Japan Tokyo Tour photo blog.

A brief photo blog of my tour in Tokyo, Japan. From the beginning and ending after my tour at Studio Ghibli Museum.

The new Apple 3G IPhone at US$199.

Some time ago I brought Qty:03 Apple IPhone from United States and ship it back to Singapore to a Friend's friend. The IPhone cost US$399 each and the UPS shipping charge was US$120++. To the guy receiving the item on the other end of the shipping process, its still consider a steal because the local Ebayer are selling IPhone at almost S$1000. Some VIP from our Empire came to USA just last month and brought an Apple IPhone at US$399. A colleague of mine brought almost 5 IPhone back to Singapore and sold it to friends at a profit 3 months ago.

This week came the news that excites people who haven't own an IPhone but also gave an ugly shock to those who got their IPhone recently...


Apple will be releasing the 2nd generation 3G Apple IPhone to the market on 11th of July. Not only is it faster since its operating on the 3G cellular network, it also comes with built in assisted GPS navigation system something the old IPhone comes without. The final icing to the cake is consumer get all the extra features plus whatever the 1st generation IPhone offers at a slashed price of US$199. The price tag difference of US$200 dealt a painful blow to buyer who recently just got their 2G IPhone. For further reading, click the link below.

1st Generation V.S 2nd Generation

One can only wonder what Apple is up to again. This is not the first time Apple attempted price murder on their own product lines. They did it once in 2007 with the IPhone three months after its launch by slashing the price down from US$599 to US$399.

IPhone's Smart Price Slash

Obviously back than and right now anyone trying to capitalize on the selling the IPhone in countries where it was officially not on sale (like Singapore) were in for an unpleasant surprise.

Kiss the wall at Multi Storey Carpark

I must tune my driving mode to the narrow road and tight spaces of Singapore. Driving in US gave me so much breathing room that I came back with a "Spacious" mindset of roads and parking lot. That false sense of comfort and a left hand drive mindset cause a minor episode yesterday evening at a multi storey car park near Sun Plaza, Sembawang. What an irony when just two days ago my dad was telling me to watch out for the walls of Singapore's multi-storey parking lot when entering or exiting.

Hit the left rear passenger door causing a small little dent and a series of wall scratches made worst from my reversing of the car to salvage the situation. I could easily cause a car park traffic jam at the moment but good thing this car park is pretty deserted, saving me from certain embarrassment. Earlier on, I was having Lor Mee at the nearby kopi tiam with Eddie and Alfred, the next moment...fender bender my car. Wah lau...that Lor Mee sure cost a lot.

Totally lost on which paint shop to go without getting "chop" in the pocket. Sis got her friend, Bran ( a former soldier of the Empire) to bring me to a paint/body shop at Yio Chu Kang tomorrow afternoon. Been a total foreigner to the car workshop scene in Singapore, its better to heed the advise of the locals.

My wounded Lancer on the left, My sis Lexus on the right.

Wound of a lousy driver.

Grandma 83 years old birthday

Today we celebrate Grandma 83 years old birthday. Born in the year 1925, she only have the year of birth on her IC so I have no idea her exact birth date. My dad only know her Birthday base on the Chinese Lunar Calender. Nowadays, she have to walk with a stick due to weak leg muscles but her arms are still mighty strong and mind is sharp thanks to here pass time mahjong and some chinese poker game she indulge in frequently. Its a nice coincidence for we are having my home coming dinner tonight while also celebrating Grandma birthday. Dinner was held at 老北京食堂 "Old Beijing Chinese restaurant" located at Novena Square. Great food and excellent customer service from the waitress all the way to the Supervisor (Mr Ivan Tan) who came to our table for feedback and making sure we have a great dining experience. Learning that it was Grandma's birthday tonight, the restaurant Supervisor gave Grandma a plate of Longevity Peach which is a Chinese traditional dish a Peach shaped bun containing 豆沙 (bean paste) presented to elderly during their birthday. Ivan, the supervisor, gave us both his name card so we could contact him directly the next time to make table reservation for dinner and in return he ask for both me and my sis name card. Obviously I don't have one and got to tell him I am a civil servant. Does civil servant have a name card??? Felt flattered when he ask for a name card though. Maybe in the future when I make it big out there...

Anyway, the dinner experience was great and I grade the place 8/10 base on food quality, customer service and cleanliness. Could have been a 9 if not for the noise of people and utensil during table clearing in the restaurant but its could just be my preference for a much quiet dining. Been told by the manager that this is how the atmosphere is like in most Beijing restaurant.

Kung Fu Scroll, 武林密集。This is the menu...

Sis Rachel and Grandma

Me and Grandma

Mum and Grandma

Mother and Son. Don't they look alike???

Summer Cleaning of my room

Two years plus of absent, my bed room becomes a warehouse. Have been clearing out my bedroom to the way I like it. Sorting out whats of value and what becomes garbage, putting unwanted stuff in boxes to be sold online, setting up my work station and cable management. Good thing those 23 boxes from United States will only arrive 1 month later so I still got time to shift things around.

This morning, I finally got my mobile phone line up after 4 phone call to Singtel mobile since yesterday. Shouldn't have taken that many number of phone call if they could just get it connected with 24 hours. Alas, they were late... Started mass SMSing my friends telling them I am back to the little dot and got a few replies from unknown numbers. It seems that most of them have changed mobile numbers and all my SMS was forwarded. They replied through their new number that makes me unable to figure out who is who.

Yesterday evening, I dropped by Alfred & April apartment at Sembawang for a visit. Randall was already there doing something to Alfred's PC. We sat down, have a can of Tiger Beer, my first since coming back to Singapore, and Alfred recalls the accident he had at NDU. His burn wounds are healing well and thank God the oxygenated flame did not kanna his "brother" and face (pretty good looking guy). Looking at the pictures of the fresh wound he took at the Hospital remind me of uncooked luncheon meat...yucks. Eddie was late but thats understandable for he have to spend time with his wife after work. Appreciate his effort to drop by and catch up with me. I missed Alfred customary wedding but he got all the photos and video to show me that night. Sigh....I miss the fun and missed catching up with some former class mate from primary schools and secondary schools. Come to think of it, I haven't check out Eechyi and Shiyan wedding pictures yet. Gonna call them sometime next week. AHAHAHAHAHAAH...soon I will be God-Father for their children. Sound really Mafia...

Heading downtown for dinner with Randall and Joachim later on and a nights out at Gotham Penthouse. Some new hangout in Singapore I never heard off. Last one I been to is St James power house.

Back home, in Singapore

Not really the Jepun school mei mei we were looking for but still a nice photo shoot.

Back from Japan and thats my favorite picture of the trip taken outside Senoji Temple at Asakusa. Its 4am right now and I have just finish unpacking my two big luggage, took a early morning shower while recalling all the highlights and tragedy of my 2 years in USA. A fresh new start back home in Singapore now and the first business of the day is sorting out my 11th floor apartment and next is adapting back to a Singaporean lifestyle of the heat and humidity, makan at kopitiam with jargons (Tiger beer, "Kick Ball", Kopi Konsong, Teh See, Mee Pok Tah..etc), no Walmart but NTUC, PAP, crowded shopping center, paid parking and finally work life.

Need to get my mobile phone back online later on in the day since its currently suspended. My number is still 91392381 in case anyone need to contact me on any issue other than work which can wait till the 11th.


Time to contact my good friends in Singapore again. Hmm...thinking of a Karaoke session to exercise my throat.