Hubby and I Tested Out The 2017 Toyota RAV4 !!!

Hi Huneybees,

Hubby and I love going out for rides and recently we had the Toyota Rav4 Premium 2.0 to join us. I've always been a fan of the RAV4 series for its sleek athletic outlook on the roads and this 2017 edition is no disappointment, especially when we have this eye-catching metallic blue version!

The exterior body features aerodynamically designed body for stability, chrome plated front grilles, newly designed 17-inch aluminium rim wheels with low resistance tyres for better fuel efficiency; and automatic brightness levelling LED headlights and rear lamps.

So, after checking out the exterior, let's check out its performance? We took the RAV4 to Upper Thomson's Devil's Bend and an off road drive terrain to test it out! What we think about it? Watch the video above!

At the end of the video, did you see the Power Back Door that can be operated with just a single touch? I'm not the tallest person per se and operating such a heavy overhead door can be dangerous, and thankfully, this one on the RAV4 can be opened and closed with just a touch of a button! Also, the height you want the door to open till can be adjusted via the Multi-Information Display on the dashboard!

All in all, we love the RAV4 experience and it will make a great transport for the family. For more hands-on experience, head on over to Borneo Motors Singapore to book a test drive today - https://forms.borneomotors.com.sg/toyota/TestDriveCampaign.aspx !

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

Read More

STAR WARS Fans Get Your Lightsabers Ready For Epic 40th Anniversary Celebrations!!!

Hi Huneybees,

Calling all Star Wars fans! Be it fans of the Light Side or Dark Side, this is the day we drop all grudges and raise our light sabers high to celebrate STAR WARS DAY!

This year, we will celebrate like the Ewoks do and have a 3-days Extravaganza as it will mark the 40^th anniversary of Star Wars since the release of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. Singapore's Gardens by the Bay in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board will play host to the "STAR WARS DAY: MAY THE 4^TH BE WITH YOU Festival"!

Set in "A long, long time ago (actually not so far, just May 4th to 6th 2017), in a galaxy not so far away", Singapore's awe-inspiring 101 hectares garden at Marina Bay will have tons of Star Wars themed activities.

Hubby's excited to meet his fellow Jedi-s, heroes of the Rebellion as well Chewbacca or Chewie, whereas Sith loving me is definitely going dark with  Kylo Ren, the dark warrior from the First Order.

Aiya, whichever side of the Force you are on, you will not want to miss out on the chance to take a photo with these two characters that are making their first ever appearance in Southeast Asia! They will also be accompanied by the costume Fan Clubs - the 501st legion, Rebel Legion and FightSaber, as they decked out in their own personalized custom made movie accurate costumes to celebrate the villains and heroes of the STAR WARS saga by bringing your favorite character to life.

Chewbecca and Kylo Ren appearance schedule as above. 

Be sure to set your alarms!

[For Illustration ONLY - SEA largest Lightsaber installation]

And when dusk falls, come gather around the Supertree Grove as the Marina Bay skyline will be further illuminated with the SaberTrees light-up. This will be Southeast Asia’s largest lightsaber light-up activation, from 8pm till late on all 3 nights, where the iconic Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay will be transformed to glow in resemblance of lightsabers!

Together with the SaberTrees, there will also be the Garden Rhapsody: STAR WARS Edition, twice nightly at 7.45pm and 8.45pm on all 3 nights. It will a dazzling 15-min music and light composition, set against the epic STAR WARS soundtrack, so don't miss it.

Photo opportunity also doesn't stop with just the characters. Marvel at the iconic All-Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) – first introduced in STAR WARS: The Empire Strikes Back – standing guard at the Supertree Grove. A mainstay on-ground throughout the festival, this is your chance to get up close and personal with this towering replica, for a closer look, head up onto the OCBC Skyway for an aerial perspective of the two-legged, armored walker set against the panoramic Marina Bay skyline. I know I will!!!!

And since the night is still young, stay on for the STAR WARS themed Silent Disco on May 5^th and 6^th from 9pm to 11pm. I can't wait to see how what special galaxy dance the characters are going to do against the classic theme soundtracks like "Main Title" and "The Imperial March"!!! Now all I need is an order of Blue Milk from the Cantina...

On the 3rd day of celebrations May 6th, come gather for the inaugural Star Wars Run at The Meadow at Gardens by the Bay. There's a run for all age and strength level with 2 distances 4.5km and 10km to choose from.

There will be runners joining the Rebellion on their plight for justice on the Light side, or walk in Darth Vader’s footsteps to uncover the great powers of the Dark side. 

Unfortunately the registration for the Star Wars Run has closed with full subscriptions for the run, good for you if you managed to register, but for those who didn't make it, come join in the fun, I bet there will be lots of photo opportunities!

More information can be found here - http://www.esprimo.com.sg/StarWarsRunSG/festival.php. May the Force be with you always and I'm gona go make sure my gear and suit is all ready for the celebrations. See you there! 

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

Read More

What Is There To Experience At Samsung Galaxy Studio?!

Hi Huneybees,

Samsung Electronics Singapore is holding the Galaxy Studio consumer event at Civic Plaza, Ngee Ann City, from now till 29th June 2017, in celebration of the recent launch of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ as well to showcase the new line-up of device and service additions to the Galaxy ecosystem that puts the newly launched Galaxy S8 and S8+ at its heart. 

Galaxy Studio has returned to Civic Plaza at Ngee Ann City from 14th till 29th April 2017! Credit: Samsung Singapore.

In order to allow Huneybees like you and me to discover new ways to explore, experience and interact in today's digitized world, through the new Galaxy S8 and S8+, Galaxy Studio will introduce the new Galaxy Plus, offering options for consumers to get more out of their Galaxy S8 and S8+, made possible by the Galaxy ecosystem of products including the Samsung DeX Station, the Gear VR with Controller, the Gear 360 (2017) and the Mobile Photo Printer. 

We have our photo taken using the new Galaxy S8+ and printed by the new Mobile Photo Printer

One of the highlights at the Galaxy Studio is the VRtainment section, where Huneybees could engage in Gear VR 4D experience. When pairing the Gear VR with Controller and with the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung promises to unlock endless entertainment and VR possibilities,  just like the latest Samsung Gear VR advertisement of an ostrich (as we all know is a flightless bird) literally able to soar above its bemused companions after accidentally put on a Gear VR headset and mesmerized by the running flight simulator within.

Try the Ski Ride from the athlete's prospective with Gear VR at Galaxy Studio Singapore. Credit: Samsung Singapore.

Aircraft Simulator on Whiplash Pulsar 4D chair with Gear VR at Galaxy Studio Singapore. Credit: Samsung Singapore.

Do try the heart pumping ski ride down skeleton track that is sure to give you the adrenaline rush or seat on the Whiplash Pulsar 4D chair to experience as a fighter pilot doing extreme aircraft stunts, or as a star ship gunner traveling into space to battle against aliens! All these with the new Gear VR and its Controller.

Experience the stunning 4K resolution on Gear 360 (2017) at Galaxy Studio. Credit: Samsung Singapore.

Another highlight at Galaxy Studio is the 360 by Galaxy section, where Huneybees could experience being inside a giant snowglobe by stepping into a glass cylinder simulator and control the colour and intensity of whirlwind of snowflakes. This beautiful memory will be captured in stunning 4K resolution through the 360-degree videos and images on the Gear 360 (2017).

There's prizes to be won at galaxy Studio. Credit: Samsung Singapore.

To enhance the fun at the Galaxy Studio, Huneybees visiting Galaxy Studio can also stand a chance to win attractive prizes such as Galaxy S8 or S8+, as well as a Gear VR with Controller in the bi-weekly giveaway! In order to qualify, Huneybees simply need to approach any Galaxy Studio staff to complete at least three stations at the designed experiential zones.

Here's your Queen Bee's eco bag with the unique Samsung Bag Patches that she has collected at Galaxy Studio!

What's more, during the progress, Huneybees can receive unique Samsung Bag Patches, available in eight designs, and also redeem a complimentary eco bag at the Galaxy Studio Customer Service Counter after sharing a photo captured at Galaxy Studio on either Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #GalaxyStudioSG.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ are both IP68 which mean they can be submerge in water of 1.5m depth for upto 30mins!

Hopefully through a slew of delightful and immersive activities at the zones, Huneybees can appreciate how Samsung’s connected suite of devices and services integrates perfectly with their daily lives.

For Huneybees who are eager to get their hands on these new fantastic Samsung products, the Gear VR with Controller @ SGD188.00, Gear 360 (2017) @ SGD348.00 and Samsung DeX Station @ SGD198.00 will be available at all local telecommunication operators, major consumer IT and electronics stores, authorised mobile retailers, Samsung Experience Stores and selected online marketplace from 29 April. Meanwhile the Mobile Photo Printer @ SGD198.00 will be available from Q3 2017.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

Read More

The Inaugural Siloso GrillFest *Burps*

Hi Huneybees,

Despite the heavy downpour just before 6pm on 13th of April 2017 at Sentosa, it did not dampen the excitement to the inaugural beach barbeque festival, Siloso GrillFest.

Try Pita Gyros, the mouth melting pork belly shaves, wrapped in pita bread with sweet onion and  tzatziki @ MYKONOS On The Bay pop-up stall #14 in front of Wave House

Organized along a 1-km stretch of the Sentosa's famous Siloso Beach over two weekends in April, on 13th - 16th April 2017 and 21st - 23rd April 2017, from 6pm till 11pm, Siloso GrillFest offers a spread of classic and contemporary BBQ creations, as well as international cuisine from various F&B operators from within and beyond Sentosa to satisfy the appetite of food lovers.

Singapore’s Longest Brick BBQ Pit by the Singapore Book of Records @ Spuds & Aprons pop-up stall #7 in front of Emerald Pavillion

Half Shelled Scollop with Mentaiko Source @ Spuds & Aprons pop-up stall #7 in front of Emerald Pavillion

Smoky Hot Grilled Seafood Platter @ Spuds & Aprons pop-up stall #7 in front of Emerald Pavillion

One of the highlights of the inaugural beach barbeque festival is the BBQ pit, setup by Spuds & Aprons, measured approximately 4.9 meters long and 0.9 meters tall and made up of approximately 310 bricks joined together using cement. It has just been awarded Singapore’s Longest Brick BBQ Pit by the Singapore Book of Records just before the start of this one-of-a-kind beach food festival!

Guests can also look forward to various cuisines offered through the pop-up stalls of Amara Sanctuary Resort, Wave House Sentosa, as well as Ola Beach Club and FOC Sentosa – two of Sentosa’s latest F&B outlets.

Avoid disappointment caused by long queues and "sold out" by going to Siloso GrillFest early.

Huneybees are reminded to be there as early as possible as some of the crowd favourite dishes, such as the Gourmet Seafood Platter by Spuds & Aprons and the fresh Oysters by Greenwood Fish Markets  or Ola Beach Club are expected to be sold out fast. It was the case for us when we made a beeline to order just after 8pm on the first day of the festival.

The Queen Bee's favourite - Grill Spanish Mackerel with Green Chili Nahm Jim @ Gin Khao Bistro pop-up stall #15 in front of Wave House

The Chef at Gin Khao Bistro pop-up stall #15 grilled the Spanish Mackerel to perfection!

Also, do explore those pop-up stalls that are located further down the 1-km stretch of the Siloso GrillFest, such as the in front of the Wave House. Over there you will find the pop-up stall operates by Gin Khao Bristo, where Thai food is reinvented and given a twist. We really enjoyed the refreshing taste of the Grilled Mackerel Fish paired with its special green chilli sauce, which reminded us of our times back at Bangkok!

Enjoy 10% discounts at many of the participating pop-up stalls when you charged the bill to your Mastercard and stand a chance for sure-win lucky draw too!

What's more if you are Mastercard holders, you not only get to enjoy a 10% discount at selected stalls but also get a spin chance in a sure-win lucky draw if you will to charge a minimum of S$30 to your Mastercard at participating Siloso GrillFest booths! As a bonus for being a Sentosa Islander member, Sentosa Islander corporate member, PAssion POSB Debit Card or HomeTeamNS-PAssion POSB Debit Card cardholder, you are entitled for an additional one (1) spin. The prizes include:

• $68 Mastercard prepaid cards
• $48 Mastercard prepaid cards
• $28 Mastercard prepaid cards
• $30 Mastercard petrol vouchers 

Don't miss your chance to catch Jack In The box and other artistes performing live at Siloso GrillFest

With the opportunity to feast along the beach, amidst a carnival-like setting under the stars and accompanied by Live music performances from local acts, that include Jack & Rai, The JumpStart and MUSE The Collective, plus discounts and sure-win lucky spin if you pay by Mastercard, what more can we ask for?

Siloso GrillFest
Dates: 13 to 16 April 2017 and 21 to 23 April 2017
Opening Hours: 6pm – 11pm
Location: Siloso Beach
Admission: Free


 Bon appetit!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

Read More

Celebrate Summer Fun With Starbucks

Hi Huneybees,

April is here and it's time for Summer Fun! But of course, basking in the sun, don't forget to hydrate yourselves! The new Starbucks® Summer Frappuccino® Blended Beverages would do the job; playful multilayered Frappuccino® that's set to bring the summer fun to your tongues.

Starbucks Singapore has come up with 2 new beverages for their vivacious, beautiful and diverse customers - Starbucks® Pop-Zel Coffee Frappuccino® blended beverage and the Starbucks® Strawberry Coconut Bliss Frappuccino® blended beverage.

Taking cue from the expressive spirit of our customers, each Frappuccino® blended beverage has a personality of its own. The savory but sweet Starbucks® Pop-Zel Coffee Frappuccino® blended beverage is open-minded and daring, while the tropical-inspired Starbucks® Strawberry Coconut Bliss Frappuccino® blended beverage is stylish and light-hearted.

Starbucks® Pop-Zel Coffee Frappuccino® blended beverage

The classic Coffee Frappuccino gets a tasty twist of hybrid with our favorite childhood treats to give life to Starbucks newest sweet and salty drink. Meet the Pop’zel Coffee Frappuccino where popcorn and pretzel syrup get together with coffee, milk and ice for a rumble and tumble in the blender, topped with fluffy whipped cream, caramel popcorn and salted pretzel. Get ready for a party in your mouth!

Starbucks® Strawberry Coconut Bliss Frappuccino® blended beverage
Combining some of the most on-trend flavours this season – coconut and strawberry – savour the blissfulness of the Starbucks® Strawberry Coconut Bliss Frappuccino® blended beverage whilst enjoying bites of strawberry pieces and toasted coconut flakes with every sip. Cream Frappuccino blended crème is infused with a blend of toasted coconut flakes and coconut powder, then strawberry puree is swirled in to create a deliciously sweet marbled effect. Topped with whipped cream and coconut flakes for extra crunch.

STARBUCKS FEATURED COFFEE FORMATS: THE PERFECT REFRESHING START TO YOUR DAY ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
The warmer weather is also the perfect time to sip a brewed cup of coffee, whether in store or at home. The Starbucks® Kati Kati Blend is made from East African beans that produce a medium bodied and distinctive citrus flavor – just in time for the season. Taste the striking invigorating balance between the citrusy, spicy notes and the subtle floral aromas for yourself. Also available in Iced VIA Ready Brew sachets for when you want to take your refreshment on the go.

SAY “YES” TO ME TIME: HAVE A MID-DAY BREAK AT STARBUCKS
Banish those mid-day hunger pangs with our wholesome food menu featuring 13 brand-new items, including the Black Pepper Beef & Smoked Cheddar Broccoli Baguette, Seafood Chowder Pie and Vanilla Custard Brioche. Made with premium and natural ingredients, without artificial trans-fat, artificial coloring, or high fructose corn syrup, our sweet and savory options are great whether you are just looking to satisfy a craving or if you prefer a heartier meal. Check out our website to discover our full menu!

TROPICAL SHADES: STARBUCKS SUMMER COLLECTION
Inspired by the energetic spirit of summer, this season, customers can choose from a selection of bright and beautiful mugs, tumblers, water bottles, cold cups and totes in fun summer designs and colors. The collection draws youthful yet sophisticated tropical patterns in rich bright colors paired with darker jewel tones.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

Read More

No More Wireless Dead Zone For Me With Linksys Velop

Hi Huneybees,

Have you ever experienced no Wi-Fi signal in your bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom even while your home wi-fi system (modem + router + broadband extender) is running properly in the living room? Well, it happens to me everyday and it's getting on my nerves...

Commonly known as wireless "Dead Zone" or "Dead Spot", this phenomenon is usually due to the layout of your home and the construction material that was used.

In Singapore where construction standard is strict in implementing square wire mesh beneath concrete, many developers including Housing & Development Board (aka HDB) turned to creativity when it comes to designing living space in a land-scare island, hence it is common to see apartment layout that is either T or L shape.

With either layout, it is not surprising to find many families here installing at least one (1) broadband extender to extend the wi-fi signal coverage within their home. Nevertheless, broadband extender does solve the problem, but there's still other disadvantages.

Not only does it create multiple SSID, the extended wi-fi signal is also weakened significantly to the liking of any serious gamer or high resolution streaming movie viewer.

Thanks to Linksys, now this problem is behind us as the pioneer in wireless connectivity has just launched Velop - the first true whole home wi-fi product in Singapore on 6th April 2017. We attended the launch at Atlas Sound & Vision, where we got to check out how the system works at this audio, visual showroom.

Developed with enhancing users' home network experience in mind, Velop is the first Tri-Band modular AC2200 wi-fi system that combines performance, design, and ease-of-use to provide 100% of broadband internet speeds to every corner of their home!

Being modular means you can have more than 1 Velop setup at your home depending on its layout.
In the context of a T or L shape apartment in Singapore,  it is recommended to deploy at least 2 Velop, while if you stay in a multi-story home, you would need at least 3 Velop to have full home wi-fi coverage.

The secret to the promise of 100% broadband internet speeds by Linksys is the fact that each Velop serves as a "node" that can operate in a number of different mesh topologies and leverage on its tri-band technology and dynamic channel scanning algorithms to auto select the best band among the three networks - two 5 GHz and one 2.4 GHz - to broadcast among the other nodes and all logon client devices, hence delivers a flawless, ultra-fast wireless signal in full-strength. 

What's best is the fact that setting up the Velop is easy breezy even for a non-technical person like my dad! You just have to click through the steps and the only time you need to input information is setting up your account for the first time.

By using the Linksys app, you are easily set up in minutes by simply following the idiot-proof step-by-step instruction. For more advanced users, you could also use the same app as a powerful wi-fi management tool with useful features such as guest access, parental controls and device prioritization.

See how small the Velop is compared to the TV.
Can you spot it on the bottom left of pic?

Designed with a footprint that is 88% smaller than the average router, each Velop is a small tower standing just seven inches in height with a soft white color palette that allows the device to blend well into whichever area of the house.

No more multiple blinking signal lights, just a colour changing bulb at the corner.

If you are like me who is annoyed by the sight of cable clutter around the house, the cavity at the base of every Velop will hide and help to organize the power and ethernet cables hence making our life a lot comfortable.

While Linksys Velop is not the cheapest wi-fi mesh system available in the marketplace, it does come with a 3-year warranty and 24/7 consumer support for added peace of mind and will be available in three (3) different configurations at the following recommended retail pricing:

• (1 Pack or Velop ) WHW0301 - SGD 349.00
• (2 Pack or Velop ) WHW0302 - SGD 599.00
• (3 Pack or Velop ) WHW0303 - SGD 749.00

For Huneybees who are can't wait to get your hand on Velop in any of the configurations, it will available exclusive online from 12th April at www.Hachi.tech, 13th April at all Challenger stores and 22th April at all Singtel outlets. Thereafter from 12 May onwards, it will be available everywhere around the island at all other authorized resellers.

Well, as the saying goes, the three things you need to survive in this digital age are water, electricity and Wi-Fi.Who wouldn't want the best?

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

Read More