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from CNA : Casino visit limit on financially vulnerable to take effect on 1 June The casino visit limit on financially vulnerable Singapore citizens and permanent residents will come into effect from 1 June 2013. The visit limit, if imposed, will set a cap on the number of times an individual may visit casinos at the integrated resorts each month. SINGAPORE: The casino visit limit on financially vulnerable Singapore citizens and permanent residents will come into effect from 1 June 2013. The visit limit, if imposed, will set a cap on the number of times an individual may visit casinos at the integrated resorts each month. Three types of visit limits will be introduced. A Voluntary Visit Limit means individuals may apply to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to limit their visits. Family members may apply to NCPG through a Family Visit Limit to limit a family member's visit. Persons found to have poor credit records or are vulnerable to financial harm due to gambling could have a Third-Party Visit Limit imposed on them by a committee of assessors appointed by NCPG. The committee will evaluate the individual's financial vulnerability, taking into account factors such as frequency and pattern of casino visits, credit record, work situation and information provided by him and family members. Before the committee imposes a Third-Party Visit Limit on any person, there will be an opportunity for the individual to object to the proposed visit limit. link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singap...ner/689730.html How would they know a person is financial vulnerability apart from what they had stated ? Only possible way is through Credit Card loan ...

I had to go into Vietnam last week for some work. Had to connect to a domestic flight at HCMC, which invloved a six hours layover in HCMC airport. Decided then to rent a car and get into the city for some sightseeing. Here is a pictorial report of the visit,... HCMC airport into city centre is only about 15 kilometers... car and driver for four hours cost me US$25.00. I had already check in my luggage and therefore only had a handcarry. The last time I was in HCM was in 1996, and boy have the city changed. More building, more traffic and more tourists...... Talk about Singapore traffic and motor bikes, well in HCM if you have a weak heart, would suggest you close your eyes when riding in a car....

Yo bros and sis...need advise liao. Maiden trip to Batam with my Missus coming Wednesday for a short getaway. Staying at BCC hotel & Residence. Any nearby good makan/spa/massage (clean) to recommend? What else to do there huh? Check the threads here and last one is in April and not really relevant. Dun turn my thread into la sup thread ok. [laugh]

1. For A Gorgeous, New Experience: Necessary Provisions This new kid on the block is one surprising little hidden gem. Tucked away in the depths of Upper Bukit Timah, Necessary Provisions is everything you’d want from a cafe. Surreal lighting, dark walls, streaming sunlight, plants, gorgeous bakes, killer iced espresso and milk, and beer on tap. It’s worth the trek. Photos by: Jayne Tan & Kenneth Loy 2. For A Happening Arts Scene: Artistry Artistry is known for being a happening hotspot for arts events. It’s where budding artists share their work, and aspiring artistes take the stage at night. This is probably the only cafe you could get service from a “cute angmoh” ;) Remember to give him a pat on the back for his passion to support the local arts scene, and of course, for serving gorgeous cups of coffee. Photos by: Eleanor Tay & Alain Foodology 3. For All Things Coffee: Chye Seng Huat Hardware While quickly becoming a coffee institution, CSHH still manages to be a cosy space. The gorgeously modified industrial-chic interior of this old hardwarestore provides the perfect setting for enjoying a good cup of coffee. If you’refeeling adventurous, give their galvanized ale a try- literally coffee beer. It’s strangely good! Photos by: Eskay Kang & Yingxuan Quek 4. For Excellent Coffee, Eggs, and Hospitality: The Plain The Plain aims to be the kind of place that feels like “stepping into a friend’s home”. You’d be hard-pressed to find better service than what you’d get here,and that goes for the quality of your coffee too. Don’t miss out on their Humpty Dumpty- come on, what’s better than 2 perfectly runny eggs sitting in little cups, beckoning you to dip your little Vegemite toast soldiers in? If you’re not a Vegemite fan, try their Pastrami Ciabatta. Photos by: Jayne Tan & Zippy Lee 5. For An Escape From Your Social Life: La Ristrettos Located in the most obscure place ever, La Ristrettos can be found within the maze of private clinics at Novena Medical Centre. You are in for a treat, with one of the best coffees, and latte art around. The kick - the mobile reception here is really poor (hey, it’s a good thing sometimes!). Rest assured, no one can disturb your escapism. More details here! Photos by: Candice Cai & Cafehoppingsg 6. For Fantastic Dessert & Old-School Ambience: Carpenter & Cook With desserts that are not too-perfect-to-eat but just perfectly delightful, Carpenter & Cook manages to transport you to the 50s in an unpretentious, cosy way. The old benches and their authentic cutlery creates a lovely ambience for a peaceful afternoon. Don’t miss out on their Passionfruit Meringue Tart- a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Photos by: Rachel Xie & Yvonne Y 7. For The Intentional Brunch Out: The Book Cafe The Book Cafe isn’t exactly easily accessible, but its extensive brunch menu, and its consistency in food quality are the drawing factors for its regulars. A veteran in the cafe industry, it has definitely lived up to the expectations of its customers with its hearty, satisfying dishes. If you are a beginner in cafes, The Book Cafe should be your first stop. FYI, it’s also one of the few places Burpple co-founder Elisha, loves to work from. Photos by: Poh Peng Ric Wang & Elisha Ong 8. For a Darned Good Cafe in the East: Penny University The warm, earnest attitude at Penny U is something you pick up on quickly once stepping into this homey space. These guys don’t believe in mass production, and have a small, rotating selection of desserts from artisanal bakers around Singapore. Inspired by the cafes in London, Penny U spearheaded the cafe culture in the East, and is already highly regarded by cafe lovers- Easties and Westies alike. Read here! Photos by: Zhan Hao Peh & Shurong Lo 9. For A Hearty Breakfast & Sweet Waffles: Department of Caffeine This new-ish cafe in Duxton has some of the best cafe food around, with their satisfying breakfast platter, pulled pork sandwich, and the all-time Burppler favourite- D.O.C banana rum waffles with vanilla bean ice cream. The clean, industrial look with a warm, welcoming feel makes you wanna spend the whole day here. Photos by: Gavin Chan & Alain Foodology 10. For the Best Coffee Cookies, and Cakes: Commune Cafe This is probably the fifth time cafehoppingsg is raving about Commune cafe, probably because they simply deserve the praise for their wonderfully crafted cakes, cookies and coffee. With extremely affordable prices, you should just try everything on display, and don’t miss out on their Caramel Latte. Pop by for a break if you’re at Millenia Walk! Photos by: Lina Yong & Cafehoppingsg 11. For A Chilled-out Weekend: Loysel’s Toy Loysel’s Toy by Papa Palheta is one of those places you never would expect to find in a warehouse at Kampong Bugis, but it’s a lovely place for breakfast, brunch or tea. With excellent coffee and a simple but wholesome menu, Loysel’s is just an awesome place to chill. More details here. Photos by: Andy Fong & Geraldine Tay 12. For An Artsy Ambience: Cups N Canvas The idea of combining an art class centre and a cafe, is ingenious. This is how Cups N Canvas has set itself apart from the hundreds of other cafes. If you think arts is the only thing they specialize in, you’d be pleasantly surprised with their delicious Blanc Bacon pasta, and fragrant Cafe Latte. Cups N Canvas seems to have it all. You can literally smell art in this cafe. Get the full scoop here! Photos by: Nerissa Ng 13. For Buttermilk Waffles & Gorgeous Latte Art: Stranger’s Reunion We have to say that Strangers’ Reunion simply does the best waffles in Singapore. Don’t let that distract you from the amazing cup of coffee you’re bound to get here, seeing it comes from our National Barista Champion, Ryan Tan. You won’t be disappointed. See what Cafehoppingsg has to say! * Strangers’ has recently renovated, go check out their new menu and bigger space! Photos by: Cafehoppingsg & Gninethree 14. For Chocolate Heaven: Laurent’s Cafe and Chocolate Bar This is a chocolate lover’s heaven- a cosy and intimate cafe in Robertson Quay that serves to-die-for chocolate treats. From their famed soufflé, to their tarts, hand-made ice cream and cakes, you’re sure to find something that will satisfy. Although the soufflé needs a baking time of 15- 30 minutes, remember that good things are always worth the wait. Photos by: Veelynn Chew 15. For Green Grass and Fresh Air: Riders Cafe Although slightly pricier than a usual cafe, it’s easy to understand why. It’s always a privilege to be able to spend your Saturday morning watching horses in a vast green expanse, while digging into a refreshing bowl of bircher museli and fresh berries. Coming to Riders is always a nice treat after a week of hardwork. *Riders was closed in the month of July, and is reopening in August, yay! Photos by: C L & Nerissa Ng 16. For the Best Gourmet Cakes in Singapore: Patisserie G With each cake like an artpiece, it takes a Burppler about 20 shots before willing to dig in. Each mouthful tastes like heaven, and every single detail is meticulously taken care of, contributing to the burst of sensations on the tongue. Don’t miss their playfully named G-Spot chocolate cake, or the awesome-sounding Triomphe caramel cake. Read more here! * Tip: If you specially request for the rare 3D latte art from the head barista, you might just be lucky enough to get it ;) Photos by: Gavin Chan & Cafehoppingsg 17. For A Retro Getaway: Orange Thimble Located in the retro-hip Tiong Bahru, Orange Thimble is a true gem, with amazing interior and delightful snacks. With a story behind its founding, you’d be glad to discover some footprints of the past in Tiong Bahru. This is the place to enjoy some teatime snacks, and awesome ice-blended coffee on a hot day in a quaint neighborhood. More here! Photos by: Shurong Lo & Ivan Kuek 18. For a Quiet Hideout: Oriole Coffee Roasters You’ll almost always get a perfect cup of coffee at Oriole’s. Just off the Keong Saik stretch, this hidden gem is a nice, quiet hideout perfect for some studying, reading, relaxing or catching up with a good friend. Photos by: Nerissa Ng & Isaac Timothy T 19. For a Lively Hangout: Dutch Colony Coffee Co. Serving authentically delicious coffee, Dutch Colony is a true hidden dragon in the mass of specialty stalls in the modern wet market, PasarBella. After a day of shopping for groceries, and browsing through tons of fresh food, grab a coveted seat amidst the crowd, and unwind in this indie setup. Photos by: Uncle Oonteng & Raymond Tan 20. For The Cafe Antagonists: 49 Seats For those of you who have never quite believed in the “fluffy” cafes, you can have exactly what you want in 49 Seats - pure good “Western” food. Their Chicken Chop with Black Pepper Sauce is one dish that can never go wrong, along with their famed Tom Yam Seafood Pasta. Read more here! Photos by: Rachel Pek & Dixon Chan

Hi, Has anyone been to Pulau Semakau? I read that entry is restricted to certain special interest groups and organized tours. Those of you who has been there, please leave down your comments. Thks.

Been meaning to post this for over a month, even though it might only interest some. Home visit doctors can be quite expensive but my missus found this group to come and check on her mother who at the time was not well and it's difficult to get her to the Polyclinic which has a long wait in cold aircon. Anyway https://www.rescu.sg/a-b-o-u-t came along to look at my mil. They stayed about one hour did quite a few tests and took my mil medical history. The whole team of three came along and they were very caring to my mil. They suggested after some tests etc that my mil be sent to A & E because of low Blood oxygen and the possibility of a chest infection. They even wrote a letter for the A & E doctor explaining their tests results etc.. My mil was admitted and the doctors at the hospital confirmed it was the correct thing to bring my mil to A & E. Their one hour visit was billed at S$ 68. I've no relationship to this team in any way but I wholeheartedly recommend them. They were great.

Have anyone visited Hello Kitty Land Town Malaysia ? Any feedback?

Anyone travel to Yangon recently? How is the airport taxi situation there? Pay in kyat or USD? Please advise if you have been there recently.

since daytime is quite hot and crowded, any of you consider going in the night? its cooler, less people and not much traffic jam.

My 2nd trip to Tokyo! Via Delta Airline this time. Plane tix at $500+/pax. First meal after touching down at Harajuku vicinity: Ore-Ryu Shio Ramen. Nothing beats having a bowl of hot soup in cold weather as the saying goes: Life is hard, and winter is cold, but there's always ramen! Temperature: 10 Degrees Celsius, with slight drizzle. Lawson to start the day: Rainbow Pancake at Harajuku. We queued up for this under the rain simply because of the rainbow color decor. The Macadamia Nut Pancake is a must try. Better than the pancakes at Flippers! Sauce is deliciously good. My first trip to Tokyo I visited the Owl Cafe. This time round it was to Hedgehog Cafe & Pet Store HARRY. Per pax we paid about 1600Yen+ for 30 mins of playtime with the hedgehogs and some meal worms as their snacks. Hedgehogs sleep most of the day and these ones are so accustomed to sleeping in people's hands you don't really get to interact much with them other than them curling up in a ball to sleep on your hands. There's also a minder assigned to each table/group of customer to ensure customers don't mishandle them, for those concerned about the welfare of the animals in such cafes.

I will be spending 5 days in HongKong next month with my wife and 3 year-old. Just wondering if Disneyland is worth visiting. I have read mixed reviews on it- some say it is good, others say its overcrowded and unpleasant because of the crowds. Just wondering if anyone who's been there recently can give me some advice. Thanks.

So I recently went on a 7 days trip to Tokyo - my first ever visit to Japan and I thought I'll do some posts about it since it's been almost four years that I last did a travelogue style entry. This was back in 2014: http://www.mycarforum.com/topic/2694643-australia-gold-coast-experience-2014-with-pictures/?hl=%2Bgold+%2Bcoast I don't have much pictures because weather was pretty cold and rainy so I was reluctant to take my hands out of my jacket for phototaking. Pictures are all casually snapped using iPhone 8 Plus. Travel dates: 7th March to 15th March. I chose these dates because flight tix via Singapore Airlines cost me just SGD650 - this would also mean missing the Sakura bloom by just a week plus but I was cool with that. Day 1 here we go! Midnight flight via SQ. Some beer before resting and inflight breakfast before landing. When we touched down Tokyo at about 7am, it was about 3 to 4 degrees out there. For those who have not been to Tokyo, you will get confused with their transportation system! They have far too many different lines. So this was how I traveled from Narita Airport. I purchased tickets for the Keisei Skyliner (round trip) to downtown Tokyo and 72 hours Unlimited Metro Pass to travel around. Total cost was about 5000+Yen for the Skyliner and Metro package. Don't forget to exchange your Keisei Skyliner voucher for the actual tix before boarding. Found some pics online so you have an idea. I took the Skyliner to Nippori and changed to the JR Yamanote Line to Shibuya. You can take the Skyliner to either Nippori or Ueno and change from there. To board the JR line you'll need a Pasmo or Suica card. It works just like our ezlink. Because it was so cold, first thing I did was to visit Lawson for hot coffee and fried chicken once I was at Shibuya. Pretty amazed with their selections of hot canned drinks. Never had anything like it in SG. Fried chicken also solid - crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. First proper meal upon settling down - lunch at the popular Ichiran Ramen at Shibuya. It's touted as having one of the best tonkotsu ramen in Japan if not the best out of the mass market selections. Honestly it was good! Very tasty, rich and thick pork based broth but nothing out of the ordinary. I think it's similar to Keisuke Tonkotsu King in SG. But it was damn enjoyable having a bowl of hot ramen soup while it's chilly and rainy outside. Took the JR Yamanote line to Takeshita Street at Harajuku. This youthful shopping district is located right outside the station. Angel's Heart crepe. Zaku Zaku - a bit like churros with Hokkaido Cream Fillings. This is very popular with the crowd over there. I find it too rich for my liking. Takoyaki at Harajuku. Dinner at Harajuku Gyozaro. One of Tokyo's best Gyoza eateries. Lucky me, didn't even have to queue to get in! Ordered both the steamed version and the panfried. I like both! Love the juicy pork fillings! Lots of walking around in Shibuya and Harajuku. Steep upslope and all. I conclude the Japanese people really love walking and there are no plus size Japanese out there. Maybe there are but few! Just the walking around to get from one train line to another is enough to make me pant. To be continued...!

Singaporean wins 800 million won jackpot in South Korea: Yonhap SINGAPORE: A 45-year-old Singaporean won a mega jackpot worth 884.8 million won (US$800,000) in South Korea, Yonhap news reported on Saturday (Jun 9), citing casino officials. The 45-year-old Singaporean, who was not named, made the fortune at Paradise City, a foreigners-only casino located in Incheon's Yeongjongdo district. The winner played various casino games from Friday evening before becoming Paradise City's seventh mega jackpot winner. Paradise City's casino in Incheon is one of South Korea's largest foreigners-only casinos. Its three other casinos are located in Seoul, Busan and Jeju. All four casinos have a jackpot ceiling of 1 billion won per win. In March, a mega jackpot winner walked away with a record 988 million won from the casino's branch in Seoul. ** apparently, one of the commentators could not differentiate US$800mil from US$800

Anyone who followed local TV remembered when was the last time PM Lee and wife made such an appearance at local variety shows?

An uplifting story: Five years ago, a South American Magellanic penguin near death on an island beach near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Joao Pereira de Souza, a part-time fisherman, found the bird and nursed him back to health. Now, the penguin returns every year to visit the man.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Singapore next month (November 2015), capping a year-long series of celebrations to mark 25 years of diplomatic ties as well as meetings to deepen bilateral cooperation.Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said they looked forward to Mr Xi's state visit.... http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/xi-to-visit-spore-to-mark-25-years-of-diplomatic-ties Xi had visited Singapore several times over the years, with most recent in 2010 when he met LKY to unveil a bust of Deng Xiaoping.

President Xi and his wife recently visited the UK. The UK rolled out the red carpet for him and dished out all sorts of niceties to make the Chinese President feel good. They even got the Duchess of Cambridge to wear this stunning red dress at the official state banquet. This is no ordinary red, this is Communist Chinese Party Red. A most deliberate choice. Well, I gotta say that the Duchess of Cambridge looks really cool. It helps that she is tall. In this picture, President Xi bows his head, showing his respect to royalty (and a lady of course). Some video compilation and other pictures from the trip here. You can see Kung Fu Panda and even Jackie Chan. Earlier, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted the Chinese President and his wife at some function in London. Kate wore this lacy elegant dress.

I have been reading up on Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to the USA. Very fascinating. At least the leaders of the two most powerful countries in the world are shaking hands and holding joint press conferences, even if China refuses to concede anything on the South China Sea issue. President Xi's first stop was not Washington DC, but Seattle. Here is a video of his arrival. The Presidential plane looks to be a commercial charter - Air China, I think a Boeing 747-400. You can even see the Star Alliance sign next to the aircraft door. President and Mrs Xi arrive in Seattle, USA. During his visit to Boeing, President Xi announced US$38 billion worth of orders for Boeing Aircraft, from China. It is widely expected that China will surpass USA as Boeing's most important customer in a few years. Some more pictures of President Xi's tour of the Boeing factory. Private tour. President Xi on stage. President Xi getting a momento from Boeing. Looks like a framed photograph of his arrival. I think they use the same metal for this photo frame, as they use for aircraft. Simple but very neat. In Seattle, Mr Xi met top American executives, including leaders of Microsoft and Boeing. His plane landed at Paine Field, adjacent to Boeing's manufacturing base. To set itself apart, Microsoft gave President Xi a special tour and exhibition of Microsoft HQ, and this included a banquet where Chief Executive Satya Nadella and co-founder Bill Gates could be found sitting near Mr Xi or his trusted aide. I don't know who that Chinese man beside Bill Gates is, but he must be somebody very important to President Xi.

Had some time to kill, so decided to pop down to the Mazda HQ in Hiroshima for a visit. Especially to catch a early glimpse of the new, well-received, MX-5 which is yet to reach sg. One word: Nice. . Share some pixs wif the bros. Enjoy! Mazda HQ: The MX-5 up close and personal. . Some history of Mazda. Checkout the classic rotaries esp the classic RX7 and the 787B.

Actually, I think the whole world wants to see Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, because this is the first time she is making a public appearance for a few months, because of her second pregnancy. Anyway, the pictures are fun to look at. Some have been coming out, and I have posted some on the blog. http://londonproperty123.blogspot.sg/2014/10/president-tony-tan-of-singapore-visits.html

In awe by this Soviet-era behemoth then probably due to both the book and film The Hunt For Red October but now if you invite me FOC from flight to lodging for a visit I would definitely say thanks but no thanks and give it a miss. Really impressed with these brave visitors but not sure if they brought with them a Geiger Counter each... Note the rusting interior and really how on earth a once formidable ballistic sub could end up in such a sorry state... In any case the days of these underwater giants are probably over and now the Russkies must be racking their brains how to "de-nuclearise" the reactors of these SSBNs. From STOMP: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sg..._submarine.html Posted on 10 Apr 2012 Step into the world's biggest nuclear submarine The Typhoon class submarine is the largest submarine in the world, measuring 170 metres long and 23 metres wide. STOMPer Zoolander, who has shared these photos with us, said: "Submarines have always fascinated me, not just by their sheer size, but by the fact that these massive vessels can stay underwater for months. "The Typhoon class submarine can carry 20 ballistic nuclear missiles. Only six of these vessels were built. Get on board one of them by clicking on the pictures in the gallery below.

I was in Yokohama, Japan for work. Only the day I am to fly back, made a visit yo Nissan Gallery Global Headquarters right there in Yokohama city centre. Its located right next to Yokohama train station. I was there ten minutes early before they opened their doors. Here are the photos I would to share here. There are a lot of them so please let me load finish then reply to this thread. Thanks. Last post will be photos of the ladies there.

I've never been to the new universal studios at sentosa, and have a couple of questions to ask. Is there such a thing as just paying the entrance fee, go in look-see? Then the rides pay extra? Or buying an entrance ticket includes some rides as well? Best time to go? I heard there's a certain time that they allow people to go in and look-see... Thanks for the tips. Lazy to surf through their website info, and this forum is so informative and throws up some nuggets of 'insider' info sometimes

http://property.sg Not often you get to see a hacked website still up. The sysadmins are really slow. And keep the volume on. Nice manifesto. In case it gets taken down before you have a chance to view it:

anyone have friends or colleagues that are both PR couple that manage to get their parent a long term social visit pass?