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How I Travelled Tokyo For the First Time Using Klook

Jan 30, 2023Jan 31, 2023

Whenever someone asks me if I’ve been to Japan, I would always tell them it’s complicated because while I acknowledge having been in the country once, I never actually stepped foot beyond the confines of Tokyo Disneyland. Yes, you read that right — I spent 6 days and 5 nights in Japan holed up at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea without EVER stepping out of the resort’s vicinity. So, when I was presented with an opportunity to visit Tokyo with Klook, I knew I had to give myself a do-over.

For those unfamiliar with the platform, Klook gives you the ability to search for experiences and travel deals based on the country you are visiting. Its user-friendly features let you find activities easily at a more cost-saving price than those from the actual site. This also applies to things such as mobile wi-fi, transportation, and local SIM cards.

Before every trip, seasoned travellers would be familiar with getting a local SIM card, which embarrassingly, was something I tried out for the first time since I’m one of those who cluelessly sign up for costly data roaming plans. So, it was a no-brainer for me to use Klook to purchase a local SIM card with unlimited data for my trip, which cost a third of my auto-roaming plan, and all I had to do was simply collect it upon arrival at the airport.

I also had my tickets for the Kiseki Skyliner settled before my trip to avoid the hassle of purchasing in person. For most travellers arriving through Narita, the Skyliner offers a quick and direct way out from the airport to Tokyo’s city centre. With my Klook booking, I was able to promptly redeem the Skyliner tickets with allocated seats using the QR code provided.

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If you’re new to Tokyo (just like me), it would be good for you to purchase a Suica card before you leave the airport. This card is similar to our local Ez-Link card and makes it easier to travel the subway without having to purchase single tickets at every station. I was in Tokyo for a total of 6 days and 5 nights of which my itinerary was filled with experiences and activities that can be found through Klook. Read on for a closer look at what you can expect to experience on your next trip to Japan!

KLOOK PASS TOKYO

Like most occasional travellers, I often book my activities individually which typically end up being expensive and hard to keep track of. With Klook Pass Tokyo, I not only get entry to the selected attractions with an all-in-one pass, but I also save on the individual admission fees. The pass allows you to select up to 7 attractions which include Tokyo Sanrio Puroland and teamlab PLANETS Tokyo. For this trip, I had a 3 Attractions Pass for Tokyo Skytree, Art Aquarium Museum Ginza, and Yomiuri Land.

TOKYO SKYTREE

Since its completion in 2012, Tokyo Skytree has become the tallest structure in Japan (and third in the world) standing at about 634 meters high. Aside from being the primary television and radio broadcast site for the Kanto region, it has also become one of the must-see locations for tourists, complete with an accompanying mall, Tokyo Solamachi, that houses an aquarium and seven floors for shopping and dining.

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As someone who has a fear of heights, I stepped into Tokyo Skytree with slight hesitation when I was told that I would visit not only the 350th floor but also the 450th floor. Anxiety aside, Tokyo Skytree proved to be a picturesque destination with a circular viewing deck that offered a panoramic and breathtaking view of Tokyo no matter where you stand, and you might even be able to spot Mount Fuji in the distance if the weather is particularly good!

ART AQUARIUM MUSEUM GINZA

Located in the department store Ginza Mitsukoshi in Ginza, the Art Aquarium Museum Ginza offers you a unique way to appreciate Japanese culture and art with (living and swimming) goldfish. Home to approximately 70 species of goldfish, the museum combines light, sound, and fragrance to not only showcase the aquatic creatures in their specially built fish tanks but also in various (non-living) Japanese art forms with 13 themed exhibits ranging from a Goldfish Corridor to a Goldfish Waterfall, and an Origami-rium.

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Though I can’t say that I appreciate goldfish all that much, I did like the unique interpretation of art that the museum conveyed. Unlike my usual behaviour when it comes to anything associated with art, I found myself less inclined to breeze through the space which probably allowed me to fully appreciate the exhibits and in a cliche sense, find my inner peace.

YOMIURI LAND

Nestled in what looks to be a residential neighbourhood that is just 35 minutes away from Shinjuku, this is Tokyo’s largest domestic theme park which is open all year round with about 44 rides and attractions that include viewing cherry blossoms in the spring, a water park for the summer, and spectacular light illuminations in the winter.

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I’m a theme park enthusiast who favours the big-name parks and while I was not expecting much of Yomiuri Land, I am always happy to be proven wrong. From the surprising entry into the park that came in the form of a suspended gondola ride to the sheer size of the land, the park was more than I imagined. Even though I did not have enough time to explore the entire park, I was able to enjoy Jewellumination, their main attraction for winter, which reflects vibrant jewel-like colours around the park using LED lights. I highly recommend taking in the view from the Ferris Wheel as it offers an exceptionally gorgeous bird’s eye view of the whole park.

GUNMA PREFECTURE

The day trip to Gunma typically takes two hours onboard a roundtrip shuttle which acts as your mode of transportation to and from the prefecture. The all-inclusive tour (available through Klook), also comes with a native Japanese tour guide who will not only brief you on the activities but also share tidbits about the customaries and life in Japan.

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As with most day trips, road conditions can be unpredictable so don’t be alarmed if the duration of your trip gets extended by an hour or two. Our tour group had a bit of a scare when we were told to expect a major jam on the expressway which added 90 minutes to the schedule but thankfully the traffic cleared up in time and we encountered no further delays!

STRAWBERRY PICKING

Before we disembarked to flex our strawberry picking skills, a farm attendant came on board to give us a bit of a brief on what to expect inside the greenhouse including the type of strawberries we’d be tasting, which turned out to be Princess Yayoihime — a rare type of strawberry only available in Gunma.

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Heading into the greenhouse, we were each given a small plastic tray with condensed milk on the side dipping. Gleefully holding my tray, I set out to find as many strawberries as I could eat as they had to be consumed within the confines of the greenhouse (meaning that we can’t ‘ta pao’ even if we wanted to).

Despite doing research on strawberry picking, it turns out that there is no real trick to picking them. All you actually need to do is just hold the fruit with one hand and hold the vine it is attached to with your other hand, turn the strawberry three times, and pull. With that technique in mind, I soon had a full tray of strawberries which I needed to make quick work of. It was an all-around fun experience that I would try again though I would have to overcome my fear of the working bees buzzing around.

TOFU SKIN SCOOPING

I’m a huge fan of anything tofu-related and going into this activity, my excitement had cranked up to a hundred percent, especially at the prospect of possibly consuming a few bowls of my beloved Yuba — the Japanese counterpart of our Chinese Tau Kee. Unlike the ones I’ve tasted at Japanese restaurants in Singapore, the Yuba in Japan had a smoother texture with a slightly milky aftertaste.

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Armed with a bowl and scooper, we made our way inside and gathered around a huge hot stove of sorts, where we were taught how to scoop the tofu skin up. Though it had looked fairly easy, I think I made it challenging for myself as I became slightly competitive and wanted to be one of those who could scoop up the yuba in one piece. It was, of course, a tall order, and after accepting self-defeat, I tucked into my bowl of yuba with some of the available condiments which included fried tofu skin, ramen soup, and other types of tofu.

Needless to say, my hunger for Yuba did get out of hand and I had shamelessly consumed three full bowls by the time we left the tofu factory.

ASHIKAGA FLOWER PARK

Best known for its Japanese Wisteria, the Ashikaga Flower Park is home to several hundred flowering plants and trees that are displayed in eight thematic chapters based on the seasons. As we were visiting during Winter, we were treated to the Bejeweled Flower Garden which uses over five million LED lights to take the place of flowers.

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I’m not a flower person so I had expected to take less than an hour before heading to the gift shop to hide from the cold, but I ended up walking the park for the full duration we were given to explore. To be honest, I had expected the park to be like our Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay yet it only managed to surprise me with its size and the sheer amount of dedication put into sculpting each light exhibit. A must-see that I particularly enjoyed was the LED wisterias which had been replicated using LED lights that hung overhead, giving you an idea of what you could expect to see when the real wisterias are in bloom.

NIKKO PASS (DIGITAL TICKET)

With the Nikko Pass Digital Ticket, which I had booked prior to my trip, round trips between Tokyo and Nikko are covered in addition to an all-you-can-ride pass which allows for easy travel around the area by train or bus as you explore the World Heritage Sites of Nikko.

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It’s a fairly handy pass to have and all you need to do is just flash the QR code when you board and alight. This also applies to your trips to and from Tokyo where you will just need to show your QR code to the station masters for entry into the station. The Nikko Pass does not cover admission fees for the heritage sites but you can still easily purchase them when you’re there. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect to find in Nikko.

NIKKO TOSHOGU SHRINE

Up till then, my only knowledge of Japanese shrines came from what I watched in travel documentaries, and seeing it in real life is very different. Despite the buzz of tourists at the shrine, there was still an air of tranquility and mystery when you look at the structure.

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The shrine itself was pretty extensive and there was always something to see at every turn. I recommend taking the time to see the shrine in its entirety, and you will not only find a sleeping cat statue (that is carved overhead) but also get your steps in with a very-lovely-and-not-at-all-tiring climb up 207 stone steps to visit an Inner Shrine Pagoda where the Shogun Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu has been interred since 1617.

Besides feeling like a gawky tourist, I couldn’t help but be enthralled by the variety of lucky charms, protection charms, and fortunes being sold everywhere I turned. So much like the eager beaver I was, I tried my hand at a blind fortune that I had intended to keep as a souvenir when a friend of mine warned me about the dangers of an unopened fortune. It turns out that I couldn’t keep the fortune unless it was good because bad fortune needed to be left behind for the shrine maidens to burn and bless them.

In my panic state, I opened my fortune which turned out to literally be not-so-good and I broke into lightning speed to tie it with the other bad fortunes. Suffice it to say that it was my first and last time trying out anything related to fortune-telling again.

AKECHI-DAIRA ROPEWAY

Nestled somewhere pretty high up the mountain is the Akechi-Daira Ropeway that offers gondola rides up to the Akechidaira lookout where you’ll apparently get the best view in Nikko. No admission fee is required for this attraction as the Nikko Pass covers fare and all you’ll need to do is show it to the staff for entry. The gondola ride takes about three minutes and I would highly recommend taking a seat if you have a fear of heights (like me).

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The lookout itself is a fairly simple setup, offering views of perpendicular cliffs and mountain ranges in the distance on one side, and a bird’s eye view of Nikko on the other. You can take as long as you like for photos at the lookout as the staff would typically call out whenever there is an available gondola to get back down.

KEGON FALLS AND LAKE CHUZENJI

Living in a concrete jungle, it’s no surprise that we often find ourselves marvelling at what nature has to offer and since Nikko has some of the most gorgeous natural-made sights, it is almost compulsory to make time for their natural attractions.

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Standing almost 100 metres tall, the Kegon Waterfall is known as one of the most famous of Nikko’s waterfalls and can be seen from a free observation platform that is easily accessible on foot from the nearest bus stop. Those wanting a closer experience with the waterfall can also get a ticket to the lower observation deck which is located 100 metres below ground level and provides a better (windier) view of the waterfall, which, trust me, is worth the admission fee.

Just about 10 minutes away from Kegon Falls on foot is Lake Chuzenji, Japan’s highest natural lake which also has a 25km hiking trail along its perimeter. While there are not many activities happening in or around the lake during winter, the place still offers a fantastic view where you can take that obligatory ‘I was here’ photo before seeking to find a hiding spot from the freezing cold wind.

INSTAGRAMMABLE COOKING CLASS IN ASAKUSA

If you’re looking for an activity that is out of the norms of typical travel, then you must try taking an instagrammable cooking class in Asakusa at a restaurant overlooking the Sumida River. Here you’ll learn not only to make miso soup balls but also Temari Sushi which is a small, ball-shaped sushi.

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Having had a sympathetic pass during Home Econs in secondary school, I was determined to prove that I was not that terrible of a cook even though some would argue that making sushi is kinda foolproof. The class started off with making miso soup balls first with instructors guiding us along the way. It was a rather messy and slightly stressful process for me because I was hell-bent on ensuring I got all the measured amounts precisely right. That led to me falling quite behind the rest of my group but the instructor was patient and encouraging which definitely helped make the process a little more relaxed for me.

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When it came time to make the Temari Sushi, I threw my perfectionism out the window and just eased into having fun creating my subpar-looking sushi that obviously wouldn’t qualify me for a position at Chef Jiro’s sushi restaurant. What I really liked about the class was that the ingredients were all divided and ready so there really wasn’t much to do on my part but make the items as per the instructions given.

After all of us amateur chefs were done with our creations, we were able to enjoy them up at the rooftop with a splendid view of the river and the buildings around — a nice little end to a fun first trip to Tokyo, 10/10 recommend!

To help plan your next trip to Japan, check out the available activities and experiences on Klook here.

Everything from the LOEWE x Howl’s Moving Castle Collection, launching 2 Feb

Jan 26, 2023Jan 26, 2023

By now you would have already seen the teaser for LOEWE’s final instalment of their collaboration with Studio Ghibli and what better way to conclude than with the highly popular 2004 film Howl’s Moving Castle.

Loosely based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, the movie centres around Sophie, a quiet young milliner who is turned into an elderly woman after being cursed by a witch who enters her shop. What ensues is her journey alongside the wizard Howl and his companions as they navigate a kingdom at war.

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Much like their previous Studio Ghibli collections, LOEWE pushes their creativity with bold and intricately crafted pieces that have been designed to bring the world of the film to life. These include the embodiment of iconic characters and backdrops that will give fans a chance to rep their love for the film in a wearable form.

The LOEWE x Howl’s Moving Castle collection features key characters such as Sophie, Howl, Calcifer the fire demon, Markl, Heen, Turnip Head, and the Witch of the Waste on clothing and accessories in three forms: drawn as leather or shearling intarsia, turned into embroidery on leather or textile or decorated with crystal and stud inlays on leather.

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The characters will appear on a variety of bags including the Puzzle, Flamenco, Hammock, Amazona, Luna, and the Bracelet pouch, as well as on other small leather goods. Howl’s Moving Castle is featured as part of the collection too, as a collage of bits and remnants from LOEWE’s signature bags that have been assembled to create its distinctive shape.

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In order to replicate the live effect on apparel, details such as appliqué, raffia and features have been added to jumpers, jackets, and shirts while feathers are added to a cardigan to create magical fluttering. Scenes of the film have also been printed in the lining of tweed jackets, or all over shirts and shorts to make it a must-have for any fan.

Also, as an added bonus, the LOEWE Home Scents range will see the addition of an all-new scented candle inspired by Calcifer featuring a smoky fragrance with notes of incense, immortelle, patchouli, vetiver, roasted hazelnut, cardamom, and elemi.

Here’s a closer look at the entire LOEWE x Howl’s Moving Castle collection.

APPAREL

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BAGS AND ACCESSORIES

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The LOEWE x Howl’s Moving Castle collection will launch in stores on 2 February 2023 with selected calcifer items sold exclusively online.

Pre-sale for the collection will open on 1 February 2023 and those who have registered will be to get access ahead of the launch. To register, click HERE. All images courtesy of loewe.

MUJI Debuts A New Furniture Series Made From Sustainable Rubberwood

Jan 20, 2023Jan 20, 2023

MUJI’s household accessories are practically staples in every Singaporean home — take the circulator fan, practical storage boxes and linen baskets, and bookshelves for instance — so why not consider their range of furniture as well? Sleek, minimalist and timeless, they’re every ‘Japandi’ home owners’ dream, even better when we know that they’re designed with small spaces in mind too; dining tables can be folded down or extended, while bed frames come with ample hidden storage, perfect for even shoebox apartments.

This January, we’ve even got a whole new furniture range to consider — Japanese retail company MUJI is here with a new Rubberwood furniture series, of desks, beds, sofas and more in classic MUJI-style designs, now made with the sustainable material.

MUJI Wooden Storage Bed — Single $799 | Double $899 | Queen $999 | King $1099.

MUJI Wooden Low Table Oval — S Size $229 | L Size $299.

Debuting just last week at the Plaza Singapura flagship store, the launch of this product series marks the first time MUJI‘s headquarters has authorised ASEAN markets to independently develop products, hence this line that’s purposefully tailored to our Southeast Asian region.

“MUJI is strongly committed to providing our customers with a vast and versatile range of environmentally-friendly lifestyle products. They are functional daily necessities that support everyday life. Our purpose is to deliver comfort and practicality, where our products are known for being ‘just right’,” says Mr Katsushi Onishi, Managing Director, MUJI Singapore on how the new range is able to adapt to interior spaces and lifestyles in the ASEAN market.

On Rubberwood — and why it’s the best choice for Southeast Asian climates

Singapore has one of the largest selections of the rubberwood furniture range available, while we hear that the tropical hardwood timber was chosen for its many functional and aesthetic features. Firstly, this is a hardwood that’s solid and durable, and thus able to withstand the wear of daily-use furniture, while the wood itself has a dense, coarse grain with a medium density, similar to that of ash and maple wood.

MUJI Wooden Desk, $339 | Desk Cabinet, $269 | Desk Top Shelf, $89. Stacking Shelf — from $169.

Most interestingly, MUJI has sourced for sustainable Southeast Asian rubberwood that’s kinder on the environment, while supportive of local businesses and farming communities too. Since these are grown in a rubber plantation farm in Vietnam, the environmentally-friendly material is suited to our hot and humid climate as well, and like oak, is resistant to mold, bacteria, and fungi. In short, we’ll be able to reap all the benefits of rubberwood, while still enjoying the quality and calming minimalism MUJI’s designs always bring to interior spaces.

Where it’s from, and why it’s sustainable

With rubber trees mostly grown in Southeast Asia, the use of rubberwood was considered by MUJI when looking for a tropical timber that meets their high requirements of quality and functionality — as well as sustainability. Rubberwood is grown in abundance, and is actually an agricultural byproduct of the rubber industry. For this, we have to delve a bit into the rubber plantation process.

For this furniture series, the material is sourced from a rubber plantation farm and lumber mill in Vietnam where about 1,100 hectares of rubber trees are logged every year. The rubber trees grown here are first tapped for latex, which lasts about 20 years, after which sap will no longer be produced; the unproductive trees are then felled and replanted for a circular system.

However, logged rubberwoods are often discarded after their useful life — which is where MUJI comes in. They have decided to repurpose the byproduct of the above process into furniture, which is ideal for two key goals. One, using rubberwood reduces waste and the need for deforestation solely for furniture, and two, further makes it a cost-effective timber option, compared to traditional hardwoods such as oak, that then keeps MUJI’s furniture affordable for all of us.

The Collection

MUJI Highback Reclining Sofa 1 Seater — $309. Ottoman — $149.

So what’s in MUJI’s new Rubberwood furniture collection? An extensive range of furniture for the bedroom, living, dining and study, from storage beds that make effective use of underbed space, to simple wooden sofas and coffee tables designed to bring warmth and cosiness into the home. Fans of MUJI will be pleased to see that a few of their popular furniture models have been re-launched with the rubberwood material as well.

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Rubberwood’s natural wood grain comes through most prominently on large surfaces such as the dining table and low coffee table, while overall, the colour of the wood is treated to look natural and warm-toned, which makes for an inviting feel. Our personal favourite has to be the lounge chair in rubberwood, where its reclining function comes coupled with soft fabrics for us to enjoy ample comfort. The shoe rack was created for just our region too, especially since it’s a common feature at Asian households.

As with all things MUJI, we can expect prime functionality as well. The rubberwood dining series, in particular, makes good use of limited spaces if one has a smaller home, while an extendable table design further increases the piece’s versatility, as it can be folded in and extended out when required. MUJI’s signature modular system of Stacking Shelves also see a rubberwood makeover, and is a grid shelve system that can be built around your ideal configuration and lifestyle.

MUJI Rubberwood Furniture Series, available at MUJI stores, including the MUJI Plaza Singapura Flagship Store. Click here for the MUJI SG Web Catalog, and here for the Rubberwood Furniture leaflet.

Gucci Goes Big On The Jackie 1961 Bag, With New Styles And A Campaign That Stars Dakota Johnson

Jan 19, 2023Jan 19, 2023

To be fair, the Gucci Jackie 1961, or ‘The Jackie’ as its often affectionately called, has been a longstanding icon within the House’s collection ever since the handbag’s debut in 1961, thanks to its distinct half-moon shape and signature piston hardware. So it’s not surprise that this season, Gucci is eager to retell the story of its archival design, while introducing a new chapter of the bag in an array of sizes, colours and materials.

The just-as-modern Jackie 1961 is seen all over a campaign filmed and photographed by Glen Luchford, and stars actress Dakota Johnson making her way though everyday moments in Los Angeles, framed as spontaneous snapshots to capture that feel of practical luxury. A red leather version is casually slung across her arm while on a lunch date, for instance, while neutrals in black and brown leather, both with antique gold-toned hardware, are spotted as she goes about grocery and flower shopping. There’s even a bright blue number that accompanies her as she makes her way out of the yoga studio.

This season’s selection is presented in three different sizes — mini, small, and medium — with the bag’s clean lines emphasised by a new range of colours, and in natural grain, patent, precious leather, of the GG Supreme canvas. Each bag arrives with a longer, removable shoulder strap, in either leather or a chain, that allows for the style to be more adaptable and practical — and contemporary.

Watch the campaign film here:

And as a testament to how much of a talking point The Jackie is, here are other celebrities perfectly embodying its style —

The Gucci Jackie 1961 bag, available now at Gucci boutiques and online.

The Best ‘Year of the Rabbit’ Limited Edition Beauty Products For A Prosperous Lunar New Year

Jan 18, 2023

So you’ve checked out our fashion guide. Ahead though, lies all things beauty, whether we’re talking about the beautiful Springtime blooms that adorn the cases of limited edition makeup, or skincare formulas guaranteed to have your skin feeling silky and radiant all year round.

Reds and golds abound with their promise of prosperity and abundance, while we also appreciate blooms of peonies, plum blossoms, and the delicate gingko leaf. Look out for exclusive collaborations with Chinese artists as well — for Kiehl’s, Shiseido, and more — while the Year of the Rabbit naturally signals bunny motifs, embossed on pressed powders and leaping across gorgeous bottles.

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AVAILABLE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE BEAUTY BOUTIQUES AND COUNTERS.

Apple Unveils Next Generation MacBook Pro, Mac mini with M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips

Jan 18, 2023

It seems like just yesterday when Apple unveiled their recent line-up of products and with the start of the new year, the tech giant promises more exciting upgrades to come starting with their latest next generation of MacBook Pro and Mac mini built with their all-new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.

Aimed at taking the breakthrough power-efficient performance of Apple silicon to new heights, the M2 Pro and M2 Max SoCs (systems on a chip) promise to bring you pro performance and game-changing capabilities in the Mac mini, 14-inch, and 16-inch MacBook Pro respectively.

The M2 Pro chip scales up the architecture of its predecessor (the M2 chip) to deliver an up to 12-core CPU and up to 19-core GPU together with up to 32GB of fast unified memory, while the M2 Max chip builds on the capabilities of M2 Pro with an up to 38-core GPU, double the unified memory bandwidth and up to 96GB of unified memory. Both chips also feature enhanced custom technologies that include a faster 16-core Neural Engine and Apple’s powerful media engine.

Here’s a closer look at the improved capabilities of the upgraded MacBook Pro and Mac mini with the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.

MACBOOK PRO

Equipped with M2 Pro and M2 Max, the MacBook Pro will now be capable of transforming pro workflows across a wide range of disciplines that range from art to science to app development. If you’re looking to upgrade from the Intel-based Mac models, this new MacBook Pro model would bring you more dramatic improvements in performance, battery life, connectivity, and overall productivity while maintaining performance when you’re plugged in or on battery.

The MacBook Pro with M2 Pro features a 10-core or 12-core CPU with up to eight high-performance and four high-efficiency cores to provide 20% greater performance over the M1 Pro. Alongside the 200GB/s of unified memory bandwidth and up to 32GB of unified memory, you will be able to tackle large projects and run multiple pro apps with fast speed.

A next-generation GPU with up to 19 cores provides up to 30% more graphics performance with a 40% faster Neural Engine to speed up machine learning tasks like image processing in Adobe Photoshop by up to 80% — which is up to 40% faster than the previous generation of MacBook Pro. The powerful media engine also better reads the most popular video codecs to accelerate video playback and encoding while using very little power.

Those looking for a model that can better handle intensive tasks can opt for the MacBook Pro with M2 Max, which pushes workflows to the extreme with a much larger GPU (of up to 38 cores) and delivers up to 30% greater graphics performance than the M1 Max. With up to 96GB of unified memory, you’ll be able to enable intensive graphics workloads such as creating scenes with extreme 3D geometry and textures or merging massive photographic panorama.

In addition to the connectivity options already in the current models of the MacBook Pro, both types of MacBook Pro will also feature the Wi-Fi 6E for faster wireless connectivity as well as more advanced HDMI to support 8K and 4K displays.

The new MacBook Pro with M2 Pro is priced from $3,599 (14-inch) and $3,899 (16-inch) while the MacBook Pro with M2 Max is priced from $4,499 (14-inch) and $4,999 (16-inch).

Both models are available to ORDER from 19 January 2023 and will be available in Singapore beginning 3 February 2023.

MAC MINI

Built with the new M2 Pro chip, the Mac mini gets a pro-level performance upgrade for the first time, giving you the ability to run fast high-performance workflows with even more unified memory and advanced connectivity which includes support for up to three displays. Paired with Studio Display and Magic accessories, the Mac mini will provide a phenomenal desktop experience that will take your productivity and creativity to the next level.

Compared to previous generations, the all-new Mac mini with M2 Pro features up to a 12-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores along with an up to 19-core GPU, 200GB/s of memory bandwidth and supports up to 32GB of memory. The Neural Engine has also been upgraded to be 40% faster than the M1, speeding up ML tasks like video analysis and image processing.

The addition of a powerful media engine enables the Mac mini to speed through the most popular video codecs while using very little power to simultaneously play up to five streams of 8K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps or up to 23 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps. Creators can now seamlessly work in Multicam too with multiple camera formats, including ProRes video, while gamers can enjoy up to 15x faster gaming performance than the fastest Intel-based Mac mini.

In addition to the improvement in hardware, the Mac mini with M2 Pro provides four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a Gigabit Ethernet port with a 10GB option, an upgraded headphone jack for high-impedance headphones, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and supports up to three displays including an 8K display — a first for the Mac.

The new Mac mini with M2 Pro starts at $1,849 and is available to ORDER from 30 January 2023.

For more information, click HERE. All images courtesy of Apple Singapore.

Our CNY ‘Year of the Rabbit’ Fashion Picks, Including Gucci, FENDI, Moschino, Longchamp, And More

Jan 16, 2023Jan 26, 2023

It’s official: Christmas is over, and it’s time to welcome the auspicious season of red packets, oranges, and pineapple tarts. These Lunar New Year collections will inspire you to hop, jump and leap right into the Year of the Rabbit — and without further ado, we’re hopping right in too.

THE LUNAR NEW YEAR COLLECTIONS

Big names such as Burberry, Gucci, FENDI have joined in the festivities with their own capsule collections of ready-to-wear offerings and accessories. Of these, FENDI has decided to go classically red this season, with a bold all-over version of the red FENDI Roma logo, seen more prominently on the iconic Baguette and Peekaboo bags.

Gucci‘s is just as joyful, with their signature contrasting hues and playful rabbit graphics leaping across refined silk skirts and slouchy sweatshirts alike. Special renditions of the House’s signature handbags such as the Gucci Diana tote and Horsebit 1955 shoulder bags now see beautiful hand-painted stripes or arrive in precious leathers, tweeds, and studs.

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Burberry‘s curation seem a lot more subdued with a primarily black-and-white palette, though no less impressive as the Thomas Burberry Monogram is now playfully reimagined with rabbit ears, a key motif that appears on silk shirts, fleece jackets, and a padded black leather Lola bag. This season, we fell in love with LOEWE‘s floppy bunny-eared bags as well, in soft leather and modelled by Chinese actress Tang Wei.

Elsewhere, we’re keeping cosy with Tory Burch cashmere sweaters and their bunny-monogrammed bags; knit dresses and cardigans from & Other Stories that help you slay your way through CNY visitations; or the brightest hues of fuchsia pink and artwork prints from Acne Studios, where they’ve also teamed up with French-Russian artist Apollinaria Broche for a series of ceramic sculptures that feature all over their quirky campaign images.

THE BUNNY COLLABORATIONS

Here, we’ve rounded up four bunny-themed pop culture collaborations worthy of mention, as both high street and luxury brands take on the trend. Miffy, the unassuming Dutch cartoon rabbit, has experienced a surge of popularity this year, with brands Mulberry and Tommy Hilfiger adopting the bunny in vastly different ways.

There’s a sense of mischief with British luxury label Mulberry‘s interpretation, which features the protagonist playing hide and seek across the timeless Bayswater bag and tote in joyful hues of Cornflower Blue and Lawn Green. The TOMMY X MIFFY capsule, on the other hand, has a definitive palette of red, white and blue, reflective of the American brand’s heritage, while the extensive 50-piece collection reimagines modern classics such as the varsity jacket, rugby shirt, sweaters and more with this year’s Chinese zodiac animal.

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Dare we forget Bugs Bunny? Moschino makes a strong case for the pop culture icon with the most imaginative pieces, from a badass biker bag adorned with faux fur bunny ears, to graphic silkscreen print and embroidery of the famous cheeky rabbit pulling himself out of a magician’s hat and eating a carrot, done in bold styles that match the relentless energy and catchy intro of the Warner Bros. character.

Then, it’s over to the world of Disney’s Zootopia, as celebrated local label Charles & Keith joins the fray with some cute accessories of their own. Spoilt for choice? Mini shoulder bags in pastel purple, red and more with bunny-eared metallic buckles rep officer Judy Hopps, along with trendy mules, mary janes and plush combat boots.

THE RABBIT-THEMED ACCESSORIES

We bet you’ve got on your eye on several things on this list — don’t worry, us too. Longchamp goes unexpectedly big on carrots this year, with the root vegetable all over the hawthorn-pink canvas of their Le Pliage bags. Other bunny-themed bags are not to be missed too, whether it’s the colourful 8-bit rabbit on Tory Burch‘s leather goods; the rabbit studs across Charles & Keith‘s girly designs, pearls, tweed and all; or Furla‘s furry little crossbody style.

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Then again, there are subtle ways to express your love for the cute animal too — case in point, Coach‘s sleek Bandit shoulder bag that’s accompanied with a rabbit charm, or the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer in a transparent frame, with only a small rabbit graphic on its temple tip and matching red eyewear cord. Rimowa‘s coveted Personal case features APAC-exclusive raspberry tones, while you can further complete your CNY ‘fit with mahjong-themed earrings and charms from Swarovski and Pandora respectively.

All items, available at their respective boutiques and stores.

Be Sustainable This CNY By Recycling Your Old Clothes to Give Them New Life

Jan 13, 2023

If you’re celebrating Chinese New Year, you’re probably well underway in preparing for the festivities which are less than a week away. Aside from ensuring the home looks tidy and neat with new furniture, the wardrobe is likely to undergo a bit of a clean-up too, as you toss out the old to make way for the new.

As we contemplate throwing our unwanted clothing into the bin, it might be a good time to consider a sustainable way of spring cleaning where you choose instead to give them a new lease of life through recycling your old clothes.

Besides being able to make way for more new clothes, you will also be doing your part for the environment and though it might sound like a bit of a hassle, it is good to know that finding a place to recycle them in Singapore is not that difficult. Here’s a look at five locations where you can recycle clothes that serve as alternatives to donating them!

1. Cloop

If you’ve seen those textile recycling bins around your neighbourhood, then you might be a little familiar with Cloop. In an effort to reduce fashion overconsumption and waste, Cloop aims to keep apparel circulated within the community through the Cloop Cycle which collects good, clean, and wearable pre-loved clothing and curates them where they are assessed, restored, and sorted into various categories for circulation through swaps and resales. The idea is to remind the community to make fashion clean and conscious again.

In partnership with Malaysian-based textile recycler, Life Line Clothing, textiles collected from the bins are transported to a facility run by Life Line Clothing and sorted by hand into about 500 categories for the three main purposes — reuse, upcycling, and recycling. This means that they are either put up for sale in Malaysia’s second-hand market, sent overseas for reuse and resale, or upcycled into raw materials for household items.

Currently, Cloops has around 60 textile recycling bins around the island where you can recycle your clothes. To find a Cloop textile recycling bin near you, click here.

2. Greensquare

Aspiring to make a positive impact, Greensquare targets to double the percentage of recycled textiles from 7% to 14% by 2030 to help conserve natural resources and reduce environmental pollution by providing free textile recycling services to households and organisations in Singapore. The collected clothing is then sorted into different categories and either sold to second-hand textile importers in various developing countries to be reused, or repurposed into industrial cleaning cloths.

Currently, Greensquare has around 16 drop-off locations for you to recycle your clothes. To find a Greensquare drop-off location near you, click here.

3. H&M

Started in 2013, H&M’s Garment Collecting programme has become the world’s biggest of its kind. In spite of being a fashion brand, H&M has not only introduced new ways to extend the lifetime of their products and materials, but they have also advocated recirculating textiles through repair, reuse and remake before recycling.

To make sure they make the most of the resources and energy, H&M will take your preloved clothes and recirculate them according to their condition — Rewear, sold as second-hand clothes for garments that can be worn again; Repurposed, where old clothes and textiles are turned into other products such as cleaning cloths; and Recycle, where clothing that can’t be resold or reused are turned into textile fibres for use in new textile products.

You can find the drop-off boxes for garment collection at all H&M stores islandwide. To find an H&M store near you, click here.

4. UNIQLO

Aimed at giving unwanted clothing new life, RE.UNIQLO is the Japanese brand’s approach that focuses on recycling, reusing and reducing clothing waste. With this initiative, pre-worn UNIQLO items are recycled and made into new products, reducing the amount of waste, carbon dioxide emissions and resource consumption that are common throughout product life cycles.

Preloved UNIQLO clothes are collected from stores and sorted into clothes that can be reused or recycled. Garments classified for reuse are then sorted into detailed categories to be sent to people in need while garments classified for recycling are broken down by unique technology into textile fibres or alternative fuel to reduce CO2 emissions.

You can drop off your used UNIQLO clothing at any UNIQLO store by approaching the staff at the cashier counter or dropping them off in a UNIQLO recycle box. To find a UNIQLO store near you, click here.

5. Refash

In an effort to build a more sustainable future for fashion and to extend the lifespan of clothes, Refash invites you to recycle your preloved clothing and get paid in cash or credits. All you have to do is pack your old clothes into a bag and drop them off at any Refash store where they will be evaluated. After which, accepted items will be paid in cash or credits from $0.50 and unaccepted items will either be returned or responsibly recycled.

You can drop off your preloved clothing at Refash stores islandwide. To find a Refash store near you, click here.

For more information on where you can recycle your pre-loved clothes, click HERE. Header image courtesy of The Sustainability Project, Cloop and H&M Singapore.

‘Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience’ Will Be Making Its Way To Singapore

Jan 13, 2023Jan 19, 2023

There was a scene in Netflix hit series Emily in Paris that really captured our hearts — love triangle between Emily, Gabrielle and Camille aside, the scene saw our lovable American at the L’Atelier des Lumières, immersed within a digital art exhibition of Van Gogh’s famous paintings projected against the walls and across our trio’s faces. The exhibition in question? Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, a 360° multi-sensorial exhibition that will be making its Southeast Asian debut in Singapore.

Tickets will be go on sale from Thursday, 19 January, at 4pm over at feverup.com, while the exhibition officially opens at Resorts World Sentosa in March 2023.

You don’t need to be an art major to enjoy the exhibition — the highly Instagram-worthy experience is set to appeal to people across all ages and interests, and has since received over 5 millions visitors since its first iteration in 2017.

Over 300 artworks by renowned artist Vincent Van Gogh will be on display, and instead of static paintings, you’ll be able to experience what it feels like to walk into one his art pieces, complete with the recreation of his signature brush strokes.

This discovery of his life, work and secrets is done via state-of-the-art 360° digital projections that are constantly moving and in rotation, a one-of-a-kind VR experience, and an atmospheric light and sound show.

An Immersive Room sees Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, including ‘The Starry Night’ and ‘Sunflowers’ projected across two-storey 1,000 m2+ screens; while the particular VR experience involves us donning VR lenses and taking a visually-rich journey into the inspiration behind 8 of his iconic works, including ‘Vincent’s Bedroom In Arles’.

At one point of the exhibition, we’ll even get to sit in the chair or bed depicting in one of his paintings, or take part in an interactive activity where we can create our own artwork and have these projected on the walls too.

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Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Date: March 2023
Address: Resorts World Sentosa, B1 Forum
Opening hours: Mon, Wed and Thur: 11am – 8pm | Fri and Sat: 10am – 9pm | Sundays: 10am. – 7pm
Tickets available from Thursday, 19 January (4pm), at feverup.com.
More information at vangoghexpo.com.

All images: H&B, Exhibition Hub, Fever and Resorts World Sentosa.

Sephora’s First Sale of the Year is here! Here are our 10 Editor’s picks on what to buy.

Jan 13, 2023Jan 16, 2023

There’s no time like the present to stock up on your makeup essentials and to get your hands on those cult products you’ve always been wanting to try. Sephora’s first sale of the year just started! And it’s 20% off makeup and makeup tools online and in-store! Here are the details:

12 Jan 10pm to 15 Jan 11.59pm — Online
13 Jan — 15 Jan (during store hours) — all Sephora stores

And if you spend a minimum of $140, you’ll also receive a pair of pink Sephora sunglasses (one redemption per Beauty Pass Member).

Here are our top 10 Editor’s Picks on what to buy this sale and for the new year!

1. CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE CONCEALER
$115 (5g), available in 7 shades online

This is still the ultimate concealer to have and to hold. It’s creamy, yet silky smooth; blends into skin like a dream, and covers up blemishes, pigmentation, dark circles and redness.

2. TOM FORD BEAUTY SHADE AND ILLUMINATE SOFT RADIANCE FOUNDATION SPF 45/PA+++ CUSHION COMPACT
$202 (12g + 12G), available in 8 shades online

Tom Ford Beauty has some of the most luxurious and silky cushion foundation textures, and this formula features a blend of advanced elastomers and light-diffusing powders to create the perfect, radiant surface to reflect soft light. The finish is natural and soft, and healthy looking.

3. SHISEIDO DAIYA FUDE FACE DUO BRUSH
$68

Once you try this face brush with your liquid foundation, you won’t use anything else. It’s the perfect shape and firmness for creams and powders, and the ergonomic handle is comfortable to hold.

4. DIOR ECRIN COUTURE ICONIC EYE MAKEUP PALETTE (HOLIDAY LIMITED EDITION)
$116 (172g)

If you’re lucky and fast, you can still get your hands on this limited edition holiday eyeshadow palette from Dior. It’s gorgeous, and Dior eyeshadow formulas are excellent; they are smooth and pigmented, and what you see in the pan is what you get on your eye. Last we checked, there were only two pieces of this left on the online store. If it’s sold out, you can always try your luck in the physical stores.

5. SHU UEMURA ULTIME8∞ SUBLIME BEAUTY CLEANSING OIL
$170 (450ml)

This is the ultimate makeup remover; it cleanses away even waterproof makeup, leaving skin clean and fresh, yet soft and not stripped of moisture. We can’t live without this and if you use waterproof makeup, neither should you. Stock up during the sale and get the largest size.

6. GUCCI POUDRE DE BEAUTE MAT NATUREL BEAUTY POWDER
$105 (10g), available in 7 shades online

We love both the packaging and texture of this pressed powder compact. It has a natural, satin finish, and works well on its own or on top of liquid foundation depending on the coverage you’re after.

7. HOURGLASS VOYEUR WATERPROOF MECHANICAL GEL LINER
$46 (0.32g), available in 5 shades online

The first time we tried this gel pencil eyeliner, we were blown away! It’s easy to draw with and the colour is extremely intense. It also lasts the entire day with very little smudging, making it truly one of the best pencil eyeliners we’ve used.

8. CHARLOTTE TILBURY LEGENDARY BROWS GEL
$51 (1.15g), available in 3 shades online

Brow gels can result in a more natural look than pencils, and this micro-fine precision brush can create the strokes you need to actually create the appearance of fine brow hair, and to volumise the ones you have.

9. DIORSHOW ON STAGE LINER WATERPROOF FELT TIP LIQUID EYELINER
$52 (0.55ml), available in 13 shades online

Have you seen those Dior ads with strong black eyeliner? Yup, this is it. This eyeliner is really good; it draws on matte and intense, and stays on the whole day.

10. GUERLAIN METEORITES – LIGHT REVEALING PEARLS OF POWDER
$106

Have you ever tried these pearls of powder? They are incredible. Just sweep your brush over these bad girls, swirl it around, and dust over face. The finish is soft, smooth, radiant and smells wonderful.

Shop the Sephora sale now ONLINE and IN-STORE.

Uniqlo U’s Spring/Summer 2023 Collection Is Bright, Breezy, And City-Chic Utilitarian

Jan 12, 2023Jan 12, 2023

Every season, our hearts brim with expectation of Uniqlo U‘s collection of modern, utilitarian, and effortless capsule wardrobe-worthy pieces — and thankfully, we’ve never been disappointed. Designed by Artistic Director Christophe Lemaire and his UNIQLO R&D team in Paris, this Spring/Summer 2023 collection takes on the theme of ‘A Sense of Ease’, which immediately recalls lightweight materials and a light colour palette of pastels, bright pops of green, orange, yellow, purple and pink, among neutrals of understated whites and beiges.

Launching in UNIQLO stores on 10 February, the Spring/Summer pieces feature soft, matte cotton and a refreshing AIRism cotton that make for breezy pieces; the tailoring for both men’s and women’s pieces follow suit, with sheer shirts or effortless parachute pants. There are also seersucker striped shirts, instant Summer classics, along with cotton shorts and a perfected men’s Crew Neck 3/4 Sleeve T-shirt with a boxy fit.

For women, we’re seeing more activewear, or perhaps athleisure wear, introduced, such as a seamless sleeveless t-shirt and leggings, styled with a relaxed parka that makes it instantly city-chic. Speaking of outerwear, the collection of versatile basics is just as big on jackets, parkas, and layering in general — though these differ from their Fall/Winter counterparts with more slouchy silhouettes and airy fabrics.

On the accessories front, the popular Drawstring Shoulder Bag returns for another season, with its signature drawstring closure that can be folded down on the roomy crossbody style. There’s also a new Bucket Bag, available in two sizes, that continue the collection’s utilitarian codes, along with BLOCKTECH Hats and Jet Caps.

See more from the collection here —

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The Uniqlo U Spring/Summer 2023 collection will be available from 10 February 2023, online and at the Orchard Central Global Flagship and ION Orchard stores.

The Longchamp x D’heygere Collection Introduces Playful Ponchos, Backpacks And Umbrellas

Jan 12, 2023Jan 12, 2023

The Le Pliage bag is such an iconic staple at Longchamp that it’s hard to imagine it as anything else — unless you’re accessories designer Stéphanie D’heygere. Thanks to a successful partnership in 2019 that saw the launch of an all-weather poncho, the luxury French brand has decided on a second collaboration with the Belgian designer, this time with an expanded gender-neutral capsule that plays on the Le Pliage, transforming its signature tote-like structure into a series of functional, foldable accessories.

For the new Longchamp x D’heygere collection, we’re looking at two bags, an umbrella, a poncho, a rain hat and pants, sustainably made with recycled polyester and nylon, which fall under the theme of mobility and transformation. The weather-proof pants take you everywhere across the city, rain or shine, and a belt bag transforms into a backpack, just as the rain hat can be folded when stored and unfolded when put to use, much like the original Le Pliage.

Longchamp x D’heygere Travel Bag / Backpack, $510.

Longchamp x D’heygere Crossbody Bag / Backpack, $610.

As for the colour palette, there are classic shades of black, navy, white and a fuchsia pink, where each limited edition piece comes paired with a brown Russian leather flap that instantly reminds us of Longchamp. Still, D’heygere introduces a chic leopard print as well, certainly a refreshing and unexpected spin that makes this collection unique.

Another key point would be the collection’s universality. “I regard the gender-free aspect of the collection as a particular success: the cuts and the details are neither feminine nor masculine, and the sizes go from S to XL,” she elaborates.

One of these hybrid reinventions includes a roomy crossbody bag that transforms into a tall backpack by opening its upper pocket, completely changing the silhouette of the accessory. There’s also a travel bag in the familiar Le Pliage silhouette that can be worn three ways — it sports a short strap when carried by hand, while you may also use the two straps to wear it like a backpack; these, however, can be further adjusted such that you have an elongated strap that allows the bag to be slung across the shoulders.

Longchamp x D’heygere Poncho, $630 ; Rain Hat, $430.

Longchamp x D’heygere, available at Longchamp boutiques and online.

Photographing iconic destinations in Osaka with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

Jan 11, 2023Dec 20, 2023

If Google is to be believed, Samsung is the top selling smartphone brand in the world, and their flagship Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is the most powerful smartphone available right now. It’s not very surprising considering the specs on this mobile device. Firstly, you can’t get any better than the speedy 4nm processor, then add in a ridiculous 108MP rear lens, plus a 40MP selfie camera on the front; it’s easy to see why Samsung users are loyal and unwavering in their choice of mobile brand. It’s also hard to ignore the rumours swirling around the internet of a new Galaxy S model launching soon. No prizes for guessing what it’ll be called, but one thing we can be sure of, it’s going to be epic.

Above: my daily bag in osaka includes The samsung GALAXY S22 ULTRA 5g in a protective case from CASETIFY.

As a photography enthusiast, I’m most interested in the camera system on any mobile device, and so I took the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G along to Osaka to document some of the city’s iconic landmarks, including the fairly new Super Nintendo World that every other Singaporean wants to descend upon.

Above: me in super nintendo world taking pictures with the samsung galaxy s22 ultra 5g.

I started with one of Osaka’s most famous signboards that’s synonymous with the city — the Glico Running Man at Dotonbori.

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Both locals and tourists alike gather at Dotonbori for its vibrant food scene and nightlife. I photographed the row of illuminated signboards that are reflected in the waters of the Dotonbori Canal. It was a cloudy day and there was a gloominess to the atmosphere, which translated into a whole mood in the picture above.

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Crossing over to the Ebisu Bridge to get a more frontal shot of the Glico Running Man, I had to jostle with the crowd and wait for that perfect moment where no one (or at least very few people) were in my shot. Most tourists will pose with their arms up in the same style of the Running Man; I should’ve taken a series of tourists doing that. Next time.

Fun fact about the Glico signboard: This giant billboard was installed in 1935 as an advertisement for Glico, and has been altered on several occasions to celebrate events such as the World Cup. And the Running Man was chosen as Glico’s mascot because of the brand’s first product — a candy caramel. This sweet was created as an energy product and was said to provide the energy to run 300 metres!

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Super Nintendo World opened in Universal Studios Japan in Osaka on March 18, 2021, and photos of the surreal landscape have been flooding the internet since. This is a must-visit for any Nintendo fan, or photographer. It was fortunately a bright, sunny day with blue skies that was the perfect backdrop for this picture.

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Bowser’s Castle in Super Nintendo World houses the epic Mario Kart augmented reality ride. I zoomed in for this photo with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, and framed it so that the many visitors were cropped out. With 108MP for the main Ultra-Wide lens, there’s so much space to crop and still get a good, clear photo. Also, there’s 10x optical zoom, which really makes a difference to the quality of photo compared to one taken with a digital zoom.

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If this looks familiar, it’s because Universal Studios Singapore has the same diner. No surprises though that the food at the Japanese branch is far superior. The facade is also more impressive as seen in this night shot.

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This is the famous Universal Citiwalk in Osaka, where the iconic blue gorilla hangs along the main path to Universal Studios. Night photography on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is unsurprisingly impressive, considering it’s one of the main selling points of this phone, and the brand calls the camera system a “Super Night Solution”.

Here’s a time lapse video of the front of Universal Studios Japan taken at night. In the foreground, you can see the track for the park’s most popular rollercoaster — Hollywood Dream and Hollywood Dream Backdrop (you basically fall backwards. It’s very fun). Look further back and spot the massive splash of water from the Jurassic Park ride, and towards the right to see fire from someone successfully casting a spell at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. That spinning thing in front of the fire is The Flying Snoopy ride (similar to the Dino-Soarin’ ride at Universal Studios Singapore). There’s always a very long queue for this ride and there are no Express Passes for it, so decide if it’s worth the wait.

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To capture a time lapse video like this on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, scroll to the function in the camera app called “Hyperlapse”, and then steady your phone by leaning it on something or by using a tripod, and then record for as long as you need (at least a few minutes).

Want to see more? Here are some of my favourite pictures taken on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G.

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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is available at samsung’s online store HERE, priced at $1,598 for 128GB / 8GB and $1,738 for 256GB / 12gb.

If you’re eagerly anticipating what’s launching next with samsung, head to SAMSUNG.COM/SG/UNPACKED. We’ve been told it’s going to be epic.

The Latest 2023 CHANEL COCO CRUSH Jewellery, As Seen On Jennie, Margaret Qualley And Amandla Stenberg

Jan 10, 2023Jan 19, 2023

BLACKPINK’s Jennie is once again the star for CHANEL’s COCO CRUSH fine jewellery collection, alongside actresses Margaret Qualley and Amandla Stenberg, who each make a strong case for the jewellery pieces.

Each of the muses has on chunky rings, earrings, ear cuffs, necklaces and bracelets in the campaign imagery, which feature the House’s iconic quilted motif, a key emblem since 1955, now done with clean and elegant lines that crisscross the curved surface of each piece.

Available in beige gold, yellow gold or white gold, with or without diamonds, the collection also debuts two new styles in 2023.

The first is a necklace that sees the quilted motif in the middle, with an adjustable chain that allows it to be worn at four different lengths — good news if you’re looking to mix, match and layer your jewellery.

A series of bracelets join the collection too, with either a “C” quilted motif or ones with fully-enclosed circles with a diamond in the centre. As a quirky touch, they can be combined to form Gabrielle Chanel’s nickname, COCO.

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CHANEL COCO CRUSH Fine Jewellery Collection, available soon at CHANEL boutiques.

29Rooms To Debut In Singapore With 29 Immersive Creative Spaces For You To Take Pictures At Or Ponder About

Jan 6, 2023Jan 12, 2023

As if there weren’t already enough activities packed for February, you might want to make some room on your calendar for another new immersive experience that is set to hit our shores the same month. Enter, 29Rooms. If you think it might sound familiar, then you might have already seen the intriguing ads pop up on your IG feed.

“Money Mantras” in collaboration with Money Diaries at 29Rooms San Francisco 2018. (Image courtesy of Joel Henderson/Refinery29)

Borne from the creative mind of the media and entertainment platform Refinery29, 29Rooms has become almost like an annual event across the US (since its inaugural edition in 2015), where visitors will immerse themselves in a themed experience created in collaboration with artists, creators, and the community, across various forms of mediums that form an interactive multi-sensory playground of 29 physical rooms for you to explore, think and pose.

Past editions of 29Rooms have also seen celebrity collaborations with Lizzo, RuPaul, Janelle Monae, and poet Rupi Kaur.

From left to right: Janelle Monae in her “What’s Your Frequency?” Room at 29Rooms LA 2017 and Rupi Kaur in her “Between the Sheets” Room at 29Rooms San Francisco 2018. (Image courtesy of Refinery29/Joel Henderson)

In their international debut in Singapore from 10 February to 16 April 2023, and presented in partnership with Samsung, 29Rooms will be taking up temporary residence at Gardens by the Bay, where you will discover sensorial experiences designed for surprise and contemplation, celebration and reflection following the theme Lost & Found — inspired by the pandemic.

“Dream Doorway” in collaboration with Kali Uchis at 29Rooms LA 2018. (Image courtesy of Refinery29)

From left to right: “The Values Stand” in collaboration with ACLU at 29Rooms New York 2019 and “You Are Magic” in collaboration with Hoodwitch at 29Rooms San Francisco 2018. (Image courtesy of Refinery29/Joel Henderson)

Some of the rooms you can expect to encounter in Singapore will include a room with an immersive sunset experience that is aimed at helping you to decompress; a bathroom that features giant, flying toilet paper with a mirror that reflects a low-pixelated version of you; and a room that is inspired by the familiar bamboo poles of our HDB flats where you can screen print your own personal goals onto a T-shirt and hang it up as part of the installation.

There’s also a designated cafe area where you might be pushed out of your comfort zone to interact with other strangers if you want to enjoy a cup of coffee.

“29 Questions” at 29Rooms San Francisco 2018. (Image courtesy of Refinery29/Stephanie Bassos)

In addition to the 29 rooms you’ll be exploring, the Asia edition will also see the debut of an XRoom which will be dedicated to hosting music acts, DJs, artists, workshops, speakers, and F&B concepts from here and around the world.

29ROOMS EXPERIENCE IN SINGAPORE TICKETING DETAILS

- Weekdays (Wednesday to Thursday): Adult, from $32 | Child (6 to 17 years old), from $20
- Weekends (Friday to Sunday and public holidays): Adult, from $42 | Child (6 to 17 years old), from $30
- Free admission for children who are 5 years old and under

Tickets are available for purchase here.

29Rooms Experience in Singapore runs from 3 February to 16 April 2023 at Gardens by the Bay. For more information, click HERE. Header image courtesy of REFINERY29/29Rooms.

BLACKPINK’s Rosé Is The Face Of The Tiffany & Co. Lock Jewellery Collection

Jan 6, 2023Jan 6, 2023

The Tiffany Lock collection is the jeweller’s answer to contemporary, modern design — especially since it’s touted as a gender-neutral offering and “an elegant interpretation of an archival functional design”. Featuring a padlock-inspired clasp that swivels up and then locks into place, the collection is a continuation of one of Tiffany & Co.’s most enduring motifs, interpreted into stunning Lock bangles, as well as an array of rings, earrings and pendants. So who better to flaunt these than BLACKPINK star, Rosé?

As a global brand ambassador for the New York jewellery brand since April 2021, the k-pop artist is the epitome of stylish and cool-girl chic, with the power to propel trends — in other words, we’d love to wear anything she does too. Here, she sports sparkling diamond Lock bangles in a mixture of white gold and rose gold, which are subtle, yet edgy and glamorous all at once. Note her matching rose gold / strawberry blonde hair too.

The Tiffany Lock campaign also sees her lensed alongside a male talent, further capturing the inclusive “no rules, all welcome” spirit of Tiffany’s first all-gender jewellery collection.

These images mark the global launch of the Tiffany Lock collection, which introduces the Lock bangles in 18k yellow, white and rose gold iterations. Pricier models introduce diamond accents studded across the bangle, or sets with full pavé diamonds that wrap around its precious metal body. Rings, earrings and pendants in rose gold also debut alongside these new signature pieces, while multiple colourways will launch later in the year.

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The Tiffany Lock collection is now available at Tiffany & Co. stores around the world and on Tiffany.com.

Tiffany Lock bangles in yellow, white and rose gold start from $9,950, while rings, earrings and pendants in rose gold are currently available too. Multiple colourways of the latter will debut later in the year.

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KLOOK PASS TOKYO

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GUNMA PREFECTURE

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NIKKO PASS (DIGITAL TICKET)

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INSTAGRAMMABLE COOKING CLASS IN ASAKUSA

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To help plan your next trip to Japan, check out the available activities and experiences on Klook here.

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APPAREL

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BAGS AND ACCESSORIES

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The LOEWE x Howl’s Moving Castle collection will launch in stores on 2 February 2023 with selected calcifer items sold exclusively online.

Pre-sale for the collection will open on 1 February 2023 and those who have registered will be to get access ahead of the launch. To register, click HERE. All images courtesy of loewe.

On Rubberwood — and why it’s the best choice for Southeast Asian climates

Where it’s from, and why it’s sustainable

The Collection

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AVAILABLE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE BEAUTY BOUTIQUES AND COUNTERS.

MACBOOK PRO

The new MacBook Pro with M2 Pro is priced from $3,599 (14-inch) and $3,899 (16-inch) while the MacBook Pro with M2 Max is priced from $4,499 (14-inch) and $4,999 (16-inch).

Both models are available to ORDER from 19 January 2023 and will be available in Singapore beginning 3 February 2023.

MAC MINI

The new Mac mini with M2 Pro starts at $1,849 and is available to ORDER from 30 January 2023.

For more information, click HERE. All images courtesy of Apple Singapore.

THE LUNAR NEW YEAR COLLECTIONS

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THE BUNNY COLLABORATIONS

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THE RABBIT-THEMED ACCESSORIES

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1. Cloop

2. Greensquare

3. H&M

4. UNIQLO

5. Refash

For more information on where you can recycle your pre-loved clothes, click HERE. Header image courtesy of The Sustainability Project, Cloop and H&M Singapore.

Here are our top 10 Editor’s Picks on what to buy this sale and for the new year!

1. CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE CONCEALER $115 (5g), available in 7 shades online

2. TOM FORD BEAUTY SHADE AND ILLUMINATE SOFT RADIANCE FOUNDATION SPF 45/PA+++ CUSHION COMPACT $202 (12g + 12G), available in 8 shades online

3. SHISEIDO DAIYA FUDE FACE DUO BRUSH $68

4. DIOR ECRIN COUTURE ICONIC EYE MAKEUP PALETTE (HOLIDAY LIMITED EDITION) $116 (172g)

5. SHU UEMURA ULTIME8∞ SUBLIME BEAUTY CLEANSING OIL $170 (450ml)

6. GUCCI POUDRE DE BEAUTE MAT NATUREL BEAUTY POWDER $105 (10g), available in 7 shades online

7. HOURGLASS VOYEUR WATERPROOF MECHANICAL GEL LINER $46 (0.32g), available in 5 shades online

8. CHARLOTTE TILBURY LEGENDARY BROWS GEL $51 (1.15g), available in 3 shades online

9. DIORSHOW ON STAGE LINER WATERPROOF FELT TIP LIQUID EYELINER $52 (0.55ml), available in 13 shades online

10. GUERLAIN METEORITES – LIGHT REVEALING PEARLS OF POWDER $106

Shop the Sephora sale now ONLINE and IN-STORE.

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Above: my daily bag in osaka includes The samsung GALAXY S22 ULTRA 5g in a protective case from CASETIFY.

Above: me in super nintendo world taking pictures with the samsung galaxy s22 ultra 5g.

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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is available at samsung’s online store HERE, priced at $1,598 for 128GB / 8GB and $1,738 for 256GB / 12gb.

If you’re eagerly anticipating what’s launching next with samsung, head to SAMSUNG.COM/SG/UNPACKED. We’ve been told it’s going to be epic.

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29ROOMS EXPERIENCE IN SINGAPORE TICKETING DETAILS

29Rooms Experience in Singapore runs from 3 February to 16 April 2023 at Gardens by the Bay. For more information, click HERE. Header image courtesy of REFINERY29/29Rooms.

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1. CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE CONCEALER
$115 (5g), available in 7 shades online

2. TOM FORD BEAUTY SHADE AND ILLUMINATE SOFT RADIANCE FOUNDATION SPF 45/PA+++ CUSHION COMPACT
$202 (12g + 12G), available in 8 shades online

3. SHISEIDO DAIYA FUDE FACE DUO BRUSH
$68

4. DIOR ECRIN COUTURE ICONIC EYE MAKEUP PALETTE (HOLIDAY LIMITED EDITION)
$116 (172g)

5. SHU UEMURA ULTIME8∞ SUBLIME BEAUTY CLEANSING OIL
$170 (450ml)

6. GUCCI POUDRE DE BEAUTE MAT NATUREL BEAUTY POWDER
$105 (10g), available in 7 shades online

7. HOURGLASS VOYEUR WATERPROOF MECHANICAL GEL LINER
$46 (0.32g), available in 5 shades online

8. CHARLOTTE TILBURY LEGENDARY BROWS GEL
$51 (1.15g), available in 3 shades online

9. DIORSHOW ON STAGE LINER WATERPROOF FELT TIP LIQUID EYELINER
$52 (0.55ml), available in 13 shades online

10. GUERLAIN METEORITES – LIGHT REVEALING PEARLS OF POWDER
$106