Audi (1), originally uploaded by Shuffling Feet.

…and the S$1.08 Million, Audi R8 as captured on my Nikon D40. More on my flickr account.

Audi (2), originally uploaded by Shuffling Feet.

Sunday, Nov 25th 07 – The Audi R8 world premier, created a buzz outside the Marriott on Orchard Road. Some Audi legends rolled out onto the street amid much fanfare. In this pic you can spot the Audi  Silver Arrow with Alan McNish in full vintage gear.

What beats me is why this fiery innovation from the Ron’s kitchen hasn’t been declared a Chart buster in the country of spices – India. Last time I checked , McSpicy hadn’t still arrived.

To the marketing folks at McDonald India – Got McSpicy?

Must be in the Guinness book, I don’t know. But this is one huge mother of all ceiling fans. Found inside Bugis Village, the mecca of street shopping in Singapore. Its a bit ironical actually, considering ceiling fans are mostly phased out in the Singapore residential and commercial spaces.

Also in within its radius span at the ground level is a sex toys outfit , a souvenir shop and couple of snack stalls. Try the assorted stuffed pancakes. I always make it a point to get myself the coconut filled ones. Love it.

I thought this would make a great gifting option for quirky people. I was intrigued by the idea :  Going counter culture to the stereotype of cuddly teddy bears.

These are  phone-size Bears with a ‘Bad Ass’ attitude. Prices starting at $11 . I saw them at a trolley stall inside China Square Center Point on Cross Street.

BTW, the camera on my N73 ME is proving a big help in capturing quick snapshots of things I want to blog about. Watch out for more…

I suspect Akismet is gobbling up a lot of my original comments… and since I am on different timezones with wordpress support, I can NEVER reach them. I am not the only one, there are others who are facing the issue and looks like its been around for a while.

This maybe the end of it. Will keep u posted.

All through B school and frivolous marketing banter, I have heard the phrase Pester Power and used it loosely to depict an opportunity for any marketer. That I would finally fall victim to the same was a far away thought. I was unmarried and without children then. 

My 3 year old wept and whined, sulked and sniffed for a whole day because we got his friend a Power ranger toy for his birthday. We completely overlooked the ‘ identical purchase to avoid conflict’ rule. For most part of the day, I stood my ground with a strong ‘NO’. By the end I started laying conditions. ‘Well, if you behave like a good boy and stop sulking….’  by the time we were through dinner it was a commitment – ‘I’ll get it for you  in the morning if you stop asking’.

He somewhat obeyed and I had to keep my word.I was probably the first to walk into OG’s toy section on Monday morning, after patiently waiting for 20 mins. for the shutters to open.

Singapore truly shines through as a progressive nation. Thumbs Up

My Picture from the last duck race to be held in Singapore. An amusing concept where thousands of rubbers ducks are released into the Singapore river. The river current(?) eggs them on to the finish line which is further down the river. The event is held for charity and the public pitch in by adopting a duck. All in all a fun day out for the family.

Eager spectators thronged the banks on both sides of Clarke Quay. The  event started a good 50 mins late. But hey, its all for a cause right.

Why go there: 

• They have just about everything and then some. Electronics, Watches, A supermarket, a Jewellery shop, Pharmacy, Foreign exchange and even a book store. It’s really a one stop shop. So, go prepared for the heavy dose of items/ sq foot
• People go there because it’s cheaper than most places. But I wouldn’t say everything is cheaper.

 How to get to Mustafa : 

• If you are taking the MRT to get there. Get off at Farrer park station. Most people get off at Little India station because, well Mustafa is IN little India. But the fact is, you are then faced with a long walk through the pretty busy and (un-’rest of Singapore’ like) sidewalk of Serangoon Road. That can slow you down and tire you out for the final assault on Mustafa.
• If you are a happy tourist, transiting through Singapore. You can take the MRT  from the Airport to Outram Park and then transfer there to the North East Line all the way to Farrer Park.
• For those who couldn’t be bothered – Take a taxi J

 Something’s you might not know  : 

• In my experience, you get the best US Dollar conversion rate at the Mustafa exchange, better than at Changi Airport.
• Mustafa has an extensive luggage section. Some visitors ingeniously, buy their luggage first, and then leave it outside Mustafa under watch. After their through with the shop fest they pack in all the stuff into their new bags and have a neat , hassle free way to get out of Singapore.
• If you are an Indian and missing desi spices / masala and all the other paraphernalia, the Mustafa supermarket is an essential monthly stop for groceries. I have seen more ‘Indian’ items there than you would find in a large supermarket back home.
• People love buying DVD’s here and they have an extensive collection.
• The perfumes and chocolates are sometimes cheaper than at the  Duty free.
• It’s quite a labyrinthine place, so make sure you explore in all directions and all levels.
• Getting a taxi out of Mustafa sometimes can be a big pain. Most often you will find them On Call. If you are burdened with a lot of shopping , then this can be a frustrating experience. Call for a cab, it will save you a lot of hassle.
• Mustafa has gift certificates with unlimited validity. You can get it from the counter at Basement II
• They have a bunch of ‘qualified to help’ staff walking around looking busy. If you get lost or can’t find something – which you most definitely will, just walk up and ask!
• They have a paging system so use it if you are trying to track someone down.

When to go :

• Mustafa is open 24hrs, which is great for tourists and locals alike.
• Going at midnight and beyond means you get more air to breathe and more inches on the aisles.
• Don’t go to Little India or Mustafa on Sunday evenings or Public Holidays. The mass swelling of migrant workers on their day off can really overwhelm you. If you are squeamish about crowds – Don’t go!