[General Election 2025] Real Wages grew by 5.8% at the 20th percentile?!

This type of article and Manpower Minister which is angry for us to see. As a Blue Chas Card holder, i am in the low income group and i certainly do not see increment as high as 5.68% at all. I don't dare whether it is the average or median, but this is certainly not good progress at all seeing that cost of living is a real issue and its rising even higher at a faster rate. As a singaporean who sacrifice 2 decades of my life for NS, only to get low salary even when we undergo training and upgrade. These certifications and degrees doesn't guranteed anything. Hence we really need the true people who fight for Singaporeans to go into parliament.

[General Election 2025] Sembawang GRC

Staying under Sembawang Central which is also called the new Canberra Neighbourhood, this zone had been taken care directly under Ong Ye Kung's ward. As i am the first batch of residents who moved into the new town during 2016, Ong Ye Kung had been working to improve Canberra New Town. Bus services, free shuttle service as well as MRT had been created from scratch which i had witnessed the overall transformation. Hence nobody else who stayed outside of Sembawang Central will understand what he has done for the community. During this period of staying here, he also underwent three different ministries, Education, Transport and now Health Minister. So over each portfolio, he also help enhance in each of its way to the community. As a health minister, he ensured Canberra had a polyclinic and activeSG gyms and facilities, there is in Bukit Canberra. As a transport minister, he now also oversee the RTS link between Singapore to JB in Sembawang GRC. As education minister, he created many preschool and even planned for schools behind my block. Hence quite obvious who i will vote for. 😄

[General Election 2025] Let's hope for WP to win Punggol GRC !

As the title goes, i hope that Workers' Party to win Punggol GRC ! During our conversation, they do asked where do we stay at. Although i stay in Sembawang GRC, but i wished them success for getting into parliament ! It is really the best combination of next gen leaders to help true blue Singaporeans ! He also mentioned to me that daughter is special to me and also talk about his 3 sons and 1 daughter. Harpreet Singh is definitely one of my role model. Read more here.

Nestle Omega Plus Adult Milk Powder

Regardless of Special Discount in Singapore or not, groceries in Malaysia remains a fact that it is still much affordable there as compared to Singapore. Of course, the perspective here is still thanks to the strong SGD, hence we can purchase cheaper groceries in Malaysia for consumption. But imagine Malaysians who taking regular salary in Malaysia, buying the milk powder is still expensive. As i still stayed in Singapore, i am certainly saving a lot buying in Malaysia than in Singapore. Although the content packaging in quantity of 1.1KG and 1.2KG respectively, it is relatively cheaper in the unit price.

Snipping Tool Upgrade !! | Text Extractor

Probably one of the "most used" function in Windows 10 and Windows 11 in my life. Before Windows 10, i used to hit CTRL Print and get the screenshot from MS Paint. But fast forward to Windows 10 onwards, Snipping Tool was probably one of the best tool to get quick and targetted screenshot to go into your Office applications or as an image. Although there are many AI tools to extract text from images, but thats 3rd Party to use in Windows. I'm still very much comfortable to use Microsoft Products in Microsoft Windows which is built in for their operating system. Hence the snipping tool finally going to get an upgrade with Text Extractor tool. This is going to be very useful when extracting important text from image for your report or documentation.

Accumulating SGD-RMB at its peak during trade war

As of current, SGD is able to change higher RMB or probably the highest point as of the past 5 years historical charts at SGD$1 to RMB5.6yuan. Judging from the current trade war, i think it might go up further, hence to exchange more in the coming weeks. Of course this is to prepare for my first upcoming China trip in the last quarter of 2025. Yeah i know China are mainly using Cashless transaction, but it is still safer to set aside some cash alongside a couple of my TNG, Youtrip, Alipay and wechat account. The more important thing is to have a solid data plan so that transactions can be dealt with smoothly.

YouTrip officially launch Malaysia Ringgit Wallet !

As an existing youtrip user, i still store more than 55k Japanese yen exchanged at a higher rate years ago. With Malaysia Ringgit Wallet effective today, this is another great alternative to store ringgit for fast rate exchange and usage. But i don't really benefit much since i am already holding several Malaysia based bank cards and TNG Visa Cards which also serve the same purpose. Now what i'm truly waiting is for YouTrip to launch its China RMB Wallet and that will be the perfect outcome ! But with this move, it does attract many Singaporeans who can consider this as one of the option to hold cash for Ringgit.

Chicken Cutlet Chilli Ban Mian [Malaysia Boleh @ AMK Hub]

Wah get the Chicken Cutlet Chilli Ban Mian Dry Version at Malaysia Boleh at AMK Hub for my dinner. It was not bad as ingredients are adequate, but for SGD$8 can be quite expensive actually. Unfortunately, this is quite the norms nowadays. Imagine having breakfast at $6, lunch at $7 and dinner at $8. Just on daily meal will cost $21 !!! Wonder how to survive, sigh...

Different McDonald in SG have different prices 🫨

I rarely goes to CBD or even Labrador area. So just happened to come here for some demo and went to the nearest Mcdonald at Alexandra Retail Centre to have some coffee. I was always sensitive to the price when Mcdonald actually raised their food prices. As compared to Canberra Plaza or Bugis which i always visit, the price at ARC is crazy ! One typical sausage wrap meal costs SGD$7.40 where i always ordered like on the lower $6 range for the same food item. Then google AI told me that yes, different locations will have different food prices depending on the rental and utilities. So just ate the McSaver meals which is still fixed at $5. Hence, i think working and eating at the right place is important. Well, for the same item, i don't mind paying more if there is a quality difference, but sadly in this case, there is none. 🫥

Bus Service 858 From Woodlands Bus Interchange to Changi Airport

As i am heading to work somewhere in the extreme east from north, i took this chance to time how long it will take to reach from Woodlands Bus Interchange taking Bus Service 858 all the way to the extreme east of Changi Airport Terminal 3. It is a straight bus service from Woodlands moving from woodlands to Yishun and highway towards Changi Airport. What i realised is, from Woodlands to Yishun, it actually took 1 hour already. 😑 Then from Yishun towards Changi Airport will be the faster ride. So i did a mistake going to Woodlands to take this bus to the airport. Its better to take from Yishun and straight to the airport to save time. So time taken from Woodlands Bus Interchange to Changi Aiport Terminal 3 is exactly 1 hour 30 minutes on the dot. 😆 So in a way, i am late. 🫥

"Made in America" iPhone or Apple Products?

Haha, its possible, but good luck to those who is deep into Apple Ecosystem. Its seriously possible, but sales will not be very good. In today's standard, even as iPhone is made in China, India or Vietnam, costs of iPhone today is still quite expensive which most people will still buy them. But when factories start to move into america, costs are going to be more expensive and take for iPhone, its going to cost a lot. But one thing they can do is to make the iPhone even more exceptional which no other technologies can come close to iPhone ecosystem and even more advanced. People will still buy. But nowadays, china tech had been very capable and able to perform and provide better capabilities in their phone system as well with a marginable less cost or on par with the current iPhone. Good luck to USA if they really want to overcome this, then they will have to make a breakthrough.

Insta360 X4 Replacement

So after i brought it to Insta360 Service Center in Singapore to check the issue of not being able to read the microsd card, they confirmed that it might be due to a manufacturing fault. In the end, they provided me a brand new replacement as my warranty is ending in mid April 2025. However for the new camera, there will be no warranty. They offered me an option for 1 year accidental warranty for SGD$45. I think its well worth it and went to take it to protect till end of March 2026. Let's hope the camera doesn't give me any more problems as i intend to use for a longer time this time for my upcoming trips.

Casio G-Shock GD-X6900 Repair

This is another timepiece which i will keep, because it is my first birthday present from my wife bought back during our first KL trip in 2013. So it had been 12 years and finally the light is gone as the battery lasted more than 10 years. By right, 10 years is the lifecycle, but it actually exceeded the 10 years mark. Went to a local store to replace the battery after a failed attempt on the battery replacement. So costs $12 for the battery replacement + service. But as per the store staff, the water proofing will be gone for now. I actually just sold one of my other G-Shock watch. Even when i see the current Rangeman in the G Shock store, i don't see the value in it except that it is mainly used as a tool watch, thats all.

Shine Muscat | Product of Korea

Shine Muscat is a very popular type of seedless grape originated in Japan. It is extremely delicious. It is also popular in Singapore and several countries were harvesting this type of grapes and exporting to other countries. China Shine Muscat had the most budget friendly option and taste ok. Japan Shine Muscat is sweeter and tasted the best, but its expensive. So i tried something in the middle about SGD$8.95 Shine Muscat which is imported into our local supermarket from South Korea. The packaging, looks of the Shine Muscat were good. After trying it, the taste is great, but not that high in sugar content. I will recommend this. Shine Muscat Rating: 7.5/10.

Dian Xiao Er 店小二 Part 2 of 2025

Think will be going to Dian Xiao Er quite often from now on since our meal had $10 OFF. Furthermore we just purchased the membership which provided us some goodies with legit cost saving vouchers. We are happy that they actually gave us two of their rubber duckies while dining there. Still love their caramelized Char Siew which is top notch and their herbal duck which is also top notch ! This time for the herbal duck, i opt for the dang gui herb which is so much better and goes very well with the rice. The new item that we tried this time is the thunder tea rice which the portion is a lot, but think there are better thunder tea outside, hence its just 6/10 for me for the thunder tea rice.

FujiFlim Flim Camera Review

Well, Flim Camera is indeed Flim camera. Unless you want to produce a natural flim camera quality, then can go for this. Otherwise your phone camera more than good enough. Tested this Simple Ace disposable camera, pictures are not bad for a flim quality and gives the retro outcome. But its kinda expensive to replicate such softcopy. Without considering print out with additional cost which goes the same as mobile camera. The pain point is the cost of this disposable camera at about SGD$28 + developing the negative and process out the softcopy with additional cost of SGD$17+. Waiting time can take up to 1 month. Its fun, but i find it not so affordable in today's standard. So might not consider Flim anytime soon again.

Overpriced Chicken Rice with lousy quality

Its one of the worst chicken rice + roasted pork combo i ate in 2025 ! What makes it worst is the price. $10.10 for such portion and poor quality at a food court is very bad. Happened to be at Koufu Cookhouse located at Novena Square. To rate the breakdown of this chicken rice, steamed chicken is at 5/10, white at 3/10, roasted pork at 3/10 and the soup is 2/10. Guess i have to blame it myself to even order without scanning the store enough and make the judgement not to eat it, but lesson learnt. 

Overhaul Watch Servicing [Thong Sia - Seiko]

Had decided to go down and do a check. It turns out that the staff mentioned that my Seiko V157-OBTO [JDM] which i had bought from Hokkaido, Japan 6 years ago need to undergo an overhaul full servicing. This will include cleaning and replacement of movement parts and battery as well as fixing whatever water proofing issues in my watch. Costs me SGD$109 and had to be in their office or japan for the next two months. Well, what i can say is this piece of watch accompanied and provided me a lot of joy for many years. Hence i proceed to do the full servicing. In a way, i felt that this 2025 is like a year of maintenance... 🫥 But realised that i have a habit and i am always sticking to the same design for the past decade !

Touch N Go Visa Card

Finally got my TouchnGo Visa Card from the mail. Although from the ewallet option mentioned got Singapore, but seems that we are not able to have it mailed to a Singapore Address. From google, it says that there is additional cost to be sent to Singapore, but there's isn't really that option to make it sent to SG at all. So no choice have to let them sent to a Malaysia Address and we went over to collect it. But damn it is really useful and convienent to use it in Malaysia. I will probably make use of this in my next China trip too.

Minecraft Theme McDonald

Upon launch of the Minecraft theme in Mcdonald SG, i was having lunch at Woodlands Mcdonald. So during the first week, usually it is the kids meal that gives toy, but this time, the standard regular adult menu is also giving out their version of toy in the blind form which might give you random toy. Although it is a little pricey, but got it anyway. Within the box, i got the Minecraft Big Mac Cube and the shiny Cube Card. It seems that the card contain the code for giving you actual minecraft big mac block for free which normally its an additional cost. But its not part of my generation that played Minecraft on PC. Guess i'm really old already. 😒

Fresco Gelato JB Review

Fresco Gelato is an italian ice cream chain. But can be found in JB Malaysia. I tried some of the flavours and one of the premium flavours. It was not bad given the price that it is all right. You will be able to test out in case you felt worried taking some unknown flavours. But in order to give you the best advice, i will say just whack all the premium flavours. These are the best there as compared to the Non-Premium flavours.

Samyang X KFC Buldak Double Down + Sauce

Bought the recently collab between Samyang and KFC chicken products. I think Samyang is famous for its instant noodles. But the sauce for my 2 piece chicken i don't think its good. Might be my personal preference though, but their instant noodles still taste good. Just that this sauce is very spicy but abit bitter for the taste. So i rather just enjoy my fried chicken without the sauce. So suggest to pass off unless you really want to try.

Stick-Ease! Motion Sickness Patches

Had tried to purchase this Stick-Ease! motion sickness patches for about SGD$9 at the local guardian store in Singapore. I experienced myself at random car rides, the feeling of car sick, giddy and felt like vomiting. My daughter had also experienced vomiting for a few occasions in car rides too. Recently, i tried this product for my cruise and car rides. So far, it works flawlessly and i don't felt any symptoms of car sick with this product. My daughter was playing with her toy car and watching on mobile phone in the car and so far it is quite effective. I really recommend everyone to try this as it is not oral medicination which i clearly avoided this option. Just have to stick behind the ears 30 minutes before the ride and work magically !

Macrovalue Bought Singapore's Cold Storage and Giant Supermarkets

Its not easy to operate supermarkets in Singapore, especially in terms of rental. The new owner, Macrovalue had already owned Malaysia's counterpart, Cold Storage and Giant supermarkets as well. I got to admit that i love to do my groceries shopping in Cold Storage as the products were of better quality. Giant on the other hand, is of lower quality especially in Malaysia. And i don't like Malaysia's side of Giant preventing shoppers of carrying backpack into the supermarket and forced to deposit into their security's shelf. I can relate to why they want to deter theft, but is giving genuine shoppers like me to feel irritated. So with Macrovalue taking over Cold Storage and Giant Supermarkets in Singapore, i really hope that Cold Storage will remain as premium as it is. Well let's see how. But something is indeed brewing.

Dettol 950ml BodyWash at Sheng Siong

Went to get some usual bodywash, but was puzzled at the prices on the shelf. Just to confirm that the products are the same product, same expiry date, same 950ml content and same country of origin. Now the difference is the price. One of the 2 in 1 bundle is selling at $11.45. And another shelf is selling at 1 for $5.45 each. Haha so you know which i should i buy right since i'm buying two.

1% of Resident in 2024 are having one child for married women aged 40 and 49

Well, i'm not surprised. With rising costs which plays a part, people are marrying older and therefore having kids at a later age. Having a kid is also isn't an easy task, with women getting older to have a kid, there are many health risks also. Single child families also means that both parents will focused on their kid giving them there best and protective of them. In short, have one child is better than no child in fact which is also on the rise.

Omega Seamaster 300 Professional

Had decided to get the Omega Seamaster 300 Professional. After years of feeling and touching watches at the various boutique stores...
Got offered Rolex Explorer 36, but don't like. Tested Grand Seiko SBGA229, but no more stock when i'm ready to get. Wanted Rolex Submariner 41mm No Date, but waited for 3 years, still no call, and price rising like hotcakes. Between Tudor Black Bay and Pelagos LHD, Pelagos LHD almost get me to put down the cash, but finally still Omega Seamaster 300 won my heart. But i am comparing the bigger one 43.5mm one and the two tone yellow gold. Still feel that the yellow gold will tarnish after many years of wearing, so skipped this.

Seiko X Rolex Sea Dweller Mod

It has the same weight and size as compared to the real rolex sea dweller. Last time i used to like big watches, but recently after going to different luxury boutiques to try out different brands and sizes, i realised that size doesn't matter much and the more important factor is that it fits into your wrists comfortably. Being nice and beautiful is secondary. As i had been wearing Seiko for several years, Seiko is relatively very comfortable and time is very accurate and well made. If unable to afford luxury watches for the next few years, i suggest getting your favourite Seiko mod for that brand you desired. It will give or prepare you if it is really the one you want. It seem that nowadays i started to appreciate more on Omega rather than Rolex. Ultimately just buy what you like is more important.

Limited Edition Seiko Prospex Tuna Black Series

Bought this limited edition Seiko Prospex Solar Tuna Black Series in August 2022 which is limited edition and is only available in 5000 pieces worldwide. Bought this at the original Seiko Boutique at Takashimaya. If i not wrong, i was lucky that the boutique is currently running a 35% OFF, so i really benefit this time at around SGD350++. So till date, this watch had accompanied me for the past 2+ years. I got to say the watch strap is very comfortable and the dial is very easy to view in many different light conditions.

V157-0BT0 Seiko Prospex Diver Scuba Special Edition [JDM]

Bought this at Hokkaido, Japan on September 2019 and had been with me for the past 6 years. Recently, there is condensation issue in the crystal as identified by Seiko Service Center [Tiong Sia] in Singapore. Looks like i will have to bring it in to the service center on a weekday. Its a nice piece of watch where i like design which resemble just like the Rolex Submariner. At that point of time, this is first released in Japan and it is their own Japan Domestic Model exclusive, and its made in Japan as the japanese salesman kept saying it proudly. But unfortunately the Japanese yen back then were strong, so end up paying around 38795 yen or SGD500+ for this piece. But i love it and hope after the upcoming maintenance, it will continue to grow together with me.