TWO Face exercises to Look Younger - Tone Up Now!

Doing facial exercises wrong is a problem because wrinkles and lines are – at least partly – caused by the faces we pull in everyday life. Frowning, showing surprise, laughing, crinkling up our eyes to avoid the sun, pursing your lips or dragging on a cigarette – we’ve all got the evidence written on our faces. Don’t forget – for facial exercises to work effectively you need to follow a proper program – learn to do them correctly and make sure you repeat them regularly.  Just like regular exercise you have to stick with it to see results.
When you do the exercises if your nails are long wear soft cotton gloves to avoid scratching your face; keep relaxed throughout and sit in front of a mirror as you exercise.  Do them when you aren’t pushed for time and when you are not tired.
Don’t expect to get the exercise straight off – you probably need a bit of practice before you can do each exercise easily.
The first exercise aims to tone and lift the upper eyelid area to get rid of the droopiness that comes with facial aging.  It comes from Eva Fraser’s Facial Fitness program.  Eva is a world known facial exercise expert who has been practising from a salon in London for many years

Eyelid exercise

1. Look straight ahead into the mirror throughout this exercise.
2. Curve index fingers under eyebrows then raise your eyebrows and hold against the bone.
3. Close lids and stretch upper eyelids downwards in 5 small movements.
4. Hold for a count of 6
5. Release the squeeze slowly in 3 counts.
6. Open lids, Relax, Breathe.
7. Repeat twice
*Alternatively place 4 fingers of each hand just under the line of eyebrows and proceed as above.
The second exercise comes from Senta Maria Runge who had a popular TV series in America in the 80′s and wrote a book: Face Lifting by Exercise  which is still in print.  She is widely credited with being influential in the development of many subsequent programs like Carole Maggio’s Facercise.  This exercise targets a common cause of worry for many women as they get older – the chin area.

Exercise for Double Chin

1.  Hold chin slightly upward
2.  Place the flat part of the middle and index fingers against the hollow at the end of the larynx which is just under the back of the chin where it runs down into the neck.  Don’t worry too much about finding the correct position – it will become clear when you feel the muscle movement as you do the exercise.
3.  Hold this position with your hand and keep your back teeth firmly together
4.  Press the tip of your tongue against the gum line of your lower front teeth.  Increase pressure gradually to a count of 10 – you should feel the muscle in your neck working against your hand.
5.  Once you reach maximum pressure hold for 6 seconds.
6.  Gradually reduce pressure counting to 10 as you do so.
7.  Relax and then repeat another 3 times.
If you repeat these facial exercises daily for six weeks or so you should see great improvements. Add a complete face exercise program and you’ll see results that other people will notice too!

A FATHER'S RULES FOR FINDING FULFILLMENT

I felt deeply for this piece of letter and would like to share this (again, as some may have read it) in my blog, a message written from a father to his children when he knew he have very little time left to live on earth...

• Be courteous, be punctual, always say please and thank you, and be sure to hold your knife and fork properly. Others take their cue on how to treat you from your manners.

• Be kind, considerate and compassionate when others are in trouble, even if you have problems of your own. Others will admire your selflessness and will help you in due course.

• Show moral courage. Do what is right, even if that makes you unpopular. I always thought it important to be able to look at myself in the shaving mirror every morning and not feel guilt or remorse. I depart this world with a pretty clear conscience.

• Show humility. Stand your ground but pause to reflect on what the other side are saying, and back off when you know you are wrong. Never worry about losing face. That only happens when you are pig-headed.

• Learn from your mistakes. You will make plenty so use them as a learning tool. If you keep making the same mistake or run into a problem, you’re doing something wrong.

• Avoid disparaging someone to a third party; it is only you who will look bad. If you have a problem with someone, tell them face to face.

• Hold fire! If someone crosses you, don’t react immediately. Once you say something it can never be taken back, and most people deserve a second chance.

• Have fun. If this involves taking risks, so be it. If you get caught, hold your hands up.

• Give to charity and help those who are less fortunate than yourselves: it’s easy and so rewarding.

• Always look on the upside! The glass is half full, never half empty. Every adversity has a silver lining if you seek it out.

• Make it your instinct always to say ‘yes’. Look for reasons to do something, not reasons to say no. Your friends will cherish you for that.

• Be canny: you will get more of what you want if you can give someone more of what they desire. Compromise can be king.

• Always accept a party invitation. You may not want to go, but they want you there. Show them courtesy and respect.

• Never ever let a friend down. I would bury bodies for my friends, if they asked me to . . . which is why I have chosen them carefully.

• Always tip for good service. It shows respect. But never reward poor service. Poor service is insulting.

• Always treat those you meet as your social equal, whether they are above or below your station in life. For those above you, show due deference, but don’t be a sycophant.

• Always respect age, as age equals wisdom.

• Be prepared to put the interests of your sibling first.

• Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but open your mind to other cultures and languages. When you begin to travel (as I hope you will), you’ll learn that your place in the world is both vital and insignificant. Don’t get too big for your breeches.

• Be ambitious, but not nakedly so. Be prepared to back your assertions with craftsmanship and hard work.

• Live every day to its full: do something that makes you smile or laugh, and avoid procrastination.

• Give of your best at school. Some teachers forget that pupils need incentives. So if your teacher doesn’t give you one, devise your own.

• Always pay the most you can afford. Never skimp on hotels, clothing, shoes, make-up or jewellery. But always look for a deal. You get what you pay for.

• Never give up! My two little soldiers have no dad, but you are brave, big-hearted, fit and strong. You are also loved by an immensely kind and supportive team of family and friends. You make your own good fortune, my children, so battle on.

• Never feel sorry for yourself, or at least don’t do it for long. Crying doesn’t make things better.

• Look after your body and it will look after you.

• Learn a language, or at least try. Never engage a person abroad in conversation without first greeting them in their own language; by all means ask if they speak English!

• And finally, cherish your mother, and take very good care of her.

EIGHT CLUES TO HAPPINESS

Having lived a reasonably contented life, I was musing over what a person should strive for to achieve happiness. I drew up a list of a few essentials which I put forward for the readers' appraisal.  By- KHUSHWANT SINGH

1. First and foremost is GOOD HEALTH. If you do not enjoy good health you can never be happy. Any ailment, however trivial, will deduct from your happiness. 

2. Second, A HEALTHY BANK BALANCE. It need not run into crores but should be enough to provide for creature comforts and something to spare for recreation, like eating out, going to the pictures, travelling or going on holidays on the hills or by the sea. Shortage of money can be only demoralizing. Living on credit or borrowing is demeaning and lowers one in one's own eyes. 

3. Third, A HOME OF YOUR OWN. Rented premises can never give you the snug feeling of a nest which is yours for keeps that a home provides: if it has a garden space, all the better. Plant your own trees and flowers, see them grow and blossom, cultivate a sense of kinship with them. 

4. Fourth, AN UNDERSTANDING COMPANION, be it your spouse or a friend. If there are too many misunderstandings, they will rob you of your peace of mind. It is better to be divorced than to bicker all the time. 

5. Fifth, LACK OF ENVY towards those who have done better than you in life; risen higher, made more money, or earned more fame. Envy can be very corroding; avoid comparing yourself with others. 

6. Sixth, DO NOT ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE to descend on you for gup-shup. By the time you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their gossip-mongering.

7. Seventh, CULTIVATE SOME HOBBIES which can bring you a sense of fulfillment, such as gardening, reading, writing, painting, playing or listening to music. Going to clubs or parties to get free drinks or to meet celebrities is criminal waste of time. 

8. Eighth, every morning and evening, devote 15 minutes to INTROSPECTION. In the morning, 10 minutes should be spent on stilling the mind and then five in listing things you have to do that day. In the evening, five minutes to still the mind again, and ten to go over what you had undertaken to do. 

RICHNESS is not Earning More, Spending More  Or Saving  More, but ... 

"RICHNESS IS WHEN YOU NEED NO MORE"

What A Woman Want...

...A not so bad-looking husband ...a simple 0.5 carats diamond ring ...small wedding banquet caters at least 80 guests ...honeymoon@overseas via flight of 4 hours or longer ...a small house of our own ...lovely children …good area in the house for the kids to run around ...husband is a kind family man ...but work hard ...husband gives monthly allowance for shopping ...a car for shopping and cater for the kids ...some collections ...shoes for each occasion ...some nice outfits ...a bit of cosmetics ...a bit of makeup ...overseas trip longer than 10 days once a year ...more often on domestic trips ...nice dinners ...Presents occasionally ...a bit of Gift to myself ...finally, some securities....

That's it... 

WOMEN ARE NOT DEMANDING AT ALL!!!!!

~Freethinker~

Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking...

How to Financially Prepare for a Natural Disaster

I think this is important and hence I picked it from USNews & posted to my blog to share with you guys -:

"The stupendously tragic events we've seen unfold in Japan might have you glued to your TV. As people evacuate from their homes, they aren't carrying anything with them. They have no pictures, financial documents, or laptops. They're happy just to be alive.
[See 10 Ways to Boost Your Social Security Checks.]
But eventually these people are going to need to rebuild their homes and lives, most likely without any of their financial records. Clearly, nobody could foresee or adequately prepare for what has happened over the last few weeks. But along with the more important life lessons, this devastation brings home the importance of having your financial records available and accessible no matter what."
Here's how to set up your financial life in case disaster strikes your family.
1. Know what you need. Here's a list of important documents you need to have available.
--Investment statements
--Bank statements
--Credit card statements
--Your living trust or will
--Income statement
--Balance sheet
--Property tax statements
--Mortgage and HELCO statements
--Last 2 years tax returns
--Last 3 years monthly budget tracking
--Retirement account statements and list of who your IRA beneficiaries are
--Records proving you own assets or have money owed to you
--Records proving you've paid off debts
--Term life insurance, whole life insurance, and liability insurance policies or statements
2. Put these records together. Assemble all your financial records in one notebook for easy access. You can discard old records as new documentation comes in. For example, if you are keeping your last two years of tax returns, you'd destroy the return for 2008 as soon as you have your 2010 return available. In the spring of 2012, you can destroy the 2009 return and keep 2010 and 2011. Update all your financial records this way. Simply keep the new statement on file and destroy the oldest record you are keeping.
[Visit the U.S. News Retirement site for more planning ideas and advice.]
3. Scan. If you don't have a scanner, you should save up and buy a good one as soon as possible. It will save you tons of storage space and a huge amount of time when you need to access your financial information. Feed your entire notebook into the scanner and have it safely scan your documents in a manner of minutes.
4. Secure it. When you scan your documents, you'll probably scan them to a pdf file. When you do so, you can password protect each document. This is a must.
[See Why Tax Deductions Aren't Always a Good Thing.]
5. Copy and distribute. Make a copy of this data and get it encrypted and password protected. Then, send it to a relative in a distant location. The farther away your relative lives, the less likely you both are to be impacted by the same natural disaster. In addition, you can pay a service to store your records online.
Nobody knows when disaster might strike their family. Copying and protecting your financial information will make it easier to rebuild your life in the aftermath.

Easy Ways to Teach Your Kids Managing Money

Despite a hefty load of teaching duties from potty-training to self-feeding, parents are apparently willing to take on another major task: Passing on money skills. According to a new survey from ING Direct, the vast majority of parents say they are in charge of their children's financial education. But parents don't give themselves high marks as teachers. Fewer than one in three think they're "excellent" financial role models.
So, what's a struggling parent to do? Here are eight easy ways to start teaching your children about money today:
[In Pictures: 10 Smart Ways to Improve Your Budget.]
Get over the awkwardness. The ING Direct survey found that parents feel more prepared to talk about drugs, alcohol, and sex than money. Maybe we just need a family-friendly analogy for the money talk, like the birds and the bees. Whatever trick you use, find a way to bring up dollars over the dinner table, or wherever else you make conversation with your kids.
Use other people's lesson plans. You don't have to do all the hard work yourself, because other people have done it for you. Mymoney.gov, AmericaSaves.org, ING Direct's Planet Orange, and SchwabMoneyWise.com are just a few of the websites designed to help parents educate themselves, and their children, about the ins and out of money.
Practice one financial tip a week. Arkadi Kuhlmann, chief executive of ING Direct, recommends picking one financial tip each week, such as setting up a budget, and talking about it as a family. That way, parents can also make an effort to set a good example, too. At the grocery store, they can take a minute to explain how to choose an affordable brand of dishwasher detergent, or how to compare the cost of bread.
Connect allowances with future careers. Paying children for chores around the house can lead to problems, because it teaches them that working for money isn't fun, warns Alisa T. Weinstein, author of Earn It, Learn It: Teach Your Child the Value of Money, Work, and Time Well Spent. Instead, she recommends connecting allowances with tasks related to various careers. Children can choose a career, and then complete tasks related to that career. Travel agent tasks include reporting on a destination in an appealing way, creating a brochure, and for older children, calculating exchange rates.
"This way, the child is making the connection between effort and money, and the feeling that you worked hard for something. If you can capture that, then you're much more likely to have a child who grows up and can find emotional and financial fulfillment in their careers," says Weinstein.
Show kids what you can do with money. Susan Beacham, co-founder of Money Savvy Generation, invented a piggy bank with four compartments--save, spend, donate, and invest--to teach kids how to budget. "You're teaching them to stop, pause, and reflect, and this is the first step toward teaching them to delay gratification," she says.
Watch out for the subtle messages you send. Mary Ann Campbell, a financial educator, received mixed messages about money growing up. Her parents, in fact, implied that sending a girl to college was a waste of money, so she had to find a way to pay for her own education, along with the help of one of her brothers. That's one reason Campbell wrote her PhD thesis on how 20-somethings learn about money from the way their families talk about it. She discovered that the way parents and grandparents talk about money, as well as the way they act, makes a big impact.
While most of her 20-somethings learned about frugality and saving, the interview subjects who didn't have the benefit of those lessons--either because their parents spoiled them or their parents seemed to struggle with money themselves--repeated some of those same bad habits. Her students, she says, often didn't even realize how much their parents had influenced them until she started asking them questions.
Let them make their own mistakes. Lewis Mandell, a finance professor at the University of Washington who has studied financial literacy, says allowing children to experiment and make mistakes can provide more useful lessons than anything taught in school. He encouraged his now-grown daughter to invest as a teenager; she learned how to diversify after losing money in Pepsi stock.
[See 12 Money Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes.]
More independence can be good for parents, too, who often help their adult children so much that they hurt their own financial security. Most college graduates now say they plan to move back home, at least temporarily. A Pew Research Center study released earlier this year found that 36 percent of Millennials receive money from their parents or other family members. One Ameriprise Financial survey found that almost one in three parents in their 50s and 60s often give so much money to their adult children that it eats into their own retirement savings, but most don't even realize it.
As they get older, limit the support you provide. While assistance during those challenging early adulthood years can help adult children find their footing, parents can inadvertently set up a cycle of dependence. If your money ends up going towards frivolous purchases like vacations and cars, you should probably freeze those payments. But if you're helping a hardworking son or daughter afford an internship in an expensive city, there's little reason to hold back, other than your own budget. If you can't afford financial help, consider giving in other ways, by offering the occasional home-cooked meal, babysitting services for grandchildren, or even just a listening ear.
Teaching kids about money doesn't have to be complicated. Instead of technicalities like 401(k)s and bonds, they can start to grasp broader concepts like the importance of saving for a rainy day, spending less than you earn, and how money can grow over time. And if parents are still struggling to apply those lessons to their own bank accounts, they can use the opportunity to change a few habits of their own.
extracted from USNews

Causes of Tired Eyes & basic remedies to help

My eyes have been feeling really heavy and tired for months, today it had made feel worse and hence I goggled to search for its causes and found some interesting information & would like to share with you - my blog-readers. / Iris

"A stressful lifestyle is the paramount reason for tired looking eyes. So you might get your eyes tired when reading for some time or when using a computer. This condition of 'tired eyes' is characterized by puffiness around the eyes, along with heaviness in the head. People with tired eyes feel their eyelids weigh a ton, even when they are not sleepy. Increasing demands at the workplace and at home have resulted in people experiencing tired eyes at an even more frequent rate. Today's jet-set age causes people to be on the run throughout the day. The yoke on the shoulders of people has spearheaded the condition of tired eyes. All the hidden stress, fatigue, tension, pressure bottled up within the mind surfaces through the eyes."

Tired Eyes Causes

There are scores of reasons which cause tired eyes in people. However, these reasons can be broadly classified into three categories.

Environment: Stress at the workplace or at home and a noisy sleeping environment can result in inadequate sleep at night. Moreover, strain to the eyes can be caused by staring at the computer screen for long hours. Excess reading without contact lenses or glasses and continuous reading in dim light can cause strain to the eyes. Other contributors to the haggard appearance of the eyes are cigarette smoking, environmental pollution, inadequate supply of oxygen to the cornea, allergy and conjunctivitis.

Diet: Decreased water intake and overindulging in salt-based food items play a role in puffy tired eyes as well. Vitamin deficiencies can also result in tired eyes. Lack of Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Vitamin K can be contributing factors.

Heredity and Physiology: Genetics can also be a reason for puffiness, swelling or discoloration of the eyes. Age causes thinning and sagging of the eye muscles.

Tired Eyes Symptoms

• Burning sensation
• Watery eyes
• Heaviness in eyes
• Redness of the eyes
• Dry eyes
• Blurred or double vision
• Itchiness in the eyes
• Irritation in the eyes
• Headache
• Sore eyes
• Increased sensitivity to light.

Tired Eyes Treatment

Though this condition is not fatal, it is stressful for the overall health of the body, and must be treated. If not treated on time, the condition can aggravate and result in double or blurred vision. Some simple home remedies to treat tired eyes are as follows:

• Place 2 spoons in the freezer and take them out once they are cold. The cold spoons are to be placed under the eyes to reduce the puffiness of the eyes. Make sure not to freeze the spoons.
• Take a small bowl of cold milk and dip two cotton balls into it. Place this soaked cotton ball over the eyelids.
• For quick relief, take 2 cups of water, and add a tiny amount if boric acid to it. Once the solution has cooled, it can be used to wash the eyes.
• Washing the eyes with cold water on a regular basis also helps reduce the tiredness of the eyes.
• One could dip cotton balls in either tea water or water containing 2 drops of lavender oil, and place them on the eyelids for relief.
• Placing cucumber slices on the eyelids helps get relief from puffiness.

The above remedies help treat tired eyes. But it is still important to eliminate the causes of tired eyes. If inadequate sleep is what is causing the eyes to be tired, then one should try getting more sleep. One can make use of ear plugs and eye masks for sound sleep. A change of routine can help reduce the environmental stress. Since work cannot be avoided, it is advisable to invest in a polarized monitor filter for the computer, which will reduce the reflections, thereby reducing the stress on the eyes. It is also advisable to take short breaks while working with the computer. If diet is the cause, then one can take vitamin supplements to counter the eye problem.

4 Reasons why you cannot invest like Warren Buffett

#1 – Buffett has access to large cash from his insurance businesses

Buffett loves the insurance business. Not only he understands it well, he is able to maximize the capital for investment. Insurance business is often cash rich, there is free cash available after the company deduct a sum of money for compensation from the premiums paid by the clients. Insurance companies make money by investing this free cash to earn a greater return than the bonus they payout to their clients. Being a master investor, Buffett is able to deploy this funds with great effectiveness, getting an average of 20+% returns annually. Where does your cash come from? Most likely, you would only have access to your savings (excluding your emergency funds), which takes time to grow. Unless you have access to free cash like Buffett, you would not be able to multiply wealth as fast as him.


#2 – Buffett buys private business entirely and keeps the management
Unlike you, Buffett can buy businesses that are not listed in the stock exchange. As a retail investor, do you think you can tell a private business that you want to invest in the company. Seriously, I do not think the staff would even entertain you. As a big investor, Buffett has the cash to buy out the entire business if he thinks that it is profitable at a reasonable price. He is looking for acquisitions to keep the companies under Berkshire Hathaway as subsidiaries. When he buys businesses, he is not interested in managing the companies. Instead, one of his criteria is to look for honest and capable managers who would continue to manage the businesses after he buys them. And another key thing is that he gets to interact with the management directly, which gives him the opportunity to evaluate the managers. How are you able to get close to the management as a retail investor? How do you evaluate the management before you invest? Do you see the unfair advantage?
#3 – Buffett negotiates great deals for public companies
There is a term known as PIPE – Private Investments in Public Equities. This is basically a private arrangement between a company and a big investor, where the former raises capital by offering the latter discounted stocks or debt instruments. It can be common stocks which are sold to a discount to the current share price. It can be preferred stocks where the buyer receive a favorable dividends and the power to convert them to common stocks at a good price. It can also be warrants which work pretty much like preferred stocks. Why would companies prefer to do this than raising capital in other methods like rights issue? There are 2 advantages. Firstly, the company gains by raising capital in a short time. Secondly, it is much cheaper in terms of administration without extensive underwriting and marketing costs. Moreover, since it is private placement, the deal need not be reported to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).  Hence, this allows big investors like Warren Buffett to negotiate for wonderful deals to control an amount of shares in a company. As a retail investor, you do not have this privilege as you buy at the current price which makes market timing important – you can only get discount when the market is depressed.
#4 – Buffett invests for cashflows and not capital gains
You would have heard Buffett said he would hold stocks forever. You have to understand his insurance businesses as well as his subsidiaries are golden geese. In other words, these businesses continue to generate healthy cash flows (golden eggs) for him. So do you think Buffett would want to sell the geese away when they are laying golden eggs? As a retail investor, you cannot buy the entire business. Hence, it is very difficult for you to generate significant cash flow from your limited capital. Even for a high yielding dividend stocks, how much capital is required to receive a decent cash flow? If you invest for cash flow with limited capital, it will really take you a long time to become rich.


I thought the above was interesting and would like to share with my readers ; it's extracted from BIGFATPURSE.com

Some Great Bars to Visit.... (Singapore)

The Toucan Irish Pub
This one is a favorite among expats and locals for both its authentic Irish delicacies and its location. Situated away from the bustling city, the pub evokes a folksy charm similar to actual watering-holes in Ireland. With its cozy indoor area fitted with wooden panels and furnished with faux-teak tables and chairs, the pub looks as quaintly Irish as it can get. But the real draw is in its beer garden. Here, the lush lawn, bench seating, wooden barrows and a wishing well provide that laidback vibe ideal for large gatherings with friends and family -
a perfect alternative to sweaty and suffocating confined spaces.
15 Duxton Hill, 6223-5950

Red Dot Brewhouse @ Dempsey

In the heart of Dempsey Hill sits Red Dot Brewhouse, famed for its flavorful self-brewed beers.
Housed in century-old former military barracks, the building's rich history, coupled with the lush greenery of the adjoining beer garden is sure to keep you comfortably rooted. Select from the microbrewery's long list of freshly brewed ice cold beers to start off your garden booze session on a perfect note.
25A Dempsey Rd., 6475-0500.

White Rabbit

The sprawling whimsical garden of Alice in Wonderland comes to mind when you set foot in Rabbit Hole, a bar behind the much-loved White Rabbit restaurant. With rustic swings, quirky ornaments and wooden benches plotted across the spacious garden, you and your partner can enjoy classy drinks in a charming environment. Let DJ Has and his merrymakers complement your night with sexy and soothing house music while you sip on their signature martinis, margaritas and mojitos.White Rabbit, 39C Harding Rd., 6473-9965.

Néktar - a vast selection of premium cocktails all meticulously concocted by the bar chefs, and You could create your own cocktails. Housed in a classic heritage building, the bar offers a cosy ambiance away from prying eyes.
31 Scotts Rd., 6836-9185. Open daily 5pm-1am.


Wild Oats
Situated high on Mt. Sophia and housed in an old colonial building, Wild Oats is something of a love-birds' secret for its intimate ambiance. Its alfresco deck is a favorite nesting ground for couples with its plush rattan chairs and stout tables. Surrounded by lush greenery and soothing music, the bar is perfect for those get-to-know sessions. Couples have reportedly met and married here.
11 Upper Wilkie Rd., 6336-5413. 
Open Tue-Thu 6pm-midnight; Fri-Sun 6pm-1am.

Mr. Punch Wine Bar
For the young at heart, Mr. Punch Wine Bar offers a delightfully different experience, thanks to its location on the rooftop of the Mint Museum of Toys. Start your dating itinerary with a walk through five different storeys in the museum and embark on a nostalgic trip with over 50,000 toys from the mid-19th to mid-20th century, then head up to the cozy bar with your partner and indulge in private time together with their selection of cocktails and wine while admiring the vintage collection of posters and memorabilia adorning the walls.
Mint Museum of Toys, 26 Seah St., 6334-5155. 
Open Mon-Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri-Sat, eve of public holiday 4pm-2am


1 Twenty Six
#01-26 Playground @ Big Splash, 902 East Coast Parkway, 6348-2126Lush green concept to East Coast Park to give us 1 Twenty Six - the first-of-its-kind garden gastro-bar with a contemporary award-winning European restaurant. Diners in the glass-enclosed space can look through the trees to the beach a stone's throw away. Just go alfresco - wine and dine, or simply sip and slip away into the sunset, grooving to live music belted out by resident bands. Its delectable European fusion cuisine has been earning rave reviews and with its range of signature cocktails and extensive wine list, you can be sure that you won't be leaving this place sober.

Breeze
The Scarlet, 33 Erskine Rd., 6511-3333
Hidden on top of The Scarlet Hotel, this rooftop bar is the perfect remedy to pub-house claustrophobia. Comfy cabanas and day-beds lend a beach resort vibe, and drink prices are decidedly not astronomical. One can take in the panorama of Chinatown and the Shenton Way area while soaking in the cool breeze.

One Rochester
1 Rochester Park, 6773-0070. Open Sun-Thu 6pm-1am, Fri-Sat 6pm-2am
A perpetual favorite among Singaporeans, One Rochester is also one of the very first gastro-bars. Set in a colonial black and white bungalow surrounded by lush greenery, you can groove to chill-out beats and smooth jazz here. The food doesn't disappoint either - there are light affairs like Spanish almonds and tomato bruschetta, or more solid offerings like aged ribeye steak, pork crackles and pan fried tofu. And don't miss their extensive range of creative cocktails.

Atmosphere - World's Highest Restaurant @ 122nd floor

Dubai opened a restaurant 422 metres (1,350 feet) up in the sky on the 122nd floor of the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, developed by the Emaar Hospitality Group.  1.5 billion dollars was spent on the tower, named after United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan who came to the aid of Dubai, hit by the global financial crisis.

"Atmosphere" in Dubai's 828-metre (2,716.5-feet) building was said to be one of the finest luxury dining and lounge experiences in the world. After watching the World's largest Dubai Fountain from the tower's observation deck (124th floor), the "World's Highest Restaurant" which can host over 210 guests two levels below the observation deck features a spacious arrival lobby, a main dining floor, private dining rooms and display cooking stations.

In addition to apartments, offices, the building is also home to world's first Armani Hotel by Italian designer Giorgio Armani; the  Burj Khalifa's observation deck on the 124th floor is open to visitors at an entrance fee of at least 100 dirhams (27 dollars) per adult.

Property market gets the chills in Singapore

Property market gets the chills

Singapore government’s measures to curb property speculation sent shares of city-state’s biggest developers down the most in 11 months few days ago (14 Jan). The Straits Times Real Estate Index fell 0.3% at the close, with three stocks falling for every two that gained. CapitaLand, Southeast Asia’s biggest developer, fell 3.4%, while City Developments, the second largest, declined 4.6%, both retreating by the most since Feb 22.

The new cooling measures include extending the holding period of sellers stamp duty (SSD) from the current three years to four. The SSD has also been raised to 16%, 12%, 8% and 4% for properties that are bought after Jan 14 and sold within the first to fourth years respectively. This is payable regardless of whether the property is eventually sold at a gain or a loss. Also, unlike capital gains tax where sellers are taxed on their gains, the SSD is taxed on the full consideration of the property sold. This measure is therefore a significant deterrent for short-term speculators, research house Macquarie surmises.

Meanwhile, the loan-to-value (LTV) limit on housing loans for property purchasers who are not individuals will also be lowered to 50% while the LTV for individuals with one or more housing loans at the time of purchase will be lowered to 60%. The measures also take effect from Jan 14.
“The move, after the recent tightening in Aug 2010, is again targeted at dampening demand, while waiting for the supply side mechanism (increased public and private supply) to take effect,” write analysts from DBS Vickers in a Jan 14 note to investors. 

Most brokers expect the government’s latest moves to impact sentiment and trading activity in the property sector just as property stocks had made some positive progress in recent weeks. “We expect immediate drop in volume transactions,” the brokerage notes. “Hence, we believe primary sales projected for this year could tilt towards the lower end of our 10,000-12,000 units estimate,” says the research house.

Consequently, property stocks are expected to react negatively, particularly those with a higher exposure to the mass-market segment such as CityDev, with 29% of its gross asset value (GAV) exposed to the mass-market, as well as Wing Tai Holdings and Fraser and Neave, which have 15% and 5% of GAV in the low-end segment respectively.

“Our estimate for property prices is for a 7% rise this year. With these new measures, we suspect overall prices will be affected if the expected transaction volume decline is more protracted this round, which may force some developers to consider lowering selling price expectation to move their inventory.” says one of the brokerage firm. The one saving grace for local mass-market developers is their low level of gearing at about 36% which provides financial flexibility, and some believes Allgreen Properties will most likely be affected, given its high exposure to the Singapore residential market.

(info extracted from EDGE)

Happy New Year 2011

Counting down to the New Year 2011 is a blessing to everyone in Singapore, unlike those stuck in the icy-cold Airports waiting to go home/travel; unlike those starving & ill in those poor countries. Nevertheless, I wishes everyone on Earth - Peace, Love, Good Health & Joy throughout Year 2011.
Remember... Never Stop Dreaming Your Dreams ! Cheers~

Top heritage sites in the world

#1. The Great Wall of China has total site visitors of 24,200,000 and total revenues of US$2.88 billion (S$3.77 billion), according to Global Heritage's recently released "Saving Our Vanishing Heritage" report. [Photo: A Chinese couple kiss as they visit the Great Wall of China August 20, 2008.]

#2. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor has total site visitors of 18,000,000 and total revenues of US$1.92 billlion (S$2.5 billion) [Photo: A tourist walks in Beijing's 600-year-old Forbidden City, June 30, 2004. The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace or Palace Museum, situated in central Beijing, was the power centre of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties from 1420 to 1912

#3. Historic Cairo has total site visitors of 4,000,000 and total revenues of US$576 million (S$752 million). [Photo: Foreign tourists ride camels at the Pyramids in Cairo February 12, 2009.]

#4. Ephesus has total site visitors of 3,500,000 and total revenues of US$572 million (S$747 million). [Photo: People walk in the ancient Ephesus ruins near Turkey's western coastal city of Izmir September 11, 2009.]

#5. Amritsar has total site visitors of 5,500,000 and total revenues of US$460 million (S$601m) [Photo: The holy Sikh shrine of Golden Temple is illuminated on the 343rd birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in the northern Indian city of Amritsar January 5, 2009. ]

#6. Angkor has total site visitors of 2,500,000 and total revenues of US$436 million (S$569m).

#7. Teotihuacan has total site visitors of 4,200,000 and total revenues of US$432 million (S$564m). [Photo: Hot air balloons float past people watching the sunrise at the Sun pyramids of Teotihuacan outside Mexico City during a festival as part of the spring equinox March 21, 2010.]

#8. Machu Picchu has total site visitors of 2,400,000 and total revenues of US$384 million (S$501m).

#9. Abu Simbel has total site visitors of 2,000,000 and total revenues of US$320 million (S$418m). [Photo: Tourists look at the 3200-year-old Abu Simbel temple during a daily sound and light show, on the eve of the anniversary of pharaoh king Ramses II's coronation, at the upper reaches of the Nile, around 1264 km (785 miles) south of Cairo February 21, 2010.]

#10. Ancient Thebes has total site visitors of 2,000,000 and total revenues of US$320 million (S$418m). [Photo: A visitor walks past a statue of the head of Ramses II, king of Egypt between 1304 and 1237 B.C., at the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes November 3, 2007.]

#11. Taj Mahal has total site visitors of 2,400,000 and total revenues of US$288 million (S$376m). [Photo: Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers in front of the Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra September 11, 2010.]

#12. Petra has total site visitors of 1,600,000 and total revenues of US$268 million (S$350m). [Photo: Tourists walk past the Lion Fountain in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan, April 7, 2008.]

#13. Old Havana and its Fortifications has total site visitors of 1,773,986 and total revenues of US$262 million (S$342m). [Photo: A taxi waits for customers at Cuba's Capitol in Havana May 27, 2009.]

#14. The pre-Hispanic city of Chichen-Itza has total site visitors of 2,600,000 and total revenues of US$248 million (S$324m). [Photo: A woman raises her arms to receive energy from the sun at the Mayan pyramid El Castillo (The Castle), in Chichen Itza, in the southern state of Yucatan, Mexico March 21, 2009.]

#15. The city of Cuzco has total site visitors of 1,000,000 and total revenues of US$168 million (S$219m). [Photo: Andean men cross the Qeswachaka hanging bridge across the Apurimac river, at the southern province of Canas in Cuzco, Peru, June 12, 2010. ]

#16. The ancient city of Damascus has total site visitors of 1,000,000 and total revenues of US$168 million (S$219m). [Photo: British painter Sophie Walbeoffe paints the skyline of Old Damascus from the Beit al-Mamlouka hotel, Syria, November 1, 2007.]

Teochew Porridge Buffet "潮州妹"

Situated along Mohamed Sultan Road, 潮州妹 (Literally ‘Teochew Sister’, a play on dialect as Porridge and Sister sounds the same) has a simple, modern décor with seats comfortably spaced out. The buffet is served ala-carte style with dishes available on a rotational basis, one of the best value-for-money buffet in town.
One of the unique dishes is the Steamed Beancurd with Pork Floss. Simple in preparation but very comforting with its silky texture and savoury touch. The Bak Kut Teh, which is only available at night, uses premium ribs that are tender and moist while the soup is nicely peppered with a rich homecooked flavour.

But the two dishes that absolutely stole the show at Teochew Muay got to be the Braised Duck and Large Intestine. Both were outstandingly marinated, with the duck meat being wonderfully tender and the fatty intestine giving a sinful yet high feeling.

And don’t leave without a bowl of their homemade Tau Suan! Unlike your usual hawker ones, this is more watery (not diluted, mind you) with the beans thoroughly blended. Ask for a bowl of freshly roasted You Tiao and you will end off the meal nicely.

Priced at $10.50nett for lunch and $13.80nett for dinner, Teochew Muay is an excellent place to indulge in without burning a hole in the pocket. Fantastic comfort food with enjoyable service, what more can you ask for? I need another visit already!

潮州妹 (Teochew Muay)
No.5 Mohamed Sultan Road

Tel: +65 62350338

我很喜爱的作家写的小说－《大龄宫女》 My Recent Read - a Chinese Novel by my fav.author Xi Juan

前阵子看阅了本我很喜爱的作家写的小说－大龄宫女 ； 这书的故事写得生动有趣，让人有无限的想象空间，也有小地方让人笑中带泪的感动。。。席绢啊，我超爱你写的小说；尤其是这类故事，好棒！期待期待期待你尽快再出版新作品~ ~ ~

朋友，如果你也和我一样喜欢阅读小说，那么我最近的推荐绝对是有趣的《大龄宫女》唷！别错过了！！

大龄宫女 故事内容简介：
没错，在他人生里三分之二的时间都卧病在床时， 
他是曾好奇生命走到尽头之后， 
迎接他金大公子哥儿的会是哪一种境地？ 
天堂？地狱？还是…… 
不管是什么，挂就挂了，他从来也没想过“重生”这档子事！ 
但他竟然就这么重生了——也就是时下流行的穿越时空？ 
重生是吧？穿越是吧？很好！没几个能有这能耐的！ 
更好的是，他竟穿越到一个不知名朝代的不知名皇宫里， 
重生在一名年纪老大不小、即将面临失业的宫女身上—— 
晴天霹雳啊！ 
想他一个事业有成、养尊处优的40岁黄金单身贵公子， 
此刻竟沦落成一个无才无貌无钱财的23岁三无贫乏宫女…… 
这……这老天爷还真会玩他呀！ 
人生至此，他还能祈求什么？ 
看来也只有混吃等死的美丽人生了…… 

• 情节分类 ：穿越时空, 异想天开 
• 时代背景：古代
• 也别放过有关联的书 － 金玉其外美食家 （他双重人格的儿子）

Exotic Wine & Dine with Belly Dance Performance

AMBROSIA, the Mediterranean Restaurant Serving Arabic & Southern European Cuisines  
19, Baghdad Street (Arab Street area), Singapore 199658. Tel: 62756274
In ancient Greek mythology, “Ambrosia” referred to the ‘food or drink of the Gods’ & is said to confer immortality to those who consumed it.
The Mediterranean can be crudely divided into three culinary regions: North African (Morocco), eastern Mediterranean (Egypt, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, & Turkey), & southern European (Italy, France, Spain). Wines & herbs are central to Southern
European cuisine, while spices intricately & boldly flavour North African foods.
Preparation with Halal ingredients without wines is meant to cater to the needs of the
entire spectrum of populace.

  

The Mediterranean is a complex region with rich history of the interaction of the cultures and peoples of the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. It is the origin of the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Persian, Phoenician, Jewish, Greek, Roman, Arab & Turkish cultures — and hence is important to understanding the development of Western civilization as we know it today. From the rise of Islam and its dominance in countries like Turkey & Egypt to rise of

The Ambrosia Lounge (25A Baghdad Street, Tel: 62927313) > The Mediterranean lifestyle is about taking the time to relax & enjoying the company of the people you care about. People from countries like Spain & Italy enjoy the best quality of life & one of the highest life expectancies. Wine appreciation of Greece, Italy & France to Egypt, Morocco & Turkey, Ambrosia serves the perfect blend of lifestyles to address the need of work-life balance of the stressful modern life. (Belly dance performance on Saturdays 9pm-11pm)

Developing a Healthy Mind

1. Before last 200 years, comfort came from faith. Now comes from technology. Sensory comfort, not mental comfort though. 2. Mental state can subdue physical discomfort. Physical state cannot subdue mental discomfort. So, mental state is more serious. 3. Mental health cannot be purchased. Drugs = more illusions. It must come from within the mind itself. 4. The mind gets healthy not by faith alone. It comes only from genuine conviction, which comes only from research and investigation.

Training the Mind | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Training the Mind | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Family Problems....???

Two men, one American and an Indian were sitting in a bar drinking shot after shot. The Indian man said to the American, 

'You know my parents are forcing me to get married to this so called homely girl from a village whom I haven't even met once.' We call this arranged marriage. I don't want to marry a woman whom I don't love... I told them that openly and now have a hell lot of family problems.'

The American said, talking about love marriages... I'll tell you my story...

'I married a widow whom I deeply loved and dated for 3 years. After a couple of years, my father fell in love with my step-daughter and married her. . . so my father became my son-in-law and I became my father's father-in-law. 

Legally now... my daughter is my mother and my wife my grandmother. 

More problems occurred when I had a son. . . My son is my father's brother and so he is my uncle.
Situations turned worse when my father had a son. . .Now my father's son, my brother is my grandson. Ultimately, I have become my own grand father and I am my own grandson. 

And you say you have Family Problems....?'