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Affordable And Romantic Honeymoon Destinations In Asia

Whether you prefer a peaceful time at the beach or a lively day packed with cultural adventures, you will not be disappointed with any of these top-rated and incredibly affordable honeymoon destinations in Asia:

LAID-BACK LAOS

For couples who are looking forward to enjoy a laid-back honeymoon filled with rich cultural experience, you may consider going to the spectacular city of Luang Prabang in Laos. The entirety of this beautiful city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Relaxed is one word that perfectly encapsulates its inhabitants. People in this city are not rushing to catch up with the rest of the world. They simply enjoy the humble things in life. It is immensely different from the fast-paced and relatively demanding lifestyle we have in Singapore!

Honeymooners can enjoy the glorious waterfalls, riverside ambience, amazing river cruises, untouched countryside, and sacred Buddhist temples. It is recommended to visit this destination from March to September.

Cheapest Flights For Two Adults: S$688 thru Air Asia

SPICY SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is both a budget-friendly and extraordinary way to kick start your new life together. It has been considered as one of the top-rated honeymoon destinations in Asia due to its interesting culture, delectable (and spicy) food, as well as its friendly locals. Its natural resources boast with endless beaches and breathtaking mountains. Paradise is an understatement! Just take a look at what this country’s landscapes can offer:

For optimum weather conditions, it is best to visit the country from May to September at the east coast and from December to March at its west and south coasts.

Cheapest Flights For Two Adults: S$556 thru Air Asia

MAGNIFICENT MALDIVES

Looking for our very own “Caribbean” in Asia? Look no further as Maldives will delight you with its pristine beaches and world-class scuba diving services.

The floating bungalows and resorts set on beautiful blue waters will make you and your better half want to stay there forever. To turn up the romance, you must visit from April to November when rain showers are expected.

Cheapest Airfare For Two Adults: S$374 thru Tiger Airways

VIBRANT VIETNAM

Probably the cheapest destination in this list is Vietnam. In less than 3 hours, you will arrive at this Southeast Asian country that is filled with bustling cities, tranquil beaches, and stunning rivers. Newlyweds can savor the delicious local food, enjoy the cruise in Mekong Delta, and appreciate a biking trip together. Book a flight between September to December for the best weather conditions.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Cheapest Airfare For Two Adults: S$208 thru Tiger Airways

Note: All the airfares were based on the prices of the two-way tickets from August 29-31, 2016. Information were taken from cheapflights.com.sg.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

4 Singaporeans Whose Jobs Are Far From Boring

Whoever said that all Singaporeans are talentless and boring have not met these extraordinary people:

DR. MARTHA TARA LEE

Sexuality and sexual health are issues that are often ignored in our Asian households. We have a difficulty in discussing these issues openly even to our closest family members. In this case, ignorance is not a bliss because it can lead to ambivalence, tension, and frustration. People who are in desperate need of counseling are often hesitant to seek professional help due to the taboo attached to “sex”.

Dr. Martha Tara Lee is one of the few individuals who addressed these issues head on (no pun intended). Founder of Eros Coaching, she is a Clinical Sexologist, who has been helping single and married individuals since 2009. She provides services such as coaching on sexuality and intimacy as well as customized sexual education workshops. Eros’ past events include “More than Conquerors – 6 Weeks of Skills Acquisition for Men” and “The Art of Feminine Presence”.

Learn more about Eros Coaching’s services, events, and rates by visiting eroscoaching.com.

NICHOLAS FOO

As the only Asia-based LEGO Certified Professional, Nicholas Foo builds impressive gift items and large scale sculptures using LEGO materials. LEGO Certified Professional are not employed by LEGO but, they are trusted business partners with the right to market and sell the iconic blocks company’s products and services. Basically, Nicholas is a LEGO master artist!

This passionate Singaporean artist is the founder of the Blackbulb, a company founded on the values of quality, creativity, and fun. Watch his team in action as they assemble three vibrant pieces for LEGO.

MARK “SABOTAGE” ONG

Mark Ong, better known in the artistic universe as SABOTAGE or SBTG, is one of the most innovative sneaker artist on the planet. He became well-known to the public after winning a sneaker customization competition on Nike Talk Forum.

Notable due to his scientifically precise brushstrokes, SBTG has a loyal following which adores his spunky style of cut and paste. His talent eventually caught the attention of celebrities such as NBA’s legendary Kobe Bryant and Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn. When asked about what drives him to work each day, he simply said: “I stay motivated by constantly making an effort to deliver value and make a difference in people’s lives in every platform I can.”

To get your very own SBTG customized sneakers, you will have to pay about S$250-800!

CARA NICOLE “SYRENA” NEO

Cara Nicole Neo turns the beautiful fantasies of many into a reality by transforming into her alter ego “Mermaid Syrena”. Since 2013, she has been performing as a mermaid for children’s parties and corporate events. You will probably be shocked to know that her clients pay around S$500 per hour.

Her glamorous yet challenging life as a mermaid continues as she opened the Singapore Mermaid School. Watch her in action as she teaches Xiaxue how to become like a mythical sea creature:

Who would have thought that working odd jobs can pay more than some of the 9-5pm mundane jobs?

Source: mustsharenews

4 Possible Ways To Earn Money When Pokémon Go Hits Singapore

Do you want to make some money while you are catching ’em all? Apparently, it is possible.

1. DRIVE TRAINERS AROUND THRU UBER

If you are excellent at navigation and you are eager to earn a decent amount of money, you can consider becoming an Uber driver for Pokémon trainers. Having a car is not a strict requirement as most Uber drivers rent their cars. In fact, Uber Singapore has a list of preferred rental partners.

You simply need to be familiar with the Singapore roads as well as the areas where plenty of Pokémon will inhabit. This type of service has become popular in United Kingdom where an Uber cabbie by the name of Bahri Takyuz charges about £25 or S$44 per hour to drive the Pokémon trainers to the Pokéstop hot-spots in the Capital.

2. SELL YOUR CARD COLLECTION

Take advantage of the current hype by selling your card collection before Pokémon Go hits Singapore!

As an avid Pokémon fan back in the day, you probably have a mighty card collection consisting of the common and uncommon cards. If these cards are still in mint condition, you can sell them online through marketplaces such as Gumtree and Ebay. They can go for about S$20 per card and five common cards can easily bring you S$100! Isn’t that amazing?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

You can get more money by selling the rarest cards that may sell for thousands of dollars. When put to good use, that amount of money can help you pay for a loan or a holiday.

3. OFFER YOUR SERVICES AS A POKÉMON

Almost every kid that grew up in the 90’s wanted to become a Pokémon trainer. In time, this childhood dream will soon turn into a reality. Be the very best trainer that you can be by regularly practicing your skills upon the game’s release.

Put this talent into good use by offering to catch some Pokémon for other players. There will always be some players who want to get ahead in the game as quickly as possible, without much concern for the process. They are even willing to pay for it!

For instance, an American named Ivy posted a Craigslist ad that charged for US$20 (about S$27) per hour. What started as a joke became a source of decent income as she got lots of requests from other players including a lawyer and a pregnant woman. That is just one individual…imagine if you were to open a website exclusively for this type of service!

4. “LURE” YOUR POTENTIAL CLIENTS

You can drop a “lure” to attract more customers to your local business establishment, restaurant, or cafe. Find out how you can do this by visiting this helpful link.

Pokemon Go is set to alter the Singapore’s gaming field once it hits the island. Enjoy this newfound game to the fullest, but do not forget to create a line between the real and the virtual world. The greatest adventures are still the ones you share with the people whom you love the most.

Sources: 1 & 2

Important Things To Consider Before Purchasing A Fitness Studio Membership

“California Fitness closed… what now for its members?”
“California Fitness abruptly shuts branches in Hong Kong.”
“California Fitness closes all branches in Singapore.”

Image Credits: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/The_ONE_California_Fitness.jpg/512px-The_ONE_California_Fitness.jpg

In the light of the recent headlines, California Fitness members voiced out their battle cry either to the authorities or to the netizens. I greatly sympathize with these people as I remember a particular event which happened two years prior.

In 2014, Affinity Yoga shut down its operations and hundreds of members had to suffer its consequences. Lots of my friends where at disbelief because of the abrupt closure of the place that they invested so much money in. To avoid being caught in a situation like this, take these several factors into careful consideration:

1. CREDIBILITY AND RELIABILITY

Before signing up for a membership, it is crucial to do a background check on the fitness studios that you are interested in. You do not want to be the next victim of a scam whereby a gym closes down a month after they ask you for a large sum of money in exchange of an attractive package. So look for fitness studios with credible international names such as Fitness First and True Yoga. However, being internationally recognized is not a surefire factor that the studio is reliable.

Let us take the California Fitness into the table. Although California Fitness has two decades under its belt, it ceased its operations in Singapore. Hundreds of former members have filled their complaints to the Small Claims Tribunal and the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) since last week. While some of their members took the battle to social media platforms such as Instagram. A member by the IG username of genixbw wrote: “Joined 18 April 16 , Closed down on 19 July 16. Fuck u #cali #californiafitness #rip.”

This scenario highlights how important it is to analyze the reliability or the consistency of the services and the studio’s standing as the time passes.

2. PERSONAL SCHEDULE

Much like a cultivating a blossoming romance, improving one’s physical health takes time and dedication. If you are not willing to commit at least 4 hours per week then, you shall bother paying for a membership! You do not to unintentionally flush your money down the drain just because your schedule is too tight.

If you can afford the membership but not the time, please reconsider your plans. I know how the work culture is a pervasive part of a Singaporean’s lifestyle, but taking care of one’s health is important too. Will you at least spare a portion of your weekends for a good workout?

3. ACCESSIBILITY AND LOCATION

Aside from the two key factors mentioned above, you must examine the location of a studio. You either choose a studio that is near to your workplace or to your home. If you want to sweat it out on the weekdays, check out the studios near your workplace so you can workout during your lengthy lunch breaks. And if you prefer to sweat it out on the weekends, get a membership at a studio near you.

Most of the gyms and yoga chains in Singapore have different branches that are scattered islandwide. For instance, Hom Yoga has two studios in Singapore and two studios in Sydney. You can choose to go to their Central branch at the Orchard Road or to their CBD branch near Raffles Place MRT.

Hom Yoga is a contemporary boutique yoga studio that offers hot and non-hot classes. Choose from a range of their hot classes such as Hot Hom, Hot Ashtanga, and Hot Flow as taught by internationally trained yoga instructors. What separates Hom Yoga from the most is its minimalist ambience and premier services complete with the staple facilities.I suggest that you go for their 1-week trial for S$32 to get a feel of all their classes.

4. COST OF SERVICES

Singapore is no stranger to expensive fitness studio costs. In fact, some of the premier gym memberships shoot up to S$2,000 a year. Many people cannot afford the high-priced memberships as well as its adjacent personal training fees. This is why you must look for other ways to get the best rates in town. Start by reading this helpful list: “Places To Find The Cheapest Gym Memberships In Singapore”.

5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

You know those fine lines that you ignore on a regular basis? I am not talking about the seemingly noticeable lines on someone’s face! I am talking about the fine lines that make up the terms and conditions (T&Cs) of your studio membership.

By accepting the T&Cs, you are agreeing to anything and everything that the gym or yoga studio ask from you in the present until the future. This is why you must read the T&Cs carefully and more frequently. Be vigilant about the rules and regulations, late payment fees, termination clauses, concessionary rates, membership entitlements, and healthy liabilities.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

I hope this list helps you to find a fitness studio that is worth your money, time, and effort! 🙂

5 Efficient Ways To Save Money Using The Internet

The Internet can be your best financial ally!

1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SHARING ECONOMY

Sharing Economy is a type of economic model which allows individuals to borrow or rent assets owned by someone else. For individuals and society at large, it presents a variety of opportunities to invent new ways to earn and to solve social issues. All of these opportunities are made possible with the help of modern technology.

If you tired of the mediocre and costly hotel services that do not meet your expectations, consider finding a well-reviewed space from home sharing websites. Cut accommodation costs as well as energy and water consumption by availing the services of Airbnb, HomeExchange, and Couchsurfing.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Friendly Tip: For your safety, please conduct a careful examination of the place and its owners before renting it.

2. SAVE SOME CASH BY COUPONING

Previously viewed as a hobby exclusive to “aunties and uncles”, couponing is seen in fresh light due to the popularity of online couponing services such as groupon.sg and cuponation.com.sg. My love affair with these websites began when I was a frugal university student. Groupon Singapore helped me to get the cheapest deals on educational workshops in lined my course while, Cuponation helped me to expand my school wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

3. DOWNLOAD FREE SONGS

People who are deeply passionate about the music industry frequently download songs to support the artists, labels, and distributors. Fortunately for these people, the Internet hosts several premium websites that allow people to legally stream and download songs. The sites that I am referring to are mp3.com, Amazon.com, PureVolume.com, and Jamendo.com.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The wide array of genres and music collections available online will help you find a song that chimes in with your taste. Go check them out!

4. USE FREE AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE

Stop paying hundreds or thousands of dollars on programs that can be obtained for free with the same level of performance, quality, and reliability. Use free and open-source software such as the packages enumerated on these posts:

a. List of free and open-source software packages,
b. 30 Essential Pieces Of Free (and Open) Software for Windows, and
c. 5 Awesome Free and Open Source Reporting Software Packages.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

5. DOWNLOAD MONEY MANAGEMENT APPS

Eliminate unnecessary expenses and improve your spending habits with the aid of free money management apps such as Mint, MoneyWise, and Pocket Expense Personal Finance. Mint allows its users to track their spending, develop a monthly budget, receive bill reminders, and take control of their financial life. It is available for download on iOS and Android devices.

MoneyWise combines minimalist design with powerful functionality. It may seem minimal but it can do a lot! It allows you to generate charts or graphs, track budgets or spending, and create regular account backups. It is available for download on Android devices.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Lastly, Pocket Expense Personal Finance fuses all your financial accounts together so it can track all your bills and set your budgets. It is exclusively for iOS users.

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