I made my way to the KLCC a few weeks ago for what i expected to be an extremely crowded event. Judging from last year’s turnout for the iPhone 4 launch @ Gardens, i thought it smart that Maxis moved the launch to a bigger venue this year – the KLCC Convention Centre. I arrived promptly at 8pm to see a long queue stretching across a few Halls. I thought, “This is crazy..! People are nuts..!” as the new iPhone 4S was only going to launch at the stroke of midnight, so they had 4 more hours to wait!
The media gathered in Hall 2 for the speeches and Q&A session.
Speeches were to start at 8:30pm, then dinner at 9:30pm.
I was hoping everything would run on time cos i WAS STARVING and a hungry fairy is a distracted one!
Thankfully, everything went according to schedule and the speeches started on the dot.
Besides having brought in the first iPhone to Malaysia in 2009, Maxis continues to offer a whole range of smartphones to customers which has resulted in more than 7.5 million active mobile users.
Sandip Das, Chief Executive Officer of Maxis, said, “Having an iPhone is one thing, but to experience it on Maxis is something else.” He then went on to elaborate on Maxis’ support of its customers’ continued demands, how they were improving data network experiences, and the wide range of data packages available to everyone’s needs.
Maxis is offering four new iValue plans for customers, with the highest combined mobile & WiFi data of up to 11GB. Of course, if you don’t think you require that much, you can just go for the other iValue plans. View all the plans *here*
Also included in the new iValue plans are:
- increased data quota
- free WiFi connection of 4GB per month across Maxis hotspots nationwide
We can download the Maxis WiFi app for free to find out the nearest WiFi hotspots at any time. Besides the aforementioned app, i was interested to know that Maxis has launched a Customer Service app – the first for any telco on the iPhone in Malaysia. This app will allow customers to easily access their account and bill info, subscribe/unsubscribe to services and contact Maxis’ Customer Service. If this is going to help me keep track of my bills, i’m all for it.
T. Kugan, Vice-President and Head of Products, Devices & Roaming
Most of us know that the iPhone 4S’ most interesting feature is Siri – the first Personal Assistant software that is available to us on a commercial phone. I watched this video some months back, when i was researching what Siri was about:
It’s pretty crazy right? Imagine not needing to manually key in what you’re searching for! The iPhone 4S is seriously the future in our hands.
Besides Siri, the iPhone 4S is includes:
- Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics
- an all new camera with advanced optics and full 1080p HD resolution video recording (i’ve seen amazing comparisons online bout this cam!)
- iOS 5, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features
- iCloud, which means no more plugging USB cables. It automatically and wirelessly syncs your iPhone, iPad, Mac or PC devices together.
After the speeches and Q&A sess, all the media were treated to a buffet dinner. It felt really good to have some smoked salmon & salad, fried rice & chicken curry, and two cups of hot black coffee thrown in to last me till past midnight.
After dinner, i was walking around thinking i should look for Kenny to catch up, when he appeared right in front of my face! So we both headed to the VIP Launch Party at Hall 4, to have some drinks, chat and wait till midnight.
The Launch Party was set up all swank, with enough space and drinks going around constantly for a large number of people!
Performances were going on back to back so people were well-entertained while they waited.
I was wearing flats that night and told Elaine how i look like an absolute SMURF next to her in the picture -_-
Julie & i
Jayaram + i
JJ and Jayaram – i feel the love!
After a few hours of drinks and chatting, Kenny and i hurried back to the Hall where the FIRST people were going to be let in to buy their iPhone 4S. The queue that i observed at 8pm had multiplied by then from Hall 1 – Hall 4!
[pic courtesy of Maxis]
Just LOOK at how crowded it was!
We still had a few minutes to go so we took pictures of ourselves Hey, we rarely see each other anyway!
Even the payment counters seemed to be holding their breaths… all still and waiting for the barrage of people to enter in a short while.
All the photographers were poised with cameras in hand… waiting…
The Maxis head honchos all waiting by the door to personally greet and congratulate the first customers to walk through that night…
A massive countdown was going on outside, led by Henry, and we could all see it from the huge live screens in the hall. 5 seconds! 4… 3… 2… 1… 0!!!
It was one of those occasions being short was not so great.
Some of the first people in Malaysia to get their hands on the brand new iPhone 4S with Maxis!
Every customer who had been queueing got a number which flashed up on screens coupled with counters they should be heading to. Talk about efficient!
Sandip Das, Chief Executive Officer; Raja Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Arshad bin Raja Tun Uda, Chairman; Fitri Abdullah, Head of Enterprise and Government Business; and T. Kugan, Head of Product, Device, Innovation & Roaming showing the new iPhone 4S.
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Customers will enjoy a 0% interest installment plan and existing customers will be able to conveniently upgrade to new plans which features enhanced data and WiFi. They will also be able to extend their contract with Maxis, making it possible for everyone and anyone to own an iPhone with Maxis.
The iPhone 4S is available at all Maxis Centres and Maxis Exclusive Partners (MEPs) nationwide from today!
A few years ago, a good friend of mine – Tai Yong – had a great idea for a hang-out night. He suggested we each burn unto a CD songs that represent the soundtrack of our lives and listen to it while explaining why each song was so special. I recall having a hard time putting together the CD… because it’s difficult to choose only 17 tracks from hundreds of songs that represent so many different times of my life to me!
Nevertheless, it was a great way to know someone better, get introduced to new songs, and indulge in listening to music while doing nothing else – a privilege in this multi-tasking generation of ours. The ‘soundtrack of our lives’ activity is slightly different from the list of music i’m posting here today. The former consists of songs that played constantly during particular periods of my life, whereas the latter is going to be songs that i enjoy listening to by myself… alone… whether i’m happy or being emo.
I wanted to put songs from Jack Johnson but i associate all his songs with Clem cos we listen to his albums repeatedly while on every holiday we’ve ever been to.
I wanted to put particular party songs i listen to all the time while driving in the car… but they’re also in my SalahWrong playlist so it felt like i’ve shared those lots of times already.
This list of songs are special because… i associate them with myself. They’re songs i listen to many-a-time while alone and i never tire of them; whether i’m sitting at home alone nibbling on a bar of Dove chocolate staring out into space, burying my feet into the sand at a beach holiday, or reflecting how my day went exploring a foreign city alone.
[You can listen to them by clicking on the playlist that's on the right sidebar.]
I’m so careful with my songs that i even have a backup iPod and x-mini speakers in case one kaputs or runs out of battery during holidays!
The Dove choc bar that’s in the picture are one of the new 80g pack ones. The hazelnut & raisin is my current favourite flavour at the moment. I love coming across the hazelnuts and raisins while going through the extra big bar of chocolate and spending time alone with myself.
The dark chocolate in the series has 66% cacao and is one of the smoothest dark chocolates i’ve had in a while! If you love yourself, i suggest getting a bar of Dove chocolate to enjoy slowly while listening to great Me Time songs. Incredibly therapeutic.
1. By Myself by Mousse T
I haven’t heard anyone or anywhere else play this song except ONE restaurant overseas, where my ears immediately perked up and was so delighted to be hearing it outside. The song was never directed at anyone for me, i just liked the chorus heaps! It’s just so free… like how she literally sings it out. To me its an anthem of independance and being happy to be by yourself. Which is probably why i play it when i’m alone so much – home, beach, holiday, driving. And usually with my arms waving in the air, dancing to it while sitting down and swaying.
2. Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson
I LOVE MJ. I actually cried when he died. This is my ultimate favourite song from him. I play it to myself all the time when i’m traveling and i find myself alone. I played it every other night while sitting on the kitchen counter in London, staring out the window. I played it on the balcony of the 5-star suite i stayed at with Kanch, singing it out loud alone to the skyline of Bangkok after i’ve had a great night out. I played it softly while was perched on the edge of the sailboat i was on in Southern France, watching the calm water lap against the boat’s sides as everyone lay inside asleep.
There’s just something about the song that makes me love it so goddamn much. It makes me appreciate what i have. It makes me want to be a better person. It ignites such HOPE in me that there is so much ahead to have a great life and to do it in a great way.
3. Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Ok this is an emo song for me. It’s something i listen to when i feel slightly sad. I sometimes don’t have a particular thing to be sad about, but once in a blue moon i’d get a bit down. My theory is that maybe cos i don’t often feel sad, sometimes all the little bits of sadness are collected into a few hours i just ALLOW myself to feel sad, just to get it outta my system. I hope i don’t sound whack to you. But trust me, this is a great song to sit down and feel emo to.
4. Sparks by Coldplay
I’m sure a lot of you know this song. It is the most EMO song i listen to all the time (ok i’m sorry i’m on all the emo + slow songs right now, but i promise happier ones come in at the end of the playlist, i wanted it to lift up at the end!) This song was at one point, my ultimate break up song. I’d listen to it and cry to myself in a corner and evaluate the former relationship like a deranged person. For years after that, i couldn’t hear the song outside my house without shedding a tear or two. But as the cliched truth goes, time heals, and i knew i was finally okay when i could listen to the song and feel completely calm and at peace.
5. Seoul by Amiina
This is actually a happy song though it doesn’t seem like it at the start. Okay i shouldn’t describe it as a happy song, it’s a happy lullaby. I discovered its magic while playing the album repeatedly in Bali. And this particular one just stuck out to me. First of all the weird ooh-ing sounds in the middle made me think of whales. And the sea. Then stars twinkling. It’s something i associate with reflection, cos i listen to it when i’ve party-tired myself out and i’d sit somewhere alone, stare out at the sea or grass, and float on it.
6. The Sea by Morcheeba
Oh man i’ve played this song to myself so many nights i can’t keep track anymore. I usually play it before going to bed – it makes me all chill and calm. It makes me feel safe and happy to be in bed. Seriously, try listening to this when you’re drifting off to sleep next time…
7. I Am, I Feel by Alisha’s Attic
Does anyone remember Alisha’s Attic?! The duo disbanded after an album or two, but i remember their music vids that played on MTV when i was 13. Back then music wasn’t as accessible to teens as it is now. We either heard it on the radio, watched it on MTV if we were lucky enough to have Astro in its first year, or listened to it on CDs. And really… as a teenager how many CDs can you afford? I heard this song so many times by myself just because a classmate lent me the single And up till now i still like it even though i admit it’s not the most mind-blowing song of the lot.
8. Collarbone by Fujiya & Miyagi
Thanks to Kubhaer for sending out this song on email sometime last year, it’s so deliciously funky that most friends who hear me playing it ask me who it is so they can get it too. My favourite part is at the end when they sing about which bones connect to which one. I always imagine unscary skeletons dancing to this song, teaching me about his bones and to memorize mine too.
9. Fidelity by Regina Spektor
This is my wake up song. I listen to it while i get ready for work, it’s a special melodic song that’s really chirpy. Sometimes i dance to it in the bathroom while i brush my teeth, and i cannot think of a better way to start the day. Doesn’t hurt that it’s fun to sing along to. I think i’ve memorized every note, though my physical singing capabilities can’t keep up with the song
10. A-Punk by Vampire Weeekend
THE song that gets me pumped up if i’m feeling a bit zzzz. Rudy introduced it to me a longggg time ago and he got emo i forgot he played it to me first -_- Ever since i saw Vampire Weekend live in UK last year, the song has had even more meaning for me. It reminds me of summer, sunshine, blue skies, kites, funny balloons, happy people dancing crazily… the way i do! [i even took a quick vid of the atmosphere there, watch it *here*] I just felt so… elated when this song played live that i think it was one of the HAPPIEST moments in my life.
Ever since then i’ve always told myself that i MUST go back to Europe for summers to relive those emotions that i’ve never managed to experience in Asia! If you’ve not heard this song before, you HAVE to add it to your playlist. It’s the perfect perky song to dance as stupid and mad as you want and CAN.
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I hope you liked my compilation! I know some of the songs are quite emo but hey, that’s the honest stuff i listen to when by myself…
Tell me some of your favourite Me Time songs please! I love discovering new music, and sometimes a real gem to my heart is stumbled upon thanks to word of mouth.
Just two weeks ago i stumbled upon this video that was posted on YouTube showing 3D projections that were used on a building in London to throw a wicked party. Watch it! It’s got over 2 million views in just over two weeks!
I got so jealous after watching that video… jealous that i wasn’t in London, and wondered WHEN a party like that would be thrown in KL.
You know what? … Looks like my wish came early, just in time for Christmas!
For the very first time in Malaysia, the ENCORP Strand building will move, transform, and come to life in 3D to the beat of pulsating music, light effects and fireworks. Beams of laser light will be hand-manipulated, bent, stretched and spun around like a light saber.
Called MYSTICAL EVE 2012, the party will take place on New Year’s Eve! Talk about having an extraordinary BANG of a countdown! What’s even better is that you don’t have to pay an arm and leg to enter, admission is free!
A stellar line-up of local celebrities will be celebrating the night with everyone, like…
I first heard Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna sing at Urbanscapes a few years back, and was absolutely STUNNED by her voice. I just knew she was going to make it big. Fast forward two years later and she’s hanging out with hip hop superstars like Pharrell in NYC. Crazy awesome for a Malaysian to break through into the scene there!
I have both albums she’s released so far, and actually bought them myself from Rock Corner. My favorite song from her thus far is Backpacking Around Europe, but she doesn’t have an official vid for that so i’m posting another one instead.
What i love about Yuna is that not only is she well known in the music industry, but on the fashion scene as well! If you didn’t already know, she owns and sources for her boutique – IAmJetFuel - and has achieved over 1,000 hypes on some of her LookBook uploads.
For those of you who haven’t been fortunate enough to catch her sing live (she’s one of those singers that bedazzle their audience live), Yuna will be collaborating with Malaysia’s No.1 pre-paid mobile provider Hotlink – to bring to you the first online concert!
The concert will be held on Wednesday 14 December, and will be streamed on the website at exactly 8pm.
Just like a concert, there are a number of ‘seats’ available, so you have to pre-book your spot on the website www.nowyoucan.my/yuna.
But unlike any concert, this has to be a collaborative effort between 10,000 fans to get it going! There are 10,000 spots available and there MUST be 10,000 fans who book their seats. Once you secure your seat, you gotta make sure you log on between 7pm and 7.59pm to experience the exclusive viewing.
I went to check out the press conference for it last Tuesday @ The Bee, Jaya One.
Yuna said, “I’m really glad to be part of this project with Hotlink. It really is a unique effort to engage and collaborate with the online community. There are a few more fun bits that viewers and the public can get involved in, but we will reveal it when the time comes!”
T. Kugan, Maxis’ Head of Product, Device, Innovation & Roaming, said, “Yuna graciously agreed to work with us on this project to deliver an online performance to her fans who make up a big chunk of our Hotlink subscribers. We also felt that our collaboration should extend further to include our Maxis subscribers as well. With their support to get online and express their intent, Yuna will share with them a performance of a yet-to-be-released track.”
That’s right! Yuna’s gonna debut a new track to the public next Wednesday!
So make sure you book your spot at the first People Powered Concert in the world.
The one and only time i went to New Zealand was for a glorious 2-week holiday with my family when i was 14. We traveled free and easy with my dad driving us in a rental car from Auckland to Wellington.
I remember at the time, i thought i’d be most taken in with the cities,
but the countryside in between was what snatched my heart by far!
We saw lakes, geysers, boiling pools and mud, hot springs, volcanic terraces, and craters. We stayed at bed & breakfast guesthouses with the cosiest rooms, farm animals prancing around, and lovely hosts. It was also the trip where i bungy-jumped for the first time in my life! My dad saw my face and asked whether i wanted to do it. I said YES. My mother shrugged okay and i hurried off to make them sign the form before she changed her mind haha.
From my wonderful trip in New Zealand, i know there is so much more to explore there, and have even told Clem i’d love to take a road trip with him there one day.
This is Lake Tekapo, reputedly one of NZ’s best kept secrets.
There’s also the Mt. John Observatory for fascinated stargazers like me. Located 300 metres above Lake Tekapo, it’s renowned for the clarity of the sky and every year, thousands of people observe southern stars, aurorae, and meteor showers.
Its Astro Cafe has also been quoted in the Lonely Planet Guide as “possibly the best place on the planet for a coffee“. I WANT.
I found a video on YouTube taken by Fraser Gunn from Mt. John during the Aurora Australis display on 28th May 2011. This was all visible to the naked eye btw!!!
Imagine standing there watching the UNIVERSE go by you… and wondering what your place on earth means. Oh my soul, i want to go see that all for myself, i do i do i do!!! I just researched that the next batch of high aurora activity will be in 2013!
Besides Lake Tekapo, i also want to go to the Abel Tasman National Park!
And the Fiordland National Park where i can see wild dolphins!
Also in Christchurch is the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve – rated one of the top things to do there on Trip Advisor. You can see kiwi in their natural environments as well as other exotic breeds, feed the animals and have a Maori cultural experience!
As for Queenstown, there’s the Onsen Hot Pools. Rated as one of the Top 10 hot pool destinations in the world, Onsen Hot Pools will let me soak in a private pool (outdoor or indoor) while high on the cliffs overlooking the Shotover River canyon.
In Kaikoura, i can see seal pups up close while they frolick and play freely at Ohau Waterfalls! Reviews have described this experience as MAGICAL and a highlight of their trips – something i’d love to do!
I saw a quiz online (www.thegreatnzxcape.com and registered myself for fun… who knows? If i win i’m NOT TURNING DOWN A TRIP TO NZ!!!!
I had to choose from 4 choices which type of traveler i thought myself to be.
1. The Scene-It-All
You hunt down breathtaking view after breathtaking view.
Crystal blue lakes for breakfast. Stunning mountains for lunch.
And gorgeous clear blue skies for dinner.
You eat, live and breathe for stunning scenery!
2. The People’s Traveler
You don’t just journey through life, you explore it.
Meeting new people, embracing different culture, and discovering the true meaning of man’s existence.
The more you learn, the more you realise how litte you know.
3. The Epic Thriller
You can’t live with a shortage of adrenaline.
You thrive on the element of extremity and would give anything up to stun yourself.
The term “extreme sports enthusiast” doesn’t do justice to who you are – an adventure junkie.
4. The Eco Traveler
Going green is so yesterday for you! You ARE green!
From stalking wildlife, forest trekking to watching grass grow,
becoming one with nature is your passion, obsession and ultimate thrill in life!
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That was kinda hard… cos i’m a bit of everything! But above all, i think i put my best travel experiences down to the people i meet. The others all come with it – chasing scenes, appreciating nature, and jumping on an adventure wagon. So i chose The People’s Traveler.
The website registered me with my Facebook account (easy peasy that way) and now i gotta wait till 8th December when the online games and trivia starts! I also have to decide whether i want to recruit other like-minded travel-lovers like me to be on my team, or attempt this on my own…
There’s two categories – team, and solo.
And highest scores in each category will win a TRIP OF A LIFETIME PACKAGE.
Gahhh maybe i should recruit some friends into a team, more brains are better than one!!
If you love traveling and would love a trip to New Zealand too, you can join in the trivia atwww.thegreatnzxcape.com
Having the internet is one thing,
but having the TIME to surf is now something precious to me!
I have just enough time to work and sleep, so surfing time is not high on the priority list for daily activities
When i DO have time to surf nowadays, oh, how i cherish it!
I wriggle in my seat with one leg up (cos i’m a chinese uncle like that)
have a glazed look on my face,
and Clem knows that whatever he tells me won’t be heard (much).
We just stocked up on Dove chocolate at home,
so with my surfing time, comes SILKY SMOOTH chocolate-nibbling time.
(Oh and I digress: Dove chocolate now comes in 80g packs! And their dark chocolate now comes with 66% cacao. More cacao for the clickin :D)
It’s easy to use one hand to surf and the other to hold a bar of chocolate
as i click different links maniacally and soak in all the information and images
Before you read the list of my Top Sites i visit,
i have to add that this is my CURRENT list of my fave sites.
I’m also not adding the obvious like Time.com, NY Times, Guardian UK, Style.com and the like, which i surf regularly.
The problem(?) with me is once i like a blog, i usually end up reading all its archives till i OD on it, then shift my attention to something else, the former to be forgotten forever.
I used to read CrimeLibrary incessantly… and i barely visit it anymore.
Headed by Hilary Kerr and Katherine Power, WhoWhatWear has been a long-favourite fashion website of mine which has stayed on top of my surf list throughout the past 3 years.
And 3 years in internet time, is a long time!
It’s such easy surfing with lots of fashion pictures which are fashforward and fabulous.
Having a handful of fashion icon contributors don’t hurt either.
Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific has no fear of colour, texture or print,
with featured pieces i’d love to steal for my own wardrobe any time!
Am not surprised why she’s already been featured in media like MTV Style, Nylon Korea, etc.
Olivia of Lust ForLife is fashionably adventurous with pictures i haven’t got bored of looking at.
The pieces she owns makes me go ahhhhhhhhhh in envy
and there’s usually an item in every style shot of hers that makes me go I WANT THAT.
It may be bias to list this down since i founded it,
but i’m going to admit that i didn’t read it for awhile.
Their content has taken an upward turn of late,
bringing me back to clicking on it whenever i need some online distraction that doesn’t involve my credit card.
I wish i had time for a tumblr; but handling this blog, office job and my social life takes up more than enough time!
So i appease myself by visiting other tumblrs.
Since a tumblr is kinda like half a blog, 2x tumblrs make 1 blog!
The two tumblrs i visit on a regular basis are by my favourite sisters
Nini posts a lot of inspiring images of art, nature, people and all things we need for our soul.
And Didi posts lots of amazing pictures she takes herself.
What i love about tumblrs is that i can end up on SO many other tumblrs from the one i initially started on.
Love tumblr surfing.
I love reading facts that will never save my life,
and this website has the most random Top lists from Top 10 Most Bizarre Modern Jobs, to 10 Greatest Killers of Man.
You can spend hours on this site and feel your brain whirring after.
Free ‘Me Time’ is usually spent indulging in watching History Channel documentaries about the universe and aliens.
An online outlet for me to get some geek time in, is here.
Or sometimes Wired.com.
A website i’ve been visiting for a long time, it’s filled with inspiring pictures and little text for quick surfing on the latest in architecture, design, travel, fashion and a LOT more.
I’m pretty sure i’ve read EVERY SINGLE entry on the archives for architecture and design!
At times i just need some aimless surfing for interesting tidbits that i don’t mean to find.
The last two websites i’m linking here are great for exactly that.
I just thought of something that would make a great list…
My Favourite Shopping Sites
*danger*danger!*
If you have some websites you think i’d like, please SHARE them with me!
Especially blogs! I haven’t found a blog that i’m addicted to currently…
Shareeeeeeeee
Hey, we rarely see each other anyway!
