Prediction In Advance

Amazing! How many times have we read about some clairvoyant that has predicted something only to learn about the prediction s/he made AFTER the event? If people could predict things, why don't we know about them beforehand....

And so, just I can say "I said so", here is my prediction: Trump will be re-elected in November 2020.
I am so confident on that, I would actually bet good money on him winning.

Comes November, if he wins, I can refer back to this post and say "I knew it!" And I knew in advance!

Smelling the Coffee in the Morning

Now that the office is open again, four days a week, I am changing my schedule slightly. Nowadays I go a little earlier and bring the barstools out to have my coffee while sitting in the sun.

Yes, that is also the new look. Seeing how I had 14 weeks to grow that little hair I have left, I am now sporting a lil bit of a mullet. And I had to buy a beard trimmer. And a bread knife. But those two things are totally not related.

Win a Staycation

Bid cabin fever goodbye with a pampering staycation at Fairmont Singapore. Chill on your private balcony and take in the views of Marina Bay or the city.

Now, what is better than a staycation? Winning a staycation! Asian Journeys is revamping its e-newsletter and to stand a chance at winning all you need to do is sign up for the e-newsletter. Send an email to fcowanmedia@gmail.com with "Staycation Contest with Stefan" in the subject line. You will be added to the subscription list and your name will be put in the Lucky Draw.

Even if you don’t win the Lucky Draw you win if you enjoy a staycation at the Fairmont Singapore. Not only is your mental health of importance, so is your physical wellbeing. Fairmont Singapore was the first Accor LUXE hotel in Asia Pacific to be recognised with the brand’s unique global cleanliness and hygiene ALLSAFE label.

With Singapore now in Phase 2 of reopening, this recognition comes as a timely testament of Fairmont Singapore’s unwavering commitment to the prioritising of guests’ and colleagues’ safety and well-being; and provides needed assurance, confidence and peace-of-mind to guests and patrons that the Hotel has met and will continue to uphold some of the most stringent cleaning standards & operational protocols in the world of hospitality.  The Accor ALLSAFE global cleanliness & hygiene standards have been developed with and vetted by Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspections and certification. All the Group's hotels must apply these standards and will be audited either by Accor operational experts or by third-party auditors such as Bureau Veritas to receive this label.

Upsized Staycation Offer
In addition to being confident that you will be in a safe, clean environment Fairmont Singapore is providing an Upsized Staycation Offer.  With the Hotel’s flexible cancellation policy, you will have peace of mind should your plans change.

If you are planning on bringing the little ones along, they can stay for free and enjoy breakfast too. For a little more space, book your second room at 50% off.

This is now available for stays from 15 July 2020 to 30 December 2020 for Singaporeans and local residents from S$305* per night in the Fairmont Room, including S$150 worth of vouchers.

For more details, please contact reservations.singapore@fairmont.com

Malacca Madness

The advantage of having relatives all over the country is that I can now make several locations waypoints to stop and camp for the night. Always a good time in Melakka. And here the highlights, as seen by the only white fella in the family:

First stop, some culture and heritage:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/St+Paul's+Church/@2.1937787,102.2476243,17z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x31d1ee278e8c65dd:0x32a7281769e016a!2sMalacca!3b1!8m2!3d2.189594!4d102.2500868!3m4!1s0x31d1f1de03a266ab:0x79020278341d9ddf!8m2!3d2.19253!4d102.2495755

Not sure if it is still happening, but the fleamarket in the street behind Geographer Cafe was always a gem. Geographer also famous, because it was a filming location for a Korean movie. I have fond memories of having drinks with Peter Burns there. We managed to drink them empty (Southern Comfort and the next thing we moved on to. Can't remember... LOL)

We like to dip into this place for dinner:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/McQuek's+Satay+Celup+(Main+Branch)/@2.1888953,102.2588579,17z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x31d1ee1ec4b44af9:0xb067f06d4e66a193!2sMcQuek's+Satay+Celup+(Main+Branch)!8m2!3d2.1888899!4d102.2610466!3m4!1s0x31d1ee1ec4b44af9:0xb067f06d4e66a193!8m2!3d2.1888899!4d102.2610466

Dim Sum in the morning (obviously...):

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wan+Hong+Xiang+Dim+Sum+%E8%90%AC%E9%B4%BB%E3%B4%A1%E8%8C%B6%E6%A5%BC/@2.2137879,102.2392936,19z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sdim+sum+melakka!3m4!1s0x0:0x4c09229be9e51d60!8m2!3d2.2140663!4d102.2395423

In case you haven't seen / visited it yet, the old Portugese ship is an interesting museum.

Speakeasy bar and then a stroll along the Melakka river once out the backdoor. But better keep that quiet:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Old+Merchant/@2.1977854,102.248575,19z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sspeakeasy+melakka!3m4!1s0x0:0x81385d8472c841ae!8m2!3d2.19746!4d102.2484892

Melaka? Melakka? Malaka? This one I can't get right.

Apparently, You COULD Make Stuff up!

As it is customary here in Asia, when you buy something, you get a "Free Gift". Not that one has to point it out, but gifts should be free to begin with. And then they are not free as they are certainly factored into the price of the goods purchased. I took the umbrella with the wedding bands. Not that I can't afford an umbrella, eh eh... But you know. Free maaaah!

At the petrol station this morning I got a bottle of salad dressing. And this will keep me awake at night for some time.

Firstly: What is the connection between salad dressing and petrol? I can see canned drinks and sammiches to make sense: needed for road trips. But what chances are there that you need salad dressing on the occasion of filling your tank.

Secondly: REAL INGRIDENTS??? What else would anything be made of? Or maybe, just MAYBE, there is business opportunity here for a "Phantom Ingredients" shop. Where you get like, nothing, to put into your product. You end up making stuff up.

Fruit Loop!

When you go to Ipoh, you HAVE to buy Pomelo. I actually like them fruits. And when you buy a fruit as big as that, with a peel that is as sturdy as a Pomelo's, then yes, you have to make a helmet out of it. Naturally.

You Wrong That Read

I have been a "model" for a brochure in Singapore (Goldbell, back in 2007), an "actor" in a SingPost TV commercial. Several times I have been interviewed for newspapers, magazines or blogs. I enjoy these as I can learn about techniques others may use, think about how to give a smart response while on record with no time for long deliberations.

While in lockdown, a client suggested that we do video interviews that we record and then post online for others to get their info. Since I like to try new ways, it was obvious that I would go for that. Yesterday I did my second recording of such interviews.

Gotta say! Being a presenter is not easy. Can't dig your nose while the other party gives an answer. Need to speak clearly, and measured. Can't just stare around the room, but must pretend to be looking at the other participant. And although I have a script to read from, it is HAAARDDDD to get the lines right. I had to re-take a few things during the session as I did not read them right.


If anything, I can now appreciate the effort that goes into making a movie or TV commercial...