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mrbrown goes to Nirwana Gardens, Bintan

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/uUhNUb

I have been wanting to go on a short holiday break and when DEAL.com.sg suggested I try Bintan, with WOW Experience (www.wowexperience.sg/) I said, sure!

So with a few buddies of mine, we made the 45-minute ferry ride to Nirwana Gardens resort for a day of cool stuff like Laserclay and Combat Skirmish.

We spent two days there and I can honestly say we had lots of fun. Five blokes together, talking cock and eating a lot, was part of the vacation appeal.

DEAL.com.sg has some pretty neat deals going on, especially with travel, which is their specialty.

You can go to their site to check out the travel deals.

I think I will go again. Even if it is just to soak in the pool. Haha!

[Music: Kevin MacLeod]

VW Golf GTi 35 Party night

What a blast the VW Golf GTi 35 Party was! Miyagi and I met up and headed straight to the makan. But most were there to see the GTis on display. And ok, the lovely ladies too.

That's the Golf GTI E35 above. It's a special edition version of the GTi that marks 35 years of Golf GTI, and is also their most powerful GTi ever.

This is the first ever GTi, the Mk 1, and it was displayed as part of a convoy of GTis from the first to the latest generation model. I thought it was quite cool that they got the legendary Mr Giorgetto Giugiaro, designer of the very first GTi, as their Guest-of-Honour. They even had a big birthday cake in the shape of the car. I didn't manage to get a bite of the car cake though.

I wandered around the vast premises at Stadium Link trying to soak it all in. There was an entire food area, booths for manicures, temporary tattoos, driving simulator machines and wide range of activities. It was like a mini-carnival.

There was a fashion show, a Miss Golf GTI Pageant and to my surprise, the band 53A performed too.

53A is Sara Wee on Lead Vocals, with Alvin Khoo, Bani Hidir and Irwan Shah. The band really rocked the house down and was an unexpected treat for me.

Folks clamoured to take photos with the various GTis, especially the new E35. Miyagi and I were happily snapping away on the stage when I said with a laugh, "Eh, we seem like the only fellas on stage taking photos, and there is an audience gathering at the sides. Wouldn't it be funny if suddenly got hot girls walk on stage and we're still here? Very laokui one leh!"

Moments after we got off the stage, the Miss Golf GTI Pageant started. That was close.

Oh, that's Miyagi on the left of the Mk 1 below.

Do come down to join the festivities over the weekend, on the 26th and 27th of November. There are shuttle buses to Stadium Link from Midpoint Orchard and Marina Bay sands. Details and a map can be found at the website: www.gti35.sg/

I had a good time at the party but I think Miyagi and I ate a little too much food. I am a little jealous that the GTi had such a fancy party at age 35. Miyagi and I are older than the GTi leh. How come we don't get parties like this?

I'm going to the VW GTI 35 party!

Got an exclusive invite to attend the VW GTI 35 launch party next Friday, 25th November 2011. Quite excited since this is one of my favourite hot hatches and it is the iconic car's 35th birthday.

The event is open to the public next Saturday and Sunday (26th and 27th November).

There will be a 35-car GTI convoy, Best GTI Competition, Miss Golf GTI Pageant (heard they were scouting for pageant participants at Zouk a few weeks ago) and special band performances.

There will also be stalls selling food and beverage such as German sausages, nachos and even a specialty GTI burger too, just for the event!

Go to www.gti35.sg to find out more and to register for the free food vouchers.

Looks like it's going to be a packed Stadium Link at Old Kallang Airport on the 26th and 27th.

Eh, VW! Give me a GTI to play with leh. I also got birthday what. I accept belated birthday presents one! Vroom vroom!

A visit to the Ferrari garage

Courtesy of Shell, I got to visit the Ferrari garage at the Singapore Grand Prix. I also got to hang out at their Sky Suite, and stuffed myself with Häagen-Dazs and some fine salmon too. But that's another story.

Shell has a lab right inside the thick of things, to help the Ferrari team analyse the petrol and lubricants used by the team at every race.

Here are some photos from that visit, taken with a Sony A77 and post-processed.

Sony XBA headphones launch in Tokyo

Together with more than 35 journalists and bloggers from around the region, I attended the launch of the new Sony XBA (Experience Balanced Armature) balanced armature headphones at their Tokyo HQ.

The entry level XBA-1 will come with a single full-range driver while the XBA-4 has the kitchen sink, with a full-range driver, a tweeter, a woofer and a super-woofer.

There are also other single-driver models: the noise-cancelling XBA-NC85D (a box-free model!), the waterproof Sports XBA-S65 model and the Bluetooth XBA-BT75.

There are also smartphone versions of XBA-1 to XBA-4, with the designation "iP" (probably stands for iPhone). These come with an inline remote and mic and cost slightly more.

The Bluetooth XBA-BT75 comes with a little carrying case with a battery inside, that acts as a charging unit too (you charge the carrying case, the case charges the headphones). You will need it as the Bluetooth model only lasts about 3.5 hours on one charge.

Estimated prices will range from S$89 (XBA-1) to S$499 (XBA-4).

The tiny balanced armatures inside the headphones are made in Japan, while the headphones are assembled in their Malaysia factory. The balanced armatures apparently have the sensitivity of 13.5mm Dynamic Drive driver, but at a quarter of the size.

I found myself liking the XBA-3 model most. It had the most balanced sound of the four main models. The XBA-4, with its super woofer inside, tended to overwhelm my music. Perhaps it also depends on the kind of music you like to listen to. If you like your bass, the XBA-4 should make you happier.

I also liked the fit of the Sports model, with the clever use of the wire to secure the cans so it doesn't move as much when you exercise.

Noise isolation is very good, especially if you use the Noise Isolation earbuds provided.

I am currently very fond of my Sony MDR-EX1000 which is designed more for studio monitoring (and hence the price tag) but the new range of consumer headphones do impress.

The only problem you might face is choosing from the 11(!) XBA models being offered. Talk about kitchen sink.

A day at the Volkswagen Eco Driving Programme

A few weekends ago, I attended a special driving course at Volkswagen's showroom to learn how to drive in the most fuel efficient way. It's called the Volkswagen Eco Driving Programme.

We started the session with a 7km drive that was measured by a very cool computer inside a VW Golf Sport 1.4. Each of us had our data stored on an SD card so that the instructor, CK, could evaluate our driving later.

After one round of driving, we returned to the showroom for instruction and tips. Then it was back on the road again for a second round, to apply what we learned.

Even though I was already a light-footed driver, I still learned a thing or two that will help me save more fuel. The computer that measured our driving really captured all kinds of mindbogglingly useful data which could be graphed and charted.

This is me with my certificate of participation. Yes, I could not resist wearing my Infinity MPG Threadless t-shirt for a laugh. Despite being a daily cyclist, I do drive the family on weekends and when the need arises. And since I do drive, I may as well learn how to do it in the way that uses the least fuel, without compromising the driving experience.

You can find out more at the VW site and at thinkblue.sg.

mrbrown at NDP 2011: A Taste of The Show!

We give you a little glimpse at what you will see this year at The Show!

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/n35NFM

mrbrown at NDP 2011: Simi is this thing called "Singapore Spirit"?

I couldn't take it anymore. Everyone was taking about The Singapore Spirit, and I had to find out what it meant to different people.

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/oRKsyk

mrbrown at NDP 2011: Beatrice Chia-Richmond, Creative Director of NDP 2011

Beatrice shares what are the challenges of staging a musical for NDP, and what happened to that infamous Fun Pack song (not mine hor).

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/qrBIWE

mrbrown at NDP 2011: Seafood Secondary School!

We get up close and personal with some crustaceans and random sea creatures.

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/pF3xgH

mrbrown at NDP 2011: MWO Jennifer Tan, RSM of NDP 2011

We meet MWO Tan, RSM of this year's parade. And she means business!

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/qus2sU

mrbrown at NDP 2011: Kids with Rhythm (+ mrbrown tries to dance)

These Bloco Singapura kids can dance! So I try it too!

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/nfKvkO

mrbrown at NDP 2011: A Helicopter Ride with the Naval Divers

We follow the Naval Divers as they make that jump out of a Chinook helicopter for the NDP D3 display!

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/pXdtLO

mrbrown at NDP 2011: Clearing Mines and Shooting Rockets

I check out the new mine-clearing Trailblazer vehicle and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)!

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/o5y9si

mrbrown at NDP 2011: Let's Jump with the Red Lions Parachuting Team!

We have a treat for you fans of the perennial NDP faves, the Red Lions skydiving team. Let me take you up for a close-up look at their jump. All the way to 10,000 feet.

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/qzRDIc

mrbrown at NDP 2011: Winds of Dance

I check out the spirit of dance and metaphoric births involving large swathes of cloth, at the National Day Parade rehearsals.

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/oVxUFf

mrbrown at NDP 2011: To Build a Bridge for the Big Guns

Get on the floating bridge set up by the intrepid Combat Engineers for the ceremonial guns to travel on!

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/r0jcqk

mrbrown at NDP 2011: Backstage at the Show

I got to horse around the Backstage of the Show and played with some of the massive (and some smaller) props on site. And even got swung out in The Cube.

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/pOLZNd

The City Limits event at Goodman Arts Centre

My iPhone photography is a small part of The City Limits, at the Lit Up Singapore 2011 festival.

The festival is on from 16th to 23rd July at the Goodman Arts Centre and my little photography exhibition is called Age Limits. The City Limits will also include performances by various bands including my friend, Marc Nair, and his band, doing spoken word poetry and music.

22nd, 23rd July - 7.30p.m. The City Limits performance
More info here: http://www.facebook.com/thecitylimits
Sign up here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=180551545339300
Venue: Blackbox at Goodman Arts Centre

Getting there:
Goodman Arts Centre is accessible by getting off the Circle Line's Mountbatten MRT (Exit B), or via bus stopping at the Bus Stop (91099) on Mountbatten Road where you can enter from the side entrance.
Bus numbers: 12, 14, 30, 30e, 158, 196, 401

mrbrown at NDP 2011: The SCDF's Hazmat Mitigation Vehicle

In the D3 display at this year's National Day Parade, you will see this cool vehicle from our Civil Defence folks: The HMV.

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/pMEV03