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Kids play a fool on condo ledge in Singapore, risking lives

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Seen via EDMW forum. A bunch of four kids are caught on camera playing a fool on a high-rise condominium ledge, sitting and chit-chatting casually, risking their lives if they were to slip and fall. The video was said to be taken in Singapore.

One of the kid appears to be in school uniform, with white socks and shoes, yellow top and blue shorts.

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Kids playing a food and risking their lives

Kids playing a fooi and risking their lives

Forummers were quick to identify the condominium to be Riversound Residence at 1 Sengkang East Ave, Singapore 544811. This was done via an image comparison:

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Image of Riversound Residence

Image of Riversound Residence

How did the kids even get to the ledge?

This seems to be due to a design flaw which allows residents to easily access the ledge, as explained by a Lai Mei Fonh who claimed to be the owner at one of the unit at Riversound Residence:

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Riversound Residence is a 590 residential units condominium development in Singapore that is build by Qingjian Realty, a china conglomerate with businesses covering domestic and international contracting and investment, real estate development, capital management and logistics. The group had a turnover of RMB 45.8 billion (SGD 9.2 billion) in 2013 and had developed significant landmarks in China such as the Olympic Sailing Centre, Liuting International Airport and Qingdao International Conference Centre.

The condo management has yet to reply officially if the video was indeed taken at Riversound Residence. Neither have the kids been identified.

Whose fault is it that the kids are playing on the ledge? Should it fall on the parents who failed to supervise the kids? Or the condo management/ developer because of the alleged design flaws?

The post Kids play a fool on condo ledge in Singapore, risking lives appeared first on Alvinology.


Cars 3 touched me and it will inspire you too

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There are lots of animated films being rolled out every week in the theatres and it’s getting harder to stand out from the clutter. Cars 3 is the latest 3D computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the third installment in the Cars film franchise, and sequel to Cars 2 (2011).

Directed by Brian Fee in his directorial debut, it stars Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Guido Quaroni, John Ratzenberger, Cheech Marin, Michael Wallis, Paul Dooley, Jenifer Lewis and Katherine Helmond, reprising their voice roles from the first two films, along with Cristela Alonzo, Chris Cooper, Armie Hammer, Nathan Fillion, Kerry Washington and Lea DeLaria, who voice new characters.

In the film, Lightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation that he is still the best race car in the world and along the way, tells a poignant story.

I watched the preview last week with my son Asher. He had not seen the earlier two films while I only have vague recollection of the previous two films which were average at best.

I walked into the cinema not really expecting much, but I walked out touched and inspired by the film. This third installment is much better than a previous two.

In a nutshell, Lightning McQueen has to come to accept that younger and better engineered race cars are now clocking much faster timing than him. What does an athlete do when you realise you are past your prime? Thus he went on a journey of self-discovery and training, finding a protege along the way who eventually replaced him as the successor.

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What did the film teach me?

Sometimes, it’s not just about personal glory, but if you can help others to reach their dream or goal, it can be equally fulfilling.

With my son sitting beside me, my role as a daddy is to mentor and guide him to achieve what he wants in life. While there are some dreams and aspirations which I have not achieved personally, it is now for me to ensure Asher is able to reach his.

With the SEA Games ongoing, the narrative in Cars 3 reminds me of the Schooling family and Joseph Schooling’s amazing gold medal win at last year’s summer Olympics, defeating his childhood idol and swimming legend, Michael Phelps. The medal win would not have been possible if not for Colin and May Schooling’s perseverance and strong belief in the ability of their son to shine in the world stage. No dream is too big. You just need to work hard towards it.

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Cars 3 will be released in Singapore cinemas from 31 August. Be sure to catch it if you need a mood uplift or an inspirational push. Enjoy the ride!

The post Cars 3 touched me and it will inspire you too appeared first on Alvinology.

AMp Up Your Social Media Game With Your Favourite Influencers Onboard Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas

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These days, it has become almost second nature to update your Instagram or Facebook while travelling overseas. As you document your travel escapades on social media, you may find yourself scratching your head to find what hasn’t been done.

If you are looking to take your social media game up a notch – even while travelling, you are not alone.

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Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

AMco and Royal Caribbean International have put together a social media centric cruise package onboard the magnificent Mariner of the Seas. Your favourite influencers – Alvin Lim, Maybeline Sim and Phyllis Tan from DiscoverSG will be cruisin’ alongside you – and dishing out invaluable tips on photography and more.

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Here is your chance to meet Alvin in person!

Aren’t you excited already? Here’s what to expect onboard.

Take photos like a pro

Ever wondered what’s the trick to taking on-point photos? There’s no better way to find out than from the insiders themselves.

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Dreamworks Parade at Royal Promenade. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

Pick up useful photography tips from key opinion leaders in the lifestyle, food and beauty with the likes of Alvin Lim, Maybeline Sim and Phyllis Tan from DiscoverSG. Make the most out of your travel voyage as you take aesthetically pleasing photographs, eliciting you to look back with fondness.

As you revel in the gastronomic spread served at the Main Dining Hall, the bloggers will reveal essential tips in food photography you mustn’t miss.

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here will be a designated seating in the Main Dining Hall to interact with your favourite influencers over a glorious dinner spread. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

If you are craving for something more fancy, the specialty lunch (served on Day 3) at Giovanni’s Table* is bound to be a feast for your palate and eyes.

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You can find a sumptuous spread of Italian, family-style dining at Giovanni’s Table. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

*Kindly note that this activity is optional and additional charges apply.

 

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Photo courtesy of lifestyle and beauty blogger Maybeline Sim.

Maybeline Sim, a local lifestyle and beauty blogger will shed light on the best angles to capture and the likes.  While she’s at it, you may even catch her in the thick of some Instagram action onboard the cruise ship.

Meet and mingle with prominent influencers onboard

What are the chances you get to see your favourite influencers in the flesh?

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Photo courtesy of Phyllis Tan from DiscoverSG.

Well, this is your chance to get up close and personal with these amicable influencers whom you will interact with. Not only will you be able to mingle with them during this social media centric cruise adventure, you will be able to enjoy a sumptuous dinner spread with them during dinner time.

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Famed Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Image via Pexels.

On the second day of the cruise, Mariner of the Seas will dock off at Port Klang. This gives sailing guests a chance to explore the beauty of Kuala Lumpur*, where you will be dropped off at Pavilion Shopping Mall in the famous Bukit Bintang area.

You will also chance upon Bintang Walk, a street teeming with themed restaurants and cafes offering a wide array of local and international cuisine. The Petronas Twin Towers, one of the world’s tallest building, is only a 10 minute walk away.

*Additional charges apply for this ‘Kuala Lumpur On Your Own’ tour, which amounts to S$55++ onwards.

Special rates exclusive to Alvinology fans (only valid till 15 Sep)

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Rock-climbing wall. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

There is simply no lack of fun and games as you sail off into the sunset onboard this spectacular cruise ship. This exclusive voyage will come replete with a gastronomic spread and round-the-clock entertainment.

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Ice Show in Studio B. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

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Balcony stateroom priced at SGD489 per pax (before taxes & gratuities of $123pp). Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

What’s more, this will be the very first time you get to meet and interact with your favourite bloggers on a cruise ship.

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Oceanview stateroom priced at SGD389 per pax (before taxes & gratuities of $123pp). Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

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Promenade stateroom priced at SGD389 per pax (before taxes & gratuities of $123pp). Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

Come have a ball of time with your favourite influencers this October 20-23! You’d better hurry as the twin-sharing cabins are selling out fast.

3 Night Kuala Lumpur Weekend Cruise

Dates: October 20 – 23, 2017

Itinerary:

Day Port Arrive Depart Remarks
1 Singapore 1700 HRS Docked
2 Port Klang 0700 HRS 1900 HRS Docked
3 Cruising Cruising
4 Singapore 0800 HRS Docked


Special rates for twin-sharing staterooms*:

  1. Balcony stateroom is priced at SGD489 per pax (before taxes & gratuities of $123pp)
  2. Oceanview stateroom is priced at SGD389 per pax (before taxes & gratuities of $123pp)
  3. Promenade stateroom is priced at SGD389 per pax (before taxes & gratuities of $123pp)

*Terms and conditions apply:

  1. These special rates are valid only till 15 September, 2017.
  2. Please note that single guest in a stateroom will be charged a single supplement for the cruise fare, and guest under 18 must be accompanied by another guest 18 or older in the same stateroom.
  3. No cancellation, refund or changes allowed for cruise, shore excursion and specialty dining once confirmed.
  4. More terms and conditions are found in the booking form.

These special rates are exclusive to Alvinology readers – please email your particulars to carrie@alvinology.com and you will be contacted shortly for booking.

The first 25 cabins to be booked will receive a swag bag (worth over S$100) so hurry now! This exclusive offer for Alvinology readers only lasts till 15 Sep.

For more information on this cruise itinerary onboard Mariner of the Seas, please head over here.

The post AMp Up Your Social Media Game With Your Favourite Influencers Onboard Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas appeared first on Alvinology.

Play with cashless vending machines, robots and drones for the KidZ & Tech event at KidZania Singapore

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Starting August 31, 2017, Kidzania has arranged their annual KidZ & Tech event to feature great Science, Technology, Electronics and Math (STEM) activities for kids and kids at heart!

Activities are designed to complement what is taught in school with real hands-on experiences.

KidZ & Tech activities include:

Live Broadcast Booth

Understand how technology can help us communicate quickly across borders and boundaries. Kids can deliver a live broadcast with Kiss92 right from the heart of KidZania City! (Only on 31 Aug and 1 Sep.)

Robotics and Drone Challenge

Explore the futuristic world of coding with Makeblock’s mBot robots and Airblock drones – try your hand at programming and navigating your way through a maze of obstacles.

Simple Machine Making

Learn about simple mechanics and their role in everyday life with Spritzer. Make robots or other simple machines out of recycled materials and observe how they work!

Cashless Vending Machine

To better understand the role of cashless transactions in today’s world, kids can try out NETS Flash Pay technology, with the exclusive KidZania Singapore NETS vending machine.

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Insight to Negative Ion Technology

See how Sixth Element products make use of negative ion technology to improve the performance of engines.

Wireless Printing

Kids get to learn about wireless technology as they try out Canon’s wireless printer. Simply snap a picture and print it out on the spot!

Event details

Parents can register for a preview of the event on August 30, 2017 at 3:15pm at KidZania Singapore, Palawan KidZ City, Sentosa. The event runs until 10 September 2017.

The nearest train station is the Harbourfront MRT Station. You can take the Sentosa Express from Sentosa Station (located in Vivocity) to Beach Station to get to KidZania.

Ticket prices range from $25 to $58. The event is free but you still have to pay standard entrance fees to get into KidZania.

For more information and purchase of tickets, please visit KidZania Singapore’s official website.

Photos from KidZania Singapore

The post Play with cashless vending machines, robots and drones for the KidZ & Tech event at KidZania Singapore appeared first on Alvinology.

Free entry to Sentosa from 4-10 September to see huge sand sculpture exhibit!

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 Come September, you can attend the Sandsational Fun at Sentosa event!

From 1-17 September, the island’s Siloso Beach will be home to Southeast Asia’s biggest sand festival. Plus, between 4-10 September 20171, Singapore residents will enjoy free entry into Sentosa via the Sentosa Express and Sentosa Gateway, as part of the resort island’s 45th anniversary celebrations!

Anchoring the three-week festival will be Sentosa Sandsation 2017, featuring more than 30 intricately-carved and larger-than-life sand sculptures of some five metres in height. Spread over 2,400 square metres of exhibition space on Siloso Beach, guests can journey through three zones showcasing different experiences, from 10am – 9pm daily.

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Free admission

Guests can already enter the island free of charge via the Sentosa Boardwalk (until 31 December 2017), or opt to hop on to SBS Transit Bus Service 123 terminating at Sentosa’s Beach Station, which charges distance-based fares only.

Attractions during the event

Here are the attractions waiting for guests during the festival:

Zone 1: Our Sandsational Singapore (Singapore, Ho Say!)

Welcoming guests to the exhibition will be 15 three-dimensional intricately-carved sand artworks that depict various facets of Singaporeans’ everyday life, both past and present.

Passing through the multi-sensory exhibits marrying visuals with audio in the story-telling, guests will discover sand works inspired by local experiences, situations and phrases such as “So Jialat!” ; “Blur like Sotong, Gabra like Zebra”, “Jiak Zua” and “So Wayang” to name a few.

Users of the MixGo mobile app can catch special behind-the-scenes video features; enhance their experience with simulated photo frames and filters, as wellas gamification features that will provide added interactivity.

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Zone 2: Sentosa International Sand Sculpting Championship

In the next zone, Sentosa will play host to 14 world-renowned sand masters from 13 nations across the world, who will be showcasing their creative sand works around the theme, ‘Imagination’.

Among the renowned participants of the championship are Sudarsan Pattnaik from India, David Enguerrand from Belgium, Leonardo Ugolini from Italy, Sergio Ramirez from Spain, Borecki Wiaczeslaw from Poland, Calixto Molina from Mexico, Aleksei Shchitov from Russia, Bob Atisso from Togo, among others.

These sand masters will pit their skills against each other from 28 – 31 August 2017, with the top three winners walking away with cash prizes totalling more than S$12,000.

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Zone 3: Shifting Sand 2

Leading the team of sand sculptors for Sentosa Sandsation 2017 is JOOheng Tan, an internationally- acclaimed Singapore sand artist, whose works have been showcased in over 70 cities across more than 20 countries.

In the last zone, JOOheng will commemorate his 20th year of transforming ordinary sand into incredible artworks through a series of interactive sand art pieces. In this technique pioneered by JOOheng, guests will “step into” the art pieces and become part of the artwork. This showcase pays homage to his first solo exhibition held at Sentosa’s Palawan Beach back in 2010.

Visitors to Sentosa Sandsation between Mondays and Thursdays will be able to witness the master at work, while Sentosa Islander members will get the exclusive opportunity to snap a photo with the interactive sand works from Fridays – Sundays.

In the final week of the exhibition, JOOheng will also translate a child’s imagination of Singapore’s future into sand sculpture. The image will be selected from Sentosa’s Children’s Drawing Competition held from 10 – 28 August in conjunction with Sentosa Sandsation.

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People’s Choice Awards

As they tour the exhibition, guests can take part in the People’s Choice Awards and pick their favourite sand sculpture by simply taking a photo with their favourite sand artwork, posting it on Instagram with the hash tags #SentosaSandsation and #SandsationalContest, while stating the reason(s) for their choice.

A winner will be drawn from the entries featuring the most popular sculpture, and he/she will walk away with a 2D1N Sentosa staycation package. Results of the People’s Choice Awards will be announced after 20 September 2017.

Night attractions

At night, guests can also head over to the Merlion Plaza and be entertained by the Merlion Magic Lights. This iconic and ever-popular light and music show will feature a new neon theme starting 1 September.

You can catch it daily until 29 October, starting at 7.45pm, with 30-minute show intervals until 9.15pm. Two additional shows will be held on weekends, eve of public holidays and public holidays.

From 2-3 and 16-17 September, guests can also choose to wind down the day at The State of Fun with beach-themed films at Movies by the Beach sited at Palawan Green.

Sandsational Deals

Getting to Sentosa Sandsation 2017 will be easy with special Sandsational Fun Ride deals.

On offer are special deals including 50% off a one-way ride onboard the Segway miniPro from Beach Station to the event site, and 20% off the unlimited Cable Car Sky Pass (50% off for local residents). These tickets can be purchased online at the Sentosa website or onsite.

In addition, guests will also get to enjoy an additional 10% off at the event’s food kiosk, Wavehouse Sentosa and Good Old Days by flashing any of the abovementioned Sandsation Fun Ride tickets.

Gelatissimo at the Beach Station will also introduce a special combo deal for its “sandsational flavour of the month” – the Pineapple Carnival Gelato, from 1-17 September.

 

To find out more information about Sandsational Fun at Sentosa 2017, please visit the event’s official web page.

The post Free entry to Sentosa from 4-10 September to see huge sand sculpture exhibit! appeared first on Alvinology.

[Movie Review] The Son of Bigfoot (2017)

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The Son of Bigfoot (2017) is a Belgian and French animated film directed by Ben Stassen and Jeremy Degruson. If you are tired of the usual mainstream Hollywood produced animated films, here’s something different.

It is produced by Belgian 3D animation house, nWave Pictures, which produced A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures (2010). Their latest film follows the same success formula of the previous – a very family-friendly theme and the emphasis on animals and nature.

The legend of Bigfoot is probably not well-known among the younger audience who grew up with the internet. For the older folks like myself,  many of us grew up captivated with the many stories on the hunt for the elusive Bigfoot and were curious as to if it was even a real thing.

The most well-known alleged sighting of Bigfoot was in a short motion picture shot by Americans Roger Patterson and Robert “Bob” Gimlin. Known as the Patterson-Gimlin film or PGF, the footage was shot in 1967 in Northern California, and has since been subjected to many attempts to authenticate or debunk it.

More likely than not, I highly suspect it is fake, just like the Loch Ness Monster.

If this video was shot in the internet age, it would have been quickly put through many layers of video forensic, with internet keyboard warriors and real-life myth-busters rushing to authenticate or debunk it immediately, often within 24 hours.

In any case, the myth of Bigfoot seems to have lived on and nWave Pictures have cleverly appropriated it with a backstory of their own for a commercial release, targeted at kids and their family.

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Overall, the film was mildly entertaining and follows a very predictable narrative. It’s not a bad film, but do not expect to takeaway much from it either.

The right moral values are all there – the importance of family togetherness, friendship, trust and that money is not the only path to happiness.

There are also all the necessary talking animal sidekicks, ugly and goofy villains and a heroic dad, guiding along the lost and confused protagnist son.

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The Son of Bigfoot is now showing in Singapore cinemas. I would recommend it for those looking for something to watch with the little ones which is not produced by American film studios.

Trailer:

Synopsis:

Teenage outsider Adam Harrison, sets out on an epic and daring quest to uncover the mystery behind his long-lost dad, only to find out that he is none other than the legendary Bigfoot! He has been hiding deep in the forest for years to protect himself and his family from HairCo., a mega corporation eager to run scientific experiments with his special DNA. As father and son start making up for lost time after the boy’s initial disbelief, Adam soon discovers that he too is gifted with superpowers beyond his imagination that are similar to his dad like speaking to animals. But little do they know, HairCo. is on their tail as Adam’s traces have led them to Bigfoot.

The post [Movie Review] The Son of Bigfoot (2017) appeared first on Alvinology.

Pre-book your China High Speed Rail Tickets and Shanghai Disneyland Admissions with Changi Recommends Online

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For Singaporeans traveling to China, do you know you can pre-book China High Speed Rail tickets and Shanghai Disneyland admissions online with Changi Recommends?

Other than just renting a trusty Wi-Fi router from Changi Recommends, you can now also book attraction tickets, day tours and transportation arrangement with them.

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If you are not familiar with the Chinese language and has problem navigating through the official Chinese websites, Changi Recommends provide a simple online booking solution on their website. Day tours in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai are available too.

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During my last trip to Shanghai, I booked High Speed Rail tickets from Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Hangzhou, the home base of Internet giant, Alibaba Group. I also booked tickets to Shanghai Disneyland.

The experience is pretty hassle-free. Upon confirmation, a detailed email with English language instructions on ticket collection details will be sent to you. The email is very detailed and provide a step-by-step, idiot-proof guide which will ensure you get your tickets without any hitch at the destination.

For the train tickets, you just need to present your passport and a unique pickup number sent to you to exchange for the physical tickets at the ticket office in the train station. If you miss you train, fret not. It happened to me as my flight was delayed. Simply go to the ticket office and ask to change timing. However, note that the next available timing will be subject to seats availability.

For Shanghai Disneyland, the ticket collection is more convoluted. However, pre-booking tickets online is still definitely the smart thing to do.

Avoid booking tickets during the peak holiday period in China. I went in August which was the summer vacation for school kids – not the best time as it was pretty crowded, hot and humid.

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Shanghai Disneyland is easily accessible via bus, train or taxi. It is near to Shanghai Pudong Airport and a distance away from the main city area. Upon arrival, you will need to queue to pass through a security check. I arrived at around 8am in morning and it took around one and a half hour to clear the security queues.

After clearing security, you have to queue next to get your physical tickets from the ticketing booth. Simply present them with your passport and you will get your tickets. Thereafter, you will be able to access the park directly. The queue here took around half an hour.

If you did not pre-book your tickets, you will need to buy  your tickets from the ticket booth and then queue again to enter the park with the rest of the people who bought tickets on-the-spot. Pre-booking with Changi Recommends helped to cut this step.

Be prepared to queue a lot in Shanghai Disneyland. There are Fast Passes which you can queue for early to skip the queues later in the day, but these are snapped up very quickly by a mix of genuine park-goers and scalpers who will try to resell you the Fast Passes at marked-up prices.

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If you are in a rush for time, you can consider buying from them. Prices vary from RMB 100 per Fast Pass. There are also professional queue-cutters who will loiter around the queues touting their services. These thuggish guys promise to help you jump right to they front of the queue if you pay them right amount. I have personally witnessed them usher a family of four right to the front of the popular Tron ride. They are pretty efficient and most other park-goers will just close one eye to avoid trouble.

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Despite what is commonly believed, queue-cutting is not that bad in Shanghai Disneyland. Other than the professionals and a few black sheep, people are generally polite and keep to the queue. I did witness a fight breaking out between a male queue-cutter and a woman who tried to stop him. Security was quickly alerted and they came promptly to escort the man away to a corner.

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Queues aside, the experience at Shanghai Disneyland was not too bad. It is much bigger than Hong Kong Disneyland and feature shows and audio guides in Chinese. The park is pretty clean and well-maintained. Most of the visitors are domestic tourists and they are mostly nice, polite people, though they tend to queue very closely which Singaporeans may not be used to. The image of unruly China tourists is badly exaggerated online.

I bought only the one-day pass and managed to get on around six rides. To fully explore the whole park and try out all the rides, you would  need more than a day pass. However, if you just want to get an experience of Shanghai Disneyland, I feel a one-day pass is suffice.

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Changi Recommends turn five this year and to celebrate, they have launched a #ChangiWiFi campaign, inviting fans to join in the celebrations by coming up with social media videos to showcase why ChangiWiFi is a must-have on every vacation. The best entry will win a dream holiday sponsored by Changi Recommends (with plane tickets and accommodation, worth S$2,000), which can be used for absolutely any destination. More details. 

The post Pre-book your China High Speed Rail Tickets and Shanghai Disneyland Admissions with Changi Recommends Online appeared first on Alvinology.

Jumpstart your healthy lifestyle as you make healthier choices with Quaker oats

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As you transform your existing lifestyle into a healthy one, you often need motivation to power through your journey. Well, anyone who has been there and done that is simply all too familiar with the struggles.

If you find yourself stuck in an eating rut, the key is to eat well yet at the same nourish your body with wholesome whole-grains. Now that your favourite Quaker oats are Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) certified, there is simply no better time to kickstart healthy eating.

Power your day with Quaker

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Quaker’s Quickcook Oatmeal, Instant Oatmeal and Whole Rolled Oats. Photo courtesy of Quaker.

It is no surprise Quaker oats are often a preferred choice for breakfast given it being a rich source of protein, energy and iron.

As it keeps your energy levels stable throughout the day, this cholesterol-free superfood also comes with multiple health benefits. Besides, it is 100% whole-grain so you can be sure you are feeding your body with all the wholesome goodness it needs.  

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Image via Unsplash.

Regardless of the time of the day, there are more reasons to relish these delightful yet healthy treats for better news are coming your way.

‘Eat, Drink, Shop Healthy Challenge’

A healthy lifestyle isn’t all that mundane and monotonous – not anymore, with this new campaign.

Quaker and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) have joined arms in an inspiring and brand-new health campaign to turn your healthy habits into wins.

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Photo courtesy of Quaker Singapore.

From 1 August until 31 October 2017, you will be able to win Healthpoints with every purchase of Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) products. The more HCS products you purchase, the more rewards you get.

So how does it work?

When you purchase HCS products from participating retailers, you will receive a QR code printed on the receipt or ticket. You would then have to scan the QR code using the Healthy 365 app to earn Healthpoints. These points can be exchanged for supermarket or F&B vouchers at participating supermarkets, restaurants, food stalls and retail shops nationwide.

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Photo courtesy of Quaker.

If you were to buy from selected partners during the ‘Golden Day Promotion’, you can even receive double the points.

What’s more, you stand a chance to win FairPrice vouchers when you purchase $10 worth of Quaker products!

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Sample of entry form to win FairPrice voucher. Photo courtesy of Quaker.

The list of participating products in the campaign is as follows: Instant and Quickcook Oatmeal 800g+200g bonus packs and Rolled Oats.

What’s stopping you from turning your healthy habits into wins today?

For more information, please head over here.

The post Jumpstart your healthy lifestyle as you make healthier choices with Quaker oats appeared first on Alvinology.


ALL the deals, discounts and freebies at Sentosa Sandsation 2017

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While you still have only one week left to enjoy the free admission to Sentosa to see the sandsculptures including Pedro Mira’s award-winning “Broken Heart” piece, there are actually has tons of other offers for the whole family.

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What you get with Sentosa Sandsation tickets

  • 50% off a one-way ride onboard the Segway miniPro from Beach Station to the event site.
  • 20% off the unlimited Cable Car Sky Pass (50% off for local residents).
  • 10% off at the event’s food kiosk, Wavehouse Sentosa and Good Old Days by flashing any of the abovementioned Sandsation Fun Ride tickets.
  • Flash any of the above Sandsational Fun Ride Ticket to enjoy 10% off your total bill (in a single receipt). Valid throughout the promotional period and at Sandsation F&B Kiosk, Wave House Sentosa and Good Old Days.
  • Flash any of the above Sandsational Fun Ride Ticket to enjoy 2 Jumbo cups of the ‘sandsational’ flavour of the month – Pineapple Carnival Gelato – with a bottle of water at only $20! Valid throughout the promotional period.
  • Savour Hawaii-inspired meals at Ola Beach Club and get beach themed drink offers at 15% off. Applies for only for Siloso First Light and Sunkiss Dreams.

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Staycation deals

  • Enjoy a 2D1N Sandsational Staycation at Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa (Deluxe Room, Double Occupancy) at $340++. The package includes a sharing tasting dinner experience for two at Shutters restaurant worth $68++, complimentary Unicorn Swimming Float, breakfast for two and WiFi. Promotion is applicable for direct bookings via reservations or Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa website from 28 August to 28 October, for stays from 1 September 2017 to 31 October 2017.
  • Get 15% off the best available rates with the Escape The Everyday Staycation at Le Méridien Singapore, Sentosa. The package includes two adult admission tickets to S.E.A. Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark. Promotion is only applicable for online booking from now till 15 October, for stays through 31 December 2017.

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Food and beverage deals

All weekends of September, get these deals on wines and spirits.

1. Pure Blonde Beer – 6 bottles @ $50 or 24 bottles @ $198

2. DELAMOTTE, Brut NV (Champagne)- 2 bottles @ $208

3. Gin Mare – 1 bottle @ $168 or 2 bottles @ $308

4. Abuelo 7 Years – 1 bottle @ $168 or 2 bottles @ $308

5. Johnny Walker Black Label – 1 bottle @ $168 or 2 bottles @ $308 6. Grey Goose – 1 bottle @ $168 or 2 bottles @ $308

All spirits (items 3-6) will be served with 2-litre mixers, additional $30 for 1-litre premium tonic or Red Bull.

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For Mastercard holders only

If you use your Mastercard to purchase these food and beverage bundles, you get rewards!

  • Bundle A: $8 (worth $20.90!) Chicken Wings (3pcs) + Bottled Soft Drink + Sandcastle Set
  • Bundle B: $20 (worth $41.90!) BBQ Tiger Prawn + Chicken Wings (3pcs) + 2 Local Drinks + Sandcastle Set
  • Bundle C: $8 1-For-1 Chicken Satay with condiments (10pcs)
  • Bundle D: $10 1-For-1 Beer Cup (12 oz)

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Rewards

  • Gogreen Segway: Enjoy 20% discount for Segway Fun Ride
  • Sentosa 4D AdventureLand: Enjoy 20% Off Published Rates
  • MOSH!: Enjoy 30% Off Family Bundle
  • Mega Adventure Park: Experience the Conqueror Package at $65, usually prices at $100
  • Wings of Time: Enjoy 52% Off For x2 Wings of Time (Premium Seats)

For more information, check out the Sentosa official website.

We’ll update this post with more deals as they are announced, so keep checking back!

Images from Sentosa Development Corporation

The post ALL the deals, discounts and freebies at Sentosa Sandsation 2017 appeared first on Alvinology.

Shop Till You Drop Mall Review: Bukit Panjang Plaza and its Public Library

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Last week, we featured a heartland mall in the North, Sun Plaza. This week, we bring a feature on a heartland mall in the West!

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Bukit Panjang Plaza is situated in (yes, you guessed it right!) Bukit Panjang! The mall generally serves residents along the Bukit Panjang LRT line and the Chua Chu Kang area but you may want to check it out too after today’s feature!

Food Options: 4/5

The mix of food in the mall is not extremely high but the variety is decent for the small size of the mall. Western food lovers can eat at restaurants like Eighteen Chefs, Swensens and Jack’s Place while Asian food lovers can choose from Chinese places like Old Street Bak Kut Teh or Japanese restaurants like Ichiban Sushi!

There is also a huge range of fast food options including McDonald’s, KFC, Subway and Pezzo.

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Here’s an interesting fact: the stalls at the Kopitiam (named “Kampung”) on Level 3 are all named after stops on the Bukit Panjang LRT!

Uniqueness: 3/5

The Bukit Panjang Public Library is one that you should visit! The library is divided into 2 sections that are situated at two ends of Level 4.

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A great mix of books for kids and teens

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They even have textbooks.

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The first side is the Children’s Library and the other side is for Adults and Teens (and it is a volunteer run space!) Both libraries have recently been renovated in end 2016 and the interior looks lovely. This is definitely a great library to go to check out some new books or study.

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Other great places to hang out and chill. Image may be NSFW.
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There is also a roof garden that can be accessed through the escalator beside the food court at Level 4! The roof garden has a small stage for events and a huge open space where large groups can gather and chill out.

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At the corner of the roof garden, there is a small playground where parents can bring their kids to play!

Tenant Mix: 3/5

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Being a relatively small mall, there isn’t a huge range of options shopping-wise but the shops are certainly enough to meet your needs. There is a two-storey NTUC Fairprice Finest and the atrium on Level 2 constantly features pop-up sales for you to snag some good deals!

Accessibility: 4/5

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The mall is a 5-minute walk away from Bukit Panjang MRT and LRT. You can also take a bus to Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange which is situated in Hillion Mall which is directly across the road from Bukit Panjang Plaza.

What do you think?

This is a convenient mall to head to if you are in the West area! You can even hit two malls at one shot as Hillion Mall is right beside this shopping center. If you are just looking for a place to eat and chill at, you may want to consider Bukit Panjang Plaza as an alternative to the more crowded areas at Jurong East.

Read about our other mall reviews here.

The post Shop Till You Drop Mall Review: Bukit Panjang Plaza and its Public Library appeared first on Alvinology.

Qantas orders more Dreamliners while saying goodbye to the Queen of the Skies

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Qantas has announced on 2 May 2018 an order for six additional Boeing 787-9s to fly on its international network, bringing its fleet of Dreamliners to 14 by the end of 2020.

Introducing the Dreamliners

The arrival of the new aircraft will enable the airline to accelerate retirement of its last six Boeing 747s – an aircraft type that has been in its fleet in various forms since 1971.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the announcement was an important moment for the national carrier. In his speech, he mentioned that this is the start of a new era for Qantas and that the retirement of the Boeing aircrafts nicely coincides with Qantas’ centenary in 2020. He also mentioned that with a larger fleet of Dreamliners, Qantas would be looking at destinations in the Americas, Asia, South Africa and Europe.

By the end of 2020, Qantas is set to bid farewell to the 747, finish upgrading the cabins of their A380s, and welcome their fourteenth 787.

Additional 787 Simulator

Qantas expects to invest in an additional 787 simulator to assist with training more of its pilots to operate the new aircraft. This comes on top of the Qantas Group Pilot Academy opening in 2019.

Interiors of the additional 787s will feature the same configuration as the existing aircraft. The Qantas Dreamliner carries fewer passengers than the larger 747 (236 seats vs 364) and has a greater focus on Business and Premium Economy seating.

However, the reduced maintenance needs of the 787 plus more efficient aircraft patterning and reduced payload restrictions on long routes mean the actual impact on overall capacity for Qantas International is expected to be negligible. The Dreamliner burns approximately 20 per cent less fuel than comparable aircraft.

To date, Qantas has taken delivery of four 787-9s with a further four due to arrive by the end of 2018. The six announced today will arrive between late 2019 and mid-to-late 2020.

There are currently ten 747-400s left in the fleet and these will be steadily retired between July this year and the end of 2020. Qantas received the last of its 747s new from Boeing in 2003, which will be 17 years old at time of retirement.

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Shop Till You Drop Mall Review: City Square Mall – Singapore’s First Eco-Mall

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For those who live near to MRT stations along the Northeast (purple) line, City Square Mall is one of the easily accessible mall along the line that offers just about everything you need. It is directly connected to Farrer Park MRT station and is one of the largest city fringe malls in Singapore.

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City Square Mall is also Singapore’s first eco-mall to be integrated with a 49,000 sq ft urban park named City Green, located within the planning area of Kallang. The mall sits on the site of Singapore’s historic New World Amusement Park and is designed to provide a learning experience about ecology and the natural environment.

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The mall is located at the junction of Serangoon and Kitchener Road and is within the Little India area, one of the Top 5 must-see tourist spots in Singapore. As such, it draws a natural traffic from tourists visiting Little India, on top of locals heading there for shopping or dining.

The mall consists of five retail levels, two basements and four levels of lifestyle services (such as a gym and tuition centres). It is home to about 200 tenants offering a wide-array of merchandises and services as well as F&B options. Let’s see how it scores on our four review criteria – Food Options; Uniqueness; Tenant Mix; and Accessibility.

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Gym and tuition centres

Food Options: 4/5

The mall has a variety of F&B options at different price points. There are your usual fast food joints like McDonald’s, KFC and there’s also a Food Republic food court. For the budget conscious, there are value restaurants like Old Town, Saizeriya, Aston’s and Chic-A-Boo by Aston.

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Food Republic

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For those who prefer something different, there is also a Korean restaurant, Seoul Jjimdak (#05-04) on the 5th floor, a vegetarian restaurant, Saute-san (#03-23/24), a Chinese restaurant, Din Tai Fung (#01-10/11) and several Japanese restaurants.

Most of the F&B options seems to be casual diners geared towards the family crowd and less of fine dining experiences.

Uniqueness: 5/5

One of City Square Mall’s unique selling propositions is that is the first mall in Singapore to be integrated with an urban park. During its inception, City Square Mall was conceptualised with environmental sustainability in mind, from the construction process to the building features. Check out some of their eco features:

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What we like about the mall is that there are lots of play area for kids within and outside the mall at the City Green park. Within the mall, Basement 2 is designated as a kids zone with retail and services catered for kids, including a Toys’ R Us and Babies’ R Us store.

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On level 2, there is also Airzone – the world’s first indoor suspended net playground, brought to you by the guys behind the Art-Zoo Inflatable Park.

During the weekends, the mall features a small bazaar in the open area near the train station exit whereby you can pick up some cheap buys:

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Tenant Mix: 4/5

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The mall offers just about everything you would need. There is a NTUC Fairprice at Basement 1 for those who needs to do grocery shopping; a good mix of F&B tenants from food court to restaurant dining; and a sufficiently wide variety of retail stores like UNIQLO, Decathlon and OWNDAYS. These three are among my favourite value brands and they are located side-by-side on level 2 which is totally awesome. There’s also a DAISO for all your household essentials, a BEST DENKI and a Challenger for electronics and tech stuff.

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The tenant mix seems to be targeted more towards family shoppers and kids. For those looking for edgy design wear for youngsters, there are a few shops like COTTON ON and Levi’s, but these are not really the most exciting fashion brands out there.

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What surprised us was that there is a Golden Village cinema tucked on the 5th floor featuring GV Gemini – a 62-seater couple cinema with separate pairs of seats in an intimate setting. How cool is that?

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For those who like arcade games, the mall also has a Timezone outlet:

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There is also an entire floor dedicated to furniture and other household items as well as several spa and beauty tenants:

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Accessibility: 5/5

The mall is easily accessible by public transport. It is directly connected to Farrer Park MRT station on Basement 1 and there are lots of buses passing by the area. If you drive, you will be happy to know that the mall offers FREE weekday lunchtime parking from 12 noon to 2pm for the first 1 and a half hour.

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The mall offers a variety of parking lots including family parking lots; electric and hybrid car lots; and wheelchair-friendly lots.

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By Train

NE8 Farrer Park MRT Station Exit I (North-East MRT line)

By Bus

Kitchener Road (Before Tai Hoe Hotel, 07231)
Service No. 21, 125, 130
Serangoon Road (Outside Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, 07211)
Service No. 21, 23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 125, 130, 139, 141, 147, 857, NR6

By Car & Motorcycle

Carpark access via Serangoon Road, Kitchener Road and Petain Road
Motorcycle access via Kitchener Road
Drop-off point at Basement 1 via Kitchener Road
Carpark height restriction is 2.1m
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Alternative Carparks

PARKROYAL Hotel Carpark
Park Hotel Farrer Park Carpark
Blk 678 Multi-storey Carpark
Petain Road Carpark

By Taxi
At Basement 1 via Kitchener Road

What do you think?

Our verdict is that City Square Mall is a great mall to be at for family with young kids and family crowd, but less so for the millennial. There is a a great variety of F&B options of all prices, diverse mix of tenants and the mall also has some pretty unique features like the urban park it is connected to. It is a convenient mall to do your grocery shopping and get your daily retail needs like sports wear at Decathlon; spectacles at OWNDAYS; and basic wear at UNIQLO.

The post Shop Till You Drop Mall Review: City Square Mall – Singapore’s First Eco-Mall appeared first on Alvinology.

Eden Ang sexual harassment claims now include alleged statutory rape on a 13-year-old

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After numerous allegations hurled against Eden Ang with regards to sexual misconduct, another woman joins the victims of his alleged sexual misconduct, but there is something different about her case.

In a report by Rice Media, a girl named Hannah Tindall of New Zealand has been in correspondence with the online publication to shed light on the story of her sister, Naomi. According to their statements as collected and published by Rice Media, the incident happened 11 years ago, when Eden was 19 years old and studying in a New Zealand University, and the victim was 13 years of age.

Read about Lilith, the makeup artist who filed the report against Eden Ang.

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How did this start?

According to the post, the victim, Naomi, said that she and Eden met in Christchurch, New Zealand as the latter was working at an ice rink. There, they had chatted with each other and developed a friendship, with Eden calling her home. Her mother told Naomi not to speak with Eden anymore, since he was much older. The report indicated that Eden allegedly knew she was only 13 years of age.

After some time, Naomi and Eden allegedly began to meet more frequently outside of the ice rink, spending an increasing amount of time together.

From there, Naomi was eventually convinced to go with Eden to his home at the time in New Zealand. There, Eden had allegedly convinced Naomi to perform various sexual acts on him.

While she was disgusted by the act, she thought at the time that this was the pretence for friendship and getting to know each other better. She said, “I was a 13-year-old being manipulated and made to believe this was normal. I met Eden a few times after this too, as he made me feel that this is what love was. I thought he wanted to be around me and continue a friendship.”

Eden Ang allegedly asked a bisexual girl to star in a violent porn film with him.

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How did the statutory rape allegedly happen?

Under the pretence of playing a song for him, Eden had allegedly lured her back into his home. They were in his room and then had undressed, and according to Naomi, “it just happened.”

The report said, “When asked what happened next, Naomi explained ‘it just happened’. She said she was lying on her back and he was at first beside her and then on top of her and he was moving. When asked about sex, Naomi said that he had put his penis in her vagina. She described it hurting for a few seconds.”

Naomi also mentioned that Eden would not have known that she did not want to conduct the sex act at the time, but he was aware that she was only 13 years old.

She said she also felt a lot of pressure to stay, and that looking back, her young teenage mind was manipulated, and had accepted that a grown man like Eden could do such things to her, that it was right.

A few days later, she said Eden had texted her about the incident allegedly expressing guilt over the fact that she was only 13 years old.

Read about how SG police deny that they turned away Lilith and her friend when they gave their complaints about Eden Ang.

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How did she tell the police?

After being sent home with bus money that Eden reportedly provided for her, she was mum on the events for a few days. Then she told her sister what happened.

Her sister, realising that Naomi was not equipped to deal with the situation, told their mother, who then told the police.

Statements and interviews were taken. Her statements were also sent back to Singapore.

Despite the information given, the police decided not to pursue the case as Naomi did not seem to be able to provide adequate testimony on the incident. What’s more, the New Zealand police said that they could not do anything about Eden, or stop him from working with children in the ice rink.

The case was dismissed back in 2007.

However, the records in the report showed that Eden was issued a warning and his father spoken to by the police at the time.

Why did she come forward now?

According to the same report, Naomi, who is now engaged and is 24 years old, said that she had been following the reports about Eden Ang sexual harassment cases and wanted to add her voice to the issue–hoping that other girls would gain the courage to come forward.

Read about the first girl to report Eden Ang for his alleged sexual misconduct.

Images from Eden Ang’s Instagram account.

 

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Here are 45 things to mark 45 magical years at the Singapore Zoo!

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A new light will be cast upon Singapore Zoo to mark her 45th anniversary this year! For the first time in Southeast Asia, Singapore Zoo presents Rainforest Lumina, a multimedia night walk on the wild side which brings guests into a lush and luminous universe starting 1 July.

While the seasonal event debuts in July, fans of Singapore Zoo can already begin celebrating the Zoo’s 45th anniversary by end May. A slew of fun-filled activities will take guests on a journey to fall in love with the Zoo again.

Start by discovering 45 things you never knew you could do, and enjoy some family bonding over the popular Zoolympix, a movie in the wild, or an overnight camp complete with a roaring campfire!

Southeast Asia’s first multimedia night walk experience— “Rainforest Lumina”

Rainforest Lumina will invite guests to explore a one kilometre stretch of Singapore Zoo’s tropical rainforest at night and be treated to a mesmerising visual experience created by multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory.

The unique multimedia experience of Rainforest Lumina is in perfect complement to this rich natural backdrop, offering visitors the opportunity to be inspired by the wonders of nature as they discover the rainforest by night, when the animals are asleep.

Look out for a quirky group of unlikely heroes, known as the Creature Crew who invites you to join their whimsical adventure as you peek through the vines and meander along the paths of their enchanted world.

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Rainforest Lumina (Seasonal attraction)

Meet the Creature Crew, a quirky group of unlikely heroes who invites you to join their whimsical adventure. The Creature Crew believes that every species has the power to give back to the rainforest: nature, animals and humans too. Their motto, ‘We Are One’, means that everyone has a special role to play, even you!

Come play, sing and discover their enchanted world. For wherever the Creature Crew roams, the rainforest blooms with wonder.

Date: 1 July onwards
Time: 7.30pm – 12.00am (last entry at 10.30pm)
Venue: Singapore Zoo

Cost:
$22 per adult $16 per child

Note: Online discounts available. Please check website for details www.rainforestlumina.sg

Forty-five things to mark 45 wild years at Singapore Zoo

While waiting for the excitement of Rainforest Lumina to unfold, spend some time falling in love with Singapore Zoo again this June holiday season. Discover 45 things that will help put Singapore Zoo in a new light, from an angle not many will be familiar with!

In conjunction with SZ’s 45th anniversary, for every adult ticket purchased, the next adult or child ticket comes with a 45 per cent discount.

Activities at the Singapore Zoo

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‘U-dunno-meh?’ Checklist

Featuring 45 things you never knew you could do at Singapore Zoo! Amongst the list includes petting a ferret and greeting the Zoo’s baby rhino.

Date: 27 May – 26 Jun

Time: 8.30am – 6pm

Venue: All over the Zoo!

Movies in the Wild

Watching your favourite films while being surrounded by animals – whats not to love?

Date: 26 & 27 May

Venue: Pavilion by the Lake

Picnic in the Park

Set up your mat at our perfect picnic spot and groove to the hottest hits from the local bands.

Date: 2 & 3 June

Venue: Pavilion by the Lake

Break Out! Performance

Catch our flash mob performers around the park as they wow the crowd with their moves

Date: 9 & 10 June

Venue: Secret!

Bubbles, Bubbles and MORE BUBBLES

You can’t say no to bubbles. POP over and get ready for a mesmerising bubble performance.

Date: 15 – 17, 24 & 25 June

Venue: Rainforest Kidzworld

Zoolympix

Singapore Zoo’s June staple this year is a family affair! Learn all about our animals as you complete the activity missions to earn exclusive badges.

Activities are recommended for children from 4 years old.

Date: 26, 27 May, 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24 June (weekends and Hari Raya public holiday)

Time: 10am – 4pm

Venue: Various

Fee: $4 to participate
• Zoolympix booklet with lanyard available at headquarters opposite Zoo retail shop
• Registration closes at 3.30pm

Sleep with the Beasts

Pounce on Camp Fest 2018 at Singapore Zoo this May! Make a date with our animal friends over a weekend at Singapore Zoo, and fall asleep under the stars to the distant roar of the lion.

Highlights:
o Sleeping under the stars
o Behind-the-scenes tour and animal encounters
o Evening campfire
o Ulu Asian buffet dinner and breakfast at Forest Lodge

Date: 26 – 27 May

Time: 3.30pm – 11.00am (next day)

Venue: Singapore Zoo

Cost:
$190 per adult, $160 per child

Notes: Normal park admission rates apply for June holiday activities Singapore Zoo: $35.00 (adult) and $23.00 (child 3 to 12 years)

Visit Rainforest Lumina’s official website or visit this link for more information on the June holiday activities!

The post Here are 45 things to mark 45 magical years at the Singapore Zoo! appeared first on Alvinology.

Mahota SG teaches these nutritious and quick recipes parents can make for active kids

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For those who are unaware, DBS is holding its Marina Regatta from 25-27 May and 2-3 June and in the lead up to the main event, has also organized several events for the public to take part in! On 29 April, I had the privilege to attend an event by DBS and Mahota SG – a cooking class taught by Joseph Schooling’s mother, May Schooling, as well as Mahota’s R&D chef Benson!

The event, Eat Like a Champion, aimed to teach parents how to prepare healthy and easy meals for their children regardless if they are athletes or just seeking a nutritious diet.

Here’s what went down at the event:

Demonstration by May Schooling

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May Schooling started off the event by introducing some simple delicacies that she prepares for Singaporean swimmer Joseph Schooling. This includes a healthy morning smoothie as well as grilled cheese sandwiches.

In her smoothie, May added fruits such as berries and a banana as well as yoghurt. She emphasized that the inclusion of the yoghurt gives the smoothie a nice texture overall! Milk was also added to make the smoothie less chunky and she shared that she frequently used milk which had 1-2% fat instead of completely fat free.

As an added tip, May shared that she often prepared these ingredients the night before so that all she needed to do in the morning would be to throw them into the blender!

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She also did a demonstration on how to make her signature grilled cheese sandwiches, which included buttering the bread before placing the slices of cheese on them, and topping it off with a sprinkling of mozzarella to lead to cheese oozing out once the sandwich was grilled! She added that this was the perfect snack for Joseph Schooling as it’s both easy to make and easy to consume or grab to go!

Demonstration by Mahota’s R&D Chef Benson

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Chef Benson continued the demonstrations by sharing a recipe for a plant-power smoothie that acts as a replacement for Milo for his lactose-intolerant son. Ingredients include coconut water, coconut milk, avocado (to give the drink a creamy texture and some natural sweetness), coconut sugar and cacao powder – all of which can be purchased at Mahota SG!

The final drink turns out yummy and healthy at the same time and the listed ingredients can be approximated and adjusted according to your own preferences.

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Chef Benson also gave out samplers of his Healthy Nasi Lemak which comes with a twist! Instead of rice, cauliflower is mashed to replace it as a healthier alternative and coconut oil is used in place of cream.

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Hands-On Activity!

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Attendees of the event then got a chance to try making their own protein bars!

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Basic ingredients were given and one only had to patiently mix the dates with the oats before adding spirulina powder and nuts! If you don’t enjoy dates, you can also substitute it with stevia powder. The protein bar can be chilled and kept for around 2 weeks, making it an easy and convenient snack to make!

For more information on Mahota SG and their classes, click here!

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Journey with Qantas (and Mike) to explore beautiful Queensland today with all-in fares as low as $555

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Qantas and Tourism and Events Queensland launched the #WheresMike campaign on 15 May 2018 to provide travellers with information and insights on about the unique experiences and variety of destinations on offer throughout Queensland.

#WheresMike

Beginning this week, a new video featuring Mike, a Qantas cabin crew member from Queensland, will be unveiled weekly on the Qantas Facebook page and microsite.

Viewers can follow Mike as he shares his adventures in his home state.  From ATV Quad Bike tours on Tangalooma Island Resort to getting up close and personal with local wildlife in Cairns, Mike shares his passion for Queensland and all it has to offer.

From now until 7 June, viewers also have the opportunity to win a pair of economy class tickets to Queensland by participating in the quizzes on the Qantas Facebook page at the end of each video.

With the Qantas Explorer Pass, travellers can customise their  Australian adventure by starting in one of the Australian cities and travelling to other cities for a small add-on fee.

The following destinations are available for customers to book their very own #WheresMike adventure:

Brisbane
Explore Brisbane with all-inclusive fares from S$555*

Brisbane is a cosmopolitan river city  for arts, culture and dining. Also known as the gateway of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, this vibrant river city retains a close connection to nature with its ancient rainforest and numerous hiking sites.

Tangalooma (Moreton Island)

Explore Tangalooma with all-inclusive fares from S$555*

Located on the world’s third largest sand island, Tangalooma Island Resort is a great getaway for families and couples looking to connect with nature in an immersive  manner. You can look forward to handfeeding wild dolphins, sand tabogganing, snorkelling at Tangalooma Wrecks, whale watching (seasonal during June – October) and a lot more!

Cairns

Explore Cairns with all-inclusive fares from S$850*

Brimming with nature and adventure, Cairns is the place to visit for adventure enthusiasts! The destination is famed for its first-class access to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, both of which are world-heritage sites.

Hamilton Island

Explore Hamilton Island with all-inclusive fares from S$780*

One of the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, the Hamilton Island is situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and is a perfect base for exploring everything that the reef has to offer. Visitors can also indulge in some renowned food and wine or simply enjoy the spectacular views at every turn.

As the second largest state in Australia, Queensland is a place like no other with something to offer everyone. Travellers can enjoy varied experiences all in one holiday –  from the bustle of city life, to the adrenaline-filled action in the great outdoors, or diving into the world famous Great Barrier Reef to explore this natural wonder of the world.

For more information on all-inclusive fares, check their official website.

*Deal ends 31 May 2018. Fares stated are for all-inclusive return economy flights from Singapore. Fares include all taxes, fees and carrier charges. Selected travel dates, days and conditions apply.

The post Journey with Qantas (and Mike) to explore beautiful Queensland today with all-in fares as low as $555 appeared first on Alvinology.

Celebrate the June holiday with LEGO promotions and designer sets at great prices

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From 25th May to 1st July 2018, treat your young ones to the best holiday break ever with an exciting line up of new LEGO set arrivals and promotions! LEGO fans can look forward to attractive prizes worth $20,000 with designers’ autograph when shopping with LEGO this June holiday.

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Save big with exclusive promotions on all LEGO products

With every $100 spent on any regular priced LEGO product(s) in a single receipt, customers will be rewarded with a $20 discount voucher for their next LEGO purchase! This promotion will be held at all LEGO stores in Singapore, including Toys R Us, LEGO Certified Stores, Monobrand Stores, Departmental Stores and more. T&C apply.

More than $20,000 worth of designer signed sets to be won

Be one of the lucky winners to win a golden ticket with your $20 voucher, which entitles shoppers to win LEGO prizes worth more than $20,000! Stand a chance to win from a limited number of exclusive LEGO sets signed by the designers themselves.

These LEGO sets include the highly sought after 75192 Millennium Falcon, 21313 Ship in a Bottle, and 76105 The Hulkbuster: Ultron Edition, amongst many others.

An exciting line-up of novelty sets from your favourite LEGO themes

Celebrate the arrival of novelty sets! LEGO fans can get their hands on more than 50 brand new sets from all-time favourite themes like LEGO City, LEGO Friends, LEGO Ninjago, LEGO Super Heroes and many more.

These novelties include over 20 products from LEGO’s Top 100 choices, a must-have for an extra fun-filled school holiday with LEGO. Get your hands on these awesome sets at all LEGO stores from 1st June 2018.

View the whole range of novelty sets here (available from 28th May 2018).

For more information on LEGO Singapore’s June School Holiday Campaign, click here (live from 23rd May 2018)!

The post Celebrate the June holiday with LEGO promotions and designer sets at great prices appeared first on Alvinology.

Here’s a chance for your child to become SEA LIFE’s Junior Ranger!

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Have a penchant for the ocean and sea creatures? Always thought that you could play a part in protecting marine life?  Do you want to be the face of the world’s biggest aquarium brand? You might be the one SEA LIFE Malaysia is looking for.

The world’s biggest aquarium brand is coming to LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, and the marine sanctuary is calling out to all ocean lovers, aged between 5 to 12 years old, to be its first ever SEA LIFE Junior Rangers. The SEA LIFE Junior Rangers Programme, a global educational programme by SEA LIFE centres worldwide, is now available in Southeast Asia for the first time.

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This initiative aims to bring together a group of children from Malaysia and Singapore who will become the voice of the marine sanctuary. Junior Rangers will have the opportunity to hang out with SEA LIFE Malaysia’s marine experts, get backstage access to staff areas and learn more about fish feeding and marine life conservation. What’s more, these young ambassadors will gain complimentary access to SEA LIFE Malaysia for a period of 12 months, and stand witness to SEA LIFE Malaysia’s exciting milestones including the water fill, fish arrival, and Grand Opening by end 2018!

SEA LIFE Junior Rangers Programme Benefits

  • Become Young Ambassadors of SEA LIFE Malaysia: Share interesting stories of SEA LIFE Malaysia with the world
  • Learn Out-Of-Class Skills: Learn storytelling skills such as presentation, public speaking and even photography skills from the experts
  • Lead the Movement of Marine Life Conservation: Take an active role in protecting the ocean through participating in beach cleanups organised by SEA LIFE Malaysia, and lead the promotion of SEA LIFE Malaysia’s marine conservation mission – Breed, Rescue and Protect – at local events with Sharkie, SEA LIFE Malaysia mascot
  • Gain Access to Exclusive Behind-the-Scene Tour with Professionals: Learn about the operations of the marine sanctuary from professionals, such as the aquarists and animal welfare activists
  • Enjoy Exclusive Invites to Milestone Events: Witness and be the voice of the marine sanctuary at key events such as water fill, fish arrival, fish feeding, and the grand launch of SEA LIFE Malaysia
  • Free Entry to SEA LIFE Malaysia for 12 months: Enjoy unlimited, free entry to SEA LIFE Malaysia for 12 months
  • Exclusive Junior Ranger Pack: Receive an exclusive complimentary pack that includes SEA LIFE badge, activity sheets and underwater facts, as well as Junior Ranger Certificate upon graduation

Eligibility

  • The SEA LIFE Junior Rangers Program is open to all children aged between 5 to 12 years old
  • Passionate about marine life and conservation
  • Vocal and confident in front of the public and camera as they will be the voice of the marine sanctuary
  • Current or new holders of LEGOLAND® Malaysia Premium Annual Pass*
  • Interest in LEGO® brick-building activities will have an added advantage

*If you are not a LEGOLAND® Malaysia Premium Pass holder yet, you can purchase one from LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort to be in the running of becoming SEA LIFE Malaysia’s Junior Ranger.  

How to Enter:

  • Parents can post a video of their child (maximum 1 minute) that starts with “I want to protect sea life because…” on Facebook or Instagram
  • Remember to set your account to public during the contest duration, and include hashtags #SEALIFEMalaysia
  • Like LEGOLAND® Malaysia Facebook Page or follow @LegolandMalaysia on Instagram

Contest Duration:

The contest is ongoing from now until 29 June 2018

Please also visit this website for more information on this programme.

For further information on promotions and activities, visit LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort’s official website and stay connected with the resort via social handles (Facebook & Instagram).

 

 

The post Here’s a chance for your child to become SEA LIFE’s Junior Ranger! appeared first on Alvinology.

GoGreen launches its PMD shop and vending machine with Jackie Chan!

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19th May was an exciting day at Downtown East as Jackie Chan attended GoGreen’s flagship shop’s launch!

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Coming  on  board  Downtown  East  as  part  of  its  exciting  programming  is  Gogreen,  the  exclusive  distributor  for  electric  and  non-electric  personal  mobility  devices  (PMD) from  Segway  and  Yvolution.

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Guests  now  have  the  option  of  another  choice  activity  to  spend  quality  time  with  family  and  friends  here  at  Downtown  East.

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The launch also included the World’s  First  Segway  vending  machine,  where  a  Segway  product  can  be  dispensed  instantly,  offering  ultimate  convenience  to  guests  to  explore  the  surroundings.

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The Launch (featuring Jackie Chan!)

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Guests, media and members of the public gathered around GoGreen’s store to catch a glimpse of Jackie Chan! He was welcomed by a lion dance troupe and joined VIP guests for the ribbon cutting ceremony and official launch of the store.

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As part of the launch event, Jackie Chan also made the first purchase of a Segway PMD from the vending machine!

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Later on, Jackie Chan also did a tour of the shop and was introduced by GoGreen staff to the various devices available for sale, for both adults and children. He ended off this short tour by signing some of the shop’s PMDs on display.

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Prior to the launch, media guests were also offered the opportunity to try out some of the PMD devices and GoGreen staff were on hand to offer tutorials on the devices.

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When enquired, the staff informed me on some key specifications of the PMDs including the speed limit of the devices (18km/h) and the usage of the phone application which can control one’s PMD. Some features include parental control on speed limits when children are using the device and direction control with the application. Guests who rent these PMDs for leisure will also be offered a tutorial prior to utilizing them as well.

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Services for the Public

These PMDs are available for rental for families and friends to explore the nature parks and tropical attractions around Downtown East, some of which include:

  • Pasir Ris Beach: this sandy beach  is  one  of  the  largest  parks in  Singapore.  It’s  quiet  surroundings makes  it  perfect  for  an  overnight  camp  or  just  watching  the  sun  set
  • Mangrove forest: with a Mangrove  Boardwalk,  visitors  can  peek  into  the  natural  habitat  of  mudskippers,  crabs,  herons  and  even  monitor  lizards
  • Lookout Tower: this three-storey-tall bird  watching  Lookout  Tower  offers  a  breathtaking  view  of the  mangrove  swamp  and  surrounding  park.  Keep  your  eyes  peeled  for  the  grey  herons  in  the  canopy
  • Maze garden: have a game  of  hide-and-seek  in  the  sea  of  hedges.  This  stop  will  certainly  be  an  activity  that  the  whole  family  can  have  fun  at

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To find out more, click here!

 

The post GoGreen launches its PMD shop and vending machine with Jackie Chan! appeared first on Alvinology.

Teacher allegedly cyberbullies Singaporean student having English Language trouble

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Is it ever all right for a teacher to make fun of student’s mistakes and behaviour and post it on social media?

Photos are circulating on the internet that allegedly show the mistakes of a Singaporean student on several test papers, with annotations that could be from the teacher, who pokes fun at the wrong answers.

According to online forums, the photos first went up on the Reddit website, but were soon taken down. They were then transferred to other image sharing sites but have been taken down as well.

Alvinology was able to take screenshots of the alleged images, which may be seen below:

In the first photo, the annotation is, “Don’t know if you’re silly for not reading instructions or stupid for thinking I will set such an easy repetitive question.”

Supposedly, the mistake of the student may be seen in the table, where he simple repeats his answers from one column to the next.

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This next photo shows a piece of paper that has a “Do Not Open” sign along with a drawing of a skull. Signed by a person named Anders, the annotation here is “You 13 or 3, bro?” This may mean that the teacher thinks the person who wrote the sign is childish for putting up such a thing.

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The last photo provides a clue to the person’s identity. For the question, “2 things I wish my EL teacher won’t do to me in class,” the student answered, “Please don’t give me too much attention in class,” and “If I did anything wrong, please scold me separately and not in front of the class.”

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Accompanying the images was the name of an Instagram user and a photo of a person’s profile, the name not blurred, but the description showed a flag of Singapore and the acronym “UCLA.”

The profile has since been taken down.

Could the student be in an English language class and have trouble keeping up?

From the posts above, you may assume that the student is in an English Language class, and is still trying to keep up with more academic discussions in English.

The first photo shows that the student answered incorrectly when the chart asked for the amount of rain during the rainiest months of the year. The teacher correcting the paper made fun of the student for answering the same as the first column.

If the answer on the column was a mistake, it could have been that the student did not understand the unit “mm” or what the chart asked. In the end, if a student failed to understand something, some fault lies with the teacher, and no one wins when the teacher makes fun of the student.

The second photo shows someone making fun of a sign that the same alleged student made. For a Singaporean person trying to grasp the English language in full, he may not be able to use slang or modern twists on words to warn people not to read something.

If the teacher made fun of the student here, it’s because the student didn’t learn enough from the teacher to articulate properly.

The final photo shows the true extent of this teacher’s lack of empathy. The student answered the question seriously and in a respectful manner. Instead, the teacher chose to say “LOL” at how the student was basically pleading the teacher, “Please do not embarrass me.”

The student may also be experiencing anxiety and fear in the classroom, since he also asked the teacher to not pay attention to the latter during class. Still, the student was open to criticism and even scolding, as long as done in private and not in public. Could this be a regular occurrence in the class?

Is it ever all right for a teacher to make fun of a student?

Even if the teacher did not publish the name of the student, the fact that he posted screenshots of tests and had nasty comments shows that while the person may get up in front of a classroom and teach, the person does not want the students to learn.

While lack of learning and comprehension could not be the teacher’s sole fault, making fun of a student does not help anyone–including the teacher. Other students who see the photos may know their classmate’s struggle and handwriting.

No matter what anyone says, a teacher is the person of power in the classroom, and a student in Singapore who isn’t that good in English is at his mercy.

In the end, this teacher may be a bully, and his target is a student who is having trouble with English and feels great anxiety.

What do you think? Is the student too sensitive, or is the teacher a cyberbully? Let us know in the comments!

Read about Letitia Chai, Cornell college student who stripped for her thesis defence practice, who basically just threw a tantrum

The post Teacher allegedly cyberbullies Singaporean student having English Language trouble appeared first on Alvinology.

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