The Singapore Flyer

When I was in Singapore in June with my family, we did contemplate the Singapore Flyer as it is quite near the hotel we were staying. I am not really a fan of observation wheels if what we can see on top of a tall building is the same as being on top of one. However, being taken on a tour where the itinerary gives you the opportunity to see what is on offer, I didn't miss the chance.

What does this tallest observation wheel, standing at 165 metres or a 42 storey building has to offer? It takes 30 minutes for it to make one whole circle. It is supposed to be the world's largest observation wheel. It carries 28 people with full air condition in each coach. And there are 28 coaches in total. When I was inside it, I couldn't feel it was moving and I could only see construction sites. Maybe if the casinos and the area around it has been completed, it may show a better view.

On its own, unless you really love being on top of the world, it may not offer anything to see. Yet. However, there are a few things which may makes it a perfect venue for certain event. The coach can be turned into a dining coach for you and your love one. Or maybe even a party. There's an offer for a full-butler sky dining with a package of S$199-00. It can even be a dinner party for 10 persons. There's champagne and VIP treatments.

As for themed event, there are the Singapore F1 Night Race which is just one of the time where you love to see the 80% of the race track. The last Singapore F1 turned Singapore into one big party central and with the purchase of the tickets to ride the Singapore Flyer, you have access to all these parties.

Maybe next time, when there are events, either as private as a marriage proposal or as public as an F1 race, if you are in the vicinity, why not do it on the Singapore Flyer.

 

 

 

 

 The In-Flight Compass

 

You can see where is where

 

The Singapore port

 

The F1 paddock

 

 

The would-be casino

Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2009 - Was it really successful?

After being treated to a free trip across the causeway, it may be said I am one those who is said to be biting the hands that feed me if I even have an iota of criticism on those who sponsored me to go there. But, if they are tough enough and have enough vision, which I believe they are, they should want to know what I think of their event as critically as I can be. Not all event can be perfect, especially when you do it yourself without using an event management company. That is what I understand. Nuffnang had done everything themselves as they have enough staff from 4 countries to help the dinner and the tour to run smoothly. It did to a certain extent.

What is there to say? This is their first event in which they have to market themselves than marketing someone else's product. They had set the ballroom to be impressive and the bloggers to be mixed with each other. There are enough Pringles to satisfy the masses while everyone awaits the bloggers to finish taking their own pictures using the backdrop with the title sponsors and for the VIPs to arrive.

My complains up to the part I am seated at my table is negligible as I am a very easy guy to be satisfied. My only problem is the lack of briefing for people like me. Who was a nobody but just a freeloader who was there to enjoy the atmosphere and see how a company which was born 2 years ago handle its big night. The problem was the lack of briefing by them on some of us. I mean, maybe it was okay for me to be left alone and let me just follow the crowd but I even saw a few nominees looking clueless as what they are supposed to do. What if they decided to not go to the ballroom? Some bloggers are divas after all.

Then, the host was someone who was clueless about what blogging is all about. I know he is a big television star but he does not think blogging or even bloggers are someone who deserve to be given awards. He was just going with the flow and was just throwing whatever comes to his mind about blogging.

Then comes the time for the founders Timothy Tiah and Ming to come up the stage and share their journey of building up Nuffnang from scratch. It was their night and I understand the nervousness, but they shouldn't have shared the stage. They should have given individual speeches and tell us how they felt coming to that stage of their life. I think if they had used an event management company, they would have been asked to do just that.

Then there were the entertainment. That is something I can't really complain. The Magic Babe and her partner were good. Ditto the band after that. People may not be interested in them except if theu are one of the really famous rock band or singer but they are passable as the entertainment of the evening.

Then comes the award ceremony where the montages for each blog was just spectacular where you can see what each blog has to offer.

 

 

 

 

It shows that on what is really important, which is how your blogs should look like, Nuffnang really know what is the best blogs out there. Their nomination though there are a lot of bloggers saying things (behind the Nuffies' back) that they know nought these blogs ever existed before. To them, I want to remind them these are for Asia-Pacific and not country centric, which is another matter altogether. If Nuffnang wants to pacify these naysayers, maybe they should hold an award show for each country first before choosing the blogs which should be nominated for the region. With the presence in 4 countries, Nuffnang can pit for each category 4 nominees and choose one winner.

Then, there are the unprepared winners. They were asked to give a speech. Some gave good speeches as they are at ease in any situation like the winner of Best Entertainment Blog, Kenny Sia who was at home as he is the face of Nuffnang for all event. I mean, there are rarely any event Nuffnang held that he was not present. However, there are some who was not ready for any speech and it was apparent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can check all the winner at Nuffnang awards winners and as you know there are one blog which got 3 awards. Congratulation to her.

As for Nuffnang, as much as I am criticising your company on the handling of the event, I think you guys did a good job. I know it was not an easy event to hold and the logistic of moving 400 people from 4 countries, I can just imagine the nightmare.

Maybe the part of handling the award dinner should have been given to an event company. At least all your staff could have enjoyed the dinner and not having to work that night. Then, we as the bloggers could have got to know them more.

All these are just my observations. For many, it might have been the best night of their life. Good luck in your future awards show....

The things they served at Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2009

We were served food which actually becomes the bone of contention between me and Nuffnang. Not really blaming them as they were not sure whether I would want to eat food which may or may not be halal. I did debated with my wife about it as even in Malaysia which is supposed to be a Muslim country, most of our hotels couldn't get the halal certificate as most of the hotel's kitchen need to use alcohol for certain dishes.

So, I first got an email asking me to confirm whether I want to change from the normal menu to the vegetarian menu. I did not respond. On Monday, 4 days before the event, I got a call from one of the intern at Nuffnang asking me whether I got the email and want to change my meal to a vegetarian menu. I refused and gave my reason (as stated above). I also told her that I think the only part which I may have to worry is the chicken which may or may not be perfectly halal. As there was the tuna, I can satisfy myself that night with it.

Then one day before the trip, they called again and asked me again as the menu has been confirmed. She explained that the tuna will just be the appetizer and it will be a small portion. I thought about it awhile and I finally relented. I changed my menu to vegetarian meal.

I am grateful to Nuffnang for their concern and sensitivity on the issue of halal food but I actually changed my food with Julian Hopkin who was trying to be a vegetarian. When the chicken came, I wanted to change with him but as the die was cast. I had doubt in my mind about the halal issue and decided to just at what they served as main course for vegetarian. 

Needless to say, most of us who had the vegetarian menu felt unsatiated that night. It was not too bad but food does play a part in a good gala dinner night.

So, here is what I got :

While waiting for the event to start, I had some Pringles

The souvenir was also half finished by the time the food arrived

The menu

The table before the food came

The appetizer for the normal menu (that is tuna on top)

 The appetizer for the vegetarian

The main course which was the chicken for the normal menu

The vegetarian main course. Those are potatos

The fabulous dessert which was served to all

(if we do need to worry, this was it as alcohol may be added to it, but I doubt that)

More sights and faces at Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2009

We actually didn't know there was an official photographer who could take the picture

so we took one ourselves

My wife with an Australian blogger

 Our picture taken by BossMing's mom

(he is the co-founder of Nuffnang)

The appetizer, and yes, they are Pringles (one of the night's sponsors)

The red is the original (nyums); the black/brown is the wild something (I like...); the pink is shrimp (er....) and the green at the back is seaweed (not my cup of tea)

As I was hungry, I ate everything in sight...

The wife with her souvenir book

My wife with one of the Malaysian Nuffies,

Actorina (yes, she is supposed to be an actor)

The souvenir that night, some sugary thing which I ate halfway by the time the food arrive

Met Jojo Struys and talked with her about a comedy show

where she was also in the audience a few nights before that

(I tweeted her during that show and she Direct Message me but we didn't talk, weird huh)

...to be continued. Gonna milk this award show for all its worth. Too lazy to blog about anything else