Jubilant Easter News!

I had the greatest news today. This couple whom I love a lot, they had their Easter baby, a little girl! I am so happy for both of them, as I am sure the little girl will be basked in all the love their parents have for her, as they will be such great and wonderful parents!

 

Congratulations to both of them!

 

Happy Easter everyone!

Under The Sea ...

Since we have a long weekend due to the Good Friday and Easter holidays, I decided to explore the new oceanarium and the newly renovated Underwater World yesterday. I set off around eleven in the morning, and by the time I reached there, it was past noon.

 

The oceanarium, aka S.E.A Aquarium, is situated in the Maritime Experiential Museum at Resorts World. We had to enter by the same entrance as the museum, before joining another long queue to the aquarium.

 

Trust me, the queue is long indeed. I had to wait half an hour to enter the aquarium itself. Because we had to go through the stretch of the Maritime Museum, I managed to see some of the things on display, namely Chinese junks and the convoy led by Admiral Cheng Ho during his sea voyages to Southeast Asia.

 Sign at the entrance outside

 

 Models of pirates just inside the Maritime Museum

 

 Admiral Cheng Ho and some of the pirate hunters

 

Whilst in the queue, I saw displays of some cargo the ships had, like live animals, spices and even two giraffes, and some unique clocks just outside the entrance of the aquarium.

 I like these clocks!

 

Entrance to the aquarium

 

Inside the aquarium is a different world altogether. The variety of fish and marine life on display is absoutely astounding! I will really highly recommend anyone to visit this place as the display really captivates me! For a more detailed post, please refer to this.

 

I spent around two hours in the aquarium, after that I went on to the Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon. Initially I thought of exploring the Underwater World first before going to the Dolphin Lagoon, but I was told by the entrance staff that the dolphin show was starting, so I decided to go to the Dolphin Lagoon first.

 

To get to the Dolphin Lagoon, one must first enter the Underwater World, go straight and turn left to a small lane, before reaching the covered marquee that serves as the spectator stand and pool for the dolphins. Even though it was another half an hour to the dolphin show, the place was already almost full. Along the way to the stand, I came across cute otters.

 

 Entrance to the Dolphin Lagoon

 

 The little cute otters

 

 

The dolphin and sealion show was entertaining and spectacular, which you can read about here. After the show, I went back to the Underwater World, which I find it a big disappointment. Or rather, it is really a big disappointment as compared to the SEA Aquarium. My adventure can be found here.

 

After the whole day adventuring under the sea, I was so hungry that I decided to go to Chili's for dinner, which I have reviewed here. It was a really great day exploring under the sea, complete with a full dinner. Hopefully I have more great days like this!



Midnight's Children

I do not normally watch Indian shows, even those in English, but those I have watched are pretty good, like Slumdog Millionaire, and Life of Pi. So when I saw that Midnight's Children is showing, I decided to watch. The book is written by the controversal author Salman Rushdie after all, so the story should be pretty good.

 

I went to watch the show last night, and it is really one of the best movies I have ever seen! The main character is named Saleem. He was born on the stroke of midnight on the day of India's independence, ie the day the British left India completely. Because of this, as he was growing up, he discovered he had special powers. His power was to bring together all the children born on the same day as him, between midnight and one in the morning, in the same room.

 

All these "midnight children" have special powers of their own, but Saleem's power is the strongest because he is the only one able to bring all of them together. Since he was born on the stroke of midnight, his powers would be the best. Those born nearer to midnight would have stronger powers than those born further away from midnight.

 

Unknown to Saleem, he was actually switched at birth, with a musician's son Shiva, also born at the stroke of midnight. The musician's wife was raped by a British guy, hence Saleem was fairer with sharper features than the other Indian kids. The nurse who switched the two babies to fulfil her lover's legacy of the rich being poor and the poor being rich. Saleem's parents are rich Indian Muslims, and the musician poor, so the poor boy was raised as a rich boy and the rich boy was raised poor.

 

This changes the course of the two boys' lives. Saleem grew up with all the riches, and the apple of his father's eye, but after an accident where it was discovered his blood type did not match either of his parents, his father resented him and he was sent away to Pakistan to live with his aunt and uncle, who was the general of the Pakistan's army. This happened during the split of India and Pakistan, where the Muslims in India went to Pakistan to fight for their own rights.

 

Years later, Saleem's parents also went over to Pakistan and he was fetched home to stay with them. His father never gave him the affection he used to receive, and when the nursemaid (who was the one who switched the babies) revealed the truth, she was thrown out of the family. His parents decided to accept him, and they never looked for their own child too.

 

After that, East and West Pakistan got involved in a civil war, with East Pakistan emerging the winner with the help of the Indian army, becoming Bangladesh. Saleem was drafted into the Pakistani army, but he was found lost and wandering in East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh.

 

During the victory parade, he saw that Shiva, the poor boy who resented his poor life and hated the rich, was now second in command of the Indian army. He also met up with Pavati, the girl who told him about the midnight children in the first place. Her power is doing magic. She hid him in her invisibility basket and brought him back to India.

 

That was when he realised that the fates do intertwine. He was born to a poor family, switched at birth and brought up in a rich family, but yet now he was reduced to living in the slums. Whereas the boy who was born on the same day and same time as him, was originally born of a rich family, brought up as a poor family, yet now a big hero and having all the power he could dispose of.

 

Later on during Indira Gandhi's administration, she ordered that all the midnight children be disposed of, or made sterile so they would not breed, as she was led to believe that these midnight children who have since grown up would be the downfall of India. She and her son Sanjay also started clearing up the slum areas by bulldozing all the slum areas of India.

 

The movie ended with Saleem looking forward towards the future of a new India, and a newly born country who would rise up against all the politics and discrimination of the distinction of society.

 

I am not that familiar with Salman Rushdie's books, as I have only read one - Haroun and the Sea of Stories. But after watching Midnight's Children, I really want to read this book, as well as the other books that Salman Rushdie wrote. If the movie is this good, just imagine how much better the book will be!

 

This is the impact of a great movie - it makes me think, yet makes me cry and feels all huggy and fuzzy inside. I really recommend this show and the book too, for those who are interested!

Hair Scalp Therapy Session

I went to Beijing 101 for the Premium Package that I bought via Groupon after work today. All I can say is even though I am satisfied with the treatment and my hair feels much softer and thicker, I am disappointed with the attitude of the staff.

 

The premium package I bought was supposed to consist of five herbal scalp treatments, one hair scalp analysis, one acupressure scalp massage, one anti-hair loss ampoule, and one complimentary bottle of shampoo of fifty millilitres.

 

From the way the package is described, I would think I need to go for at least five sessions. But when I arrived, the staff told me it is only one session, with all the items inclusive. So I sat down for a scalp analysis and was told that I am prone to dandruff (which I already know) and that even though my ends are dry, my roots are oily (which I have always suspected). Hence my hair is thinning because the sebum coagulates at the roots, making the new hair unable to grow.

 

After the consultation, I was brought into the treatment area which looks like any normal hair salon, with the chairs and desks and mirrors and hair dryers. First, she applied the ampoule on my hair. After that she asked me to go to the sink and washed my hair, massaging my scalp at the same time. Then I was brought back to my chair and she applied another treatment to my hair, finishing up with a UV treatment and a final blow drying of my hair.

 

All in all, I counted the scalp analysis, acupressure scalp massage, ampoule and three treatments. What happened to the other two? Furthermore, she did not give me the complementary bottle of shampoo. Or maybe she did, but used it on my hair to wash it while giving me the scalp massage.

 

At the end of the session, I sat down with her again and she went through my scalp. This time round, I could see the sebum and dandruff almost gone. Amazing! But the irritating part was that she started hard-selling me the package. She told me one treatment would not be enough and in order to have healthy hair, I should sign up for the package.

 

I told her straight that I was only there to have a trial, and I would be unable to commit to a package right now, due to finances and time constraint. She then saw my Kate Spade and said, if I can afford this kind of bag, she does not see why I could not afford the treatment.

 

That really riled me! Who is she to tell me what to spend on? It is my hard-earned money after all, who is she to interfere how I want to spend it? So what if I decide to reward myself by buying nice bags once in a while? Does it matter to anyone?

 

I firmly rejected all her offers. She said even if I did not want to sign up for the package, perhaps I should get the ampoule to continue the treatment at home? I rejected her again. In the end she had no alternative but to say a polite thank you and see me off.

 

Would I sign up for a package in the future? Perhaps. One thing I like is that the scalp massage feels really good. And I was told I need to shampoo and condition my hair everyday because my hair is exposed to dust, sweat and whatnot everyday. Hmmm... and I thought I was told we are not to wash our hair everyday to prevent the hair extracts being too worn out? Looks like this bit of information is really contradictory!

Amazon = Amazing?

I have always known Amazon as a retailer of great books at good rates, although since the currency is in US$, it is still a tad expensive for me, especially with shipping costs involved. Nevertheless, I have always been able to find books via Amazon, when I am not able to find them anywhere else.

 

I came across Amazon a very long time ago. I cannot remember how I came across this, but all I know was that I went into the website and that was when I discovered it is actually an online bookstore. If I am not mistaken, it is probably the first online bookstore selling all kinds of books, new and old.

 

Since then, I have been buying quite a number of books from Amazon. In recent years, they have branched out into selling CDs and DVDs too, of songs and movies. When the digital age and media came along, they also started selling podcasts and media files of songs.

 

Then they came up with the Amazon Kindle, an online book reader, before Apple came up with the iPad. I have never bought the Kindle, nor do I ever intend to, as I still proclaim that a paperback is the best way to read a book. Still, I have seen people using the Kindle on public transport.

 

Recently, I discovered that Amazon is not just selling books, movies and music, but has also branched out into selling other things like clothes, bags, jewellery, even makeup products! Seems like it is no longer an online book seller, but an online seller of just about anything! Perhaps because nowadays the book and music business is no longer lucrative?

 

I bought my new Deuter bag and the Maybelline Great Lash Mascara via Amazon, which is how I found out that they have branched out into selling all kinds of products nowadays. It is really amazing, is it not, that an online book retailer can start out as a samll business and grow into one of the largest online businesses in the world? Perhaps I should start my own online business too!

Adding To The Increase Of Patients?

This morning I heard from the radio news that due to the transition in climate, ie weather getting warmer, more and more people are getting sick, hence there is a ten to twenty percent increase in the number of patients seeing doctors in clinics. And I am one of them.

 

I was out sick yesterday. Actually I was already sniffling and coughing when I came back from Redang last week, but I attributed it to all the salt water in my system. Then the cough became worse on Saturday and Sunday, so I went to see a doctor yesterday.

 

I cannot believe it is another weekend illness! Why is this always happening to me? At least the medication is effective, I am coughing less, but now my ears are blocked. Is this because of the blocked nose and phlegm in my throat, or do I still have salt water in my ears?

 

I hope I can fully recover in time for the Good Friday weekend!

Our Own Movie World

I went to Universal Studios yesterday, as a friend had corporate tickets. It was the second time (third time actually if counting the night visit once) I was there, and there have been several changes.

First, the Broadway street has been altered a little to cater to the Sesame Street characters. Second, the Transformers ride is now functioning, so there is a yellow car on display. Other than that, there are no other changes to the place.

Entrance of Universal Studios

Once we entered Universal Studios, we were in New York's Broadway, and a Hollywood sign above the entrance. After passing by the whole Broadway, we went to the first ride - Madagascar, but did not go in. Instead, we went straight on to Far Far Away.

 Hollywood sign above the entrance

 

 New York Broadway

 

 Recognise this? Shrek's house, or rather, Shrek's dungeon.

 

 Princess Fiona's castle which I love, although I love the Cinderella castle in Walt Disney better.

 

 

After coming out from Far Far Away, we decided to go to Waterworld to see how the good and evil tribes battle for the knowledge and ground of dry land, with the help of the mariner. The details can be found here. Since Waterworld is next to Jurassic Park, we decided to go to Jurassic Park next to take the Canopy Ride. On the way, we saw a dinosaur, and several ones too.

It was a long queue for the Canopy Ride. Apparently there is a queue for all the rides, so we had to wait around half an hour to forty-five minutes to get the ride. On the wall of the Jurassic Park Canopy Ride, we saw an insect embedded in a rock.

 

After finishing the Canopy Ride, I was famished so we went to the food court which is next to Jurassic Park for lunch. 

 

 This dinosaur is in front of the entrance to the food court

 

Interior of the food court

 

Since it was lunch time, the food court was very crowded. I had to queue and wait for another half an hour before I could get my food. And the food was expensive, a rice set with meat and vegetables and a drink cost me S$11.50! Absolute daylight robbery! Furthermore, the food was not that fantastic in the first place, just a normal tasting dish. What to do, since this place is a tourist attraction, hence everything is pricey?

 

After eating, we decided to take the new Transformers Simulation Ride. That is my favourite of all! The simulation ride makes us enter into the battle of the Autobots and Decepticons, and real effects were being simulated. I thoroughly enjoyed that and would really love to take that again!

 

 Bumblebee car

 

 

After the Transformers Simulation Ride, we decided to try out the Mummy Underground Rollercoaster. For me, I have been on the rollercoaster twice, and my friends wanted to try it out to prepare them for the Battlestar Galactica Rollercoaster later on. When we reached the Mummy Rollercoaster, we had to put our things in a locker before entering as we were not allowed to bring anything inside.

 

 

After the exciting Mummy Underground Rollercoaster ride, my friends wanted to try the Battlestar Galatica Rollercoaster. Unfortunately, at that point in time, the rollercoaster was closed for a while due to thunder. So we decided to wander around Broadway and take the slow Madagascar Boat Ride.

 

Along the way, we passed by a subway, brownstones, a police car, even Sesame Street themed shops, and Oscar statuettes!

 

 Me want Cookie too!

 

 

After the slow Madagascar boat ride, my friend enquired if the Battlestar Galactica was up again, and it was! So they went on the ride. First they tried the red rollercoaster, then tried the more challenging blue rollercoaster. Me? I did not have the guts, so I just sat around waiting for them. :-P

 

After their rides, I had to go so bade them farewell while they continued with the other rides. But actually we have already gone on the best the theme park has to offer. On my way back, I happened to see the Sesame Street show outside City Hall, and took a few pictures of my favourite characters!

 

 Big Bird and Elmo

 

 Cookie Monster and Grover (I can never remember the pink girl's name)

 

 Ernie and Bert

 

 Elmo, Cookie Monster and Grover

 

The girl with the forgotten name

 

And thus concludes my day trip to Universal Studios!