Do People Not Watch Movies Anymore?

I was at one of the most popular cinemas today and the counter was practically empty. I attributed it to being early, as it was only eleven on a Sunday morning, but I remember normally around this time the last time I was there, the queue was already quite long.

 

When I went back again around three in the afternoon, there was still no queue. And I managed to get my Sunday discount from my mobile service provider, even at three in the afternoon, when normally, the discount would no longer be valid as it would have met its quota by twelve noon.

 

The emptiness of the cinema made me wonder, do people not watch movies nowadays? Is downloading the only way to go, that they are killing off the movie business?

 

Of course I know it is so much cheaper to just download than to spend S$10.00 on a movie ticket. But downloading a show is not the same as actually watching a show in a theatre. Afterall, what can the laptop or computer screen give you that a big screen with fantastic sound system cannot?

 

I much rather watch movies in a theatre with the big screen, sound system and all the trailers, than to watch on a small screen with poor sound at home. Having said that, if I really like the show, I would not mind watching the downloaded version again, but the first time I watch a show, it would always have to be in a movie theatre before I can assess how good the show actually is.

 

Watching a show in a movie theatre is simply more conducive than watching it at home or on someone’s screen. But then again, this is just my own preference.

Moving To An Android ...

The decision is made. I am finally moving to a smartphone. I had an iPhone a few years back, but I did not like it as it did not function well as a phone. What is the use of a phone if it does not even have good basic phone functions?

 

The phone function of the iphone is quite bad, as in the reception got cut off most of the time and the battery runs out ever so often, so in the end, I went back to using a normal phone. I am not sure how the iPhone 4 or 5 works, but the iPhone 3GS did not function well for me.

 

Since then, I have been resisting smartphones, iPads and other modern gadgets as I did not wish to become a slave to technology and let the gadget control me instead of the other way round.

 

But when I see the convenience a smartphone can give you, like checking the map when one is out, staying updated even while abroad and taking an interest in staying connected at any time and most importantly, texting for free with the whatsapp program, I started toying with the idea of a smartphone.

 

After pondering for many months, I finally resisted the resistance and started sourcing for a smartphone. One thing is clear – no more Apple, at least not for now. I wanted to see if other smartphones can do the job just as well.

 

So I took the plunge today and got a Sony Xperia Tipo, one of the newer models from Sony Mobile, the result of the de-merger of Sony and Ericsson. It is such good timing too, as I can upgrade my plan to a data plan at a minimum rate for two years, and get the phone for free! I just needed to sign some papers and the phone was mine!

 

I am still learning how to use the phone, but so far, it is not letting me down. The only gripe is that the battery is still not as long-lasting as a normal phone as I understand I need to charge it everyday as it will turn flat in no time. But well, the convenience of free texts and being mobile on the go makes up for that!

Mooncake Festival Gathering

Today I went for another extended family gathering for the mooncake aka Mid-Autumn Festival. This is also to celebrate my granduncle and grandaunt’s birthdays, as their birthdays fall around the same time as the mooncake festival (according to Lunar calendar) and just two days apart from each other.

 

I have not had a real extended family gathering for a long time. The recent wedding of my cousin where my Australian uncle and aunt came down did not really count as everyone was busy helping out during the wedding, so there was no chance to really sit down and chat.

 

Alas, during the gathering today, I did not get a chance to mingle much. My mum and I were a tad late so most of the seats had been taken up, and we were given the only two seats left available – with my granduncle’s mahjong friends instead of any of the family.

 

Hence, the only people around me are all in their fifties and above! I could not even talk to anyone as I did not know a single person. Furthermore, their topic of conversations did not interest me and I was not that able to relate to them.

 

Still, it was a good gathering in that we had great food in a nice ambience. How I wish I can have more extended family gatherings in the future, but it is hard now as most have settled down with their own families and half have moved overseas to raise their families. It is so hard to get everyone together again.

The Trend Of "Rich" Kids ...

A few days back, my dad sent me a message asking me to get tickets for the Korean pop group “Smtown”. However, a check with the website indicated that tickets would only be on sale at 10am today, and even then it was only exclusively for those with a certain credit card or for Samsung Mobile customers.

 

As my mum and I both hold a credit card from the same bank, I tried going into the website at ten on the dot. Unfortunately, the website was down due to “heavy traffic”. I kept trying to go in but my many attempts did not succeed until half past eleven, where the transaction finally went through and I got the tickets.

 

My dad’s instruction was that I was to get the most expensive ticket (S$298.00 per person, after the 20% discount from that credit card, would be around S$238.40). Unfortunately, by the time I went in, that category of tickets were sold out. This allows you up close and personal with the pop group.

 

I tried the second category (S$268.00 per ticket), but also sold out. Third and fourth categories (S$238.00 and S$218.00) were sold out too. In the end, I could only get the fifth category (S$198.00 per ticket, which was five rows behind (or in front, depending on how you look at it) the stage.

 

I was to get three tickets, with booking fees and the charge for courier to send the tickets to my place since I could not be bothered to collect the tickets on my own, and the total price set me back by S$660.00. It does not matter since I would be reimbursed anyway.

 

The thing is, only kids would be interested in this Korean pop group. If that is the case, how do the kids nowadays have so much money to get the most expensive seats so instantly?

 

Obviously, my dad was not getting the tickets for himself. He was specially requested by his business associate in China to get the tickets for his daughter and her friends. So S$660.00 converted to the Chinese yuan, not to mention the return flight from China to here just for that one night, that would add up to quite a hefty sum.

 

How in the world do kids have this much money? Of course, their parents would pay, but are the parents nowadays spoiling the kids so much that they are willing to splash so much on their kids just for a concert? I know definitely my mum would not. I could not even afford S$50.00 to attend a concert I like when I was still studying!

 

Is that the reason why this new generation is growing up thinking the world of themselves, and that everyone has to cater to them alone? This makes me really reflect on what exactly is the proper and right upbringing.

 

Having never been a parent and not sure if I can ever be one, I suppose I can never understand how parents feel. I know parents definitely all love their kids, but is there a line drawn between love and teaching the right things, and love and just indulgence? Perhaps I can answer this better when, and if, I actually become a parent myself.

New South Wales - Guided Or Self?

Since I will be going down under to see my brother and my relatives, I thought of touring around at the same time. Each time I had been to Sydney (and that is only twice, once for a family trip when I was eleven and the other for my cousin's wedding ten years back), I was mostly with my relatives so did not get to actually travel around, even though they brought us to Queen Victoria Building, Opera House, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Manly Beach, Olympic Stadium and part of the Blue Mountains. Otherwise I did not get to know Sydney as we did not really travel around.

So this time round, I wanted to travel around a bit more since I would be there. My parents have been there a few times ever since my brother went to Canberra to study, my other relatives have also been there many times ever since my cousin married and moved to Sydney, and even my maternal grandmother have been there twice, but I have never actually gone there on my own. Which is why I am taking the opportunity to wander around Sydney and getting to know the place.

When I was researching on what Sydney offers, the main things I wanted is to have a Sydney harbour cruise, Sydney sights and beaches, Blue Mountains trip, climbing the Harbour Bridge and attend an event at the Opera House. 

I shortlisted three tour operators. First, a cruise that will bring me to Sydney harbour, the penal colony at Goat Island and Fort Denison, as well as the seaside mansions of Sydney's eastern suburbs. Second, a day trip that brings me to all that Sydney can offer, and third, a Blue Mountains day trip that covers a wildlife park, Blue Mountains and Three Sisters, Skyway ride, and passing via Sydney Olympic Park and a river cruise on the way back.

Then my uncle told me about whale migration that occurs only from May to October each year. Since I would be going in October, he told me not to miss the whale cruise as this would probably be the one and only time I actually get to see a whale! So I decided to register for that too.

Then I made a comparison. Since I have already registered for the whale cruise which will depart from Sydney harbour anyway, I need not register for the other harbour cruise. The whale cruise cost me A$79 and the harbour cruise (including lunch) would cost me A$89. A$10 saved, and for a country whose currency is stronger than mine, that is quite a bit saved.

The Sydney sights tour will cover the whole business area, eastern suburbs, Manly Beach, Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, The Rocks, Opera House, Sydney Tower and whatnot for A$99 (and that is already the cheapest around). However, all these areas can be easily accessed by public transport, and I must say, Sydney has one of the best public transport systems in the world. All I need to do is to buy a weekly pass for A$51 and I can travel on the train, light rail, bus and ferry anytime and any day unlimited for the week! So this already saves A$44. Besides, I have already bought a ticket to watch an opera at the Opera House, so I can see that for myself.

As for the Blue Mountains tour, the package is A$155, including the Wildlife Park, Skyway and Cableway rides, lunch, Olympic Park and ferry back to Circular Quay. However, the Wildlife Park, Blue Mountains and Olympic Park is easily accessible by train, so if I go on my own, I only need to pay A$27 for the Wildlife Park, and A$62 for the Blue Mountains Explorer bus, where I can take the bus round Blue Mountains and get off at any attraction I fancy. Olympic Park is free, and if I top up another A$10, I get the weekly pass that covers the Blue Mountains region too! So it is another savings of at least A$66!

Besides, I may meet up with the nice Australian family who helped me out when I was in Mulu. They live about an hour away from Sydney, and the last I checked, the A$61 weekly pass covers their area. So buying the weekly pass is really worth it and cost-savings, than if I am to pay individual fare on every public transport!

Regarding the harbour bridge climb, there are climb packages that bring you directly to the top of the harbour bridge. But these cost at least A$198.00 depending on the pace, type and time of the day one makes the climb. However, there is a Pylon Lookout at the Harbour Bridge, where you also need to climb to the top to see. Although not the actual bridge climb, the view would still be spectacular, and you get to move from one end to the other end of the bridge. Pricing? A$18.50 to go up. Calculate how much you can save.

So with the same itinerary, here is the breakdown :

Weekly pass for public transport, including all regions for trains, light rail, buses and ferries - A$61.00

Entrance to Sydney Tower - A$18.20 (40% discount if one books online)

Opera ticket at Opera House - A$65.00

Madame Tussaud's Sydney and Sydney Aquarium - A$49.50 (40% discount if we buy combo tickets online)

Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout - A$18.50

Whale Watching Cruise - A$79.00

Featherdale Wildlife Park - A$27.00

Blue Mountains Explorer Bus - A$62.00 (including three one-way rides up and down the Scenic Railway, Skyway and Cableway, with a free map, guide and brochure)

Entrance to Olympic Park is free and the river cruise is also free as the weekly pass covers all ferries as well.

Total = A$380.20

If I am to book the day tours, the breakdown is as follows :

Weekly pass for public transport - A$51.00

Whale Watching Cruise - A$79.00

Sydney Sights and Beaches, including central area, eastern suburbs, Hyde Park, Opera House, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, Sydney Tower, Town Hall and Royal Botanic Gardens - A$99.00

Blue Mountains tour, including Featherdale Wildlife Park, Blue Mountains and Three Sisters, Lunch, Scenic Railway and Skyway, Olympic Park and River Cruise - A$155.00

Opera ticket at Opera House - A$65.00

Madame Tussaud's Sydney and Sydney Aquarium - A$58.00

Harbour Bridge Climb - A$198.00

Total = A$705.00

Savings = A$324.80, which is about four hundred and twenty dollars in my currency. What can one do with four hundred and twenty dollars? I can feed myself for three months!

Of course, if I am to go on my own, then lunch and tea would not be included, and there would be no transport provided as well, unlike the day trips where meals are included. But I do not think my meals will cost four hundred dollars for a week, and I already plan to get a pass that covers all areas! So it is still great savings overall! Furthermore, this way I have the flexibility of choosing where and what I would like to eat, instead of going to a designated place and eating a designated meal that was already arranged.

This plan is only for Sydney. I have not made a comparison of the cost for Canberra because all their interesting places are around the city area and within walking distance from each other, and most of the attractions are free anyway. However, if one wish to go a bit further, then would need to pay a bit. According to my brother, Canberra's public transport is nothing like Sydney, so he said he better rent a car to drive me around when I am there.

So for those planning to go to Sydney, would it be a better idea to go on day trips or to go on your own? It is really your own preference. Going on your own means you have to research the place thoroughly and get familiarised with the transport system, know when to get down and which pass to get. Going with a guide means you only need to sit back, relax and listen as he tells stories of the Australian culture and history of the place. 

If you prefer your vacation to be hassle-free, then by all means go with a guide. But if you are more adventurous and prefer to explore on your own, not to mention save more money, then it is a good idea to just go places on your own, as that is a good way to learn and experience instead of a rushed trip.