watch Olympics 2012 sporting events - LEGO style! ;)

don't miss these amazing stop-motion videos of the Olympics 2012 events by designer Fabian Moritz... love them all! :) commissioned by The Guardian.

"animated reconstructions of the best moments of the global sport event taking place in the UK from 27 july to 12 august 2012."

women's gymnastics final

men's swimming 200 individual medley final

they even included a funny bit about Michael Phelps' 12,000 calorie diet! lol!

Usain Bolt wins gold in 100m run final

click here for the complete series (more videos).

Watsons pink ribbon walk 2011

the annual breast cancer foundation pink ribbon walk is here again... and Watsons continues to be the anchor sponsor for the 2nd consecutive year, bringing us the Watsons pink ribbon walk 2011.

i was excited to receive the e-newsletter call for registrations earlier tonight but am quite disappointed when i found out that the organisers have decided to do away with the competitive run this year! also, together with the change in venue from the past two years' big splash @ the east coast park to the waterfront promenade @ the marina bay, the distance is now reduced from the original 5km to 3.2km :(

not that i'm exactly an athletic sportsperson, but the BCF pink ribbon walk/run has, over the years (since I first took part in october 2009), become my annual motivation to train and prepare myself to complete the whole course. even though the inaugural pink ribbon walk back in 2008 did start out without the run component, but as the competitive race got introduced in 2009, and carried on in 2010, the decision to suddenly revert back to a "walk only" event in it's 4th year, just doesn't seem to make much sense in terms of progress for an annual sporting event.

i guess i can understand if the organisers decided that it's more important to make this an opportunity to cheer on the breast cancer survivors, and encourage them to participate in a fun walk, hence the rationale in reducing the distance and intensity of the activity as well as the competitive nature of it, but i can't say that i'm equally enthusiastic about this year's pink ribbon walk.

i wonder what were the real reasons behind BCF and the organisers' decision to make such changes (including the change in timing from morning to evening) to the annual affair. anyway, now i'm in two minds about this whole thing, i do like the new location at the waterfront promenade, scenic dusk view and all... but i'd very much prefer to participate in the 5km run. oh well, i shall give myself some time to think over it, and decide if i'll still sign up just for continuity's sake.

date: 1 october 2011 (saturday)
time: 6:00pm
venue: marina bay waterfront promenade

next stop - mega zip @ sentosa singapore

people who know me usually wouldn't associate me with the outdoor, adventurous kind, and they're right. i'm quite conservative and am generally happy staying within my comfort zone most of the time. but that doesn't mean i don't like to try new things, i do! and i also enjoy an adventure or two every now and then - be it new food, explore a new place / city, attempt a new activity or a new experience... i guess it depends on who i'm doing all that with :)

two weekends ago, i tried the forest adventure @ bedok reservoir park and enjoyed myself more than i'd expected. it was not entirely an easy breezy course for me, but i guess that makes it all the more exciting. and now that i've tried my first 'flying fox' adventure here in singapore, i'm actually craving for more *smile* - so this is what i would love to do next...

(courtesy of MegaZipAdventurePark on youtube)

check out the megazip adventure park @ sentosa singapore.
i've heard of this when we're planning for the forest adventure earlier, but haven't actually checked out the site until i received an email mailer two days ago. whoa! this looks like a lot more challenging and exciting than forest adventure. there seems to be only one 'flying fox' (they call it the MegaZip) but from the pictures, it looks much higher (75m high), steeper and further (450m long) than the one at the bedok reservoir park! it goes across the Imbiah Walk, pass the Siloso Beach, all the way over the water, finally landing on an offshore smaller isle. so cool!

the forest adventure @ bedok is a complete outward-bound-type course that incorporates 3 - 4 'flying fox' rides within it, like a combination of activities that you can find at megazip. whereas the MegaZip @ sentosa is one single ride on a longer and probably more exhilarating 'flying fox' journey across the zip wire. they do have other activities such as the ClimbMax, ParaJump, NorthFace but can be done as a combo package or separately on its own. everything looks really fun and hugely challenging (at least to me), i'm sure this will be a big hit with extreme sports lovers. i've experience something similar to the ParaJump at the forest adventure, and it sure was the most dreadful part for me. lol... i hate the part where you step off the platform and just jump into thin air, but it's also the part where i felt the most accomplished after :) so i'm very certain ParaJump will be a 'killer' activity for me, one that will so tempt me and yet repulse me at the same time.

i haven't actually set a date or make plans to do this yet... still looking for the right friends to try it together. but this is a definite to-do on my list. if not everything (i'm not sure if i'm fit enough to conquer NorthFace), at least MegaZip and ParaJump, and perhaps ClimbMax too, if i feel confident enough *adrenaline rush*... woohoo!

• what: megazip adventure park
  
• where: imbiah bill, sentosa
  
• prices:
  - (MegaZip) S$29 per flight
  - (ClimbMax) S$24 per circuit
  - (ParaJump) S$12 per suicide jump
  - (NorthFace) S$20 per climb
  - (Combos) S$49 - S$69 for combination of activities
  
• URL: www.megazip.com.sg
  
• see what you're in for (virtual tour)
  

my first forest adventure...

this was what my girlfriends and i did yesterday, probably the most adventurous and fun outdoor activity i've done in a long long while :) it was absolutely nerve-wrecking and oh-so-thrillingly awesome at the same time.

i loved the 'flying fox' - the parts when i'm cruising high above ground flying across the reservoir, not so much the initial big step off the platform - i had to psych myself up for that, and take a huge breath and hold it before each and every jump... but once your feet are off the platform, cruising through the air, it's just a wonderful adrenaline rush all the way :)

my scariest station was the free-fall 'tarzen swing', that may seem simple but trust me, the very moment you stand at the edge of the platform, looking at how high and far the drop is, taking that step off the platform suddenly seems like the most impossible thing to do. lol. well, we all did it anyway. woohoo! *a round of applause for everyone*

so who says there's nothing adventurous to do in Singapore?
go try this yourself.

• what: forest adventure singapore
• where: bedok reservoir park (alight and walk from the car park)
• prices:
  (grand course) at least 1.4m tall, max. 130kg
  - S$36 per adult
  - S$34 per student
  - S$32 per youth below 18 (must be supervised by an adult)
  (kids' course) at least 1.1m tall
  - S$24 per child
  
• URL: www.forestadventure.com.sg
• see what you're in for (promo video)
  

Watsons Pink Ribbon Walk & Run 2010

the Breast Cancer Foundation's charity walk / run is here again. switching up its sponsor this year, the event is now called the Watsons Pink Ribbon Walk / Run 2010.

last year's pink ribbon walk / run was my first ever experience at a charity walk.. it was fun, and i've decided to continue and make it a mini tradition for myself *smile*. this year, instead of signing up for the leisure walk, i've decided to attempt the 5km competitive run :)

i'm not a competitive sportsperson, but i think this will be a nice achievable challenge for myself, a short-term goal to look forward to, a birthday milestone (since the run is exactly a week away from my birthday this year).

so, i have less than 3 months to train up.. time to hit the tracks more often now. i'm actually quite excited.. *smile*.

FYI - this year, they're opening up the run to male runners too.

• what: Watsons Pink Ribbon Walk & Run 2010
• where: Big Splash @ East Coast Park, Singapore
• when: 2 October 2010, Saturday
• time: 8:00am (5km run) / 8:45am (5km walk)
• usual price: S$45 (5km run) / S$30 (5km walk)
  - sign up early to enjoy early-bird discounts
  
• URL: event details / signup here

sherie: please signup too? :)
anyone else?

*whistle* yellow card! red card!

riding on the FIFA World Cup fever, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and Tiger Beer have jointly produced this very simple but cute and timely advertising campaign to drive traffic to RWS.

my mum received these when she bought lunch from the food court on Saturday.
i thought it would be really cute if the organisers could get people to dress up as referees, make them walk about Orchard Road and blow their whistle at passers-by to stop them, then issue them with the yellow or red card.

the cards are a neat idea anyway, sure caught my attention :)
and now, more cards to pin up on my office wall..

my new Old Navy swimwear

say hello to my new swimsuit from Old Navy online :)

this was on sale and i just couldn't resist the marked down price (US$19 + further 20% off), plus all my favourite things on it - ruffles, polka dots, ribbons, brown... you get the idea :)

needless to say, i got this in 'brown dots' colour. too cute!
confession: all my one-piece swimsuits are polka-dotted *oops*. well, what can i say? i stay true to my style. lol. i just keep getting drawn to them.

i'd never purchased swimwear online before, too risky without actually trying it on (especially for international orders) but i decided to give it a shot anyway, and so glad i did. this fits just right when i tried it on last night - a classic piece, fully lined, not too flashy, covers enough and shows off just enough too ;) i'm loving it.

yay! can't wait to go swimming this weekend..

the Vuvuzelas - to stay or not to stay?

i'm not a soccer fan, hardly even follow the hugely popular (in Singapore) English Premier League, but who can resist catching a match or two of the one-in-four-year FIFA World Cup, even for a soccer noob? :)

my brother's not home these days, so we did not subscribe to the World Cup channels on cable. i did however sit down to watch the 1st opening match between South Africa and Mexico on local mediacorp TV Channel 5 last friday.

when the match started airing at 10:00pm here, i noticed a distinctive constant honking noise around the stadium. i couldn't make out what it was, thought it was perhaps caused by some international broadcast connectivity problem. so, i temporary switched channels and came back to Channel 5 again about 15 mins. later. but it didn't work, the constant droning in the background remained and it was beginning to get so annoying it drowned out the excitement of the match. i couldn't feel or sense the crowd or hear the commentators clearly, and it made me wanna stop watching. and finally, after another 5 minutes of staring at the screen with the increasingly annoying noise at the back, i gave up and decided World Cup was just not for me. so i switched channel and played my pre-recorded NCIS TV drama episodes instead :)

of course, i must admit, i am not a soccer fan nor a World Cup fan. my first attempt at watching a World Cup 2010 match failed, and i still had no idea what made that annoying buzz at the stadium... until i read a few articles today. apparently, this had already sparked off quite a controversy, with many international players and viewers rooting to get it banned.
 
so what exactly is it? do you feel the same way about it too?

the Vuvuzela

reactions to the Vuvuzela at the World Cup 2010:
- Reddif sports: Ronaldo slams ear-shattering Vuvuzela trumpets
- Yahoo! sports: Vuvuzela might yet be banned from the World Cup
- AP: Vuvuzela drone killing World Cup atmosphere
- AFP: Vuvuzelas stir online debate at World Cup
- Vuvuzelas: the sound of 2010

balloting starts 23 april 2010: YOG opening/closing ceremony tickets

the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) opening and closing ceremonies tickets will be open for balloting from 23 april - 9 may 2010... two more weeks...

so if you wish to be a part of these special events, don't forget to mark your calendar and bookmark this page! i did :) good luck!

opening ceremony
14 august 2010 (saturday)
7:30pm - 10:00pm
the float @ marina bay
ticket code: T001
prices: S$30 / S$80 / S$120 / S$200 (max. 4 tickets per applicant)

closing ceremony
26 august 2010 (thursday)
7:30pm - 9:30pm
the float @ marina bay
ticket code: T002
prices: S$15 / S$40 / S$80 (max. 4 tickets per applicant)

tickets on sale now - Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games

the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) tickets are now on sale (from 31 March). tickets are priced at S$10 for preliminaries, S$15 for quarters/semi-finals to S$30 for the finals.

purchase your tickets (i) online, (ii) via phone, or (iii) from authorised ticket counters.

check out the competition schedules and prices, and the sporting sections for the YOG (cute mascot icons) :)

>> official YOG website
>> official YOG blog

ps: i would absolutely love to attend the opening or closing ceremony for the YOG. as tickets are highly sought after and very limited, ticket sales will be made available via a ballot system. further details to be released sometime this month. so watch this space!

YOG Merly and Lyo paper mascots

since i got started on the topic of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), i just HAVE TO share this too.

some of us may really want a piece of the YOG but just don't wish to splurge on expensive premiums, mascots or souvenirs... that's where these cute little paper mascots come in :)

you don't have to spend S$39.90 for the stuffed-toy-version of Merly and Lyo (i really wish they made tinier palm size version of those), all you need is just plain A4 paper, some art & craft tools and a pair of skilled hands!

from this:

to this:

aren't these cute?
looks fun! i'm soooooo gonna make my own pair of paper mascots too! :D
i think i'll go for thicker A4 paper or art card for a better finish..

will you pay S$50 to own a piece of history?

the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will be held from 14 - 26 August 2010. i admit i have not been closely following news on the YOG but i am very happy and proud that Singapore - despite our tiny size - gets to host this first ever YOG in history, and even though the excitement and festivities have not quite drummed up yet, i'm sure that will get more intense as August draws near... especially when the symbolic olympic flame passes from Greece through the 5 cities and finally arrives in Singapore :)

131 more days to go...
how will you show your support for the YOG?
have you met our YOG mascots - Merly and Lyo?

there are many YOG souvenirs and merchandise up for sale by now, but this is one i really really like - DBS Visa prepaid cards printed with the YOG 2010 mascots - Merly and Lyo (S$50 per set / S$28 each - initial card value S$5 only). these pretty cards can be used as a Visa (prepaid) debit card or ez-link card too!

a very nice keepsake or gift for someone special or even as a corporate gift - elegant, practical and memoriable too.. think of how you will be owning a piece of history in some way :)

"Share your pride for the nation with Lyo and Merly as they grace the world's first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Proudly featured on our Mascots Edition Prepaid Card, Lyo - the lion cub with a mane as fiery as his passion for sports - stands for Singapore, the Lion City.

While Lyo's best friend Merly - a mythical sea creature inspired by Singapore's beginnings as a fishing village, is featured on another.

Get more than just these adorable mascots on your Cards when your purchase our Gift Pack.

Enjoy the convenience of cashless spending, special privileges and payment acceptance at all Visa Merchants worldwide, and ez-link functionality. Simply top up and you're good to go."

>> more details here
>> alternative champions edition here
>> The Business Times: 3,000 YOG prepaid cards snapped up in two hours
>> tickets to the games

Reebok Pink Ribbon Walk 2009

yay! thanks to inspirations from friends like carolyn and sherie, i've decided to sign up for my first 5km charity walk this year too (read: it's a walk i'm doing, not a competitive run.. yet) :)

october is the breast cancer foundation (BCF) month, and also my birthday month. several years ago, i've done a tiny part in raising funds for the BCF singapore through the pledge card (sale of pink ribbons to friends and personal contacts), as well as participating in the public sale of the pink ribbons at their roadshows.

this year, as i turn 30 in october, i wanted to do something meaningful. i've already set a goal to make a donation to charity, donate blood for the first time in my life (if all goes well), and just a few moments ago... added to my list, participate in a charity walk :)

so come 3 october (2 saturdays from now), join me at the Reebok Pink Ribbon Walk 2009 at east coast park - the playground @ Big Splash, 8:00am - 11:00am. as i'm late to this, there's only a very short time left before the online registration closes. so hurry, sign up too - before end of 20 september 2009, sunday (that's tomorrow!)

choose from two categories:

• 5km women's competitive run - registration fee S$40; or
  
• 5km pink ribbon leisure walk (open to women, men and children) - registration fee S$35

click here for event details

for added incentive, if you're like me who love most things pink *smile*, you'd be happy to know that all participants of the walk/run are eligible for the Reebok bundle buy promotion of 1 pink top + 1 bottom + 1 pair of shoes at a special price of S$100! (usual S$204.90).

find out more news and activities in october for BCF.

ps: carolyn, sherie - you keen to join this too? :)

cost-cutting measure...

when times get bad, and companies try their utmost to cut costs... this is what happens.

tada!
our very own de-stress DIY office wall-mount basketball hoop! *LOL*

sometimes i just can't help but laugh at these crazy folks i work with, some of them are just so funny/spontaneous.

this is such a cheap thrill... recycled paper and DVD packaging, and it really works!
now if only the "smiley face stress ball" can be a tad bit less bouncy so that it'll stop bouncing off the wall...