Incredible right? It is like a scene from some alien planet, or a scene from Superman’s fortress of Ice.
In fact, this is somewhere on Planet Earth, the Cueva de los Cristales, the Giant Crystal Cave, in Mexico. It is one of the deadliest place on earth, and even with full suit protection, we can only stay inside for less than 20 minutes. Less than 100 people have seen this cave.
For more incredible pictures and source, please go to National Geographic.
This is actually quite amazing and sad at the same time. Below is a map of all the countries with McDonald’s restaurants.
I have been waiting for the movie ‘The Hobbit’ directed by Peter Jackson, like forever. The first trailer is out:
Seriously, how cool is a band of singing dwarves?
The Hobbit consists of 2 movies, “The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey” out in 2012, and “The Hobbit : There and Back Again” out in 2013.
The song that the dwarves were singing in the trailer is actually the “Dwarven Song About Old Wealth” from the book. Of course Howard Shore added the haunting tune.
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek the pale enchanted gold.
The dwarves of yore made mightly spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gleaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sward.
On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, in twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun.
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeouns deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day,
To claim our long-forgotten gold.Goblets they carved there for themselves
And harps of gold; where no man delves
There lay they long, and many a song
Was sung unheard by men or elves.
The pines were roaring on the height,
(The pines were roaring on the height)
The winds were moaning in the night,
The fire was red, it flaming spread;
(The fire was red, it flaming spread)
The trees like torches blazed with light.
The bells were ringing in the dale
(The bells were ringing in the dale)
And men looked up with faces pale;
The dragon’s ire more fierce than fire
(The dragon’s ire more fierce than fire)
Laid low their towers and houses frail.The mountain smoked beneath the moon;
(The mountain smoked beneath the moon)
The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom.
They fled their hall to dying fall
(They fled their hall to dying fall)
Beneath his feet, beneath the moon.Far over the misty mountains grim
To dungeons deep and caverns dim
We must away, ere break of day,
To win our harps and gold from him!The pines were roaring on the height,
(The pines were roaring on the height)
The winds were moaning in the night,
The fire was red, it flaming spread;
(The fire was red, it flaming spread)
The trees like torches blazed with light.
The bells were ringing in the dale
(The bells were ringing in the dale)
And men looked up with faces pale;
The dragon’s ire more fierce than fire
(The dragon’s ire more fierce than fire)
Laid low their towers and houses frail.
Don’t pway pway. O$P$
Debt collectors utilize Facebook to embarrass those who owe.
Maggie Q as Nikita, a brand new TV series showing in US now. So far, the first few episodes have all what I expected a series like this to be, hot scenes of Maggie Q, action, conspiracies and some dry humour. It shows promise, compared to the Dollhouse, which was a total letdown.
Will follow closely and see where this TV series leads to.
Apple has just announced iPad will be available in Singapore on 23rd July 2010 Friday.
Taken from http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/19ipad.html
CUPERTINO, California—July 19, 2010—Apple® today announced that iPad™ will be available in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore this Friday, July 23. iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad is 0.5 inches thin and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and delivers up to 10 hours of battery life.*
Beginning this Friday, customers can purchase all models of iPad through Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
Pricing & Availability
All iPad models will be available in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore this Friday, July 23.iPad is currently available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for 16GB, $599 (US) for 32GB, and $699 (US) for 64GB for iPad Wi-Fi models and $629 (US) for 16GB, $729 (US) for 32GB and $829 (US) for 64GB for iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G models. iPad will roll out to many more countries later this year and Apple will announce availability and local pricing for these additional countries at a later date.
*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.
Sorry Amazon, since iPad is available here in Singapore first, Kindle loses out.
I think by now most of us had tried playing the Google Pac-Man and most probably did it while we were supposed to be working.
RescueTime did a basic calculation of how much money was wasted due to people playing Google Pac-Man, based on certain assumptions.
The cost?
$298,803,988
I, for one, think Google is pretty cool.
Took a brief walking trip to Marina Bay Sands with my Canon S90. Next time I will be bringing my DSLR, this place has many breathtaking views!
[singlepic id=624 w=320 h=240 float=none]
[singlepic id=641 w=320 h=240 float=none]
[singlepic id=622 w=320 h=240 float=none]
[singlepic id=632 w=320 h=240 float=none]
[singlepic id=635 w=320 h=240 float=none]
The rest of the photos can be found here.
Nando’s was introduced to me by someone when I was in Australia, and after tasting it, I made it a point to always have a meal whenever I am in a country which has Nando’s. I was really hoping then that one day it will come to Singapore.
So it was with great joy when I saw one day on Twitter that Nando’s was finally coming to Singapore. This was hot on the heels of Wendy’s and Chili’s re-establishing their presence here in Singapore again, another two great tasting places which I tasted overseas but were not in Singapore.
And as a way to promote Nando’s in Singapore, various contests were held on Twitter, which I had the fortunate to win one, earning myself a free meal for 4 before it was officially opened.
So I grabbed my friends to go for the free meal. When we arrived at the outlet in Bugis, we were informed that the South Africa High Commissioner was present in the restaurant. Considering that Nando’s is from South Africa, and one of the very few South African brands to have a presence worldwide, I guess the South Africa High Commissioner must be pleased to have Nando’s establishing themselves here in Singapore. We were also told that the dinner was a simulation exercise for them, to iron out all the kinks before the actual opening. We were then shown to our table and given our menus.
This was the first of the few kinks of the night. After we were given the menus, we were basically left alone without anyone offering to guide us through the menus. It took some time before we managed to get the attention of the waiter. The waiter who took our order was cheerful and his services were really quite good.
I took the 1/2 chicken with the 2 sides, choosing the coleslaw and the Mediterranean rice. Our food came promptly, and after getting our food, there were a few more kinks. My friend ordered the Peri-Peri chips with Peri Peri powder, but it came without the powder. This was rectified when we got the waiter to bring it back so that they can sprinkled the Peri Peri powder on the chips. We were joking that they had purposely messed up the chips in order to simulate the scenario of getting the order wrong.
My friend also find the corn too spicy and oily. She said the corn was literally soaking in oil. We later discovered that it is possible to ask for the less spicy version of the corn which was something that the waiter should have asked us. Another kink of the night.
The Peri Soup that was recommended by the waiter was really good. Not too watery nor chunky, it was really tasty, and my friends all agreed.
Next was what we came for, the chicken! And it was definitely worth the wait. The meat was really succulent, marinated just right with their famous sauce. It tasted as good as I remembered it to be!
The Mediterranean rice was a disappointment though. It was bland and ordinary. The other side my friend ordered, I believed was called Peri’s Cous Cous, was much, much better.
While we were enjoying our dinner, one of the staff came and check on us. We informed him about the disappointing Mediterranean rice and he said that the actual rice has not arrived in Singapore yet and the rice they used were not really meant for their cooking machines. We also mentioned about the corn, which he informed us that the waiter should have asked us how spicy we want the corn to be. He was quite chatty, and mentioned that they were actually quite surprised to have so many fans in Singapore even before they were opened, judging from the responses in Facebook and Twitter. He also mentioned that the next outlet will be Tanglin Mall, and they have aggressive plans to expand into the heartlands. That will be something to look forward to!
Besides the kinks mentioned, my friends also remarked that the smell from the kitchen was pretty strong. Even though we were sitting outside, we could smell it and we wondered how bad it will be to sit inside.
We were provided with Nando’s money in order to complete the whole simulation exercise. At the end of the dinner, we had some photos taken by their photographer and provided a goodie bag each before we left.
Overall, it was a good dining experience. I am pretty sure the kinks will be sorted to make it an even better experience. They, for sure, have a winner here. The chicken used is fresh, not frozen. There are no preservatives nor MSG used, and due to the way the chicken is being prepared, most of the fat are removed. It is a healthy and tasty meal, something everyone nowadays are very conscious of. Now, if only they will do delivery!
Big thanks to Nando’s Singapore for the dinner!
Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken
200 Victoria Street
Bugis Junction, #01-85 to 87
http://www.nandos.com.sg
Other sneak peak pictures here.