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#SGBudgetSavers

[Image from Yahoo]

And so the Budget 2013 report is out. The one bright spot in Budget 2013 — Finance Minister Tharman.

Let me sum it up for you.

Tharman: "Budget 2013 aims to create a better Singapore with quality growth & an inclusive society."

All we heard: "Cannot buy car liao!!!"

I want to begin by thanking car owners for contributing to our multi-billion-dollar surplus. Your gahmen thanks you by asking you to pay even more now.

All this prompted me to think of what we can do to stretch our dollar. Hence #SGBudgetSavers:

1. @mrbrown: I use the other end of a cotton bud after my wife used one end for makeup.

2. @mrbrown: I added a Turbo sticker to my mother's car to make it look like new. (Each "Turbo" sticker adds one horsepower.)

3. @mrbrown: I ordered Ice Kosong at the kopitiam and brought my own ice. Side note: Today I found out Ice Kosong is called Hang Cheng Pai (行情坏) at the kopitiam. How apt!

4. @mrbrown: I told my kids to use both sides of the toilet paper.

5. @mrbrown: I told my kids the cardboard tube of the toilet roll is also usable paper.

6. @mrbrown: A diaper isn't full until it almost explodes.

7. @lupcheong: At Starbucks, on top of bringing my own mug, I also brought my own coffee then ask for warm water.

8. @mrbrown: I haven't bought a bottle of ketchup in years. I am still living off the packets I took home a few years ago.

9. @WhatTannaSaid: I use the tissue people used to chope their tables at kopitiams.

10. @mrbrown: I chope table with used tissue paper.

11. @kinwah56: I use the water from washing my hair with shampoo to wash my body to save on body foam. (Then after that, use to water plants. -mb)

‏12. @madame_siti: Must learn how to use public toilet before heading home, so that we save water by not flushing at home.

13. @fuuko4869: The awkward moment when you actually do all the money-saving habits that @mrbrown jokes about #SGBudget ._.

14. @mrbrown: I couldn't get Jay Chou concert tickets so I mumbled his songs to myself.

15. @dinnie: I'm going to use hot milk from the company's cappuccino machine for my breakfast cereal.

16. @yitzhakkhoo: The total water consumption for one bath session at home is 2 wet tissues. For a family of 4.

17. @mrbrown: I told the kids to bathe at the school toilet sink before coming home.

18. @mrbrown: I bought a t-shirt with Japanese words I don't understand but it was on sale.

19. @ShunfuMart: I make my own NEWater at home using a funnel and filter paper.

20. @lupcheong: I actually wore all my father's clothes and glasses for retro night instead of buying at Haji Lane.

21. @KWSW83: Instead of paying for gym membership, I fail IPPT & go for RT. 20 sessions of work out & I get paid.

22. @mrbrown: I sell Candy Crush lives instead of giving them away for free. Wanna live? Pay up.

23. @mrbrown: You can wear one underwear five times. Ask any army Sergeant to show you how.

24. @mrbrown: Save money on an Ah Boys to Men movie: redo National Service.

25. @mrbrown: I'm going to take this $250 Budget 2013 drumstick from gahmen and keep it for the rainy day when they ask for a chicken back.

26. @darrylho: I watch EPL for free at kopitiam by sitting at tables where the plates haven't been cleared.

27. @jennyteo: Record ministerial speeches and replay them during cold nights for free hot air. (Or as sedatives. -mb)

28. @mrbrown: Every CNY, I refurnish my home by hanging out at lift lobbies.

29. @monatomic: Am trying not to pee in my pants from laughing too hard at #SGBudget #SGBudgetSavers tips (Don't waste NEWater! -mb)

30. @mrbrown: Save on cable TV. Watch Korean dramas by looking over the shoulder of train commuters.

31. @mrbrown: You see hand-dryer. I see laundry savings.

32. @ImranJohri: Bite half the satay. Put back. Repeat. All half-satays left? Restart! Double your pleasure.

33. @TommyWee: Eating the leaf that wraps the otah.

34. @mrbrown: It just rained heavily. I just had a free shower at my office open air area.

35. @ImranJohri: Put on your old uniform and eat at your primary school canteen. "What! Nasi lemak is no longer 50cents?!"

36. @ImranJohri: Make triangle newspaper-hat. Cut two holes. Disposable undies. (Cut bigger holes… tadaa! G-string! -mb)

‏37. @ImranJohri When ordering nasi padang, tell the makcik, "Your sambal's so sexy" Confimed got extra sambal - or sexy, depends.

38. @mrbrown: Instead of a car, I will ride a pony.

39. @vinyarb: Watch the entire Tomb Raider gameplay walkthrough on youtube instead of buying the game.

40. @mrbrown: Speak Singaporean Hokkien. Get discount from aunties. Win. [Image via the very funny Sibey Nostalgic]

41. @orbigood: Go to Google Earth and zoom in from space. No need spend money on skydiving.

42. @mrbrown: Buy one plate of sushi. Whack the wasabi and pickled ginger (sari) until you are full.

43. @mrbrown: Wipe bicycle rims with the wet wipe after wiping face.

44. @ernchang: Poop at work before going home. No need to scrub toilet. Guess where I'm tweeting from.

45. @mrbrown: I once saw an advanced #SGBudgetSavers auntie at a fast food outlet. She drank 30% of her soft drink & asked for an ice top-up.

46. @mrbrown: Ask for the curry gravy at the Chai Png stall. Hope to get a stray piece of chicken, potato or veggie.

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Photo by Wolfgang Staudt

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The Universal Law of Mother Phone Call Physics

Every time I call my mother, I know I have to call twice. The first time is for her to hunt for her Nokia phone in her giant handbag.

The other method is to call my mom once, let it ring to the end. Then wait for her to find her phone and call me back.

A Facebook friend says she has to call thrice: "The first time for her mother to feel the vibration or to hear the ring tone. The second for her to hunt for the phone. And the third for her to eventually locate it and pick my call up. And she doesn't even hv a giant handbag to begin with."

And one day, science will explain why mothers hang up without saying "bye", leaving us in mid-sentence, followed by "Hello? Hello? Mom? You still there?"

No, your mom is not the only one who does this. And yes, we still love mom to bits regardless of this quirk.

Safe Cycling with mrbrown: Riding too close to the left

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

You may think you're supposed to cycle as left of the road as possible. You are mistaken.

Got milk?

Seen on Facebook: Milk exam answer win.

The Sony Playstation 4: the best console you've never seen

Sony announced Playstation 4 today at its two-hour event in New York City: no console to see, no price, no ship date.

Oh, and you need to rebuy all your PS2 and PS3 games, it looks like.

Journos did get to see the DualShock 4 controller though. It has a touchpad and a erhmagerd, a Share button.

After unveiling the PS4 controller today, I hear Sony may unveil the Playstation 4 power cable next month.

Six six six huat, six six huat ah!

Gahmen: "Problem Gamblers, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1800-6668-668"

Problem Gamblers: "Wah the numbers damn swee! Buy 4D!"

If you see the Problem Gambling Helpline and want to buy the numbers, you probably need to call the Helpline.

More maths madness

Good morning! Still thinking about that PSLE question? @stupidgenius gave me a new one (though it isn't a PSLE question, if it is any consolation)…

Yet another PSLE maths question to blow your mind

Update from ‏@MOEsg: "Hi all, we wish to clarify that the supposed PSLE math question on figuring out Mr Tan’s birth date is not a PSLE question."

Supposedly a PSLE maths question. My brain just had cramps.

If you want the answer, click below to see it after the page break.

Fairy Tales, Rebooted

So there was Snow White and the Huntsman; Hansel & Gretel, Witch Hunters; Jack the Giant Slayer; what's next? Cinderella, Domestic Helper?

Here are a few more #FairytalesRebooted:

1. @mrbrown: Snow White, Dwarven Sniper

2. @mrbrown: Little Red Riding Hoodlum, Grandma Avenger

3. @mrbrown: The Three Little Pigs Renovation Contractors Pte Ltd

4. @bljhftw: Sleeping Beauty, The Clubbing Chiongster

5. @Kherubim2k: Goldilocks the Werebear

6. @BB_See: Snow White and the Seven Samurai

7. @suann_c: Little Mermaid: Anti Sharks Fin Activist

8. @DaveEvans72: Jack and the Bread Talk

9. @AbsoluteJunkie: The Princess and the Frog legs Porridge

10. @gtuckerkellogg: Pinnochio: Lie Hard

11. @mrbrown: Pinnochio: Ah Boy to Man

12. @mrbrown: Jack and Jill: Return to Silent Hill

13. @mrbrown: Humpty Dumpty: Breaking Dawn

14. @mrbrown: The Little Match Girl and the Goblet of Fire

15. @mrbrown: The Princess and the Pea: the Awakening

16. @mrbrown: Rapunzel: Sadako's Revenge

17. @mrbrown: Zero Duck Ugly

18. @mrbrown: The Big Bad Wolf, the Last of the Lycans

19. @mrbrown: The Steadfast Universal Tin Soldier

20. @mrbrown: The Last Alliance of Elves and and the Shoemaker

Safe Cycling with mrbrown: Dooring

Youtube link: http://mrbrwn.co/130sBUD

Dooring is one of the most common causes of cyclist crashes. Learn how you can avoid getting doored.

This fella is probably sleeping on the couch tonight

Taken off Weibo, translation:

Man: "Actually Valentine's Day isn't that unique."

Man: "Valentine's Day is actually a lot like the Qing Ming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day)."

Man: "You're either making an offering of food or an offering of flowers."

Happy Valentine's Day to you all, or as some of us call it, Thursday.

The old Browntown is back!

Some of you have been asking me for ages to re-upload the old mrbrown.com site, also known as Browntown, containing much of the Singapore National Education (S.N.E.) series (some of which are here in the new site but many issues I didn't have the time to migrate over) from 1997-2004.

Well, with a little nudge from my friend Yumei and Google Drive's new hosting feature, I managed to rejuvenate the old site.

You can access the site with this URL: gdriv.es/mrbrown or mrbrwn.co/oldmrbrown

I feel nostalgic just looking at the Adobe Pagemill 2.0 HTML files.

All Quiet on the CNY Front

Sitting at the nearby McD's, with very few people around due to Chinese New Year, and an empty bus goes by… feels nostalgic, when our population was 3 million. Enjoying it while it lasts. [Vine video here]

Singapore from CNY-eve to 初三 would be good for filming a zombie apocalypse movie. It's like a scene from I Am Legend here.

I heard Najib's election campaign kanna Psy

Youtube link: http://youtu.be/jZA0SFt_bms

MC Najib: Are You Ready For PSY?

Crowd: YES!

MC Najib: Are You Ready For PSY?

Crowd: YES!

MC Najib: Are You Ready For PSY?

Crowd: YES!

MC Najib: Are You Ready For BN? (Barisan Nasional)

Crowd: NO!


[Image from New Nation who saw it on Malaysian blogs]

Epic fail.

Also Fail was the Singapore Straits Times coverage of this Penang rally: http://mrbrwn.co/Xuc5ww

Quips from CNY 2013

Photo: Lion Prance. Captured on iPhone 4S by me.

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Channel Five is showing Snakes on a Plane to usher in the Year of the Snake? Why not Boogie Nights too?

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If the movie people want more Chinese to watch their movie over CNY, they should have named it more auspiciously: "A Good Day to Huat Hard"

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Live life. Eat Bak Kwa.

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No CNY is complete without watching a Stephen Chow movie. Our family watched 鹿鼎記2神龍教 (Royal Tramp II).

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Chinese New Year, the annual congregation of bad and blur drivers in housing estates all over Singapore.

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My CNY #OOTD http://twitpic.com/c2dg9p.

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Brother, channel surfing the free Chinese channels for CNY: "The main part of the budget for this Korean movie went to the plastic surgery."

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The first day of Chinese New Year felt like a Sunday.

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祝大家人山人海！ (Sorry it's the only 成語 I know.)

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Me: "Son. How do you wish your 舅舅 and 舅母 Happy New Year in Chinese?"

Son: "今天快乐!"

Me: *facepalm*

Population Pangsai Zua

PAP takes a dump on the Seven-Million-In-Singapore White Paper.

[via EDMW loves Singapore]

The joys of DIY

From a newly-married young friend, who is setting up his new home:

"2 days back I spent a brief 20 mins fixing up the dining table we bought from Ikea, I bragged my friends the next morning that it's enjoyable because it gives me a sense of personal touch to my own home. I went home to continue on the rest of the furniture and thought to myself,

"Wow, that was a load of bullshit."

That made me laugh out loud because I agree. It gets old real fast. Pay the assembly surcharge and be done with it.

Taiwan 2013: Where the heck is Hsinchu and Miaoli again?

I have been to Taiwan several times in my life. In fact, it was the first place I ever traveled to on a plane, when I was five years old. I cannot remember that first trip but I do remember the more recent trips in my adult life. Most of the time, I visited Taipei, and while Taipei is a nice city (I really enjoyed my last cycling trip there, around the rivers), I longed to see the rest of Taiwan, something different from the city life.

So with the help of Qiito.com, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau-Singapore office, and TransAsia Airways (that's their Business Class in the photo), Ryan and I spent a week exploring the Hsinchu (新竹市) and Miaoli (苗栗市) counties, mostly in the mountain regions (山区) of Taiwan.

The flight was a redeye, so we departed at 1am and reached Taoyuan airport at about 5am, feeling like zombies (note to self, try to sleep instead of watching movies on a night flight). We touched down, we grabbed our luggage and hopped on a super cheap u-bus ride to the nearest bullet train station, then zoomed to the THSR Hsinchu Station (高鐵新竹站).

We grabbed some breakfast at the 7-Eleven there (I LOVE Taiwan's convenience stores!) then took the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle service (台灣好行) The Tourist Shuttle route we took was the Lion's Head Mountain Route. I have to say this service is really useful for the non-driving traveler. For about 100NTD (varies by route), you get to hop on and off the shuttle service at the designated stops for a day. The bus comes hourly but during holiday seasons, it is half-hourly.

Our first stop was Green World Ecological Farm (綠世界生態農場). This is like a cross between a zoo, a botanical gardens and a bird park. Oh, they have fish too. But the highlight of my time here was hanging with the Alpacas. They are called Caonima (草泥马), Grass Mud Horse, in Chinese but you want to be careful with the way you pronounce that because it sounds like a rude phrase.

We also visited Beipu, (北埔) a rural township in Hsinchu county. They have a rich Hakka heritage there, with an old street (北埔老街) and old buildings and temples with many stories to tell. Our guide regaled us with tales of fengshui and the Japanese occupation in Beipu.

Besides eating Hakka dishes for lunch, I also tried my hand at making my own Lei Cha (擂茶), a pounded tea cereal made up of ground up tea, nuts, grains, and herbs. You take one cup of this stuff and it will fill you like a meal.

I also developed a taste for Taiwanese Chinese tea on this trip. I am fond of this Dongfang Meiren oolong tea (東方美人茶), made in Hsinchu. The tea leaves are fed on by a pest, tea green leafhoppers and the insects produce chemicals that give the tea its unique flavour. That means no pesticides are used since you WANT the insects to come.

Our evening was spent at a homestay or B&B (民宿) in Nanzhuang called Nanzhuang Jing Hua (南庄晶華), in Miaoli county. This is my first time staying in a homestay and I have to say it was very pleasant. This is the view from our room.

Ryan and I even bought some food from the convenience store in town to dine beneath the stars for dinner. With temperatures at around 20°C and below, it was pleasantly cool and you could stay all night at the outdoor tables just eating, talking and using the wifi from the lobby.

Breakfast is included so you can eat in-house before setting out for sightseeing.

We visited a lake, Xiang Tian Hu (向天湖) and Raisinay Dyeing and Weaving Crafts Park (石壁染織工坊).

This is Shenxian Valley (神仙谷) and I tell you, the views are heavenly.

This is Mr Fa Ai (法愛), boss of a newly open eatery 七分醉 (Atayal Restaurant) at Shensian Valley, singing for us, with the valley as his backdrop. It was an impromptu exclusive performance (watch a short video on my Path). He used to be in the singing business as a star and now runs this cafe with an awesome view. You can get great food and even afternoon music performances here.

Bi La Jiao Garden (碧絡角花園咖啡民宿) is a cafe, homestay and farm all rolled into one. The boss lady is known as the Queen of Mushrooms because she grows the most awesome mushrooms around. During the holiday seasons, there are traffic jams in the little road leading up to the cafe, where people go to enjoy the cherry blossoms when they are in bloom.

Speaking of flowers, here are some of the lovely views and flowers we saw in the Miaoli county.

Around our homestay at Nanzhuang Jing Hua (南庄晶華), we took a walk to check out the hiking trails. We found this really lovely place called Fairytale Garden (山芙蓉) nearby, where the lady owner has converted into a garden of the highest order. You can have a coffee or wine or a meal, surrounded by all this beauty.

Another place I really enjoyed in Miaoli county was Shandu Bakery 山度窯烤麵包. The couple who run this place make the most delicious breads I have ever eaten. The bread is freshly baked daily in a wood fired kiln, which is part of its charm.

The wife told me she got the fire going at 6pm the night before, then woke up at 4am that morning to begin baking. That's a lot of work for bread but you can taste it.

Here are some photos from our walks on the creeks and forests of Miaoli.

I miss my walks in the cool misty mountains already.

(Read Part 2 here.)

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Photo by Suni-G

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