Watching Kylie X 2008, Live in Bangkok's Impact Arena

Finally, I made my way to watch the concert of the year – Kylie X 2008, Live in Bangkok’s Impact Arena @ Muang Thong Thani on 23 November 2008 (Sunday).

Kylie viewed from the large screen.

The concert is about 20-30 mins drive from the city area. Find carpark was a breeze, don’t know why it was not as what I expected as there were ample of car park space around even at 1st floor. The multi-stories car park was merely opposite to the stadium itself. Upon arrival to the stadium, you could easily find Singaporeans there, not surprised at all. My friends are among the few.

My Thai friends are from California WOW thus he got me a staff price @ 2,720 bahts, 15% off the published price for my seating. He also got me free Singha Beer from the sponsor, and it was really big cup, think would have 750 ml - 1l per cup. OK ok, let's get high a little to dance in there!

I got my ticket in a credit card design with the beautiful Kylie on it and can keep it as a momento (better than the paper concert ticket issued by Sistic) , Section K Row C, Level 2 facing to the stage in front. I thought I would be sitting nearest to the stage at Level 2, but my Thai friend got it for the centre to have the best full view. it is still the tiny Kylie about the size of my finger nail but it is for this price 3,200 bahts compare to the most expensive golden package 9,800 bahts with 2 free drinks, express lane and 1 Kylie DVD. At least I can view the stage without turning my head left till right. No grumble. : )

The Arena is not that big as I thought, just 2/3 of the size of Singapore Indoor Stadium, but yet the concert is only 80% filled. Economic Crisis or Thais’ Buying Power? I guess it is more of the latter. Nevertheless, I was still pretty as much excited as having that at Madonna Confession Tour in Tokyo few years back. The concert started late at 8.30pm. Only got to know at the end of the concert that the Thai Princess came for the concert and the show should only be started when she arrived. Royal family, hmmm… that’s the special treatment. The national anthem broadcast twice, one before I went in and one after. All stood still, but why twice? Search me but just respect that.

Some backdrop screens from Kylie's concert in Bangkok

The show started with screams, but no WOW factor there for a decent opening. Most of the songs are her recent album songs, and some of her top hits in Dance floor. Her mix of songs are quite decent, but bear in mind this is not a disco, folks! :) The concert lasted for 1 hr 30 minutes, and she sang for another 5 more songs from the encore, ending with the 80s' hit, I should be so lucky. Then all rushed out to catch a few photo snaps with Kylie the last round, errr... with her concert poster I mean! :) While the rest were running to grab the pathetic few cabs in that outskirt of the city. Thai friends said it is very difficult to take cabs there, count yourself lucky to get one or no choice but to call 1688, their cab hotline.

Time to grab some programme, tees, posters back for memories after concert

To rate this concert out of 5, choreography is no doubt 4.5, stage design 2.5 (nothing except a huge TV screen? Too simple and no WOW factor), Kylie interaction with audience 4.5 (Thai friend told me Christina Anguilera's concert in Bangkok is worst with only she sings no talk --- freezing cold ambience concert!), crowd response 3.5 then slowly move to 4.5 (else how she managed to sing 5 encore songs!!). Overall performance I would rate 4. If stage design improved, she would easily get 4.5-5.

So, those who have watched this, share your view... or if you are the next to watch Kylie in Singapore Indoor Stadium this Tuesday 25 Nov, let me know how you rate this concert then, if there is any difference in standard between 2 countries! Afterall, we still love Kylie, right?

Hokkaido-Style Ramen Shop @ Boat Quay

Found a Ramen shop near my office through a colleague. Saw its advertisement some years back on papers, but I couldn't locate the exact location till lately. It is at North Canal Road along Boat Quay area, just opposite of OCBC Building.

Entrance of Baikouken

Hokkaido-Style Ramen with Corns & Butter

So what so special about this shop?

• It is owned by a Japanese Young Chap.
• He brought in Hokkaido-style Ramen with most of the ingredients came from Hokkaido itself, I heard.
• Price range is quite reasonable about S$8-15 depends on choices. For ladies, they can choose half bowl version if they found the original size is too filling for them. Very thoughtful.
• Hokkaido-style Ramen call Shoyu Ramen includes with sweet corns and Hokkaido butter to make it a buttery and some creamy feel.
• Like any Ramen shop in Japan, you can add their half boiled egg yolk-full boiled egg white to your dish. Others you may add such as bean sprout, corns, charsiew, etc.
• 3 Chef/Staff who are truly Japanese, so you feel that you are somewhere in Japan. Of course they greet you with Japanese accent :op
• Open kitchen concept, best to sit right in front of the counter so you can watch them face-to-face cooking while you are waiting or eating.
• Have Sapporo Beer at S$9 for 660ml, haven't try yet.
• Old style Japanese posters on the wall, cabinet, everywhere.
• You can choose to sit outside the shop for afresco feel or 2nd floor for air-conditioning area.
• Free Flow of Japanese Wheat Tea with a jug provided to each table, I like that!
  
  So try this Baikohken Ramen Shop, if you want a truely Hokkaido experience!! Oiishi Ne!

Kylie X2008 Concert, where is the cheapest in Asia?

Picture Source: sh.piao.com.cn/en_piao/

Frankly speakly, I didnt expect the tickets in Singapore vary with other Asian cities so much, when they announced the sales across Asia. That makes Singapore the most expensive place to host any form of concert for international stars, outside Japan. Ridiculous?

I really count myself lucky 'cos I realised that the tickets are ridiculous priced in Singapore, there are too many categories to choose, despite the pricing range is only 5. Just a single side view also have 5 different pricing. Can't believe it? Let's check out the price range for Kylie X2008 World Tour. Does that make Singapore competitive? I doubt so.

23/11 Bangkok - $250, $210, $140, $100, $50 (Fan Club Package @ $410 for 1st 5 rows)
25/11 Singapore - $ 550, $375, $250, $150, $100
27/11 Hong Kong - $360, $245, $190, $130, $70
29/11 Shanghai - $410, $300, $210, $150, $105, $80, $60, $40
04/12 Taipei - $270, $205, $135, $110, $70

* All prices above quoted based on Singapore Dollar.

So I choose to fly to Bangkok to watch at $140 per ticket, with 15% discount from my Thai friend, which worked out to $120 per ticket, with a Tiger Airway return ticket $0.01 promotion ($159 including all taxes), that totalled about $279 for a return airticket + kylie concert ticket which is equivalent to the price I pay $375-$550 Side View seating in Singapore (compare apple to apple where I am actually sitting in Bangkok vs Singapore).

By the way, my hotel is free for 3 nights in Bangkok because of a friend's hotel membership offer. : )

My New Gadget of the Year

The limited design of my Pearl White MSI on Cover, it looks like heart-shaped?

The keyboard and 10 inch screen look bigger than its competitor Acer & Asus.

Say Goodbye to my 3kg laptop and welcome my 1kg mini-notebook! Simply love my newest gadget of the year!

Bought a mini-notebook recently in an IT show, after trying to find a replacement for my current bulky and slow laptop. This idea comes about when I went for a recent HK working trip, and my laptop that I brought along was far too heavy and big to carry, especially when trying to lessen my luggage weight load.

Why I choose this MSI? I have read numerous reviews from websites that this is a good buy, apart from another few similar ones such as Acer Aspire One, ASUS Eeebook at a budget of less than S$1k. My 1st priority is it must be not weighed more than 1.3kg including battery, then I will look into the keyboard size, functions and memory. Basically if you need something that is light to carry, can web surf, built-in mic and webcam, good size of harddisk, and look like a macbook with cheap price, MSI might be the one for you.

So far I am proud to be the owner of this 6-cell and 1.2kg limited design notebook at S$899 with S$35 upgrade from 1GB RAM to 2GB, and now I carried this easily anywhere in town and overseas. I don't know where does it sell now as I didn't see this in any retail shop, that's why I bought it from the IT show when I know they are selling there! If you need to know about the distributor, maybe that I can help if you are interested in.

Buy 1 night Get 1 night free at Kuala Lumpur!

Again, I have the luck of getting real good travel deal for my recent birthday retreat at KL. I booked Tiger Airways at $86 return ticket with tax free offer! Isn't it a good deal? Why choose KL? Well, because of a female colleague from Alexandra office told me it is a MUST try for their Fish Spa for RM28 (3 times lesser than you pay in SG) to nibble your feets till as smooth as silk, and another female colleague from Tampines office told me that I must visit the newly opened Gigantic Pavilion Mall to burn my pocket! How can I not tempted to go with their recommendation?

I really want to pamper myself for this short getaway for my birthday. I got a 5-Star hotel by Starwood Luxury Collection at US$197 per night, with super large room plus Club Floor Facilities and you know what, my 2nd night is free! Moreover, I have a breath taking view of Petronas Twin Tower and KL Viewing Tower from my windows at the same time! Do you know how beautiful it could be at night? Just romantic... : )

As usual with huge sumptious breakfast (so wide range of choices that I have to split 2 mornings to try out 2 sections of the restaurant), evening cocktail, 42 inch tv, dvd player and bla bla club thingy. Also, the monorail is just right at the door step so going to Bukit Bintang is just 2-3 stops away. But wait, they allow me to have free laundry up to 6 pieces of clothings per day! So which means, I manage to wash 12 pcs of clothings absolutely free for my entire 3D2N stay! Kewl!

Which means, I brought back my clothings all freshly cleaned and need not bother my mum for that washing of dirty clothings, apart from those I wore it during my flight home.... : )

S$26 per night for a 5-Star Hotel Deal in Hong Kong?

Recently I went for a shopping vacation to Hong Kong for its Summer Sales. Gosh, could not remember when was my last crazy shopping deal prior to this trip. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is, I managed to get an unbelievable deal for this trip... Till now, I still could not believe it is true or are they stupid to offer this price at a BIG loss?


I was reading a travel forum somewhere and trying to find a good travel deal to Hong Kong as well as getting to know the latest IN thing there. Then there was this lady wrote that she found a website that costs her only a fraction of 50 pounds for a 5-star hotel in Causeway Bay. So I follow through and went to that travel website that allows you to book hotel room at selected cities. I anyhow keyed in a date that i prefer to and it went on searching for the price. Then, my eyes wide opened when the price appeared. S$26 per night for a Hotel in Causeway Bay??!?!?!


Rubbing my eyes, I went through step by step and checked if I have keyed in mistakenly somewhere or the website creates an error page. Oh my, it is indeed a 5-star hotel and better still, it is a Club Floor Room!! Are they crazy?? With free breakfast, evening cocktail, free shuttle bus to and fro airport and seaview... only S$26?? I tried 2nd time, 3rd time, 4th time again and even on other selected dates, it was indeed S$26! Without hesitation, I booked immediatelyfor 5 nights to secure the room! I only pay for $130 for 5 luxury nights stay! Who would want to miss this super great deal? At most, I only lost $130 opportunity cost even it is a fraud, and moreover the website is a reliable airline website. How could it be fake?


Continue from there, I proceed to book SAFRA discounted airfares at 50% off for that promotional month and the airfare only cost me $345 per person including tax! So in total, I only pay $345+$130=$475 for a 6D5N Hong Kong trip with airfares and hotel! That's my 1st luck and needless to say, the hotel is damn good and luxury. I even extended this deal to my parents with 1 week stay after I returned home. Anyway, the offer price went up as per normal from October onwards, but who knows the next offer will be soon?

See yourself with the pictures here! U will envy me.... :)

My Hotel Room worth S$26 per night from my pocket :))

Sea-view from my room @ 32rd floor