Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits at Singapore Flyer

Once I have been to Changi Terminal 3 and saw this interesting shop called Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits. The shop was full and they were selling fried chicken. I didn't get the chance to try, until I was at Singapore Flyer after the event. The restaurant was not so full, and although sinful, we decided for a try.

While queueing up, I noticed they have limited choice of items. Most people ordered the set which is fried chicken + side dish + biscuit + soft drink. So, I choose the 2pc chicken set with coleslaw.


Popeyes 2pc Chicken set


Fried Chicken in close up

The chicken - Fair enough, pretty good. I guess that explain the crowd. It is crispy and full of flavour. But deep inside the meat, I found it with less spicies.

Coleslaw - Good enough, but there is a strong flavour vege which I could not recognise

Biscuit - This is more like a bread to me, except it is a bit hard. They called it biscuit in America, goes with jam

Drink - Standard coke, nothing to say

The quality is comparable to KFC, although some might argue that this is better. To me, I still like KFC better. Did some research from internet, Popeyes comes from US and compete directly with KFC.

Extended visit to Singapore Flyer after cycle event

Frankly, I never been to Singapore Flyer before, only saw it on TV. Since I already at F1 pit, I paid it a visit after the cycle event completed. The wheel is magnificent, so big, and it is turning slowly.

Walk into the Singapore Flyer compound, there weren't many visitors. Not sure because of the cycle event or recession.


Singapore Flyer capsule. It is quite big.


The base of wheel, they made it green to watch.


Singapore Flyer wheel, really interesting to watch it from close.

Completed 40km of OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009

Sunday was a sunny day, I woke up very early in morning 5am to prepare for the mass cycling event - OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009. Had some simple breakfast which mainly carbo. Then, took the cab to padang, there were many road closure on the day. The cab fare was only 16 dollars, which was cheap and quite surprising to me.

By the time, I met up with other team mate and reach the F1 pit, it was only 6:15am and the sky was still bright. Then, I got the rental bike, tested the brake function and seat ok. The last thing was to prepare for the challenge mentally.

At 7:30am, everybody gathered at starting point, waiting for the flag off. But, there were 2000 plus people, so the participants were set off in batches. When it was my turn, it was already 8am. After set off, I just maintain my normal pace, not to exhaust energy before reaching the end.

I only stopped at the second drink station for some drinks and continue my trip. The race was exciting, everybody just try their best to cycle. Along the road, you get to enjoy the scenery, be it shop houses or park. I decided not to stop at last drink station, as I was not very thirsty. The last 8km, it was all out sprint, as fast as I could. But the rental bike is lousy, you cannot expect too much from it.

Finally, after two hours, I reach the finishing line. It was quite a satisfying experience, having achived something through hardwork. I might join again next year, hehe. Some shots, after I completed my race.


At the back of F1 pit, where everyone finished their Cycle 2009 walk around.


Those really tired, sit down and rest.


From the back of F1 pit, you can see the Singapore Flyer wheel. Without joining the Cycle 2009 event, you won't have chance to enter the F1 pit right?


Shot at the Cycle Singapore 2009 return point. Everybody seems to be kah neng.


Time for some Tiger Balm massage after the intensive cycle.


Ambulance was called into action. It seems like some are injured.


There was a Mighty Saver race for kids noon time.


Door of F1 garage. Seldom got chance to walk into F1 garage right?


Overall Singapore F1 pit garage view

I think this can be consider as one of my achievement for 2009!

Changi Point Boardwalk

Although I have cycled to the Changi Beach via the park connector, I didn't realise that there are more to changi than the ferry terminal. Somebody brought me to this Changi Boardwalk at Changi Point.

It is actually a costal line along the Changi Beach area and the area is linked by the boardwalk. As you walk along the boardwalk, you see different view. There are many government resort, sailing club and recreation facilities. The wind is surprisingly strong which make the walk very pleasant. You also would see people sailing on the sea.


Changi Boardwalk view towards the sea and sailing club. Fantastic.

Google desktop CPU hogging issue solved

Last year, I noticed that my laptop fan keep spinning for a pro long period. As the result, the air outlet became really hot and my CPU usage is hovering around 50%. When I open my task manager, the CPU resource is being taken by the Google Desktop that I am using. I thought the issue would go away, after I installed a new version of the program, but it didn't. So, I gave up using it for quite a while.

Today, I installed another latest version of Google Desktop, hoping them would fix the thing. At the end, it didn't. I was determined to find out the reason. I do some research on the issue and somebody suggest that the Google Desktop application is stuck with some files and cause the looping and high CPU usage. So, I start my investigation with following steps:

1. On my Google Desktop and note the CPU usage.

2. Download the process monitor application from Microsoft website.

3. Run the process monitor and filter the Google Desktop application only. The process monitor shows what the application is trying to do on real time basis

4. After some observation, I realised that it constantly access one of its own file called hes.evt. It is under C:\Documents and Settings\user_id\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Google Desktop\661718322531 (Your path could be different)

5. I shut down the Google desktop and delete the file

6. Start the Google desktop again. Hurray, it works.

Now, the application is behaving normally and no CPU hogging issue. Hopefully, the team can fix this bug in the next release.

Transport cost going down

In Singapore, a place where things are expensive, where the food price and rent remain high, the transport cost is going down! It is hard to believe, but it is real and it starts on 1 Apr 2009.

The adjustment is as follow:
2cts down for single trip
10cts more for transfer

Transfer rebate used to be 25cts only, was hiked just recently to 40cts, but now is going to 50cts. That's a lot and it makes it worth to take public transport and transfer between mrt and bus. I think it makes sense, the price adjustment. After all, the oil price has dropped so much and ridership increased so much.

Make it cheap and attract more people to ride. Sell more advertisement and everybody happy.

Competition is good for consumer. You have iPhone, Android and even windows mobile 6.5 now

In the current MWC (Mobile World Congress), the phone manufacturers show off many soon to release new models. Although the economy situation is getting worse everyday, the mobile competition only get hots up.

iPhone lead the pack two years ago, due to its usability and innovation. Finally, the others are catching up. Google have Android in the pocket, after HTC Dream, the next Magic is going to be revealed. Hopefully, more manufacturer would adopt the new OS and provide more choices for consumer.

Nokia end, they are working on symbian variance of the smart phone. The E-series is quite popular nowadays. There should be greater push from them to gain more market share. Even Palm also reveil their own version of new OS to counter the iPhone and Android.

The old dog Windows Mobile is fighting back with new OS version 6.5. To deliver functionalities that are better than the old version and work better with finger only. You have iPhone, Android, Palm, WM, Symbian, so many to choose from in the future.

I am still holding out for a "better" phone. If not better functionalities, then better price. The longer you wait, the more value you get.

Travel along Pasir Ris and Changi park connector

In order to prepare for next Sunday's Cycle Singapore, I went on for another cycling session. This time I traveled from Tampines centre to Changi beach in two hours, back and forth. The path is as follows:

Sunplaza park -> Pasir Ris town park -> Loyang area -> Changi beach park.

All linked by the park connector network. But seriously, I don't remember all the area names. The route passed by downtown east and some Loyang insdutrial area. In terms of traffic, this path is better, there is no frequent stop which is annoying. In terms of difficulty, it is tough. Because there are many slopes, the uphill ride is tough, yet the downhill I have to brake frequently to control the speed.

It was a tough two hours ride, back and forth. The moment I reach Changi village, it was time to head back, in order to make the 2 hours rental time. However, along the way, I do enjoyed the wind and scenery.


Changi Chalet Seaview. There are many chalet along the way near the Changi Village. This is the part of Changi that I never been to. Includes the SAF resort and Aloha Changi. The view is quite good


Changi Village Hotel. The hotel facade is quite interesting. Different from the usual hotel and the atmosphere is more relax.


Changi Jetty. Finally I reach the jetty, can continue to Pulau Ubin.


Changi Village view before I went back. Too bad, no time for a famous Nasi Lemak

Air ticket sales, more price cut coming

In the headline today, ticket to Melbourne going for $89 only. Last week, tiger airway ticket to KL was only going at $58 for a return ticket. As the economy worsen, the willingness for people to travel would significantly reduced. So, expect more price cut ahead.

If you have the patient to wait, maybe can wait for the off peak season and then plan the journey.

刘谦 见证奇迹的时刻 中日对比

刘谦在2009年的春节联欢晚会上表演魔术而引起热烈讨论。其实这个魔术不算新，已有过类似的表演。

春晚版：


日本节目版：

Toto, 1 year 1 dream

It is time again, for the once a year, Toto 10 million Hong Bao draw. It is exactly at this time, every year that the Singapore Pools outlet would have a long queue. Everyone with a dream for a wind fall would gather to try his/her luck. This year draw is on Fri, 6 Feb.

It has become an unique culture here that everyone expect this to happen every year now. Some hot stations even have an eye popping queue.

We know gambling is bad, especially you lose 9 time out of 10. But for Toto, everyone seems to have hope for using a little to win a lot. Treating it as a dream, it is still alright. Only once a year, you can have this millionaire dream.

1 year 1 dream.