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Vivid Sydney 2013: You gotta hand it to them

2013-05-25T11:11:23+08:00

This hand at my Sydney hotel room door freaks me out whenever I walk by.

Sometimes I stare at it expecting it to reach out and grab me. This feeling happens when I've had one too many coffees or glasses of fine Australian wine.

I like the avant garde nature of the QT Sydney but some of the art takes some getting used to.

Vivid Sydney 2013: Playing with light

2013-05-24T15:36:55+08:00

Ryan and I arrived in Sydney at 8am in the morning, feeling a little zombie-fied because we took the redeye flight from Singapore. It was made worse by the fact that Singapore is two hours behind so really, we were stumbling out of the plane at 5am.

Still, we were both excited to come here for Vivid and this time we are staying at the QT Sydney, a hip hotel at Market Street, courtesy of Destination NSW.

The rooms are nice and fancy, and we even went for a massage at spaQ, the five-star health spa in the hotel. I think I fell asleep a bit at the massage table. (That's my purple cabin bag at the corner, part of my experiment to start traveling with less stuff. I will share more about my One-bag travel goal another time.)

Our next activity was to take a My Sydney Detour, a private tour conducted by Richard Graham in his beautifully restored 1964 EH Holden Premier. There are only five of these iconic cars left in this condition in Australia, Richard proudly tells me.

We were driven to see the sights that a regular tourist doesn't see, and had lunch at Ella's, a lovely cafe in Redfern.

Redfern was home to many Aboriginals and it has since become increasingly gentrified. It is now a very diverse neighbourhood and is rich in culture and (sometimes troubled) history.

Our tour took us to Bronte Beach, Dover Heights (where the rich live) and Bondi too.

This is the most awesome view of Sydney, in my opinion. There is even a private beach in front of palatial homes in this spot.

Then night fell and we took a walk to see a preview of Vivid. As you can see, it is quite a sight. This is

The Customs House was transformed into a canvas of light that you can influence by dancing at the control stage. It was fun to see the young and old dance to make the building "move".

Intel bladers dressed like Tron bladed their way through the installations and drew quite a crowd of photographers.

Children also played at this installation, making the sticks move. I made sure I was standing far away so as not to hurt my tender bits when the light sticks swung back.

We ended our evening at this installation at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The music, together with the light show, was mesmerizing.

Then we had dinner at The Woods at the Four Seasons and crashed in our beds soon after. I think we are not young anymore.

Water Wally wants to shower with your kid

2013-05-22T08:26:06+08:00

Youtube link: http://youtu.be/nUrZ2W09R7c

This music video by the PUB has now taken over the mantle of Lamest Music Video ever made by a Government Agency from the previous title holder: the MDA Rap. Talk about going viral for all the wrong reasons.

Not only is the song and dance lame, the music video features creepy scenes like the water mascot, Water Wally, watching a kid take a shower.

Sure, I understand the need to teach kids to save water and bathe in less than five minutes. But a music video featuring possessed people who have lost control of their bodies and are being made to dance to some bizarre moves?

I was so annoyed by this Gangnam-style wannabe video that Marc and I wrote our own shower song. We didn't write it while we were in the shower together, don't worry. Go listen to our silly parody.

Oh by the way, they are going to teach all our kids the dance moves in the PUB video at school. I am going to teach my kids if they see a water-droplet-shaped mascot opening their toilet door while they are bathing, they should not be breaking into dance, but kicking said mascot between its legs and calling for help.

the mrbrown show: That’s Why You Water Goondu

2013-05-21T20:28:16+08:00

Photo by Spring Dew

Don't shower wrong, you silly wally! Shower right at mrbrownshow.com.

Play "the mrbrown show: That’s Why You Water Goondu"

the mrbrown show: Kim Huat looks for a new career

2013-05-16T22:06:32+08:00

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/10tQp5j

Kim Huat sees a job opportunity with the resignation of a key Singaporean icon.

Singa Didn't Resign

2013-05-16T13:30:20+08:00

This Singapore Kindness Movement publicity stunt was floating around on Facebook but I know the truth behind Singa's resignation.

Singa Didn't Resign:

1. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He was lion.
2. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He went to LA to develop his career with Wyclef's jeans.
3. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He was asked to be Emeritus Senior Courtesy Mentor.
4. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He abdicated.
5. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He was asked to leave for having an affair with the Merlion.
6. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He went to join the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
7. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He stepped down to make way for new blood.
8. @danielgoh: #SingaDidntResign He asked for a transfer to the zoo so he can be the mane attraction.
9. @joleeqh: #SingaDidntResign He's getting ready for GE2016.
10. @ShunfuMart: #SingaDidntResign He is under investigation for misappropriating money to fund a new career in pop music.
11. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign His job was taken by a more polite foreign lion willing to work for less.
12. @gweezilla: Rumour is, #SingaDidntResign. He was pushed.
13. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He was asked to be the director of a $2 company belonging to a political party.
14. ‏@Fake_PMLee: #SingaDidntResign , he will be replaced by another animal but this time it will be political so that the public can assess its performance.
15. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He was made director of "Special Projects".
16. @Fake_PMLee: #SingaDidntResign, he is now mascot without portfolio.
17. @Fake_PMLee: #SingaDidntResign, his work permit was revoked after taking part in Merlion Park #GE13 protest.
18. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He is going for Sir Alex Ferguson’s job.
19. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign Teamy the Bee stabbed his back and questioned his productivity.
20. @ShunfuMart: #SingaDidntResign He's being charged with under age "kindness".
21. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign He was fired for mounting a crane.
22. @mrbrown: #SingaDidntResign Teamy the Bee stabbed his back and questioned his productivity.
23. #SingaDidntResign He just liked it better when he didn’t need pants at work.

Because you have a radar in your head?

2013-05-15T15:09:13+08:00

I'd pay to see a smartphone-video-watcher who walks expecting others to avoid him/her, walk into another smartphone-video-watcher.

The irony that I am typing this on my iPhone and not looking at where I am going is not lost to me.

I am told this happens at Bishan MRT station a lot.

Er, which side is the front ah?

2013-05-14T16:51:06+08:00

Saw this while shopping in John Little's. I am not sure how you'd wear this. Maybe it depends on the weather. One side for warm days and the other for cold days?

And I quite like the colour too. I wonder if it glows in the dark. That would make it a very useful light source too, in a pinch.

Or maybe this is NOT underwear for men but a mask you wear to rob banks.

Or it can also be a slingshot for rocks.

The possibilities are endless.

WRONG NUMBER SORRY

2013-05-13T19:08:12+08:00

A friend's friend got this on his phone. I'd hate to owe this sender $10k.

This guy will qualify for World's Stupidest Criminals.

Obama is Ubah-ma

2013-05-10T18:07:52+08:00

Obama is very fond of Ubah too!

[by Meis Azrie von Wolfstein]

Silence is golden

2013-05-10T12:36:00+08:00

Had my earphones on and was wondering why my music suddenly stopped for so long. Checked and realized it was playing John Cage's 4'33".

Doh.

[comic via xkcd]

Lift your skirt, save your life?

2013-05-08T15:09:47+08:00

I am all for cervical cancer awareness but really? "Lift your skirt, save your life."?

While you are at it, why not "Open your legs, save your life."?

Or "Drop your panties, save your life."?

Or "Upskirt your downturn, save your life."?

The Chinese version isn't much better: 掀起你的裙子，挽救你的生命.

In any case, despite the fracas, cancer is serious stuff and I shall provide the link to the info for free pap smear screenings in May:

"From 1-31 May, free Pap smear screening for women (Singaporeans and Permanent residents) aged 25 and above will be offered at 178 participating clinics island-wide."

Little bags of money

2013-05-08T10:44:59+08:00

This was probably a very unhealthy thing to do but I just HAD to organize my foreign currency drawer. A tad obsessive, I know.

The little zip lock bags are from Daiso and the labels from my Brother P-Touch PT-1290 labeller.

France 2013: Roure

2013-05-07T21:15:42+08:00

We sat in our Turin hotel in Italy and wondered, just before bedtime, where next? We had our Hertz rental car, our Bike Friday Tikit and Moulton foldies in the car, and no plans for the next few days. Looking at the map of north Italy, I spied a mountain range… in France.

Just above the seaside city of Nice, was the Mercantour National Park, one of the nine National Parks of France. About 45km from Nice, was little mountain town of Roure, in south-east France.

"Let's go there! We can hike in France!"

So off we drove, making a stop at the Italian factory outlet stores near Turin to look for presents for our families, before reaching Roure. Crossing the French border was painless but we did encounter some challenging driving up the mountain roads, especially when it got higher and the road narrowed to one lane. Yes, you do have to be careful going up a winding mountain single-lane road. Also it was raining.

But the drive was worth it. We reached there before the sky got dark and settled into our lodge, a place called Auberge le Robur, run by Pauline and Christoph Billau. And oh my goodness, the VIEW.

Even in the rain and the fog, the view was stupendous. And we were in time for dinner (it is also a well-regarded restaurant).

So, with a three-course set menu of home-made French cuisine, and a killer view of the foggy mountains, Ryan and I tucked in. This is the asparagus starter, and below is the main course of veal confit.

We went for a walk after that and it felt like we were walking in an old French movie.

In the morning, the view was even better.

We hiked around a bit, then when the rain got a little heavier, we drove for an hour to the next town, St Martin Vésubie, to have some late lunch.

I think this was the coldest part of the trip, with temperatures reaching single digit degrees Celsius. We came prepared with warm clothing so it was totally manageable.

We must have been the only Chinese fellas for miles around. Plus it was off-peak season so there were not many tourists. Pauline told us over breakfast (French toast and awesome cheeses anyone?) last year, she had a Singapore couple who got lost in the mountain roads trying to drive to her place and it was almost midnight. So she got them a place nearer where they were by calling another innkeeper because she didn't want them driving in unlit mountain roads late at night.

I guess we have to thank our capable GPS for getting us there safely. We also made sure we gave ourselves sufficient time to drive there from Italy, so we would reach Roure before nightfall. Always a wise thing to do when you are driving on unfamiliar roads in a foreign country.

the mrbrown show: Kim Huat goes to Malaysia GE 2013

2013-05-06T19:44:00+08:00

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/15k533F

Kim Huat goes to JB and gets more than he bargained for.

The Revenge of the Sixth

2013-05-06T00:12:53+08:00

Very strange! My blog suddenly blackout then when the power came back on, I had a suddenly spike in page views! Like magic! I heard something similar happened to Malaysia too!

10 thoughts about Iron Man 3

2013-05-05T22:50:00+08:00

These were some of the thoughts that went through my head as I watched Iron Man 3 (Warning: may contain spoilers):

1. How come Tony Stark, whose company builds weapons (or used to) does not have a house with anti-missile defence or radar to detect helicopters coming?

2. The Mandarin became evil after he failed Mother Tongue, or as we used to call it, Chinese as a Second Language.

3. The Mandarin used to be known as The Hokkien, but the Singapore gahmen said they would ban his tv broadcasts so he changed it.

4. If Singapore had a War Machine suit, it would have been named Iron Hub.

5.Gwyneth Paltrow has some really scarily solid abs.

6. Khaw Boon Wan would have told Tony Stark it costs only $8 with Medisave to fix his shrapnel problem.

7. When is a problem big enough to call the Avengers for backup?

8. So many Iron Man figures to buy…

9. Pepper shouldn't bother decorating the Malibu home. It gets trashed every movie.

10. If Tony Stark had to depend on our 3G to pull the Mk 42 suit to him, it would never arrive.

Malaysia goes to the polls

2013-05-05T15:14:03+08:00

Good day Malaysia! Happy voting and may the 5th be with you!

And if you are looking for the Mr Chua post, I deleted it already because he is a real person and not a phantom voter.

In a blink of an eye…

2013-05-05T15:11:53+08:00

Hat-tip to my friend, Stef.

Satisfaction guaranteed, I am sure

2013-05-03T18:33:30+08:00

A most unfortunate choice of words.

[via Ang CW on Facebook]