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Things to do during Chinese New Year in Singapore

03:06 | Labels:

Don't come to Singapore during Chinese New Year if your main purpose to come here is for shopping. Yes, almost all shopping malls and food stalls are closed during this festive season, even the day before they are only open a half-day.

So does it mean there is nothing to see and to do in Singapore? the answer is "NO". Actually there are still something to see and the good news is some of them are free during Chinese New Year. Here are some list you may consider to visit:

1. China Town (@China Town MRT)
While other places are quite (eq: orchard) but not in this place. You can see some attractions like Lion Dance here.

2. Sentosa Flower (Sentosa Island @Near Harbourfront MRT)
The annual floral festival starts from 22 to 29 January 2012 and transform Sentosa into a magical floral wonderland. This annual flower festival brings to you some of the most unique flowers of spring for the eighth time to usher in the Lunar New Year.
More detail visit: Sentosa Flower

3. Istana (along Orchard Road @Near Dhoby Ghout MRT)
The Istana grounds will be open to the public from 8.30am to 6.00pm on Tuesday, January 24, to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Admission to the Istana grounds during the Open House is free for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. Other visitors have to pay an entrance fee of S$1 per person. For an entrance fee of S$2, visitors could tour selected function rooms in the Istana building and view a special display of gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister.

4. National Heritage Board (National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Philatelic Museum, Peranakan Museum, Memories at Old Ford Factory and Reflections at Bukit Chandu)
Monday and Tuesday, Free admission

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Chinese New Year tradition

01:59 | Labels:

Chinese people has unique tradition during Chinese New Year. Here are the following most typical traditions during Chinese New Year:


1. New Year's Eve Dinner
The New Year's Eve dinner is the most important dinner for Chinese. Normally this is the family reunion dinner, especially for those with family member away from home. Fish and dumplings are the common foods found and have meaning of prosperous.


2. Fireworks
Right after the 12:00PM of the New Year's Eve, fireworks will be launched to celebrate the coming of the New Year and it is to believed that the first person who launched his Fireworks in the New Year will get good luck and the used of firework is as well as driven away the evil


3. Red Packets (Ang Pao)
Ang Pao is a red envelope with money inside. Usually the red racket is given by adults, especially married couple, and elderly to young children in the New Year days. The meaning of this ang pao distribution is to share the wealth. It was also to be believed that the money in the red packet will keep the children healthy, suppress the evil and also long living.


4. House cleaning before the day.
Before the day of Chinese New Year, Chinese people will have to clean their house. This will represent in their house are cleansed and will bring a good luck in the coming new year.

5. House Decoration
After the cleaning, people will decorate the house to welcome the New Year. Most of the decorations are red in color. The most popular New Year decorations are upside down fu, dui lian, lantern, year paint, papercutting, door god, etc..


6. (NO) House cleaning during the day itself
It is to be believed that on the day of Chinese New Year is restricted to cleaning the house because this can sweep away all the blessing received in the house. 


7. Lion Dance
Every Chinese New Year, we will always see this Lion Dance. Chinese people believes this is a symbol of happiness. The Lion dance show is believed able to bring a good luck.

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blackberry BBM Chinese New Year greetings

22:41 | Labels: ,

Here is some of BBM greetings for Chinese New Year 2012

Wishing you and your family:
ː̗̀☀̤̣̈̇ː̖́ A Wonderful and Prosperous Chinese New Year ː̗̀☀̤̣̈̇ː̖́
★☆May this year of Dragon brings health, wealth, success, love, peace and happiness the more.
Keep fighting and praying to reach our dreams .

----------------------------------------------

恭喜發財 gong xi fa cai
Wishing everyone a Happy & Prosperous Dragon New Year !! ^__^
希望大家今年都能開開心心的！
新年快樂！龍年行大運!!!! <3

----------------------------------------------

祝我身邊的每一位朋友都能 ~ 幸福！ 快樂！富足!
Bless all my friends with good fortune, happiness and prosperity
這 是 會 為 你 帶 來 好 運 的 七 福 神 ~
These seven fortune GODs will bring good fortune to you.
緊 記 保 持 燦 爛 笑 容，好 運 就 會 追 隨 著 你.
Remember always smile happily and good fortune will follow you.
願 幸 福.....! 跟 隨 你 左 右!
May happiness always be your side!
願 煩 惱 隨 風 而 遠 逝!
May worries follow the wind and be blown away!

新年快乐 Xin Nian Kuai Le
身体健康 Shen Ti Jian Kang
龙马精神 Long Ma Jing Shen
全家辛副 Quan Jia Xin Fu
万事如意 Wan Shi Ru Yi

Happy Chinese New Year 2012


★☆ Hɑppγ Ċђίпєșє Ŋєω Ƴєɑґ ☆★

福。福。福。福
。☆。新。☆。
福。＼｜／。福
。快 2563 乐。
福。／｜＼。福
。☆。年。☆。

----------------------------------------------

☆★☆ Hɑppγ Ċђίпєșє Ŋєω Ƴєɑґ ☆★☆

Welcoming Water Dragon Year

☑ 恭喜发财 Gong Xi Fa Cai ( Wishing you obtain a lots of money, etc )

☑ 新年快乐 Xin Nian Kuai Le ( Happy New Year )

☑ 身体健康 Shen Ti Jian Kang ( Have strong body and good healthy )

☑ 连年有余 Lian Nian You Yu (Every year have many deposit of money)

☑ 心想事成 Xin Xiang Shi Cheng ( All wishes come true )

☑ 万事如意 Wan Shi Ru Yi ( hope always succecs )

祝大家新年快樂龙年幸好运，龙马精神，~~好運到~~事事如意順心
心情 = ╔══╗╔════╗
財源 = ║╔╗║╚═╗╔═╝•°*”˜*°•.¸☆
人氣 = ║╚╝║╔═╝╚═╗¸.•°**°•.¸☆
智慧 = ║╔╗║╚═╗╔═╝
健康 = ║╚╝║╔═╝╚═╗¸.•°”*°•.¸☆
幸福 = ╚══╝╚════╝¸.•°”*°•.¸☆
＊◎快樂★甜蜜★溫馨★美麗★幸福★平安★健康＊◎

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Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year of the Dragon

22:26 | Labels: ,

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as "Spring Festival,". It marks the end of the winter season, analogous to the Western carnival. The festival begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: Zhēngyuè) in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chúxī (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year." Because the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the "Lunar New Year".

Chinese New Year is not only celebrated in Singapore, but are also in countries with number of Chinese populations, eq: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines , Taiwan, Thailand, many others

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. Some countries like China and Taiwan has its holiday for a whole week. Hong Kong has 3 days, Singapore, Malaysia and Korea has 2 days, and Indonesia has 1 day of holiday

The most common greetings and sayings consist of four characters:
    * 金玉滿堂Jīnyùmǎntáng - "May your wealth [gold and jade] come to fill a hall"
    * 大展鴻圖Dàzhǎnhóngtú - "May you realize your ambitions"
    * 迎春接福Yíngchúnjiēfú - "Greet the New Year and encounter happiness"
    * 萬事如意Wànshìrúyì - "May all your wishes be fulfilled"
    * 吉慶有餘Jíqìngyǒuyú - "May your happiness be without limit"
    * 竹報平安Zhúbàopíng'ān - "May you hear [in a letter] that all is well"
    * 一本萬利Yīběnwànlì = "May a small investment bring ten-thousandfold profits"
    * 福壽雙全Fúshòushuāngquán - "May your happiness and longevity be complete"
    * 招財進寶Zhāocáijìnbǎo - "When wealth is acquired, precious objects follow"

GONG XI FA CAI…Wishing all a Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year!

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Free Wifi Singapore (wireless@SG)

07:15 | Labels: ,

Do you know most of public area in Singapore especially in the city area has Wi-Fi hotspot? Yes, this is due to Singapore government project called Wireless@SG programmed which developed by IDA (Infocomm Development Authority). This wireless broadband access service was launched since 2006 by providing speeds of up to 512 kbit/s for free, and then the speed was doubled to 1 Mbps since 1 Sep 2009 and the free service will continue until 31 March 2013.

Wireless@SG operators
There are 3 operators listed from IDA to running this wireless@sg:

1. iCELL Network Pte Ltd (http://www.icellwireless.net/)
2. M1 (http://www.m1net.com.sg)
3. Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (http://home.singtel.com/wirelessSG/)

Coverage Area


West/South Region (by QMax)
Bukit Timah
Chinatown
HarbourFront
Jurong BirdPark
Jurong West
Jurong East
Singapore River
Tiong Bahru
Upper Bukit Timah
West Coast Park
Orchard Road

North Region (by SingTel)
Ang Mo Kio Central
Bishan
Checkpoint
Hougang Central
Kovan
Mandai Zoo
Novena
Orchard
Sembawang
Sengkang
Serangoon Central
Thomson
Toa Payoh
Woodlands
Yishun Central

East Region (by iCell)
Changi Village
Joo Chiat
Marine Parade
Pasir Ris Park
Siglap
Simei


for complete coverage area, please check directly at this: Coverage Areas

Who can use?
All residents and visitors to Singapore can sign up for a free account.

How to sign up for new account?

Users with access to the Internet can log onto any of the three operators' websites and complete an online registration form.
click here: iCell, M1, SingTel

Alternatively, user can click on the 'New User Sign Up' link found on the Wireless@SG log-in page when they select the Wireless@SG network at the coverage areas. The account will be activated immediately and a password sent to them via SMS.


Enjoy the free Wi-FI :)

       

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Singapore Taxi Fare Revised 2011

03:39 | Labels: ,

Although this has been quite late to publish but I'm still posted up this information as this might help me or others to find the revised taxi fare in Singapore recently. Starting 6th of December 2011, comfort taxi (largest taxi operator) announced revisions its taxi fare structure. This changes also has been followed by other operator such SMRT by 20th of December 2011 and others such TransCab, etc by 3rd of January 2012

Following table showing the revised fare structure:

Basic fareNormalLimousineChrysler
Flag-Down (inclusive of 1st km or less)$3.00-$3.40$3.90$5.00
Every 400m thereafter or less up to 10km$0.22$0.22$0.33
Every 350 metres thereafter or less after 10 km$0.22$0.22$0.33
Every 45 secs of waiting or less$0.22$0.22$0.33

Peak Hour Surcharge
Mon - Fri (6:00am to 9:30am)25% of metered fare
Mon - Sun & Public Holidays (6:00pm to midnight)25% of metered fare

Applicable at the time of boarding. Not applicable on Sundays and Public Holidays. 

Midnight Surcharge
Midnight to 5:59am50% of metered fare

Central Business District (CBD) Surcharge
Mon - Sun & Public Holidays (5:00pm to midnight)$3.00

Applicable for trips starting from CBD area. Not applicable on Sundays and Public Holidays.
The CBD surcharge is payable on top of the Peak Hour Surcharge.

Location Surcharges
Changi Airport & Changi Air Freight Centre
- Fri to Sun (5:00pm to midnight)
- At all other times
$5.00
$3.00
Seletar Airport$3.00
Marina Bay Sands
- Sun & Public Holidays (6:00am to 4:59pm)
$3.00
Resorts World Sentosa$3.00
Singapore Expo Centre$2.00

Booking FeesNormalLimousineChrysler
Mon - Fri (6:00am to 9:30am)$3.30$10.00$10.00
Mon - Sun & Public Holidays (6:00pm to midnight)$3.30$10.00$10.00
All other times including Sat, Sun and Public Holidays$2.30$10.00$10.00
Advanced Bookings (at least half an hour in advance)$8.00$18.00$20.00
To highlight different fare structure, here are some points you may take note when comparing current fare with previous fares:
1. Flag down (basic fare) increase $0.2
2. Every km charges increase about $0.00003  - $0.00005 (no much actually)
3. The fares could be lower during "old" peak hours, lower from 35% to 25%.
4. The fares increase 25% since they extended the peak hours include public holiday.
5. They lower the call booking fees for $0.2, but there is no different since they increase the basic fare for also $0.2

Here is table of comparison:

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Cheapest budget airlines?

03:06 | Labels: ,





Anybody have heard "budget airlines"? some people called it "low cost carrier". Yes you may heard of it or even frequently travel with those airlines. Does it really cheap? how do they make money with such lower price?

We know running an airlines industry is very expensive business. First of foremost, of course you have to get the airplanes (Boeing / Airbus). Hiring qualified pilots is second major cost. Next on the list will be fuel cost, maintenance cost, flight systems, and so on.

So if this all operating expenses, how the budget airlines can sell the price lower? the answer is "cutting airline cost". How is that possible? One major way to cut cost is to save money on the fuel cost by fuel hedging. It such a long contract with current price for a long term (months- a year). If the fuel price increase, the airline will still pay at contract price. On top of that, on very small things can help them to make up the revenue by charge separate baggage, food onboard, seat allocation, and many others. I'm not going to detail as the main purpose is to compare few budget airlines in Singapore.

                          Budget Airlines Table Comparison

Airlines AirAsia JetStar Tiger
1-way fare ok ok ok
Hand carry 7kg 10kg 7kg
Luggage cost (1way)$18/20kg $17/20kg $17/20kg
Departure taxes
additional fees		 $36 $28 $18
Return taxes
additional fees		 $5 NA NA
Check-in fee #$5ea NA NA
Seat allocation $15 (Hot)
$3 (standard) 		$4, $13, $23 $3, $5,
$8, $10
Payment option Direct debit (free)
Credit Card ($16/2way) 		Offline Payment (free)
Credit Card ($8) 		Credit Card ($16/2way)

#AirAsia has online check-in that is free (self check-in)

*Insurance, seat selection, luggage selection are mostly selected by the airlines. You may need to remove them to avoid extra charges.
Hope the table can help you to identify which airlines are charge you lesser than the other. The total price may always change time to time depends on promotion they have.

*the price presented may not 100% accurate but this is the best we can get as per 05/11/2011

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