bring us to the place that sells the best Tai Yang Bing in Tai Chung City because my mum wanted some Tai Yang Bing. And so, our driver brought us to Yi Fu Tang.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

There are quite a lot of goodies and snacks for us to choose from and we were so spoilt for choices. However, besides the usual Tai Yang Bing, one other thing you must buy at Yi Fu Tang is their Lemon Cake! It’s really delicious and honestly, I regretted not buying a few more boxes to bring home.

Knowing that I was a car enthusiast and since we had some more time, our driver brought us to one of Tai Chung’s largest car mart [similar to our local Autobacs]. There, I went crazy because I bought so much car accessories to zhng my Picanto. Seriously, the car accessories are freaking cheap! There, I bought a new JVC head unit, a car freshener, car mats, a car decal, and an aluminium alloy car pedal kit which in total cost about $4000 TWD [approx. $170 SGD]. If only I could lug back car rims and tyres, I would have done so!

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

After the mini shopping spree, we left for Tai Chung High Speed Rail Station and bade farewell to our driver. Honestly, it was quite an emotional moment because after having spent 3 days in the central region of Taiwan, we really do miss the fresh mountain air, the cute little sheeps, and the beautiful scenery. We will definitely be back if we have the time!

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

So while we were at Tai Chung High Speed Rail Station, we took the liberty to take photographs after photographs.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

I know in Singapore, we so often see vending machines selling can drinks, but how often do you see vending machines selling cosmetic products and souvenirs?

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Anyways, for those of you whom are planning a free and easy trip to Taiwan, there are a few types of transportation that you can utilise to get to different regions of Taiwan. The Taiwan High Speed Rail is one such transportation but it only runs along the western coast of Taiwan; hence, for journeys to the eastern cost of Taiwan, you can consider taking the Taiwan Railway which is slower than the High Speed Rail.

You can purchase the High Speed Train tickets on the actual day of departure using these automated machines but we will highly recommend that you book them in advance on Taiwan High Speed Rail’s Website as you get to enjoy early bird discounts if you book your High Speed Train tickets early.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

Prior to boarding the High Speed Train, Baby and I bought a Pork Ribs Cutlet Bento Set from the Railway Souvenir Shop for $80 TWD [$3.40 SGD] and it was damn good! The portion size of the Pork Ribs Cutlet Bento Set was just right for 2 persons.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

For both Baby and I, we chose the Business Class Seats because we had lots of heavy baggage.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

The Business Class Seats were extremely spacious and comfortable.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

Business Class Guests are entitled to a set of complimentary snack and drink.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

And Business Class Guests are also entitled to a copy of the local newspaper.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

The journey from Tai Chung High Speed Rail Station to Taipei High Speed Rail Station took less than an hour and it was extremely fast! The train was travelling at a top speed of 300 KM/Hour! Here are some photos of Tai Chung High Speed Rail Station and the scenery taken from the High Speed Train.

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]
From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Jacqueline’s Perspective]

Parting Shot at Tai Chung High Speed Rail Station

From Day 3 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

In our next upcoming blog entries, we will be blogging about Leofoo Village, Beitou Hot Spring, Mulan Motel, and a few other interesting sights in Taipei.

Stay tuned to more updates from us.

God bless!