HTC One in Singapore

With its aluminium unibody, 4.7 inch Super LCD3 display, clean and curvy design HTC One smartphone may be "The One". This new Google Android smartphone running on Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core 1.7 GHz and equipped with 4 megapixel rear and 2.1 megapixel front cameras, HTC One is sleek, powerful and gorgeous.

HTC One release date in Singapore is 13 April 2013. Only HTC One silver and 32 GB will be available on April 13. HTC One black model and 64 GB versions will be available in May. HTC One Singapore price will be S$968 (US$777.76) for the 32 GB version, and S$1,068 (US$858.11) for 64 GB. These are retail prices with no contract from local telcos.

All 3 operators in Singapore have contract plans for HTC One. The cheapest HTC One contract in terms of monthly payments, price of HTC One and total cost is StarHub's SmartSurf Lite which would cost you $1,381 in 2 years. SingTel and StarHub also provides Premium contracts where HTC One comes free.

Below are SingTel HTC One price plans.

Singtel HTC One Price Plans
Price Plan	Monthly Subscription	HTC One price	Data Bundle	2 Years Total Cost
Flexi Lite	$39.90	$528.00	2 GB	$1,485.60
Flexi Value	$59.90	$328.00	3 GB	$1,765.60
Flexi Plus	$99.90	$98.00	4 GB	$2,495.60
Flexi Premium	$205.00	$0.00	12 GB	$4,920.00

Below are StarHub price plans for HTC One.

StarHub HTC One Price Plans
Price Plan	Monthly Subscription	HTC One price	Data Bundle	2 Years Total Cost
SmartSurf Lite	$38.00	$469.00	2 GB	$1,381.00
SmartSurf Value	$58.00	$299.00	4 GB	$1,691.00
SmartSurf Premium	$98.00	$99.00	6 GB	$2,451.00
SmartSurf Elite	$205.00	$0.00	12 GB	$4,920.00

Below are M1 price plans for HTC One.

M1 HTC One Price Plans
Price Plan	Monthly Subscription	HTC One price	Data Bundle	2 Years Total Cost
ValueSurf+	$39.00	$548.00	2 GB	$1,484.00
LifeSurf+	$59.00	$398.00	3 GB	$1,814.00
ExtremeSurf+	$98.00	$238.00	5 GB	$2,590.00
MaxSurf+	$198.00	$238.00	12 GB	$4,990.00

According to HTC, the new HTC One will be released in UK, Germany and Taiwan next week and across Europe, North America and most of Asia-Pacific before the end of April. The company says that it has seen unprecedented demand for and interest in the new HTC One.

HTC One release date in Singapore was originally scheduled by mid-March 2013. But after its early launch on March 7th was cancelled, it was announced that the HTC One will be launched in April 2013 with authorised resellers and mobile operators.

M1, StarHub and SingTel were supposed to be the first telcos to offer their customers this highly-anticipated handset, but according to recent reports coming from the carriers in question, the HTC One was MIA at the aforementioned IT bazaar. Although surprising news, this isn’t the first market where the HTC One release date has been delayed, showing that things are not going in the right direction for HTC.
Source : HTC One Release Date: Things Are Definitely Not Looking Good

Taiwanese manufacturer’s newest flagship smartphone HTC One android smartphone release date in Singapore
was originally March 9th. But it will be available in Singapore on April 2013.

 HTC One's biggest bet is on its UltraPixel camera, essentially a 4-megapixels camera which captures three times more light in one pixel than normal. The compact camera module used in the UltraPixel camera could be the cause of a delay in the availability of the HTC One:

"A report from Taiwan brokerage KGI Securities suggests there's more to it than customer satisfaction--it could be due to a low yield in components. In particular, the compact camera module used on its UltraPixel camera. 

The brokerage firm lowered its shipping estimate of the HTC One from 4 million units to between 800,000 and 1.2 million, citing "channel checks that indicated production bottlenecks". It also predicted that the company will ship only 10.5 million handsets in the first half, far below the 14 to 15 million units predicted earlier."

Source : HTC One launch delayed to April for Singapore

CNet Asia has a very extensive review of the phone where they have concluded that "The HTC One has all the hallmarks of a great smartphone, and this is why we have no issues giving it our Editors' Choice Award".

CNet Asia have done a camera shootout for HTC One vs. iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920 and Samsung Galaxy S3 and here is their conclusion on UltraPixel camera on HTC One:

We liked the performance of the One when it came to closeup shots--something we, being foodies, do often with our meals. Overall, we found the Ultrapixel camera to be on par, if not a hair ahead of its competitors, especially in low-light and macro shots. It loses out a little in regular daylight settings especially in terms of detail due to the lower megapixel count. 

Some consumers may also be put off by the HTC One's slightly duller shots and prefer the more saturated images of the iPhone or S3. Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference, but it's worthwhile to note that washed-out shots can be easily enhanced with ubiquitous editing apps, especially if you're going to be posting that shot on Instagram anyway. 

All four smartphones in our shootout have top-of-the-line cameras, which are capable of great images, but you should be aware of each of their strengths and weaknesses. If you're a casual photographer who shares images on social networking sites, and like the idea of Zoes (three-second video snippets) and the inbuilt video editor, it'll be quite easy to overlook those aforementioned minor "flaws". The HTC One gets the job done well.
Source : Camera shootout: HTC One vs. iPhone 5, Lumia 920 and S3

HTC One Singapore price is $968 (32 GB) without contract.

-->

Cheapest car rental rates in Singapore by iCarClub

iCarClub is Asia's first peer to peer Singapore car sharing market which let's private car owners to rent out their cars to others. Peer-to-peer car sharing thus lets a car owner to make money by renting his car, a big big liability in Singapore, while he/she is not using it. "Renters can get access to nearby and affordable vehicles and pay only for the time they need to use them" says Red Dot Ventures managing director Leslie Loh. Singapore based technology incubator has just invested $589,000 in iCarClub.

The Singapore-based startup has just started operations in Singapore in December 2012 and currently has more than 400 cars for rent and 3,000 members. iCarsClub doesn’t own or provide the cars. Cars are rented out by car owners. Hourly charges are around $5 for a Hyundai Getz to $200 for a BMW 520i.

A car owner who wants to rent out his car needs to sign-up with iCarClub first. The company then installs the iCarBox, a device which enables keyless entry and allows driver to track his/her car while it is being rented. The device is free of charge and allows the renter to unlock the doors with a phone app. The cars are connected to a central server which sends the locking command.

iCarClub allows car owners in Singapore to rent out their cars
while car renters to enjoy some of the cheapest car rental rates
in Singapore.

So what happens if dispute arises between car owners and renters? To minimize the disputes, iCarClub has a peer-rating system to identify errant members. And if a dispute arises, iCarClub step in to resolve the issues.

Great idea indeed. CarSharing can take 9-13 cars off the road and also help car owners to earn extra money    during the time they do not need their cars. The company claims that the car owners can make up to 1,000 SGD per month extra income by the service. Besides the car owners have full control over when and to whom you wish to rent their car. 

Canon Singapore Launches “Try and Buy” Programme for its Lenses

Canon Singapore is now allowing its DSLR users to try out popular Canon lenses before purchasing them in the newly launched Canon Lens "Try and Buy" Programme. The programme, which is the first of its kind in Singapore for a camera brand, will be starting from 28 March. For a nominal fee, interested Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs), and work permit or student visa holders in Singapore will get up to two full days to try out their lenses of choice.

According to Canon Singapore's press release, "Try and Buy" Programme is an initiative byCanon to enable its DSLR users to try selected lenses for up to two days and make an informed decision before investing in the perfect lens to suit them:

"This programme will be extremely useful for users who are deciding between the different lenses in Canon’s comprehensive range of more than 70 EF and EF-S lenses. While there is no obligation to make a purchase subsequently, Canon believes that this programme will also attract new users to its award-winning EOS photographic eco-system."

Canon Lens “Try and Buy” Programme

• Canon DSLR users2 can borrow selected Canon lenses for up to two full days (Excluding pick-up and return dates).
• At any one time, users can borrow a maximum of two lenses on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• Participants of the programme who wish to own the lens model they have tried can enjoy a discount on the purchase of the extended warranty for the same lens model. The discount is equivalent to the nominal fee charged when they borrowed the lens.
• All Canon Imaging Academy members who have enrolled themselves in any paid course/workshop within the last 12 months will receive a 50% discount off the nominal fee. Members who enrolled for future paid course/workshop will also get to enjoy 50% discount if they participate in the programme within 12 months from the start date of their course/workshop.
• Registration and membership for this programme is free.
• Lenses can be collected and returned at the Canon Imaging Academy, Canon’s training facility (Located at 1 HarbourFront Place, #01-09, HarbourFront Tower 1, Singapore 098633).
• The programme will be administered directly by Canon Singapore while the sale of lenses will continue to be through Canon’s authorised dealers.

Baned in 2012 back in 2013: Sex.Violence.FamilyValues

The award-winning film Sex.Violence.FamilyValues was banned by the Singapore government in 2012 for its allegedly "racially offensive" content. But following a successful appeal by its producers, the film was released in Singapore on March 14, 2013. According to yahoo.sg, the 47 minutes long made-in-Singapore anthology of 3 short stories has already chalked up a healthy S$10,000 on its opening weekend:

Previously banned, the local film sparked debate when the Media Development Authority (MDA) revoked the licence of the film less than a week before its original release last year. Now it will now get an extended run at Cathay for one additional week following sturdy box-office sales. 

“The fact that the number of audiences has made Cathay expand screenings is obviously nice to me as a filmmaker,” Kwek told Yahoo! Singapore over the phone. 

“But the film being 3 short stories coming in under an hour, it’s a weird thing, an unusual product,” the 33-year-old added.
Source : Director Ken Kwek pleased with success of Sex.Violence.FamilyValues ‘experiment’

 Several scenes in the movie prompted Media Development Authority to review and ban the movie. In one of them, in short movie named ‘Porn Masala’, a scene shows a Chinese director played by Adrian Pang lets loose racial jibes at an Indian actor played by Vadi PVSS.

Below is the theatrical trailer of the movie.

BANNED in 2012. BACK in 2013. Sex.Violence.FamilyValues - theatrical trailer from Ken Kwek on Vimeo.

Royal Caribbean announces 2014 Mediterranean cruises

Liberty of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Splendour of the Seas will sail the Mediterranean to perform 2014 Mediterranean cruises according to a press release by Royal Caribbean International. Royal Caribbean’s 2014 Northern Europe cruises will also be open for booking on March 20, 2013, followed by its Mediterranean cruises on March 28.

Newly renovated Liberty of the Seas will sail round-trip from Barcelona on a seven-night, Western Mediterranean itinerary, calling at Provence (Marseilles) and Nice (Villefranche), France; and Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples/Capri, Italy. The August 10 sailing calls at Cannes, France, instead of Nice. A four-night, round-trip itinerary departing May 14 will offer vacationers a taste of the Freedom-class experience, with a call at Nice and Florence/Pisa. An eastbound trans-Atlantic sailing on May 1 and westbound on Oct. 26, both 13-night itineraries, will bookend Liberty of the Seas’ Europe season.

Navigator of the Seas will homeport at Rome (Civitavecchia) to sail a seven-night Eastern Mediterranean itinerary, which calls at Sicily (Messina), Italy; Athens (Piraeus) and Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece; and Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey. Alternatively, vacationers have a second option to embark on their seven-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise, sailing roundtrip from Sicily (Messina). Additionally, vacationers can choose a 15-night Galveston to Rome or 14-night Barcelona to Galveston trans-Atlantic cruise, sailing May 4 and Nov. 9, respectively.

Liberty of the Seas cruise ship seen in the Port of Miami.

Vacationers also can embark on longer nine- to 12-night Italy, Greek Isles and Turkey cruises from Barcelona from May through August, and Venice from late August through October. From Barcelona, Serenade of the Seas will alternate 12-night Mediterranean Greek Isles and night Mediterranean Venice itineraries the latter featuring an overnight in Venice. From Sept., Serenade of the Seas will homeport in Venice and alternate 10-night Greek Isles and 11-night Greece and Turkey itineraries. Vacationers also can sail into Europe with Serenade of the Seas on a 16-night trans-Atlantic cruise from New Orleans to Barcelona on Apr. 26. Vacationers also can choose a nine-night eastbound sailing from Barcelona to Venice on Aug. 27 and a 10-night westbound return on Oct. 27, takeing guests throughout the Italian Mediterranean and the Adriatic.

For its part, Splendour of the Seas will homeport at Venice for its entire Europe season and alternate seven-night Greek Isles and Greek Isles & Turkey itineraries. The ship will reposition from Sao Paolo, Brazil to Barcelona for a 14-night trans-Atlantic voyage on Apr. 25, and then start its Europe season with an eight-night Italian Mediterranean and Adriatic itinerary from Barcelona to Venice. Splendour of the Seas concludes its Europe season with a seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona on Nov. 15, before returning to Sao Paolo on Nov. 22 on a 15-night westbound trans-Atlantic itinerary.

Legend of the Seas on 7-Night Borneo Explorer Cruise

Royal Caribbean International’s newly revitalised cruise ship Legend of the Seas, called at Puerto Princesa of Philippines for the first time on Tuesday with an official ceremony welcoming her arrival. Legend of the Seas is currently on the 7-Night Borneo Explorer Cruise which started in Singapore and features calls also at Kota Kinabalu and Bandar Seri Begawan.


Ms Marilen Sandejas-Yaptangco, Royal Caribbean International’s Representative in the Philippines said, “We are proud to add yet another destination in the Philippines, and moreover, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to Legend of the Seas’ Asian season for her guests to explore and experience. Our successful call at Puerto Princesa today is the result of the strong effort and support of the Philippines Government in terms of infrastructure building which marks a positive step in cruise development for the country.”

Mr Edward Hagedorn, Mayor of Puerto Princesa, added, “The maiden voyage of Legend of the Seas to Puerto Princesa is historical and we are glad that the visitors can experience the scenic beauty and hospitality of our people which will boost tourism in our country.”

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park with its unspoiled natural beauty is one of top sightseeing sights in Puerto Princesa. It has one of the most impressive caves systems in the world and contains an 8.2 km long underground river that flows directly into the South China Sea.

Legend of the Seas

No trip to Puerto Princesa would be complete either without a visit to the indigenous Batak tribe or island hopping at the famous Honda Bay.

These iconic tourist spots are included in Royal Caribbean’s shore excursions. The Vision-class Legend of the Seas is the most recent ship in the fleet to receive a bow-to-stern revitalization which includes greater culinary options, new entertainment and activities onboard, as well as a refresh of all furniture and staterooms.

On the culinary front, guests can now enjoy popular complimentary and specialty dining options namely Chops Grille, Izumi Asian Cuisine, the exclusive Chef’s Table and Park Café. The reinvented Centrum also features a new high-flying entertainment experience where aerialists glide through the five-storey atrium, and a large LED screen at the poolside is available.

Royal Caribbean International 2014 Alaska cruise and cruisetour season

Royal Caribbean International has just announced its 2014 Alaska cruise and cruisetour season, which will mark 25 years of delivering the magnificence of the Alaskan frontier on land and sea. Recently revitalized Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas will return to Alaskan waters and offer 34 sailings on exciting seven-night itineraries from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seattle, Washington. On board, guests can enjoy up to 11 dining options, new and breathtaking entertainment, as well as family programming such as the award-winning Adventure Ocean kids and teen program, and the new Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, catering to Royal Caribbean’s youngest guests, age six to 36 months old.

In ports of call, guests can choose from an extensive menu of shore excursions to further explore the untamed Alaskan frontier. At Icy Strait Point, for instance, adventure seeking guests can ride the world’s longest ZipRider zip line – 5,300 ft. long – that accelerates up to 60 miles an hour over a lush forest to the beach 1,300 ft. below, or mush their own dogsled team on Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter from Juneau. For the whole family, the Gold Rush Sled Dogs & White Pass Train Adventure in Skagway offers an exciting ride on the world-famous, narrowgauge White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, followed by meeting a veteran Iditarod musher and his dogsled team with a chance to pet some pups, or the opportunity to go off-roading through Tongas National Park and canoeing in Lake Harriet Hunt on Backcountry Jeep & Canoe Safari from Ketchikan.

“Royal Caribbean has been unfolding the wonders of the Alaskan frontier for a quarter century and we continue to deliver this amazing destination like no other cruise line,” said Lisa Bauer, executive vice president of Global Marketing and Sales, Royal Caribbean International. “Guests can explore this awe-inspiring destination while sailing aboard our recently revitalized ships that are Designed for WOW and enjoy Royal Caribbean’s friendly and engaging GOLD Anchor service from every staff and crew member. To further immerse themselves, vacationers also can choose an unforgettable Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise tour combining the best of land and sea in the region and without having to worry about any of the planning.”

In addition to witnessing the majesty of Alaska by ship, vacationers also can explore Alaska’s interior on a variety of exciting Royal Caribbean Cruisetours, which combines a sailing aboard Radiance of the Seas with a three- to six-night land tour adventure. Royal Caribbean takes care of all the planning, transportation and lodging on fully escorted tours that spend at least one night in Denali National Park and one leg on the Wilderness Express, a plush, glass-domed train cars that offer panoramic views of the grand Alaskan frontier. A 10-night, family-geared cruisetour will feature a three-night land tour that includes a behind-the-scenes visit to the Alaska Sea Life Center to learn about the region’s natural habitat and the center’s wildlife rehabilitation and conservation efforts, and wildlife spotting in Denali National Park at the Murie Science and Learning Center.

Alaska Cruise Royal Caribbean

Vacationers also can combine a Radiance of the Seas or Rhapsody of the Seas’ Alaska cruise with one of four pre- or post-cruise land tours throughout the Canadian Rockies and – new for 2014 –the Okanagan Wine Valley. For a comprehensive Alaska and the Canadian Rockies adventure, the Ultimate Cruisetour combines both region’s land tour programs with a seven-night cruise aboard Radiance of the Seas for a 19-night grand adventure on land and sea.


Recently revitalized in 2011 and 2012, respectively, Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas now offer guests a range of new dining options, breathtaking entertainment, and contemporary amenities that are Designed for WOW. Each ship now features some of the most popular dining options and amenities that were first introduced aboard the world’s largest and most revolutionary ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. New signature concepts aboard these ships include a new dance club experience in the contemporized Viking Crown Lounge. On Rhapsody of the Seas guests are surprised and delighted throughout the day by a series of heart-pounding, aerial-acrobatic entertainment experiences in the four deck-high Centrum which also features the new retro R Bar. Guests enjoy choices from 11 delectable dining options on Radiance of the Seas and nine on Rhapsody of the Seas, including the Park Café gourmet deli, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Giovanni’s Table Italian restaurant, and the exclusive Chef’s Table, some for an additional cover charge. Both ships offer bow-to-stern WiFi service, a refresh of all public spaces and updated staterooms with flat-panel televisions. An oversized LED movie screen overlooking the main pool provides entertainment to guests taking a brisk dip on a warm Alaskan day, and new Concierge and Diamond lounges aboard each ship further recognize Royal Caribbean’s loyal Crown & Anchor Society members and suite guests.


Radiance of the Seas will alternate North- and Southbound seven-night itineraries from Vancouver and Seward, respectively. Guests will cruise the Inside Passage and the monumental Hubbard Glacier, as well as call at Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska. Radiance of the Seas’ Alaska season will be bookended with a seven-night itinerary, sailing roundtrip from Vancouver on May 9 and Sept. 5, calling at Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and Ketchikan, and cruising up Tracy Arm Fjord to see Sawyer Glacier.


For its part, Rhapsody of the seas will sail seven-night, roundtrip itineraries to Sawyer Glacier from Seattle, Wash. Guests will cruise the Inside Passage and call at Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, British Columbia. Two similar seven-night itineraries that call at Ketchikan instead of Victoria will sail from Vancouver to Seattle on May 16 and vice versa on Aug. 29.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. Royal Caribbean provides a world-class vacation experience with a wide range of signature onboard amenities, entertainment, and award-winning family programming.

Source : ROYAL CARIBBEAN ANNOUNCES 2014 ALASKA CRUISES AND CRUISETOURS

Songkran 2013 Hotel Deals by Agoda

Songkran is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 16 April. The celebration is the biggest holiday of the year in Thailand – Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one. In 2013, the official celebration days will be April 13-15, with a few days tagged on to either end to compensate for the holiday falling on a weekend. It also might be a bit longer or shorter, depending on where you are – for instance, celebrations in Chiang Mai often go for a full week. Songkran is truly one of those events on a scale that has to be seen to be believed, and it’s hard to imagine that it came from such humble beginnings.

Observed in one form or another for hundreds of years in several Asian countries, it originally celebrated the end of the dry season. In Thailand, it marked the start of a new solar calendar and was a chance for families to get together and celebrate a (hopefully) successful year gone by and pray for a successful year ahead. Visits to temple were a priority, as was the washing of Buddha images with scented water, which was then collected and poured over the hands or shoulders of family elders as a blessing.

Fast forward a few hundred years. While there is still a great emphasis placed on community, family and temple visits, the most visible part of the celebration is the wild and raucous street parties – giant, no-holds-barred water fights where anyone wanting to stay dry will find it a hopelessly lost cause. The mood is festive, to say the least, and strangers will approach with handfuls of powder to rub into cheeks and hair while yelling “Sawa Dee Bhee Mai!” (Happy New Year!) as water splashes down all around. Luckily, it coincides with the hottest week of the year, so a full-body splashdown is usually a most welcome diversion when temperatures are bumping up against 40 degrees Celsius.

The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water.

If a trip to Thailand is in the cards for this holiday, there are a few things one must be aware of:

• Do come to any water fights armed with the essentials – water gun (which you can buy at any store around this time), plastic bags for your wallet/phone, goggles or sunglasses, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Don’t wear skimpy clothes if you’re female. Doing this and jumping into wild, wet crowds that are in full-on party mode is a bad idea in any country.
• Do plan the day carefully. Head out with friends, have a meeting place if the group gets separated, and drink lots of water (just not the stuff that’s being dumped on your head).
• Don’t expect to go out and stay dry, even in non-party zones. If you do get a stray splash or someone runs up and pours a cup of water over your back, don’t flip out – it’s done in fun and is meant as a blessing.
• Do remember that Songkran is all about fun. It’s never ideal when some jokester shoots a jet of ice-cold water down your back or a bit of powder gets in your eyes, but laugh it off and continue the revelry. After all, this is the Land of Smiles!

As one of the more unique and memorable holidays one is likely to encounter, a trip to Thailand for Songkran is something everyone should do. Take a look at the hotels below and get ready for a wild, wet vacation!

Asia's leading and fastest growing online hotel reservation service Agoda.com is offering fantastic hotel deals in Bangkok and Chiang Mai to celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year.

Bangkok
Grand China Hotel 4*
Enjoy 52% off your stay. Expires December 31, 2013.

Montien Riverside Hotel 4*
Enjoy 30% off your stay. Expires March 31, 2014.

Prince Palace Hotel 4*
Enjoy 60% off your stay. Expires October 31, 2014.

Tai-Pan Hotel 3.5*
Enjoy 50% off your stay. Expires December 31, 2014.

Montien Hotel Bangkok 4*
Enjoy 50% off your stay. Expires October 31, 2013.

Chiang Mai
Baan Gong Kham Hotel 3*
Enjoy 53% off your stay. Expires December 31, 2013.

Panviman Chiangmai Spa Resort 4.5*
Enjoy 64% off your stay. Expires October 31, 2013.

Kiree Thara Mountain & Lake Side Boutique Resort 4*
Enjoy 60% off your stay. Expires November 30, 2013.

Singha Montra Hotel 4*
Enjoy 55% off your stay. Expires October 31, 2014.

Ruen Ariya Resort 4*
Enjoy 50% off your hotel. Expires Feb 28, 2014.

Savour 2013 Singapore

The SAVOUR concept remains the only one of its kind in Singapore; a relentless pursuit to unite the best in food and drink with a wide range of unique activities that is accessible to all. SAVOUR 2012 brought together over 14,000 like-minded food enthusiasts into one exclusive purpose-built venue where they enjoyed a day of Michelin-starred dishes, expert master classes, live demonstrations, fun workshops and culinary shopping.

Savour 2013 will be held on 11-14th April 2013 and the venue is 1 REPUBLIC BOULEVARD F1 PIT BUILDING AND PADDOCK.

You can go on a tasting trail and sample over 60 award-winning dishes at the Gourmet Village – Savour 2013 dishes are now priced lower, from S$6 to S$18. You can create your own unique culinary journey - why not start with a molecular-fusion appetizer from Hong Kong, move on to a main course from South Africa, and finish off with a delicate Peruvian dessert.

Gourmet Village
Once again in 2013, the alfresco Gourmet Village will feature over 25 leading chefs and 18 award-winning restaurants serving up a global tasting trail. Singapore's biggest gourmet festival packs a mighty punch, all in one 32,000sqm purpose-built location. The Gourmet Village in 2013 not only features the finest in food and drink, but an all-weather experience under additional shelter, including a brand new air-cooled dining pavilion.

The 2013 line-up will feature chefs with over 10 Michelin-stars between them in addition to top-100 ranked restaurants, including representation from South America and Africa – a massive progression from the 2012 line-up. Overall, over 60 signature dishes will be on offer for you to create your very own culinary adventure. Click here to view participant chefs and restaurants.

Gourmet Village

Gourmet Market
SAVOUR would not be complete without the Gourmet Market - a 10,000 sqm international showcase of of over 150 food and drink exhibitors. The Market also includes Savour Event Arenas which will host complementary workshops, tastings and product demonstrations conducted by renowned experts. Sample hundreds of quality products from an array of top producers, and take part in fun activities at the Wine Theatre, Baking Arena and even the Kids' Corner.

Gourmet Auditorium
Expect the best chefs from around the world as well as Singapore's top talent to put on master classes to remember at the Gourmet Auditorium, SAVOUR's bespoke 300-seater air-conditioned arena. SAVOUR 2013 will see a expanded schedule of master classes - a 50% increase from 2012 - covering an increased variety of topics. Click here for the latest schedule of master classes.

Savour 2013 Ticket Prices
You can either purchase a Savour Pass or Savour Premier Pass.

Savour Pass is SG$35 per day and comes with $20 worth of Savour Dollars. It let's you access only to Gourmet Market and attend complimentary workshops and demonstrations at all Event Arenas within the Gourmet Market.

Savour Premier Pass allows access to both Gourmet Village and Gourmet Market, access to Celebrity Chef Master Classes at Gourmet Auditorium and attend complimentary workshops and demonstrations at ALL Event Arenas. Lunch Session price is SG$55 comes with $20 worth of Savour Dollars and Dinner Session price is SG$65 comes with $30 worth of Savour Dollars

AKB48 in Singapore from 12 to 14 April 2013

J-pop group AKB48 will perform live in Singapore on April 2013 at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. The Japanese girl group which has 88 members, ranging in age from 13 to mid-20s, will be here for the Tokyo Auto Salon Singapore from 12 to 14 April 2013.

Tickets to the Tokyo Auto Salon Singapore are now available on its Facebook page. Each purchase gives you a chance to redeem limited priority tickets for a special meet-the-fans session over and above the concert.

AKB48 holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's "largest pop group". The idea of AKB48's producer Yasushi Akimoto was to create a girl group that, unlike a regular pop group, which gives occasional concerts and that is mostly seen on TV, would have its own theater and perform there on a daily basis; the fans would always be able to go and see the girls live. Having several teams not only allows the group to reduce the load on its members, since a daily concert at the theater is given by only one team, but also gives AKB48 opportunity to perform in several places and even countries simultaneously.

AKB48 still performs at the theater every day; tickets are now distributed only via a lottery. AKB48 is named after Akihabara (Akiba for short), the area in Tokyo where the group's theater is located.

AKB48 holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's "largest pop group"