Saturday, January 31, 2009

Chingay: Singapore Tourism should sue Google

I don't know what seems to be the problem with Google but when I searched about Chingay 2009, the search results are not opening. Singapore tourism should sue Google for this.

I was able to open the link by typing it manually in my URL. So, how's that? Google should not worry about me opening sites which it thinks as harmful. It should just open it after at least asking the user or warning the user and let my security software installed in my laptop just deal with those security threats.

I checked some of my friends who are online right now and they are having the same issues. Not just the "Chingay 2009" keyword, but almost all of the search that one tries to do.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Philippine economy, recession and OFW (s)

I was so happy to know that my beloved Philippines is not in recession. For the year 2008, it posted 4.6% economic growth, though compared to year 2007's 7.3%, it's slightly lower.

The world is in recession and most economies that the Philippines is dependent on are in this economic turmoil, it's still a good thing that the Philippines is not joining the bandwagon.

I am an OFW and a little worrying scenario, is the devaluation of the Singapore dollar. Last week, 1SGD is equal to 31.35PHP and two weeks ago it was 31.40PHP. When I had my lunch today at Fusionopolis, my mates were discussing about the exchange rates and an office mate told us that the exchange rate right now is 1SGD = 31.15PHP. The fact that the Singapore government is planning to weaken the SGD will make this worse.

I am not sure how many OFWs who are here in Singapore, but this turn of events will generally affect us and our families. The Japan economy is in recession but the Japan yen is still strong and I haven't heard or seen on print and TV that they are planning to weaken the yen. Haven't heard of the US weakening their dollar. Is that legal for a country to actually control their monetary strength? Anyway, if things would really get worse and these rich countries which are in recession will weaken their currencies, then the OFW will be in slaughter. So sad but I am hoping this will not happen and also hoping that this recession will be over soon.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

American Idol 8 and I am too late to post.

It has been a week since American Idol has started. The last AI was really amazing and both men were really talented but sad to note my bet did not win. Hehehehe. Actually, my bet then was Ayesha Mercado but had some not so great performances that could displace the two Davids and so she was voted out.

American Idol is super fun during the auditions where you would see the corky looking, not so talented individuals, some are even freaks, and a few of those who really have real talents. It would be even more exciting during the AI processes of selecting the final 24 then to 12 etc., going to the top 2 then the ultimate or grand champion of the AI search.

Too bad I am so so late already in blogging about this show which I have been following since the previous seasons. Right now they have a new judge and it's Karah DioGuardi. I just think that the judges' table is getting crowded though another personality is a welcoming idea as well.

Here in Singapore, American Idol is show every week's Wednesday and Thursday at 10 PM for one hour. I am so excited for the next stops of the AI auditions and so far there have been promising talents.

Hope to see some Filipinos joining this time like the last season of AI, they had Ramiele Malubay. She was not that impressive but nevertheless pulled it through to the top 12.

Anyway, got to sign off already. Need to get a good sleep as my muscles ache :D

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Nuffnang Membership

Right now, I am an official member of Nuffnang Singapore.

I think this is going to be fun with this new affiliation. I can reach a new audience where I can share my thoughts - joys and angst. I feel that it's going to be really exciting as well. Hope I will be an active member :D

Hope I can get someone to sponsor my blogs so that I can own a site of my own - wishful thinking, because of this new membership. Blogger is a cool web blog utility and community but I am also hoping to have one that I can call my own. I guess it's what most bloggers would want.

Good luck to this new membership. Thanks to Nuffnang Singapore!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Sentosa Singapore that is!

It's been a plan to actually go to Sentosa and indeed the plans were realized yesterday, January 26, 2008.

The plan was to meet at Vivo City at 10AM but then, we woke up late again. So we arrived at our rendezvous at 11 AM. Mamul waited there for around 45 minutes. I guess she is used to us being so late. Hope she won't leave us in our future plans. Anyway, we were hungry when we arrived there since we did not have taken any meal yet. Olga and I found Mamul at level 1 of Vivo and since I was to wait an officemate, I was left there waiting for him near the National Geographic shop. Mamul and Olga proceeded to the "Food Republic", a chain of food shops inside Vivo City. Moren and I went up the top most floor of Vivo City where the "Food Republic" is located to eat as well. Though the food was a bit pricy compared to regular hawkers. Anyway after the meal we had, we need to buy some snacks and as well queue to this very long pile of people going to sentosa. It's like hell and for one thing my allergies were a bit attacking me and they itch but not much.

After the meal, Moren and I went to queue for the tickets and the girls went to the groceries to pick some snacks for us. Wow the queue was a mile long. We stayed like 20 minutes on the queue before we can get our tickets. We were planning to get the package that they have but, the attendant advised us not to because there is a huge crowd and for that we might not get into the rides or attractions in the package. So she advised us to just obeserve first what or how is the place at Sentosa itself and from there decide which attractions to take or what package to checkout. Anyway we got our tickets for the Sentosa Express and directly went to the queue for the Express ride. Well it was fast one and we reached the island very quickly. We had our first stop at the Imbiah Station. We proceeded to the Merlion, Singapore's symbol. We took some pictures with it as a background but we did not go to the Merlion tower itself. We proceeded to other attractions. We were still deciding which to take and were highly considering of going for the package. Well when we checkout some of these attractions, there were just few people crowding to get it so since we were there already, we decided to take the package and we can also save lots of SG dollars if we take the package. Off we go to the counter and decided to take the package.

We went to "Tiger Sky Tower" first and enjoyed the view of Singapore skyline. After this short ride, we proceeded the next attraction in the package but ofcourse I did not allow the fun to escape without capturing the moments. We then went to the "Images of Singapore". We got inside the studio and found ourselves in a short presentation about the hopes of Singapore. We then proceeded to checkout Singapore's history still inside the studio. There details of events culminating the birth of Singapore and some figures of prominent men of the country who have shaped the nation. It's a historical tour of Singapore indeed. After that wonderful tour which was refreshing about Singapore, we went to the next in our list and that's the "Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom". The entrance was still not flooded with tourists and we got inside so easily. We then went to trail the pathways like in a maze. It has displays of insects which were dead and preserved. We then found ourselves in this caged greenery and there were colorful butterflies. As the name of the attraction says, "butterfly" and "insects", to my surprise there were cockatoos - not related to the attraction , logically; but, they had a show which was a little fun so it was very much acceptable. It made the more fun inside because of that. After that, we then proceeded to the "Luge and Sky Ride". This time, the queue was long but not a mile long. When Mamaul got our tickets, we then tried the Luge. It was like a ride from the top of the hill and the earth's gravity was dragging you way down at a speed which can be controlled by the rider through the steering handle just like a bicycle or motor bike. It was a fun ride and I wanted to try it again and it's going to be a hundred times the next time I'll go to Sentosa. After the Luge, next in line was the sky ride and the same thrill was there. Riding in just a seat with less protective gears in an elevated cable is very good. I wanted to try it a lot of times too but the package has it for only one way. All I could do is sigh. But anyway the ride was fun. It was a doze to the human will akin to the spirit. The next on the list was the cable car ride going back to Harbourfront but it's the last thing to do. So we decided to checkout "Song of the Sea". It was on the other side of the island so we decided to take a bus going to Siloso beach and planned to take a tram car going to the attraction itself. When we got there, the tram car is out of service, so we decided to walk. Since we still have time, we watched the sunset and decided to sit at the sands of Siloso beach. After a few minutes of witnessing the glorious sunset, we started picking up ourselves going to the next planned attraction. You understood that we were a little tired already with our feet screaming. We got to the place and found this very huge line and we back out because it seems to be like thousands of people on the queue. We then walk our way to the top of the hill and it's a short-cut going back to the Merlion. We navigated the steeps and at the same time we were in a queue - yes still a queue, you read it right. We decided to call it a day and went to the cable car station which was on the top hill. And when we arrived there, we were greeted by a new pack of peoples. It was the last ride and we just talked and talked to enjoy ourselves. Before we could get to our ride, there was this picture taking and I was having a hard time even making a fake smile - we were just exhausted already. I noticed everyone just wanted to go home. But when we had the cable car ride, it was refreshing again! It would have been great if we had it in the daylight - it was already dark at that time. Though the skyline was good for the sight but I think I would love it in the morning.

That was our Sentosa adventure and too bad Agnes was not with us. Anyway, there is still another time to have fun at Sentosa.