Friday, May 31, 2013

Aquarama 2013 and Pet Asia 2013

Aquarama 2013 (Asia's Largest International Ornamental Fish and Accessories) and Pet Asia 2013 ( South East Asia's first international Pet & Accessories trade show) is held at Marina Bay Sands, Sands Expo and Convention Centre Hall B & C for 4 days from 30 May to 2 June 2013.

Some of the key highlights of the show will include a pet grooming competition, an exciting rabbit competition run along the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association standards and a Dog Agility/Obedience competition and also a trade seminar where experts from the pet industry will speak about the latest developments in the industry in the ASEAN region and also the global scene.

My kit for the show.


After registering, Dannelia brought me around the show. I was in time to see the grooming examination held at the activities area. If I'm not wrong, the examination has just started. There were alot of groomers and their dogs. The dogs were like so CUTE!



Dog Groomers' Association of Singapore has these model dogs for grooming practices. Dannelia mentioned that there was a demonstration on the launch day.


LUMI Q Aquarium, an innovative aquarium that lets you plays your iPod music by docking it on top of the tank and also lets you create a different mood/environment for your fishes with 4 choices of coloured lights by toggling the colour choices with the sensor switch.


These are baby Arowana. These babies have a large yolk sac which will periodically becomes smaller as they mature. I was told that the sac is actually their food/nutrients for their growth. Interesting right? My first thought was that these fishes are pregnant. Oops.


Here's a Horseshoe Crab at the RWS Marine Life Park booth. There are two in this tank, one sleeping and the other super active. The Horseshoe Crab is usually active only at night. You can reach into the water to touch the crab.



Also at the RWS Marine Life Park booth, in the same tank as the Horseshoe Crab, there are three Sand Sifting Sea Star. The star fish burrows into the sand in its search for food which in turn, will effectively clean even the tank/aquarium of left over food.


There is a competition for aqua landscaping with a few categories. The tanks are not judged based solely on aesthetics. Considerations like types of plants vs types of fishes to balance the ecosystem. Here's some of the winning tanks.




Discus are a genus of three species of freshwater fish native to the Amazon River basin. Discus are popular as aquarium fish and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia is a major industry. (Wiki - Discus)

Many different classes and types of Discus are up for competition. Some are winners and some, I like their pretty patterns on them. Dannelia explained that one of the judging criteria was the discus roundness and symmetrical body. Wow. Judging is sure not easy. There are so many to judge.


The Siamese fighting fish also known as betta, is a popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. As their name "fighting fish" implies, they will aggressively attack and kill (or be killed by) another in their territory. Males and females flare or puff out their gill covers in order to appear more impressive, either to intimidate other rivals or as an act of courtship.  (Wiki - Siamese Fighting Fish)



Goldfish is a freshwater fish and was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish. (Wiki - Goldfish)

There are quite a number of unqiue goldfishes, and they are big too..


Freshwater Stingray is a up and coming choice of aquatic pet. Technology made it possible to keep stingrays at home, in your aquarium. I was told that breeding a bunch of freshwater stingrays, the evenly spotted ones, which are rarer, can fetch a price of $10,000 or more.



At the Cat Welfare Society, there were two matured cats and a few kittens. The kittens' bodies were warmed in prettily decorated socks. meow



Around an hour later, we were back at the Dogs Grooming examination. The groomed dogs look different from before and even cuter. The groomers were all very serious and concentrated in their task at hand. I saw a few dogs already feeling tired and wanting to sit down.



Saw some of the snacks on sale for pet dogs and cats. The packaging looks so cute, like our human food. Haha..


The show is open to the trade from 10am to 6pm on 30th May to 31st May 2013, and from 10am to 1pm on 1st June 2013. Members of the public can visit the show from 1pm to 8pm on 1st June 2013 and from 10am to 7pm on 2nd June 2013.

Admission tickets are priced at SGD8 per pax and free for children below 12 years old.

If you did not managed to catch this year's show, the date has been set for the next show (Aquarama The 14th International Ornamental Fish and Accessories Exhibition 2015 and Pet Asia The 5th International Pet & Accessories Exhibition 2015). The show will be held in Singapore 28 to 31 May 2015.



Public Shows/Seminars

1 JUNE 2013 (SATURDAY)
12.30pm - 8.00pm
5.00pm - 5.30pm

5.30pm - 6.00pm
6.00pm - 6.30pm
PETAS 6th Dog Obedience Competition
Drain to Glory II -- Advanced Techniques in Keeping Guppies and Preparing your Guppy for Competition
New Colours in the Modern Discus World
Feng Shui and Aquarium : Locating the Auspicious Sectors for Water at Your Home

2 JUNE 2013 (SUNDAY)
9.00am - 3.00pm
11.00am - 11.30am
11.30am - 12.00nn
12.00nn - 12.30pm
2.00pm - 2.30pm
2.30pm - 3.00pm
3.00pm - 3.30pm
3.30pm - 4.00pm
4.00pm - 4.30pm
4.00pm - 7.00pm
4.30pm - 5.30pm
Rabbit Competition - Oxbow National rabbit show 2013 (ARBA Sanctioned Show)
Responsible Cat Ownership
Basic Maintenance & Hygiene for Dog Owners
Common Skin And Ear Conditions In Your Pets
First Live Feeds for Aquarium Fish: Zooplankton and Friends
Getting back to our Roots: Natural Marine Aquarium Systems Employing
Colour Enhancement In Ornamental Fishes
Australia’s Mysterious Seadragons
Marine Conservation – Inspire, Empower, Change
Pet Asia Agility Invitation Cup
Aquascaping Workshop



Aquarama 2013
http://aquarama.com.sg/

Pet Asia 2013
http://www.petasia.com.sg/

Halls B&C, Sands Expo and Convention Centre
Marina Bay Sands

MDF May 2013

I just had a hot date with my girlfriends and HOT FM91.3 at this month's Must Drink Friday located at The Exchange. Again, I'm lucky enough to get the invites. Big thanks to HOT FM91.3.

Filled our tummies, for a while, with bar food. We tried to win ourselves prizes but no such luck. Haha. Great night with the ladies. 







From the event (http://www.radio913.com/promo-details/event_id/1634) page:

Dress code is HOT so bust out your best Black & Red look and be one of the first 30 through the door at The Exchange to score Rihanna’s 777 Tour DVD! PLUS! There are Bose OE2 Headphones, Shirts from www.ButtonNStitch.com and Ramada Singapore Opening Staycation Packages to be won! To get your name on the door list, SMS The Exchange ((space)) Name ((space)) NRIC to 9 7170 913 NOW! And if we call you back, enjoy free-flow of house-pours and soft drinks!

May’s Must Drink Friday, brought to you by The Exchange, Universal Music, Atlas Sound & Vision, www.ButtonNstitch.com, Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park and The Official Party Station of the Nation, Singapore’s Hottest Hits, HOT FM91.3!

HOT FM 91.3 
http://www.radio913.com

The Exchange
http://www.theexchange.com.sg/

Asia Square Tower One
8 Marina View #01-05, Singapore 018960
Tel: 6636 1200


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Get a Free Cookie from Subway

Do you like eating healthy and nutritious meals from Subway? I do. And for a while now, Subway has been offering five of their combo meals at $5 daily. You can choose from Cold Cut Trio, Veggie Delight, Egg Mayo, Ham and Tuna. Each combo includes a 6-inch sub and a cup of 16oz drink.

I always choose between Egg Mayo and Tuna.

Image from Subway Singapore Facebook

When you have paid for your meal, do keep the receipt. At the bottom of the receipt, Subway invites you to take a one-minute survey at http://www.tellsubway.sg and you will be rewarded with a Free Cookie on your next purchase.

If I did not notice this, the receipt would have gone to the bin with the rest of the papers and cups and I would not have known about this survey and I would not have been able to share this. Haha..

Eat Fresh and enjoy your subs ^^


Subway Singapore
http://www.subway.com.sg/
http://www.tellsubway.sg


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Hello Kitty Fairy Tales plushies

This morning's hype: The launch of the new Hello Kitty Fairy Tales plushies by McDonald's.

Guess who's here? Photo from McDonald's Facebook

I'm not a true blue (or should it be pink?) Hello Kitty fan, but when Mcdonald's once a while launches a series of collectible, I would always be drawn to a few of the plushies from the series. I like the Lion kitty from the Wizard of Oz. The Ugly Duckling kitty looks cute too. Little Red Riding Hood too... All so cute! So tempting~

Image from http://mcdgoplay.com/

The plushies are available at $4.60 each with any Extra Value Meal purchased. Different Hello Kitty Fairy Tales plushies are for sale each week.
  • Wizard of Oz (30 May to 5 June)
  • Little Red Riding Hood (6 June to 12 June)
  • The Frog Prince (13 June to 19 June)
  • The Ugly Duckling (20 June to 26 June)
  • The Singing Bone - Limited Edition (27 June to 3 July)
  • Special McDelivery Hello Kiity – (Available 30 May onwards and via McDelivery ONLY)

Photo from McDonald's Facebook

Get your McDelivery Hello Kitty via McDelivery. She's so cute!

Photo from http://mcdgoplay.com/

I have gotten my FIRST plushie: the Lion from Wizard of Oz. Thank you TS for helping me get ^^ Going to go get it from her tonight. So excited. She intended to pass me tomorrow, but I can't wait lol! 
(update: I got it!! Thanks TS~)

My book of Wizard of Oz, containing a lion hello kitty. Cuteness~
Hello Kitty Wizard of Oz. Accessoried her in my leopard kitty specs. And her mane can be removed~

A little regretful that I didn't attempt to sign up for the launch event organised by omy.sg. But I am unable to reach the location in time and I don't really like to be marked as late. haha. Anyway, they are all so cute~


McDonald's Singapore
https://www.facebook.com/mcdsg
http://www.mcdgoplay.com/

Cruise Holiday on Costa Atlantica - Day 4

Day 4. Last day of our holiday. Time passed by so quickly especially when you are having fun.

I woke up with a strained neck *sobs* I am unable to turn my head at all. Even when I wanted to laze on the bed for a while more, the neck screamed pain. Sigh. What a way to start the day.

We have to vacant the room by 10am (although we are docking in Singapore at 3pm), so even with my super painful neck, we prepared and went for breakfast at Deck 2's Tiziano Restaurant as we were quite sure that the Self Serve Restaurant at Deck 9 is already crowded with people.

Very pretty spread of pastries. Yummy
Breakfast - so many eggs

After filling our tummies, we went back to our cabin and packed our stuff and vacanted the place by 10am. Costa Atlantica provided us a service to help us hold on to our hand luggages while we continued to enjoy ourselves onboard. The queue was LONG.

While queuing, we saw this. Someone bought TV during the trip?? Wow. Amazing.
Our number tag for the hand luggages

Even though we should enjoy ourselves with the remaining time, we were not sure what to do. Can't go swimming or gym or anything that will induce sweating since we no longer are able to go back to our cabin. We just sat around watching Running Man on the tablet and went shopping in the shops.

Hot guy in pink shorts and shell bikini (sorry for the lousy photo. paparazzi shot)

I'm not too sure why, but both of us were feeling tired and exhausted. Is it the sun? The heat? Or the boredom from waiting? But we sure were happy to see the Marina Bay Cruise Centre to come to view. And before going to the theatre to wait for our cabin's color to be called for disembarkation, we grabbed two slices of the yummy pizza =P

Welcome back to Singapore.
Our last 2 slices of yummy pizza on board. Really YUMMY =D

The trip is fun. But the waiting time and doing nothing is not. And my stupid neck even made me cranky on this last day =(


Cruise Holiday on Costa Atlantica - Epilogue


Costa Cruises

Cruise Holiday on Costa Atlantica - Day 3

Day 3. Happy 5th year AD wedding anniversary. And it's Vesak Day, a public holiday in Singapore. Today we are disembarking at George Town, Penang. But the duration is much shorter than the disembarkation in Malacca. We intended to wake up earlier, but we unintentionally snoozed =P

We have docked at Penang 

Breakfast at deck 9. All vegetarian for the hubby but I still ate meat >.<

There are lots of pretty pastries today ^^

Today, we do not need to take a transfer ferry to the port. The ship is docked next to the port.

The front of the ship

Did our last minute homework at the port. They have maps of George Town around the exit of the place.

We Are Here

Our first stop: Jubilee Clock Tower (wiki). On the map, it looks far, but it's actually very near and we almost missed it.
To commemorate Queen Victoria's 1897 Diamond Jubilee, a Jubilee Clock Tower was constructed in George Town, Penang (at the time a British Straits Settlement) in the same year at junction of Lebuh Light (Light Street) and Lebuh Pantai (Beach Street). Built in a Moorish style, the tower is sixty feet tall, one foot for each year of Victoria's reign.
The clock tower from different angle.

Second stop: Fort Cornwallis (wiki). We bought our admission tickets and exposed ourselves to sun and cannons. Lots of big and small cannons surrounding the fort.
Fort Cornwallis - Bringing history life

A fort of 'nipah palm' was built in 1786 by Captain Francis Light & named after the then Governor-General of India. Rebuilt in 1810 with a moat; this star shaped fort was used for administration rather than defense. First recorded marriage in chapel 1799, when Light's widow, Martina Rozells married John Timmers.

The star-shaped Fort Cornwallis stands at the place where Francis Light and his crew landed in 1786, to 'take possession' of Penang island. At first a stockade made of nibong palm trunks was erected, but this was quickly replaced by a brick fort. In old paintings and postcards Fort Cornwallis can be seen surrounded by a moat and containing a number of buildings within its walls: of these the Christian chapel and a gunpowder magazine still stand. Fort Cornwallis is the best-preserved fort in Peninsular Malaysia.

Fort Cornwallis was gazette on 8 September 1977, under the Antiquities Act 168/1976, as an Ancient Monument and Historic Site.

Opens Daily 9am to 7pm
Ticket Price- Adult RM2, Children RM1
The entrance. We braved the sun and walked a big round to look for it. lol
Captain Francis Light's Statue
The gunpowder magazine inside and outdoors

Third stop: Kuan Im Temple. Initially we wanted to go to the Indian temple since it's Vesak Day and we saw a road sign for it. We were in Little India, and walked a few streets but could not find. Nevertheless, we found a Goddess of Mercy Temple, and we prayed there.
The Kong Hock Keong Kuan Im popularity called Goddess of Mercy Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in George Town. It was established in 1800 by early settlers as a centre for their religious and communal activities. In the past, the Kong Hock Keong Kuan Im at the temple tribunal often provide mediation to settle disputes within the community. Today, it is still a spiritual landmark for the Chinese in George Town
There were alot of people today.

Fourth stop: Break time. We rested a while at this coffeeshop and enjoyed a Penang white coffee and a plate of Penang Char Kuay Teow.

Quite alot of locals here.

Fifth stop: House of Yeap Chor Ee. Our last stop too. When we arrived at this destination, I was feeling giddy from the sun and heat. Time was another factor too. I have decided to write up another post for this museum as there are alot of information and pictures for this legendary Chinese man. Read more in the other post (coming soon...).
The House of Yeap Chor Ee was the first home of Yeap Chor Ee, a young immigrant who came to Penang in 1885 and worked as a barber before becoming a captain of industry at the turn of the 20th century.

The building was turned into a Social History Gallery in 2008. Through the journey of Yeap Chor Ee, the gallery gives an insight into his remarkable life and the lives of immigrants who arrived on the island from China, more than 100 years ago.
It was a very educational tour. Now I know why people like museums. But it's important to have good audio guide =)

The weather was a killer even after the last stop. I wanted to run back to the ship so that I can reach there quicker, but the problem is just that I have no more energy. We saw Star Cruise Libra docked at the pier too. Very significant difference in size. First thing we did getting back onboard, was to head to the restaurant. Hydrated ourselves with ice cold lemon tea (self made) and lunch. LOL.

The port/pier. On the left, Costa Atlantica. On the right, Star Cruise Libra. Can see which is bigger? lol

After we got our rest, we went up to the upper decks to see our ship leave the pier. At the upper most top level, there's a sports area. Basketball, football and jogging track. There were other passengers who also thought of being on the top deck to see the departure

The sports area
Can you see the Penang bridge? 

Since we had an hour before the disembarkation briefing, and not sure what to do, and we decided to go find a basketball to loan. But while we were leaving, a family came up with a basketball. Sigh... And then we saw a table tennis table, why not? The loaning of the rackets are free, but for two balls, USD1. Wow...

Let's play ping pong.

45 minutes later, I'm exhausted and losing focus. Rehydrated ourselves and headed to the theatre for the briefing. Strong aircon~~~ The briefing was a little late, and the hubby was busy crushing candy. Haha.. The briefing was quite confusing, cos he loop-explained some of the points and the actual keypoints, I feel, if they jus put into paper, it's so easily understood, save us an hour. Even the survey, we have to be debriefed =.=

The disembarkation briefing

It's rest time in our cabin. All we did was just shower, laze around, and watched sunset. Rest. I like the feeling. Not rushing to go anywhere do anything but see the open sea and watch the sky.

The clouds approaching the sun.. Turning dark and I thought no more sunset but the clouds cleared after a while
The dark clouds moved off but the sun is still partially covered by the clouds
Panaroma view

After dinner, we headed to the Caruso Theater for a magic show by White Magic with magician, Michael White and his partner, Hulan Svobodova. It was very interesting at the second half of the show when they did illusion magic. COOL. Follow them on twitter @WhiteMagicShow.

Very entertaining show

No pizza for tonight. We weren't feeling too well for a late night snack.


Cruise Holiday on Costa Atlantica - Epilogue


Costa Cruises