Cheap car

Singapore cars though is not the world most expensive, we cannot consider it cheap either. So imagine owning a car (exclude off peak car) for a price tag of less than $30k is almost impossible. But I think this is not any more. China made cars will make its grand entrance to Singapore market in July. The first to arrive is Chery QQ, a 800 cc car. This car is a runaway success when it is first launched in China. The price is not yet available but is widely believe to be less than $30k including today COE. If this is the case, it might generate some buying interest. But many might feel wary about China made car. I feel give them time just like the once upon a time the lousy Japanese and Korean cars.

Wall fan

Today I bought a fan that can be mounted onto the wall with remote control function. This is because I feel that my room is getting more and more crowded. So the only way to release more walking space is to mount things on wall and remove things standing on the floor. That is why I got a wall fan. It is a local brand called Sona and cost $79 from Courts at Bukit Timah. The sales guy said it is quite value for money. That is why i got it. So far so good. The built is quite good and functions got what I need. Hope it dun quit on me. Heh heh.

Great Singapore Sale

I just came back from shopping at Causeway Point. Not bad, I bought quite a number of things which are long over due. There are many things I need to get but I always drag on. Like new long sleeve shirts for working (now only got 3 rotating everyday), socks (most got holes liao) and sleeping singlets (now most are torn) etc... The best part of shopping is to find something you need and like. I think I spend about $190 at Metro, John Little and Samuel & Kelvin.

COE analysis June 2nd round

Latest COE results out. Quite surprisingly is both Cat A and B drop over $1k. Cat A now $9,301. Down $1,901. Cat B is $11,001. Slide $1,199. During the last round, dealers slash car prices up to $2k. However, this does not attract many people to enter the market. A quick check with Toyota and Nissan shows that they further reduce car price by $2k. Now car price is really attractive! So I guess next round will up for at least Cat A cos it is not a common scene to have a COE for less than $10k. But I guess the new base line will be $9k in near future. Now people is so used to seeing $10k COE. So anything more than $10k is considered a lot. I feel a sub-$10k COE is coming real soon!

Office chair

Today I bought an office chair to replace my current one at home which lasted more than 5 years. I got it at vhive for $345. Now sitting on it, I have a different feeling altogether when I first tested it at the shop. I feel it is higher now and more stiff. Maybe it is a new chair like my friend say. Any way, feel like an emperor now. Haha!!

Another round of food

I just came back from eating (again)! This month I think I ate a lot and getting rounder everyday at this rate. Any way, today a visiting professor brought us to Brazil Churrascaria which is a Brazilian restaurant along sixth ave. It is sort of "buffet" style where the waiters will bring the meat to you once in a while. A lot of pork, chicken, beef and mutton will shove into your face! Eat until you puke! They also drink a lot of beer and wine. I am not a wine lover so I drink orange juice instead. Haha! 8 of us ate $900! The professor paid this time. Heh heh.

Father's day

Today is father's day and we all went out to eat (as usual) to celebrate this day. We went to Yan Palace at my brother's country club. I think we were there pretty late. Almost 2pm then we reached. We have tim sum for lunch. After a member discount, 5 of us ate around $65. The service and food are quite nice. Quite full! Yum!

Holland Village

Today my company people went out for a dinner. We went to eat at a German restaurant at Holland Village. It is called Baden. We drink some German beer and eat German food. Some ate German sauages and some ate their famous pork knuckles. Then, we sit there watched world cup. The food is not too bad and the waitress is quite pretty. 6 of us ate around $277. I think it is quite a nice place and worth checking it out again.

Important date

I have just received an email from my school telling me to set a date for my PhD oral defence. Guess what? I have to go and settle the appointment with my examiners. I am thinking it should be the school doing such coordination rather than me doing it. Any way, now cracking my head to juggle between my work and preparing this presentation. Hope I can do a nice one.

Mother's birthday

Today I went to celebrate my mum's birthday which is around few days later. My family and I went to Dragon Phoenix Restaurant in Liang Court for dinner. Guess what? There is a wedding at this restaurant. So imagine it looks funny when we turn up in sandals and bermudas. Haha! But any way, the waitress led us into a room. The portion of food is quite large and taste quite ok. But the tea is almost tasteless. The set meal we ordered thrown in a free peking duck. So overall, not too bad. I think it cost around $415 for 7 adults and 2 children. After the meal, we were quickly led to the side door as the wedding is still in process. Haha!

COE analysis June 1st round

In my last posting, I predicted that COE price should stay about the same or slide. I was wrong cos I forget to take into consideration of the three weeks break. Last round till this round has a three weeks interval instead of the usual two. From the past experience, three weeks break usually will see a substantial rise in COE price. Cat A this round see a large jump posted at $11,202 which is a jump of $1,102. Cat B on the other hand sees a smaller increase to $12,200 which up $399. So does this mean it is end of low COE? My answer is no. According to newspaper, the jump is fuelled by the increasing competition among car dealers by offering attractive packages. Also dun forget the three weeks break condition. A quick check with toyota price list confirms my answer. Cat A COE up about $1k but Toyota dropped its Cat A car price by $1k. Cat B Coe up $399 but Cat B car price dropped $1k! This happens to Nissan too. They even drop $2k to some of their bigger cars! Any way, the situation would be clearer when the next round revert back to two weeks break.

X-Men: The Last Stand

Today I went to watch X-Men: The Last Stand. Ok, it is very exciting compared to the previous 2 X-Men movies. The special effects this time is a lot more grander. But I dun really like the story line. Also it features a lot of mutants but under developed them which is a shame. This time I would say the mutants are more well balanced. Storm this time does not performed any powerful tactic as seen in X2. The more fantastic moves are given to Magneto and Jean Grey. Overall, it is a very entertaining movie.

PC Show 2006

I just came back from PC Show at Suntec city. I reached there at around 6.30pm and walked around. It is so crowded! I squeezed my way through and landed in front of a booth selling Kingston storage device. Maybe I feel too excited (due to the low price) or maybe I too lazy to squeeze around, I bought one 512MB mini SD card for $27 and one 1GB SD card for $44 on the spot. Later I walked around some more and found it is even cheaper elsewhere!! I immediately "lost" about $10!! Sob sob!!

Any way, I also bought Maha AAA/AA battery charger for $49 (usual is $59). It got rave reviews and only got one sole distributor in Singapore. I have tried to lay my hand on this many times before but the shop is always not open when I am there. I also bought 16 maha 2700mAh AA batteries for $60 (usual $80). It also got rave reviews and said better than Sanyo ones. So overall still on the lucky side I guess. Total gain is $20. Haha!

Low carpark height

Today I drove my brother's van out to town. I suppose to park at Shaw Tower. But this weekend got PC show and Shaw Tower is full. So I detour to park at some nearby housing estate. There is a basement carpark but initately I dun want to get in cos I feel my van is too tall. But I saw a similar van came out so I thought it is safe. Who knows it is not! The top of the van is dented and looks pretty bad. Tough luck! Have to be more careful next time.

Siam food

Today I got a vistor from Germany. My boss insisted that I should go with him to acompany this guy for dinner. So he dragged me along to Jurong Point. Together with us is another student from Russia. At there, we ate at Siam Kitchen. We ordered the set meal that has tom yum soup, black olive rice, vegetables etc... The food is nice and not so spicy. But not to the ang mohs. They really cannot take chili which I feel there is really none. Any way, we ate for around $100 for 4 people and my boss picks up the tab. Heh heh.

Public phone

All along I feel Singapore is very efficient and convenient in many areas until today. The public phones problem in Singapore is really bad! Today I went out with a friend and he needs to go off for a while. Then, I realised my handphone is flat and so I want to look for a public phone to call him. But what the hell?! I cannot find one in sight! Terrible! After walking for a while around the neighbourhood, finally found 3 public phones cluster together. But what the hell x 2?! None of them is a coin operated phone! So I run to nearby 7-eleven to purchase a phone card. But what the hell x 3?! The sales person asked me:"You want a Singtel one or Starhub one?" I say:"What is the diff?" She said:"Singtel one can only use on Singtel phone. Starhub one can only use on Starhub phone." What happen to the old one-for-all phone card? In the end, I bought the Starhub one cos it looks nicer and cheaper (starts at $5 value as compared to Singtel $10). I am wondering if I happen to be a tourist, I will be a dead meat.