Lester embarks his journey of worship to Timbuk2 shop at Hayes Street with Muni bus. An adult requires to pay USD 2  for Muni, regardless of the number of stations you are going to travel. Within the time frame given on the ticket, you can transfer and hop on to another Muni without paying (we only get to understand this on day 03).

Muni

Muni ticket states between now to 4:30pm, your transfer to another Muni is FREE!

Loves Hayes Street! It is very quiet town with blooming creative boutique shops.

Timbuk2 Store

Timbuk2′s Interior

Dinner at Blue Mermaid restaurant at Fisherman Wharf. But of course, there are a lot more dining choices available. Probably the 1 and only 1 meal for the day, we ordered 1 sample soups (select 3 soups), Seafood Trio with shrimps, crab cake, salmon and seasonal vegetable. I chose garlic parmesan french fries while Lester chooses mashed potato.

Blue Mermaid Chowder House & Bar

Mascot Mermaid

3 Sample Soups

My Seafood Trio

Lester’s Seafood Trio

Took a stroll along Fisherman Wharf. Hmm… Can’t see much as the night has fall pretty early. We get to pop in and out souvenir shops. Ghirardeli Square is another must visit place. Architecture is romantic, especially with Christmas lightings, very much like Singapore’s Boat Quay. Ghirardeli is a famous chocolate brand in San Francisco, and so we went to its cafe for chocolate drinks.

One of the Ghirardeli stores at Ghirardeli Square

As Fisherman Wharf is one of the terminals of the cable car, we decided to take a ride back to our hotel. Each ride cost USD 6 for each passenger, regardless where you alight.

Cable Car Ticket

Cable Car Terminal at Fisherman Wharf

Cable Car Ride

Slightly into shopping mood, bought some sleeping pants from Old Navy for me and my sister.

Day 03, Lester will be driving to geek’s paradise: Google HQ and Apple company store. Night!

My flight from Singapore is transited at Incheon International Airport, Korea, after a flight time of 6 hours. Then another 12 hours flight to San Francisco International Airport. I thought my power of sleeping anywhere should make sleeping on jet painless. But my sleep is repeatedly disturbed by meal serving, noise around me, inadequate leg space and uncomfortable head rest. Nah~~~

Transit at Incheon International Airport
Reached San Francisco

We finally reached San Francisco and co-shared a van to shuffle us to Chancellor Hotel near Union Square. Rooms are not ready before 2pm. We walked around to get our prepaid SIM card from T-Mobile (with unlimited local calls, texts and data) and Garmin’s GPS. Lethargically, I have to take 5 (actually close to 1 hour) in the room after we’ve checked-in.

Co-Shared Van from San Francisco Airport
Chancellor Hotel

Our Room

Dragging my feet, we shopped around Union Square and had The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Food is no doubt GREAT! We have to share our main dish though. I didn’t make much purchases except a Forever 21 bathroom slipper. Still adapting to the cold weather, tiredness and environment.

The Cheesecake Factory’s reservation counter. Always packed.
Whoo~ Cheesecakes!

Nokia N9 is a touch screen smart phone, running on MeeGo. N9 seeks for simplicity, sleek and thin in design. It is available in 3 colours: pink, blue and black.

Nokia N9

Nokia N9′s Front Facing Camera At The Bottom

I did 2 hands-on videos with Nokia N9, featuring N9′s: three home views screen and camera feature.

When every mobile device goes for 1  home button design, part of the mobile lifespan is highly dependent on this tiny hardware. N9 is buttonless, except for power, volume control, lock button. User only need to double tap on the screen to WAKE UP the phone. How great!

N9 has only 3 home views:

• Main menu view
• Feeds view
• Multi-tasking view

Swipe left to change the views. Main menu is where all your utility applications are, feeds view are customizable to show what you want to read, and multi-tasking view reveals what are applications are running simultaneously.

Being an anal freak, I love CLOSING all running applications after use. With N9, you can simply do so by press and holding the screen in multi-tasking view.

Swiping through these views are spontaneously smooth. But sometime, it seems like this can be more accurately done by swiping edge to edge across the screen.

Nokia N9 Home Views

Camera in Nokia N9 has quite a decent number of settings user can play with:

• Image capture setting
• White balance
• Exposure compensation
• Color filter
• ISO
• Image aspect ratio
• Image resolution
• Face detection
• Allows geotagging

The front facing camera is placed at the lower right hand corner. It is a pity I can’t activate the front facing camera. It requires 3rd party applications which make use of this to turn it on.

Nokia N9 Camera

N.E.mation is a yearly affair. Students who are keen in animation shall represent their secondary schools to participate in this nation-wide animation competition. Organised by Nexus and Animagine, teams will pitch their stories to the panels. Top 10 teams are selected to  produce their animation in 3 weeks in Nangyang Polytechnic. After which, these clips are judged by the panel of judges and open to public for voting. The Champion team wins a fully sponsored trip to DreamWorks USA!

I have a chance to experience how paper cutout stop motion can be done. Tools needed: webcam, tripod, computer, blue tacks, paper, stationery and a playful mind.

Setup

Webcam Setup

AniMaker Software to capture stop motion

The craft papers

Before we begin, we learn the theory behind how animation works: persistence of vision. An afterimage continues to stay in the retina for one twenty-fifth of a second. If the next image is flashed quick enough, the brain and eyes will connect both images and perceived them as a continuous motion.

Persistence of Vision

We begin our paper cutouts after receiving storyboards and template sheets. Working in relation to A3 size paper, we produce a 640 x 480px animation. Different movable pieces are made separately then reassembled back during animation, planning ahead and following these storyboards are extremely important.

Our character, Mr Pumpkin

Paper Cutouts

To begin, you’ll first have to secure the background and the paper elements with blue tack. These elements are moved manually by hands into new positions, capture them with webcam, move again, capture again to stimulate motion.

The process is very tiring! We take turns to animate and play around with the paper cutouts. Our animation ended up with some human cast shadows. And to see how much and what you’ve moved, you’ll need to turn on the onion skin function in the software. This works pretty much like tradition pencil drawing animation where you need to flip between pages to see how your character should move in next frame.

Laily Animating

Onion skin to reveal what is underlying each adjustment

We have 200 over frames for a mere 13 seconds of animation. But we have lots of fun! See our completed stop motion below.

Rendering & Complete

Fun!

Related Links:

• N.E.mation! Official Site
• N.E.mation! Facebook Page
• N.E.mation! Youtube Channel

I was invited to a cake tasting 2 weeks ago organized by Butter Queen. They launch very unique cupcakes and biscuits specially for this occasion.

Butter Queen

Knife-in-Cheek

Grave Digger

A-Cup-Cake

Pumpkin Patch Cupcake

All 4 Cup Cakes

Fatty Witch Fingers & Kanasai Cookies

Butter Queen is a 3 men team who are exceptionally passionate about brainstorming and creating unique cakes and pastry for their customers. Guess what! They are all animators! You can be sure to get 100% creativity and surprises from their creation.

Do check out Butter Queen at their facebook page.

The highlight of the night would be Lyrical Perspective light projection on SAM facade by 1024 architecture. Through just light, shadows, precision and music, SAM facade comes alive for the night.

Lyrical Perspecive

You probably get the story of light transformations if you stay through from the beginning to the end. After the short installation performance, audiences are also invited to interact and make changes to the light if you speak into a mic. Love the human interaction. I’m sure those who participate enjoyed!

Audience speaks into a microphone to manipulate the light display

Projection of audience’s voice in the form of light

Exhibitions at SAM are much light hearted and colourful. You will first be greeted by several Volvo cars at the front lawn of SAM, flashing rhythmic lights through the frosted windows. It’s a pity sound design has not been considered. It would be a great medium to use with light.

Curiosities are glowing jellyfish light installations floating around 2 sides of SAM courtyard. These jellyfishes are relatively big and fascinating against the dark sky. Definitely a great spot to take a photo with.

Curiosities, Courtyard at SAM

I would recommend SAM for kids as there are galleries and activities suitable for them to participate in.

Walking over, to National Museum of Singapore, you will first see 12 large bright helium balloons when you enter the Rotunda. Artist tries to address her dilemma in search for her identity in foreign land. Did you read that? Probably take a closer look at the facial expressions of the gloomy brown figurines juxtaposing against carefree balloons.

A Dozen of Those, Rotunda at NMS

If you are a photography lover, you must visit Abbas, 45 Years in Photography exhibition located at National Museum of Singapore’s basement Gallery 2. These black and white photography are curated with concerning themes such as wars, countries, day-to-day life and religion. Every picture you see makes you ponder what kind of life these people are living in, what are their stories, what exactly happen back then. This exhibition shall be ongoing till 18th September 2011 (Sunday).

I ended my visit of the night with Corazon de Angeles in Paradise performance, in front of National Museum, and also the highlight of the night. Roads are blocked for audience to stream into the temporary open space. This Belgian theatre company brings the emotion to the peak with their singing, acting, video screening, dance, theatrical props and lights, all performed LIVE. A full 45 minutes experience which transport you to their cinematic world.

Corazon de Angeles in Paradise, Entrance of NMS

Corazon de Angeles in Paradise, Acrobatics

Corazon de Angeles in Paradise, Singer

Note: Within the month of August 2011, admissions to most museums are free. But late night free admission is only applicable to National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, SAM at 8Q on 26 August (Fri), 27 August (Sat), 2 September (Fri), 3 September 2011 (Sat), from 6pm to 2am. The Peranakan Museum and The Substation will only open till 2am on 26 August (Fri) and 27 August 2011 (Sat).

In this Nothing Less campaign, volunteers deliver 40 netbooks to the homes of people with disabilities, assisting them to connect to the world through social media platforms such as Windows Live, Facebook, Twitter and Skype.

To top it off, Tribal DDB is offering internship to them. They would need to submit an entry as a video of no longer than 1 minute, or as a short write-up of no more than 500 words. More details can be found in the FAQ Page.

We arrived promptly at 9:30am on our mission day. Our client is a 8 years old girl, Cheong Leng, who needs a computer for her school work. We are overwhelmed by the friendly mother who serves us green bean soup before we even started.

Ready for mission

Ready for mission

Delivering the netbook

I am glad Lester is with me because he is the technical guy who assisted in setting up the Internet dongle. To begin with, we have created simple flash cards to show her what the respective social media platforms are for.

Self-made flash cards

Lester setting up Internet dongle

Some considerable time is spent to engage Cheong Leng to talk to us, to type and to choose her login name. Everything else move smoothly. We only encounter minimum age issue, minimum 13 years old, to register for a Facebook account. Therefore, we have to tweak her year of birth in order to proceed.

Mummy getting Cheong Leng to start

Introduction to Facebook

Sending her first friend request message

I believe Cheong Leng is more excited as we move on to Skype. She makes video call out to IAC staff  and me (I used my iPhone). Live demonstration and interaction indeed works better for her. Cheong Leng also loves to communicate with Skype emoticons!

Through onsite observations, Lester and I decided change the last social media component: from Twitter to YouTube. We believe YouTube can bring more beneficial information and entertainment to a girl of her age. She has learn how to make a search for videos, loading them, play and pause, and watch them in full screen.

YouTubing her favourite Mr Bean

We’ve never done a 1-to-1 house visit before. This experience is indeed special. Special in the sense that we are able to pass on our IT skill to someone in need. We do hope this visit makes an influence to her in future.

Mission accomplished

Written by Lester Chan & Lay Hiang

It is probably a small 30-ish people cafe serving food like salad, sandwich, pasta and drinks. Set lunch is also available on weekdays only. You can laze in there the whole afternoon, feeling like time has stopped and you’ve been to another world.

The girls and I ordered our mains: Soy Sauce Braised Chicken Breast Salad in Japanese  Yuzu Dressing, Bacon & Onion Spaghetti in Aglio Olio and Salmon Spaghetti in House Special Pink Sauce. On average, each cost about $10. Portion is just nice for me, hot food, simple ingredients. We had Yuzu Frost, Citron Presse and Rootbeer Float, each around $5 to $6.

Just by the names: Vita Plum (Ice blended Vitagen & Sour Plum), Lemon Sour Plum, Homemade Honey Lemongrass, Citron Presse (Soda with Crushed Mint & Lime Juice), Kopi Milkshake and Yuzu Frost, you know these drinks are special. Do try their Iced Specialty drinks when you visit Hairloom!

If you fancy any toys, jewellery, stationery or a home deco found in Hairloom & Caramel, they are all on sale.

Hairloom & Caramel

Menu

Soy Sauce Braised Chicken Breast Salad in Japanese  Yuzu Dressing

Bacon & Onion Spaghetti in Aglio Olio

Salmon Spaghetti in House Special Pink Sauce

Yuzu Frost (Yellow), Citron Presse (Green) & Rootbeer Float (Pink)

Order your food at the counter

Facing the Kitchen

Whimsical Toys

Stationery & Toys for Sale

Figurines for Sale

From 28th May to 17th July 2011, you can enjoy a range of Goodwood Park’s signature dessert at their Coffee Lounge. You can either go for:

• $26.80++ per person (Dessert Buffet with Durian Pastries only) or
• $39.80++ per person (Dessert + Taiwan Porridge A-La-Carte Buffet)

The Goodwood Park Hotel brings in 6 durian delights at the dessert bar: Durian cappuccino cake, Durian mousse cake, Durian Oreo cake, Durian pudding, Durian puff and Durian pancake this year.

We go for desserts only and skipped the Taiwan porridge, thinking we can eat to our hearts content. I was a little disappoint to see a small dessert bar when I first enter the Coffee Lounge. Other than our main focus, the durian, you are also entitled to fruits, Nonya kueh, Chinese desserts, Moven Pick ice cream and sorbet.

In my first round of durian frenzy, I took one of everything. The signature Durian mousse cake and the Durian puffs are still the best, however, I do wish they are less thawed. But rest assured, there is no doubt on quality and taste of these durian. Just that, comparing to those you take out from their Deli, you can thaw these puffs to liking. In my case, I prefer have them served cold, with puff fillings still a little freezy and occasionally biting into the ice bits. While in the Coffee Lounge, the puffs, the cakes and most of the others are served in room temperature. Somehow somewhere the magic is gone…

The Durian pudding and Durian pancakes are worth mentioning. Pudding is soft and creamy and pancakes are freshly made by the pastry chef at the dessert counter. Yum! The durian buffet has a well balance of non-durian choices such as: Apple crumple, Pineapple pie, Berry sponge mousse (pardon me, I forgot their names). Indeed, they have more citrus but they complement the jerliat-ness after all the durians! It was a little pity the dessert buffet does not include tea or coffee. Drinking plain water does not clear our palate from the heavy durian. We each order an English Breakfast Tea and a Flower Fairies Tea.

Durian cappuccino cake is over powered by the coffee. Durian Oreo makes me think “Where’s the Oreo?!” And I’m just not sure what am I eating when I bite into Durian cheesecake. Maybe some combinations are not meant for each other.

You can give Nonya kueh and Chinese desserts (Green bean soup and Pulau Hitam) a miss. Want something cold? There are Moven Pick chocolate, coffee ice cream and lime sorbet free flow!

Goodwood Park Hotel

Dessert Bar

Quiet Corner

Durian Dessert Begins

Durian Signatures

My Non-Durian Favourites

Green Bean Soup & Pulau Hitam

English Breakfast Tea

Flower Fairies Tea