Archive for Entertainment

Shakesphere – The Merchants of Venice

24 May 2014 Entertainment No comments

I was invited to attend a theatrical performance on one of Shakesphere’s plays, the Merchant of Venice – as part of the Shakesphere in the Park – which was performed by the Singapore Repertory Theatre.

I’ve couldn’t recall this particular play, but it was an enjoyable performance, but the funniness was that it appeared to be a special night – for various ‘schools’ of Singapore…and no I am not talking about University schools…I am talking about secondary schools! So we were surrounded by loads of teenagers making lots of noise and enjoying the evening away from school.

I’ve wondered around Fort Canning Park, but didn’t realise that they actually held performances in this area – but it was a great location and the performance had a sterling group of talented actors. It was a modernised twist, with LED-light backdrops and a nice music score to support the scenes and performances. As it was an outdoor event, I was wondering whether the clouds were gather and the skies open – but the weather held out and it turned out to be a great evening – with a picnic to boot.

All in all, an enjoyable event and a relaxing setting!

Singapore Repertory Theatre
DBS Arts Centre
20 Merbau Road
Singapore 239035
Tel: +(65) 6733 8166

Go Green Segway Fun!

17 May 2014 Entertainment No comments

What do you get when you get a group of adults-turn-children in Sentosa and a Segway? Well definitely fun and entertainment – and plenty of laughs!

We went to Siloso beach in Sentosa for the initial training (yes all of that health and safety melarkey), but also an introduction on how to use a Segway – which was a first for me. It was actually pretty easy to get the controls, or linked to your centre of balance, you lean forward to lean forward, lean back to brake/stop, and then move your weight to your left or right leg to steer – pretty easy after you get use to it!

We then did a few puzzles: ranging from Segway scrabble, a memory game on the Segway, egg and spoon race (segway style) and then spot the mystery pieces…followed by a luge event, which was absolute speed funness, and then ended with beers and food – well all that hard work must end in some style.

It was a great session, definitely recommend the Segway and Luge, although both did seem quite a short event, but definitely good to ride both and enjoy the afternoon in the Singapore sunshine and humid heat!

Gogreen Segway Eco Adventure
Sentosa Leisure Management Pte Ltd
39 Artillery Avenue
Sentosa
Singapore 099958
Tel: 1800-SENTOSA (736 8672) / +65-6736 8672
E-mail: guest_services@sentosa.com.sg

An Evening with John Cleese in Singapore

6 May 2014 Entertainment No comments

A few months back, it was announced that the legendary Mr John Cleese was going to visit Singapore and do a talk at the National University of Singapore (NUS). I was actually really excited to hear about this, as I always wanted to hear about his history, his upbringing, and more importantly share the laughs of the great guy that I grew up with.

The days of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda and even James Bond (well not as James Bond, but in a couple of the more recent films), made feel honoured to be in a place with such a legend.

The show itself was scheduled for Sunday 4th May and Monday 5th May – and I brought 4 tickets – to share the fun and laughter with a few friends. The show tickets that we brought were $151, whilst slightly on the expensive side, I felt it was worth it (after all – it is not every day that someone like John Cleese visits Singapore!).

The show started at 8pm, and it went on for about 3 hours – it certainly was full of laughter, and it brought back the fond memories of by-gone days. One thing I didn’t know is that his family name was originally ‘Cheese‘, but he grandfather changed it to ‘Cleese’ when he went to joined the army to avoid him being picked on. That was quite amusing, and I can see why it was changed 🙂 It was such a fascinating upbringing and life story – and he certainly brought it to life. The comedy aspect all started at Cambridge University at an Amateur Theatrical club called “Footlights” – where the likes of John Cleese, Clive James, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Hugh Laurie, Peter Firth etc all were members.  Wow – what a list of stars! From there Cambridge Circus was originated, after which the Frost Report, and slowly all of this moved onto the Monty Python show. It is amazing to think that this all happened in the 1960’s and 70’s and it continued in the 1980’s. This really emphasises the good ol’ Brit humour of the days and it was fun to watch a montage of video clips throughout the night – really got the audience in stitches.

What a life this legend had – I certainly found the whole night humurous and intriguing – all in all – a sensational experience.

Pool Playing – at a friend’s place

19 April 2014 Entertainment, Family and Friends No comments
Pool Table

Pool Table

Well it is not every day that you find a pool table in the middle of someone’s dining room, and it was certainly great to see one in its glory…a friend of the family managed to get an apartment which not only had the space, but the perfect location for the pool cum dining table.

It certainly wouldn’t fit in my 570sqft condominium – in fact I wouldn’t be able to swing a cat in my condo… Maybe a should give it a try…ergh that’s fit a pool table, not swing a cat, then again…haha!

Mar Jongg – practice makes perfect as they say :)

19 April 2014 Entertainment, Exercise, Family and Friends No comments

We’ll another fun weekend with a Marjongg session – to see if my game has improved…and yup it only just about improves.

One of the work colleagues arranged a short gathering (for fun, of course – no gambling involved, cos that’s illegal here in Singapore – haha!) – and I think I am finally getting the hang of the game again.  The only issue is that the Singapore game has a few more tiles – which really confuses the hell out of me.  But alas, practice makes perfect.

Overall I won a few games, and lost a few more…haha!  Not easy to improve at a game without sufficient practice, so I best get more games in…and it actually is quite good fun too!

Mar Jongg Game – Fun!

29 March 2014 Entertainment No comments

Well I wanted to take a stab at playing Mar Jongg again, and fortunately found a group from work that all played (for “fun” of course – ahem!).  Luckily, one of them had the set with the English Characters on the tiles, which helped me tremendously, but I still would call them the ‘green one’, the ‘red one’, ‘sticks’, ‘circles’, and the ‘blue square one’ – haha!

Mar Jongg Game

Mar Jongg Game

It was fun – and luckily, we didn’t do any gambling (as such), and just enjoyed the enjoyment of the game…and the practice! 🙂

St Paddy’s Weekend

18 March 2014 Entertainment, Food, Marina Bay No comments

Well having just arrived back from the UK, it was fortunate that the timing was just perfect for St Paddy’s Day.  The partying was extended from the Friday, 14th March through to the Monday, 17th March – which was the official St Patrick’s Day.

I was planning to take it easy, but I knew it was going to be a mad one – and it certainly was.  It started on the Saturday, with a nice session down Boat Quay at the traditional and infamous Irish Pub, Molly Malone’s (the original/first and oldest Irish Pub in Singapore), with an ex-colleague.  He had to leave after a few drinks, so I then caught up with another ex-colleague and his group of friends who were arriving in Boat Quay, and the Guinness just flowed all night – yes it was quite messy.  It involved a McD towards the end of the night to help solidify the Guinness that was mixing around in my stomach.  For some reason (maybe because I didn’t mix drinks), I was quite tired the next morning, but I did not have a hangover or headache (phew!).  I took it easy on the Sunday, relaxed and chilled – to try to recovery.

On the Monday, I met up with a few colleagues from work, and another lass that I met at a previous pub quiz – we stayed around the Blarney’s Irish Pub at the Marina Bay Sail, drinking throughout the evening and night.  We continued drinking and then we decided to pop along to Boat Quay to play some pool at a Public House, another British-themed park just off Circular Road, we ate some food (again to help line the stomach – or should be cap the stomach) and then we called it a night after a few more drinks.  

Wow, what a way to spend St Paddy’s day…!!

Folded Mah Jongg Table

27 February 2014 Entertainment, Shopping No comments
Folded Mah Jongg Table

Folded Mah Jongg Table

Well it was something I was checking out for a while having seen it at a friend’s place – and my mum was keen to get one – so I decided to go visit a place in town and try to buy one.

I found a place on a website, it seems to be an wholesaler and distributor, but it also allowed ‘walk-in’ customers, so I thought I’d give it a go. It was in a business park, so finding it was a bit of a challenge, but once I located the building, I located the unit location. I took a taxi from work, and arrived at Playfield Road in Tai Seng district. The one I saw on the website was S$198 – and the table top size was 36″ x 36″.  The table was called ‘SHP Solid Wood Folding Mahjongg Table’.

(Un)Folded Mah Jongg Table

(Un)Folded Mah Jongg Table

When I arrived, they had one in stock, and when I saw it, I looked a bit surprised on the size of the thing. I could carry it, but it was quite awkward to carry. I took the table and booked a taxi back to my apartment – I had to put it on the backseat, luckily it fit (another nightmare moment). Then I had the thought of how I was going to get it to the UK…hmmm…

I weighed the item, and it was just over 9 kilos, so I knew I had to be careful on how much luggage I would carry back to the UK…luckily my allowance was 30kg on Emirates. I think I will just try to put it in the hold in the box and ‘fingers crossed’ that it arrives in one piece 🙂

But It was a nice table and I am sure it will arrive safely!! Haha!

Swee Huat Plastic Company
80 Playfair Road
#04-18 Block B, Kapo Factory
Singapore 367998
Tel: +65 62843313
URL: http://www.shp88.com 
E-mail: sales@shp88.com

Shangri La Reunion Dinner

31 January 2014 Entertainment, Family and Friends No comments

The Reunion Night is a big feast for Chinese New Year – as a way to celebrate the new year and have a big feast with the family. We had been invited to attend one at the Shangri-La Hotel – a very nice hotel indeed.

It was quite a grand event – inside one of the ball-rooms, and there was plenty of entertainment both on and away from the table. We started with the infamous Yu Sheng.

Yu Sheng is a dish to celebrate Chinese New Years, and wishing years of joy, good luck and abundance.  

The rest of the courses followed, with the Shangri-La also putting on some other entertainment within the room. It was full of acrobats, trapeze artists and live music – although the music and sound was a bit too loud.

The meal cost $138++ – but it was certainly quite enjoyable, and we certainly ate a lot of food and drink.

I think I just need a couple of days to recover now 🙂

Shangri-La Hotel
22 Orange Grove Road
Singapore 258350
Tel: +65 6737 3644
URL: http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/

Aaron acts as a tour guide

20 January 2014 Entertainment, Exercise, Exhibition, Family and Friends, Gardens, Marina Bay No comments

Well what an interesting start of the year, an ex-colleague from the UK office was in town, as she was now working on a project that related to Singapore. It was great that she was able to come out and meet her team, whilst at the same time, we managed to enjoy the sights and sounds of Singapore over the weekend – Aaron became the tour guide for the weekend 🙂

She was in town for about a week, and it was good to see an familiar face and catch-up on the latest happenings from the UK and my old team – it sounded like a lot of change since I left over a year ago. I do kinda miss the UK and Brighton teams, but actually I don’t really miss the work.

So on Saturday, I commenced the tour from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on the north side of Marina Bay, we then walked along the promenade towards Boat Quay and the Fullerton hotel, we headed across towards China Town, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Year of the Horse – as we headed into the Chinese New Year festive period. After that, we took the MRT and went across to Marina Bay Sands, taking the sights and sounds of this landmark. We had a bite to eat at the MBS food court – like any tourist does these days. I then noticed that there was this Ice exhibition on, called 2 Degree Ice Art – in an area just outside of the main MBS facilities. So we went in here, the tickets were a bit pricey at S$32 a ticket, but at least my mum (who was joining us for the tour) was able to register with a Senior ticket (at S$26). The exhibition centre then had the audacity to ask whether we wanted coat and gloves…we asked what temperature was inside, and they said -15oC. I don’t think we had much choice as we were wearing summer-ware!! Anyway, they charged us another S$5 each…making the whole session a total of S$105. Ouch! It was fun inside, and a nice way to see the various monuments of the world calved into Ice Sculptures. We then headed back into MBS, and we decided to do a bit of retail therapy. I got a nice pair of Hush Puppies shoes – very comfortable and reasonable, and a nice selection.

We then had a couple of options, head towards the original Botanic Gardens, or visit the Gardens By the Bay. I decided that we should do this, so we headed there, which is a short walk from the MBS complex. There was a nice Dragon dance within the gardens which was very entertaining (I do wonder what these guys do for the rest of the year!!). We then continued our walk around the gardens until we arrived at the 2 domes, we went to the ticket line. I had my ‘free’ pass, and I then tried to see if there was any ‘senior’ tickets, they said only for local residents, which was a shame. Anyway, I then had this brainwave, and as local / EP-visa holders was slightly cheaper, I pretended to buy one for myself (even though I already had an annual pass entitling me free access), so I got one expensive (S$28), one cheap (S20) and I had my own annual pass …haha! a bit crafty – but that’s me 🙂 If no one tells, I won’t!!

We went into the two domes, I do feel that the flower one is better, as they change the displays to the current themes etc. The first time I went, they had a tulips display, previously it was the horse display, similar to this time. But still nice all the same. The Cloud dome was a bit boring, but was refreshing inside at least.

After this, we headed back towards the hotel across the Helix bridge, just as they were doing some sort of art projection on the ArtsScience museum monument. Very nice indeed, it was like they were throwing paint across it in time with the music. A great show! We then went to the hotel, and relaxed at the bar, and then said our farewells.

On the Sunday, it was more of an Orchard Road tour, so we met up for Brunch at the Wild Honey at Scotts Square location – very nice and tasty indeed. We did a relaxing walk down Orchard Road, being part of the hustle and bustle of the Sunday afternoon. A bit of window shopping and retail therapy throughout the sprawling malls and shops along the road, before we ended up at an interesting wine bar just off Orchard Road – the House of Robert Timms – an interesting spot, as you can watch the world go by and enjoy coffee (or wine, in our case) and chill and relax. We then made on our way, a nice way to end the Singapore tour and the busy weekend 🙂

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