Update on Our Air-con Installation for our Living Room.

Regards to my recent post for aircon installation, (You can read it here). So here's an update:

Okay so I finally decided to get it done. Cost me about $2.5k +/- for a Panasonic 24,000 BTU single unit that comes with installation and also another isolator installed since my bedrooms are already powered by another compressor.

If you are concerned about if it is legal to install a second compressor on your HDB house, you can do a read up by clicking here on aircon installation requirements etc. by HDB. If you are still unsure, maybe because of the Amp provided for your house, you can call them up and the friendly folks there will do a check for you. Also, don't worry too much about approvals and such if you are getting your Air-con from places like Courts, the contractors will be the one applying all the necessary applications and what not with HDB.

Prior to installation appointment date, your contractor will be making at least 1 visit to your house to take measurements on the pipe laying and if the compressor you opt for will fit through your aircon service window. (just a heads up, you don't really have a choice on which brand of Aircon to choose from. Its a matter of if the compressor is small enough to go through your window.)

On the installation day itself, be prepared to cancel any other appointments or plans that you may have because it will take maybe about 4 to 5 hours and about another hour to clean up all the dust and debris due to the pipe works being done. Below are some of the photos taken during our installation:

Arrival of the equipment and tools.

The compressor being carried out to the Aircon ledge. Notice the few centimeter gap we had between the compressor and window frame.

The one and only brand which has a compressor that can fit through our window.

Compressor model

View of my Aircon ledge from my kitchen window. If your current aircon is installed like how mine was, you will have space for another.

Upgraded insulation pipe because our piping had to run through the master bedroom's bathroom.

Location of where the indoor unit will be installed. the pipes you see here is coming from our master bedroom's bathroom.

Lastly, if you have any question regards to the installation, do leave a comment below and i'll try to help you clear any doubts. Cheers!

Pokémon Go!... What I think of it.

And so the world is now into a new craze - Pokémon Go!.

Like everyone else who was not really into the game in my school days, I just decided to jump into the bandwagon anyways to give it a go and here are the few opinions of my own that I would like to share after tryin to catch em' all for over a week.

Firstly, safety. As a parent, I am always on the lookout for my boy's safety.

Numerous cases have that happened around the world about people getting into accidents due to negligence and being too preoccupied in the game. People walking across the road without looking out for traffic, drivers focusing on trying to catch a Pikachu instead of keeping eyes on the road, people banging into one another and the list goes on. We are talking about adults getting into shit and stuff. What more if the game is in the hands of a child. To a parent like me, definately a no-go when it comes to exposing my little one to this game.

Secondly, the App just sucks. Really. The GPS lags most of the time and navigating around the game is just tedious. The time taken from tapping on a pokemon appearing, to you tapping it, to the screen where you try to capture it, to after you have captured it, to the point where it has to announce the capture and thennnnn showing the Pokemon's data... all of this with lag time in between. It is really a big turn off.

Secondly, the chore of transferring those ever so common little monsters just to get 1 candy each time and having to collect loads of those damn candies just to evolve one. I'm sure many of you share this feeling. It is tiring. By the time you are done, you have already lost a chunk of your phone battery's life. Which brings me to my third point about the game: battery life.

Be prepared to carry around some spare batteries or power banks cause this game sucks the life out of your phone since it is running your GPS, your data, your screen time and gameplay, constantly. Although there is a battery saver mode in the game itself, it doesn't help much. And since there's so many things going on at the same time, your precious phone will get real hot in just 10 minutes of active game time - and turning on incense would mean 3 times more of active game time if you do not want to waste your precious incense. And we all know that high heat and electronics don't go well together and I love my phone.

Lastly, the game sure does have it's benefits like making people come together - at Pokéstops - and making people move around and hopefully be more active and then I just found out there's GPS Joystick. (Google it.) After putting some effort in hunting down those monsters, I now know that a man can just sit down and let his finger do the walking and he can be a Pokémon Master within a week or so. All that effort now down the drain.

For someone like me who enjoy playing games on my phone at times, this game is nothing more than a hype which will eventually die down... especially knowing there is a cheat code readily available with minimal effort required to be a Pokémon Master.

Adding additional air-conditioning unit to your home

We recently just came back from our Stockholm vacation(another blog post soon) and were greeted with the crazy hot humid weather back in Singapore. It was an average of 7°c over in Stockholm and it is now about 33°C here in Singapore. The humidity is crazy. So the thought of getting an additional air-con unit to be placed in our living room crossed my mind.

I checked with the friendly people at GainCity Westgate and they told me that it is possible to add another compressor and fan coil unit to my house. (I was clueless if it was possible to add a second compressor and that I actually just need one fan coil unit instead of two to cool down the living room space)

So if any of you having the thoughts of having a cool living room where you can actually not sweat by sitting down, here's what you need to know:

1. If you are living in a 5-room resale house like me, you will require just one fancoil and compressor unit of 2400 btu to efficiently cool down the space.

2. You will require sufficient space (air-con service ledge) to add in the compressor. If you currently have one now, make sure there is enough space for another.

3. If you do not have the service ledge, then you will need to install the bracket to hold the compressor(additional charges apply).

4. Installation(inclusive of ducting and wiring) will require additional $200 +/-.

5. Ensure that the compressor you are getting will be able to fit through your air-con service window. Do check with your sales rep.

6. Waiting time for installation varies. During the freaking extra hot and humid season, waiting time can go as long as 6 weeks(lots of sweaty hot weeks and sufferings).

7. Cost of the Single Unit itself(exclude  will range between $1k to $2k depending of the brand, quality and features available(air purifying etc). Clinics nowadays are using these.

8. If you are short on cash or finding it hard to fork out the lump sum of a couple thousands, most Installers do offer the credit card 0% interests installment plan which range from 12mths to 24mths.

So there you go. Hope that helps!

Car Lite Singapore?

One of the most long standing debatable issue in our little tiny island we call home - Car ownership in Singapore.

(Disclaimer: what I am about to share is purely for your own pure reading pleasure and is not meant to be taken so seriously and uptight. Relax alright?😊)

So few years ago, the paper value of car ownership skyrocket to insane levels. Prior to that, I owned new small humble 1.1 litre Getz that cost me $200+ per month. After driving it for about 4 years, life changed, got married, settled down and due to our new life arrangements, I sold away the getz and got myself a sedan which i drove for about 2 years(COE was already expensive and was about to blast off to greater heights 😂) before selling it away and going public.

Many asked me why I sold the car away when everyone else is holding on dearly to theirs. Yes, i actually did a lot of thinking comparing the pros and cons of having and not having a car.

Annnnd in this post, let me share with you what has changed in my life after going public for more than 2 years:

*Reminder - this is just me and my life, so please please please don't compare my needs to yours. Others may need a car due to many other important valid reasons and I respect that. We all should.

Owning a Car
PROS
- Having my own car. Obviously.
- I get to go anywhere and anytime of the day.
- I get to transport and move things on my own when i have to.
- I can bring my family out in a jiff!
- not to worry when it comes to a rainy day!

CONS
- A huge chunk of my pay goes to the car installment and it's other neccessities like petrol, season parking, hourly parking 😢, the ever infamous ERP 😢😢😢, Road Tax, Insurance, maintenance.
- I can only smell my bonus cause it always go to the car spendings above.
- After walking around town with my family, we have to walk back to where the car is parked. Imagine parking at far east plaza, walking to 313 and having to walk back to where the car is.
- Driving it, which can be tiring. Compounded by heavy and stressful traffic and unforgiving stupid  drivers and riders everywhere.

Going Public
PROS
- No more spendings on Car! Yeay!
- Enjoy Cabbing everywhere as and when we want. Machiam having chauffer lidat - at the fraction cost of owning a car.
- Still have cash in hand after the above.
- The freedom to bring my family on holidays -irregardless near or far! See the world!
- Getting to rest while on rides in the cab or buses.
- No more long walks back to the carpark because we can just flag or book a cab from virtually anywhere.
- Teaching my little boy to appreciate public transport. He loves train and bus rides.

CONS
- You are subjected to choosy cab drivers unless you book for them or use Grab or UberX.
- Rainy days = travel by bus or trains because cabs are hard to get.
- Out with the ignorant drivers. In with the ignorant commuters 😂😂😂. Still, it is not as bad as bad you encounter on our roads.
- The chances of getting stucked in a train breakdown is real.
- Public transport fares are inching up every year - still not as expensive as car ownership. Beggars can't be choosers they say. 😐

So yeap. There you have it. MY Pros and Cons. Will  I want to own a car again in the future? - Only if the costs of it makes sense. But again, with all the headaches that comes with it - Most probably not.

I am much happier without a car here in Singapore - So is my family.

If you are one of those who are contemplating on giving up your car and are in the same boat as me, I hope this post helps you to make a better decision. Somehow.

Lastly, remember, to any decisions that you make, there will be the pros and cons. Decide carefully to what suit your needs.

*I have no affiliations with any gahmen or party hor! This is just my life's decision. So please dont't politicalize my post. If you ain't got nothing nice to say, then don't say anything.😊*

P.s: Hope the Damn Motorcycle COE for class 2B and 2A drops though. Dafuq is it doing so high up?! (Another post another day - if i'm not lazy)

Love your family, love your life and enjoy the weekends!

How to get to Lancelin Sand Dunes Western Australia, Australia

Ok so we have just returned from our vacation in Western Australia. Of course like many other tourists, we wanted to visit the Sand Dunes located in a small town called Lancelin. I tried to google...checking TripAdvisor and so forth for the exact location, how to get there and if there were any parking spaces nearby. Somehow, there isn't any clear information on these. So..... I'm gonna share with you some of the information I gathered during my trip there.

Getting there.

Our apartment was located in Perth. As such, we had to make a approx. 90 minutes drive up north. If you have a GPS with you, search for GULL Petrol Kiosk Lancelin Roadhouse (Picture 1) It should appear on the list. Set that place as your destination / landmark. Once you're there, the friendly folks over at the Roadhouse would be more than glad to show you the way through a map they have. And just FYI, if you are planning to do some sand surfing, there do have it on rental and sale as well. We took a whole day rental of A$40 and a deposit as well. It will also be a good time to fill up your gas since you're already at the Petrol Kiosk. Now back to the Sand Dunes directions, If you asks the cashier at the Roadhouse, they would probably show you the Map to the dunes(Picture 2). Please refer to to Picture 2 for directions :)

Picture 1 - Gull Lancelin Roadhouse




Picture 2 - Roadmap to Lancelin Sand Dunes from GULL Lancelin Roadhouse
Courtesy of GULL Lancelin Roadhouse.

* GULL Lancelin RoadHouse is located along Walker Ave Junction of King St.

* From there, head up straight to GINGIN RD and drive all the way up till where the road turns right.

* after the right turn you will reach a T-junction (Beacon rd on your right and Bootoo St on your right.

* Turn left to Beacon Road and you will see the Green Signboard that says "Lancelin Offroad Area".

* Turn in into the Offroad area and head in.

* You will then see the caution signboards(shown below) about 50m inside.

* Drive right in and there's a proper parking space about less than 100m inside. by now you should be able to see the beautiful dunes right ahead.

* Park your ride and make your way to the Dunes Bebeh! (Its about 400m walk in... hah!)

Lancelin Offroad Area Signboard along Beacon Road

Entrance to the Sand Dunes. 100m ahead is the parking space provided.

The Parking space provided at the dunes.

Some shots taken at the dunes.

Now that you know how to get there, Just so you know, there's also a stretch of shops along GINGIN Road in case you need to have a quick bite. There's a shop that sells fantastic Fish & Chips called LJ's Diners and also a surf shop, Lancelin Surf, that has beach wears,wet suits, surfboards etc.

And after a day of fun at the dunes, another place worth the visit before sunset would be the Lancelin Beach, which is just a few minutes drive back down GINGIN Road and it is nearby there. (refer to Picture 2 as well) the water is pristine clear and the sand is beautiful! There's not much crowd there as well so you can enjoy the beach. Parking spaces plenty and are located along the road.

Be sure to check it out and share this with your friends and family!

Haze is back

Those of you who are probably awake for the long weekend will know that the haze is back.  Gosh. I was so overwhelmed by it while riding home from work that I'm battling blocked nose and a dry throat now. PSI is hovering in the mid unhealthy range (101-200psi) now as of 11pm Singapore time and a 3-hour psi outlook going into the very unhealthy range(201-300psi) and above according to NEA's website. You guys can check out www.haze.gov.sg for updates - a dedicated site set up by the Government.

Invest in an air purifier if your budget allow. Some of the good brands are like Novita, Sharp and Honeywell. Be sure to get those with multi layers of filtration and especially with HEPA Filter. Air purifying is definately an area you should not cut corners on. Don't waste your money on cheap ones. Quality is key here.

If you are heading out tomorrow to cast for votes for the General Election, be sure to wear, or at least bring your masks and don't stay out too long. Keep yourself hydrated as well.

Take care everyone and stay healthy.
www.haze.gov.sg

Freelance courier rider with Rocket Uncle.

I'd like to share an experience I had when I dipped my toes into some side freelance work. There is this courier company called Rocket Uncle that has tapped into the smartphone world whereby anyone with a driver's license can start working as a courier and start sending parcels and documents.

I started off with much enthusiasm and was very optimistic as it looks like it was easy money. Sure, it does look that way. Pick up a parcel within a given specific timing and delivering it. Basically, Point A to Point B. Payments for each job depends on the distance and how urgently it needs to be delivered so you can actually browse through the jobs available and pick those that you want.

The flow is pretty straight forward in theory. But, in order to really maximize your earnings, you will have to really plan out your routes and timings. Being someone with no experience, on my first day(which was also my last) on the job, I took about 5-6 jobs with 3 of them delivered to the town areas. It took me a total of about 4-5 hours (will get to this below) and a few beeps of my IU unit. So how much did I earn for the day?

Let's do a breakdown:

Average amount paid for a job - $6.50

Time taken to deliver one job - 45mins (if you are fast and familiar with the area)

Total number of job done in 4 to 5hrs - 6

ERP charges in and out of town - $4 to $5

Consumed half tank of petrol on my small 2B bike - $7.50

So: 

$6.50(per job) x 6(jobs) - ($5 ERP + $7.50 petrol) = $26.50

$26.50 / 5hrs = $5.30/hr

Therefore, all in all, I was paid $5.30/hr riding from one end of Singapore to another to another and another. 

Was it worth it? For someone that just started out, my answer is a straight No. Why? Because what they didn't tell you are the problems you will encounter while doing your job -

• Delivery timings. Customers indicating that lunch times are okay for deliveries, and when you arrived, there's no one to receive your order. So you are stucked there wasting precious time waiting while they enjoy their lunch.
• Locations of collection and delivery. These are not your typical Macdonald's or Pizzahut delivery locations that are for HDB houses whereby you reach the blk, up the lift and to the Unit. Instead, collection and delivery location can be shops in shopping centres, or warehouses that you really need to make the effort to make a 5 minutes fast walk in and another 5 minutes fast walk out. a total of 10 minutes of fast walking and a perspiring you. 10 minutes provided they didn't go for lunch or what not. Lastly, places that has a lot of departments. Once you are at the said locations, typically all these people will take out their bow and arrows from their office desk and starts shooting arrows the moment you introduce yourself.
• Above, we are talking about 1 job. what if you had 3 jobs of the same situation? that's a total of 30 lousy minutes of fast walking and being thrown around.
• Call before Arrival. There's also requests for "call before arrival" by clients. Seems reasonable enough. BUT you are not reimbursed for every call you make.
• Wear and tear to your vehicle. The $5.30/hr above is all that you have - barely enough to justify your effort and time committed. What about your vehicle needs? Mileage goes higher which means servicings are due much sooner. Wear and tear gets faster and these don't come cheap for things like tires, engine oil, oil filters, air filters, batteries, brake pads etc. Basically, that small amount you are paid is supposed to cover everything.
• Risk of road accidents multiply. Again, with $5.30/hr includes your risk of being on the road with exposures to accidents with no insurance coverage on your vehicle. Do not take the risk.

However, after all the gripe mentioned above, I do know of people whom have established a rapport with certain clients and normally takes the same routes and jobs every day and their earnings are way beyond what I got. Which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per month. But of course, that is the small handful of riders who are lucky enough.

This is one experience which I will consider as an experience and lesson learnt. If you have no experience in doing courier jobs, my suggestion to you is, forget it. You are far better off with working as a delivery rider with places that pays you a per hour salary or fix monthly salary and places that also provide their delivery team with their own company vehicles.