Singapore Deal of the day: Tioman Island Getaway package

Tioman Island is one of the most beautiful tropic islands in Malaysia and South East Asia. It is also quite popular for Singaporeans looking for a quick weekend getaway from Singapore. This almost unspoiled island of Malaysia's East Coast is quite accessible from Singapore by a relatively easy bus and ferry ride or a short flight.

Tioman Island offers unspoiled turquoise-colored beaches and white sands, lush tropical forest sprawled about 12,000 hectares all over this island with incalculable mountain creeks and a plethora of marine life as well as beautiful corals inhabiting under the sea; a heaven for skuba diving or snorkeling. Tioman is the perfect destination for anyone from all walks of life seeking for a relaxed holiday.

Currently there is a 3D2N Quick Tioman Getaway deal featured in DEAL.com.sg. The deal is priced at only $149.90 per person instead of usual $258 which translates into a $108 saving (43% off). The deal is for travel period  between 6 Jul 2013 to 15 Nov 2013 and booking must be made by 20 Jul 2013.

The Tioman holiday deal package includes:

• 2-night accommodation at Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort standard chalet
• Daily breakfast
• Return coach and ferry transfers (Singapore / Tanjung Gemok – Tioman – Tanjung Gemok / Singapore)
• Welcome drinks upon arrival (non-alcoholic)

Tioman Island Getaway package

3-star Paya Beach Spa and Dive Resort is Tioman Island hotel located next to one of the world’s oldest mangrove swamps and the Tropical Rain Forest, and also boasts having a spectacular House Coral reef. It is a basic budget hotel near beach offers a very good holiday accommodations for beach, sea and sun lovers. You can read the reviews of this Tioman beach resort here.

Also, do not forget to read terms  and conditions and fine print of this Tioman Island deal here.

Tioman Island

Paya Beach Resort Tioman

H&M is expanding in Singapore and Asia

It has been almost 2 years since Swedish high street fashion label Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) opened its first flagship store in Singapore. Since than the company has already opened five stores in Singapore. The newest three H&M stores have opened their doors in JEM, VivoCity and Suntec City last month. The flagship F&M store is in Orchard Building and the second shop was opened in November 2011 in Ion Orchard.

H&M sales increased in Singapore in the second half of 2012 for 38% compared to the second half of 2011 mostly thanks to the opening of their second store in Ion Orchard.

Other than opening new shops H&M has also decided to add a 4th level to its Orchard Building store which will be dedicated to kid's department. The kid's department, currently sharing a floor with Manswear department, saw a very strong sale which brings 20% of Singapore's total sales for H&M. The kidswear prices in H&M in Singapore range from $7.9 for a jersey top to $49.9 for a jacket. H&M Kid's concept store will sell merchandise ranging from new born to pre-teens aged 8 years to 14 years. The 2,800-square-meter store currently spans three levels with a complete range of fashion and accessories for women, men, teenagers and kids.

By the end of 2013, H&M is planning to add 60 stores to its existing 148 stores across China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. H&M offers a reputation as an international brand as well as a value-for-money proposition. Since shopping for fashion is a very populat activity for many Singaporeans the international brands like H&M finds it quite easy to sell in Singapore. When the first shop was opened in Singapore in September 2011, there were long queues in front of the Orchard Building shop where many has waited for long hours to be the first few to enter the flagship store.

H&M Orchard Road store in Singapore
Photo Credit: His Style Diary

H&M Shop Locations in Singapore
1 Grange Road
239693 Singapore
+65-62351459

ION Orchard #B2-28
2 Orchard Turn 238801
+65-65098702

Jem
 #01-01, #02-01/02/03 and #03-01/02
608549 50 Jurong Gateway Road
+65-67347601

Suntec City Mall
#01-1002, #01-1006, #10-1007 and #02-1002C
038983 3 Temasek Boulevard
+65-62380908

Vivo City
Unit #1-19/20 098585 1 Harbour Front
+65-63769109


[1] - Sweden Dreams for Asian Markets, Urban The Straits Times - 05 July 2013 

Family-friendly summer in Paris by Agoda.com

Agoda.com, Asia’s leading hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq:PCLN), has put together a list of some of the nicest, coziest and well-positioned family properties in Paris to help out families who are looking to make the most out of a summer vacation to France’s magnificent City of Lights.

Finding accommodation that caters to groups can be difficult, especially during the summer high season. But Agoda.com’s experienced hotel specialists in France have prepared a list of ten of the best properties in Paris, which provide multi-room suites and comfortable accommodation for groups of all sizes, allowing for a maximum of convenience when exploring the city.

Paris is well known for its world-famous sightseeing, which includes a long list of iconic buildings, museums, neighborhoods and monuments. From the resolute spire of the Eiffel Tower to the solemn beauty of Pere Lachaise Cemetery; from the gorgeous architecture of Notre-Dame Cathedral to the cultural treasure of the Louvre Museum, Paris is a city drenched in history and begging to be explored.

Hotel La Maison Saint Germain 3.5*
Steps away from the Seine River and located just a few minutes’ walk from the Latin Quarter and Mabillon Metro Station, Hotel La Maison Saint Germain will delight travelers of all tastes.

Le Prince Regent Residence et Spa 4*
Designed for both business and leisure travel, Le Prince Regent Residence et Spa is ideally situated in the 6^th Arrondissement of Saint Germain – Luxembourg, one of the city's most popular areas, and minutes away from attractions such as Palais du Luxembourg and Paris-Sorbonne University.

Hotel Residence Henri IV 3*
Located in the 5^th Arrondissement of Pantheon-Notre Dame, a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. Its proximity to transport provides easy access to attractions such as Saint Etienne du Mont Church while a quick walk will take you the Pont de l’Archeveche, the city’s narrowest road bridge across the Seine River.

La Villa Daubenton 3*
Special deal! Enjoy a 5% discount on your stay. Non-refundable. Expires December 31, 2013. La Villa Daubenton enjoys a strategic location near one of the main eating, shopping and sightseeing areas of Paris, and the perfect location to base an exploration of the city.

Helzéar Rive Gauche 4*
Situated in the 14^th Arrondissement of Montparnasse, the Helzear River Gauche is right in the heart of Paris, and provides easy access to Cimetière Montparnasse, Mouton Duvernet, and the historic Denfert-Rochereau metro station.

Parisian Home Apartments
Any group will feel right at home at the Parisian Home Apartments, which offers easy access to the metro as well as Rue Sentier and Rue Montorgueil, which offer a diverse market experience for everything from textiles to cheese.

Staycity Serviced Apartments - Gare de l'Est 2*
Simplicity and functionality are the name of the game at the Staycity Serviced Apartments. Located in the 10^th Arrondissement of Enclos-St Laurent, it offers clean apartments, easy access to the metro and family amenities.

Comfort Hotel Paris Lafayette 2*
Early bird special! Book at least 7 days in advance and save 10%! Non-refundable, expires December 31, 2013. Ideal for fun and relaxation, the colorful Comfort Hotel Paris Lafayette is located in the Gare du Nord area of the 10^th Arrondissement, close to city transport it’s perfect for families with young kids.

Relais Spa Paris Roissy CDG Hotel 4*
Perfect for weary travelers, the hotel’s location near to Charles De Gaulle Airport provide maximum convenience and comfort, where guests can take advantage of shops, restaurants and even a hotel spa. Great for the whole family!

Bridgestreet Marais
Stay for a minimum of 3 nights and enjoy 10% off! Non-refundable, expires September 1, 2013. Located just minutes away from Tuileries Garden and the must-see Louvre Museum, the Bridgestreet Marais is perfect for families who want easy access to many of Paris’ best sights as well as the convenience of getting around to explore the city.

Vientiane hotel deals by Agoda.com

With its relaxing atmosphere, broad, tree-lined streets and gorgeous, crumbling colonial mansions Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, is one of the least visited capital cities in Southeast Asia. This makes the city a rare gem for a tourist looking for something different, less spoiled and more authentic. If this attracts you then this is the best time to visit Vientiane because it is changing fast.

The past ten years have seen increasingly speedy development with tourism being a major industry. Although expansion is changing the city and it will soon become one of those bustling capitals in other Southeast Asian countries, its character is still defined by broad, tree-lined streets and gorgeous, crumbling colonial mansions. French pâté, fluffy pastries and rich, Laotian coffee are on offer at every restaurant and café in town, and magnificent temples, statues and other iconic Buddhist symbols are quick reminders that the city is still deeply Asian no matter how much French bread is eaten.

Vientiane offers plenty of hotels to stay, but there is little budget accommodation. This is because the Government is trying to concentrate on quality rather than quantity. This makes it quite important to find some good hotel deals before heading to there.

To help visitors appreciate this magnificent city, Agoda.com is presenting a handful of hotels that will make a visit to Vientiane one of the most enjoyable and stress-free outings for any Asian journey.


Salana Boutique Hotel - 4*
Designed to impress even the most discerning guests, this charming boutique hotel is centrally located in Vientiane, placing you in the center of all the hustle and bustle the city has to offer. Offering a wide selection of rooms, ranging from Superior to Salana Suite, all the guestrooms are tastefully designed to provide utmost comfort to all guests.

Rashmi’s Plaza Hotel - 5*
The first modernist luxury hotel in Vientiane, Rashmi's Plaza Hotel Vientiane provides great comfort and convenience in the heart of Vientiane. Being centrally located, the hotel is an excellent hub to all cultural and tourist attractions the city has to offer.

Dhavara Boutique Hotel - 4*
Centrally located in the heart of the city, Dhavara Boutique Hotel offers a variety of room types with legendary Lao service and gorgeous decorations. The hotel’s private balconies are perfect for observing the early morning bustle of Vientiane and the Mekong River.

Patuxai, the Victory Gate

Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention 4*
Don Chan Palace is the first ever international five star hotel in the capital of Laos. It is strategically located along the infamous Mekong River and within easy reach to the city's embassies, main business districts, major cultural sites and ancient temples.

Ansara Hotel 4*
This charming property resides on a quiet lane right in the center of the historical capital of Vientiane, providing easy access to the city’s most popular sights and attractions, and boasts a gentle blend of Lao traditional and Asian contemporary decor.

Mandala Boutique Hotel 3*
Designed for both business and leisure travel, Mandala Boutique Hotel is ideally situated in Near Riverfront; one of the city's most popular locales. Only 1.5 Km from the city center, the hotel's strategic location ensures that guests can quickly and easily reach many local points of interest.

Lao Golden Hotel 3*
Lao Golden Hotel is strategically located to all of Vientiane’s must-see destinations as well as several local morning markets. Bicycle rental, 24-hr room service, Wi-Fi and express check-in/check-out features will ensure your stay is a pleasant one.

Avilla Phasouk Hotel 3*
Winner of the 2012 Agoda Gold Circle Award, the hotel offers tranquility and luxury in a building designed focus on traditional Lao architecture. The charming Joma Bakery, Bars and Khop Chai Deu, all customer favorites, are just around the corner.

Vientiane Plaza Hotel 4*
Only 1 km from the heart of the city, this 4-star hotel commands an excellent location and provides access to the many of Vientiane’s most popular attractions. Also within easy reach are Centre Culturel et de Coopération Linguistique and That Dam Pagoda.

San Jiang Grand Hotel 4*
Nestled in the heart of Sikhottabong District, San Jiang Grand Hotel is an ideal spot from which to discover Vientiane. Only 3 km from the city center, the hotel's strategic location ensures that guests can quickly and easily reach many local points of interest.

Banned Hong Kong sex movie accidentally projected to hundreds by Chinese worker

Rule number one : Never use your work laptop to watch X rated movies (or surf X rated web sites). You cannot know when the remains of these movies will pop-up in your screen. A presentation would be already very embarrassing but take a look at this maintenance worker's case in China: He started watching a banned porn film, not realizing his computer was connected to a giant screen!

According to Chinese state Xinhua news agency, the worker was supposed to repair the screen, on a building near the main railway station in Jilin in northeast China. But he began playing "The Forbidden Legend: Sex and Chopsticks" and made hundreds of local residents watching it too.

The Forbidden Legend: Sex and Chopsticks (Chinese 金瓶梅 or Jin Ping Mei) is a Hong Kong movie released in 2008 and directed by Man Kei Chin. Based on the classic Chinese novel "Jin Ping Mei" written during the Ming Dynasty, the movie takes place during 1111-1127 and centers around Ximen Quing, a corrupt social climber and lustful merchant who is wealthy enough to marry a consort of wives and concubines.Also featuring several Japanese adult video actresses making their feature film debuts such as Kaera Uehara and Hikaru Wakana, the movie was followed by a sequel in 2009 named The Forbidden Legend: Sex & Chopsticks II.

The Forbidden Legend: Sex and Chopsticks

In this case, he may not only get away with loosing his job. Police were investigating the incident and according to Chinese law, individuals who spread pornographic audiovisual products can be sentenced to up to two years in prison.

Buying electronics online by deal sites

Online group buying sites in Singapore came a long way from mainly providing dinning and SPA deals to a wide variety of products and services in a wide price range. IT and electronics products are also increasingly finding their ways to these deal sites. If you go to the product deals page of any group buying site just now, you will see a lot of electronics and IT products. Take the product deals page of Deal.com.sg for example: At this time I have checked there was a deal for  iConnect Laser PicoP Projector, a MacBook Accessories Bundle, Wireless Baby Monitor, a 10,000mAh Ultra Slim Powerbank, STYLUX Hair Dryer, 360 Degree Rotating Stand Case For Samsung Galaxy Tab, DSLR Camera Bag, Samsung 7.5 kg Top Load or 7.0 kg Front Load Washing Machines, Non-Contact Infrared Talking Thermometer and a Nespresso Pixie Coffee Maker.

According to All Deals Leak, which tracks and monitors the local group buying companies, such IT and electronic gadget deals has been growing in Singapore.

This is good news for both consumers and retailers. For consumers, deal sites mean great discounts. Just take a look at the screenshot below: The i-Connect Projector is coming with 68% discount on retail prices.

For retailers it is good news because to grow their business, they do not need to invest in very expensive resources in Singapore such as retail space, shell space, manpower, supply-chain network. Since these are not in the equation, they will be able to have more discounts. Plus, these sites are great ways to advertise and create awareness of products and retailers.

Online electronics deals like the one above are getting popular in Singapore.

"We managed to keep our prices low because we do not have overheads such as cost of shelf space and deliveries, since customers are expected to collect the products on their own" says Love Mobile Director Axmund Phuah. Love Mobile has performed a successful deal for its newly launched Red Monster mobile charger through Groupon Singapore.[1]

With Amazon starting free shipments to Singapore and becoming a major competitor to brick-and-wall retailers here, these group buying sites offers great opportunity for Singapore retailers to find new avenues to grow and cut costs to compete with online retailer giants.

[1] - Bagging for a good deal online, The Digital Life, The Straits Times

Hello Titty

A couple of days ago, "Singing Bone" edition of Japan’s most favorite feline Hello Kitty shook Singapore where many braved the haze, queued for hours, argued and forked hundreds of dollars to lay their hands on a this special Hello Kitty stuffed toy: a black Hello Kitty with a white skeleton and pink bow.

Today, I have seen this special edition T-shirt in rocketnews24.com: Hello Titty. Bought from a sex shop on the seedier side of King’s Cross, Sydney, Hello Tity shirt replaces the lovable Kitty-chan’s face with a pair of sizable breasts, complete with nipples for eyes!

Probably Hello Kitty’s creator and license holders will not be thrilled to see the cute little mascot transformed into a pair of lady pillows.

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Photo - RocketNews24.com

Beijing No.1 presents a majestic culinary experience at Marina Bay Sands

Joining the myriad of renowned restaurants at Marina Bay Sands is Beijing No. 1, a Northern Chinese restaurant that celebrates the history of famous imperial cuisine passed down from the Qing dynasty (17th to 20th century).

Located on Atrium 2 at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Beijing No. 1 is set within an exclusive dining space with a grand main dining hall and nine opulent private dining rooms which sit a total of 120 diners. The restaurant is conceptualised by veteran Master Chef Liu Guo Zhu (刘国柱) and helmed by Executive Chef Shi Wei Dong (史卫东). Master Chef Liu is also the Executive Chef of Wynn Macau’s entire Chinese culinary operations with a special emphasis on overseeing Golden Flower, a two Michelin-starred restaurant in Macau.

Signature dishes include braised Jinshan’s shark’s fin in supreme chicken broth, poached fish with chili oil and Beijing No. 1 supreme happy family with shark′s fin, sea cucumber and fish maw.

Authentic imperial cuisine with a story
Tan cuisine was created by and named after Tan Zongjun, an official in the Qing dynasty who was fond of hosting friends and acquaintances for culinary feasts at his residence. He would personally supervise the cooking methods used by the chefs he employed from Beijing.

This home-cooked fare later flourished into gourmet cuisine at the end of the Qing dynasty upon many improvisations and perfecting. To date, Tan cuisine has close to 300 dishes to its name and is especially famous for its seafood dishes and its unique agar in clear soup.

Tan cuisine is prepared mainly by braising, stewing, simmering and steaming, and the uniqueness of the cuisine is assorted seafood cooked in savoury soup stock. It tastes moderately sweet and salty and focuses on fresh ingredients to bring out authentic original flavours.

Master Chef Liu and Executive Chef Shi’s illustrious backgrounds
Master Liu is an award winning chef who brings with him more than 40 years of experience in the culinary world. Throughout the course of his esteemed career, he has served dignitaries including Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, former Chinese Leader Deng Xiao Ping and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

The distinguished veteran was also the Chief Instructor of the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute (CCTI) Hong Kong from 2003 to 2009, a school that provides courses to rising Chinese chefs.

Executive Chef Shi helmed the award-winning Golden Flower restaurant in Macau before moving to Singapore. He also served in the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute (CCTI) Hong Kong for five years as director. As a chef with over 40 years of experience, he has won many honorary titles in the Chinese culinary world, specializing in Sichuan, Shandong and Guangdong cuisine.
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Chef Liu said, “Tan cuisine is a beautiful medley of the best in Northern Chinese cuisine. We are very dedicated to making only the best using fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods in order to preserve the original flavours of the cuisine.”

“Tan cuisine is truly a culinary art and experience that I hold close to my heart. With Beijing No. 1, I hope to be able to share this prestigious cuisine with Singapore, and at the same time enrich the food and cultural diversity in this part of the world,” said Chef Liu.

Beijing No. 1 opened its doors to the public on 30 June 2013. The restaurant opens daily for lunch (11.30am – 2.30pm) and dinner (5.30pm – 10.30pm).

FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013

Three years after the team's last Asia tour, FC Barcelona will be back to Asia where they will play against the Thailand national team in Bangkok (Thailand) on August 7, and then on August 10, the Blaugrana will play against a selection the best players of the Malaysian league in Kuala Lumpur. These exhibition games will give FC Barcelona football fans in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur an opportunity to see the Spanish La Liga Champions, in action.

Thailand - FC Barcelona match will be held in Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium with 50,000 capacity and Malaysia XI - FC Barcelona match will be held in Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Jalil National Stadium with 100,000 spectators. This will be the first time FC Barcelona visits Malaysia. The team was in Thailand before 11 years ago in 2002.

FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013 is sponsored by Qatar Airways.

Sandro Rosell, President of FC Barcelona said, “We are pleased that the club is returning to Asia this summer with Qatar Airways  our travelling companion from 1 July. We very much look forward to seeing our Thai friends again and returning to their country for the first time in more than 10 years. This tour will also enable us to visit Malaysia for the first time, where we know we have a lot of dedicated supporters. We want to feel close to them, especially the children, and for them to enjoy the team and our players, and get to know our club better, a club unlike any other in the world, and also our country. We thank Qatar Airways for the chance to visit these fans that have dreamed for long to see our players live.”

FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013 will be sponsored by Qatar Airways.

CATS Race Queen Pageant 2013: Are race queens car bimbos?

CATS Classified Car-nival is the biggest one-stop car-mart event in Singapore. The next show will be held on 7 Jul 2013, 10am - 8pm at Singapore Expo Hall 5. For publicity, they are organizing this CATS Race Queen Pageant 2013 where some nice looking girls are competing to be the top race queen of the event. But do they have the knowledge about the cars?

In the video below (Are race queens car bimbos?) these 12 race queen finalists are put through a quiz on cars.

Some how if you do not know what race queen means, it is a Japanese term for a type of promotional model found as part of a pit crew in certain kinds of motor racing, such as F1 races (British call these girls "Pit babe"). Although the term is originally used for the girls on the pit, it is increasingly being used for promotional models in simple car shows.

This years  CATS Race Queen Pageant saw almost 50 applicants. 12 of them made the finals. If somehow if you are interested here is a video about the girls answers a very important question : which part of their body do they consider the hottest?