First DSLR phototaking @ NDP 2012 Fireworks + Singapore Flyer + Garden by the Bay

About a week ago, I had bought my first DSLR camera and yesterday I brought it out to test the camera function.

Since NDP is coming, decided to make a trip to the Esplanade bridge to watch the NDP fireworks! But since morning the weather is not very good, raining and thunderstorm. However, still decide to give it a try since the rain stop around 4.30pm. Gather my camera and tripod, started to make my way to Esplanade.
When I reach there, the Esplanade bridge is already quite crowded, and alot of people is equipped with DSLR camera too. I quickly setup mine too while waiting for my friend to arrive. And I try my first shot!

 

After a few shots, the weather start to have dark clouds and it started to have light rain, oh really spoilt the day. But I still decide to stay on and see if the weather will improve...

Look at the dark clouds...

After about 20 minutes, my friend arrive and he quickly help me set my camera settings. Thanks to him he arrive in time to catch the fireworks and the best is he brought an umbrella along! And very soon our camera settings are done and we take a few shots to test the result...

 

I love the result of DSLR camera!

And very soon the fireworks starts and I am busy taking my best shots...

After the fireworks ended, me and my friend decide to continue our phototaking @ Singapore Flyer & Garden by the Bay. Sounds good and we move on... but was overcrowded by the people leaving the floating platform... So we decide to chill out at Kopi-O inside Esplanade before moving on. At the same time, we order drinks and take a look at our photos we taken.

After about 30 minutes rest, we started to walk to Marina Bay Sands, and it is a long walk! The night was quite warm and the rain had stop.

Upon entering the Garden by the bay, we started out photoshooting again!

And very soon, it was 11.50pm by the time we finish taking the photos! We quickly packed our equipments and catch the last train @ Bayfront MRT. Luckily we manged to catch the last train and I got to go back to Esplanade to retrieve my car! Both of us are tired and sweaty but the photos we took, made us think all is worthwhile. Ok, next round is daytime shooting, stay tuned!

 

Super Import Nights 2012

It been a few years since the last SIN, I remember it was in year 2009, the year I ord...

Anticipating for this show since 2010 as there is no news since 2010 & 2011, finally SIN announced the show will be held on Nov 2011 but was postponed to this year May 2012. SIN used to be a yearly motorsport event and every year it will draw crowds to Singapore Expo.

On 26 May, I made my way to Singapore Expo and upon reaching there, the carparks are full and I have to circled a few rounds before getting a parking lot. There are also other events going on, like Popular bookfair, Food expo & electronics show, no wonder the carparks are full.

But something puzzled me, there is no carpark area being closed up. So my first thought is: No drifting this year? Oh, something not right, as every time SIN will have drift show without fail. After parking my car, I quickly walk to the ticketing booth @ Hall 3and also ask about the drift. Indeed there is no drifting this year, what a disappointment!

However, I still purchased my ticket @ $10 and enter the car show. As usual, there are race queens around the import rides...

Immediately saw this cute girl upon entering the hall...

From Nightz Concept~

This year focus seems to be on pole challenge, quite a disappointment...



Finally saw Celestina Tiew, she draw alot of attention!

As the night crawl in, it was almost time to say goodbye, not very satisfied with this year SIN but the race queens are much better this time. Hope to see a better SIN next year!



Aircon filter replacement

It been more than a year since my car aircon filter is been replaced. I did not overlooked but I have been trying to find a filter that is not so expensive but the brand should not be those lousy ones.

I found a few online and the prices are quite cheap, mostly less than $20 but the brands are those I never heard of... So today I decided to go Autobacs to check if they have.

I went to the Ubi branch as I have not been there for a few months. I search around the accessories parts but did not found my car model ones, so I approach one of the staff for assistance. He say should have and went to the car service bay to check it out. I was puzzled but in less than 5 minutes, he is back with a aircon filter and it is Cairefresh brand. Oh no, I told myself, this brand sure will be very expensive. I check the price and it is $40! Well , I told myself, might as well go for it since aircon filter is important in filtering the cabin air.

The original Cairefresh box.

The product specification, my old filter only came with a plastic bag.

This indicate the Jazz model, but the guy told me this is compatible with City as well

So we went down to my car and he begin to replace my aircon filter. Wow, the way he remove my glove compartment is very fast and in less than a minute, he show me the dirty filter.

This is the dirty filter. Can imagine all these dirts get into the aircon if without the filter.

After installation, the guy told me that for all aircon filter purchased from Autobacs, they provide free blowing of the filter after using for 5000km. But can only do at Ubi branch. I think should be alright for me since I go to Autobacs stores frequently. I must say this guy is very friendly and Autobacs service have improved. Then he told me to write the date of purchase on the sticker provided to keep track and remind myself when to replace. See, Cairefresh product not bad, unlike my old one which I have no idea what brand it is and the quality looks lousy. This Cairefresh came with a wiremesh to maintain the shape of the filter.

This is the sticker to write the date of purchase.

So my next replacement should be another 6 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first, as indicated on the box. Think cannot use it like the old one which had been in use for more than a year!

Okay, I am going to the web to search for Cairefresh and know more about their products.



 

Car Polish @ Amazing Shine

Today is my appointment for car polish @ Amazing Shine, so this afternoon I made my way for my very first car polish after 3.5 years. I had made appointment with them before, about a few months back. As this promotion is through Groupon, the response is overwhelming and I could only get a slot after CNY.
I bought this promotion through Groupon @ $67, usual price is $138. Package include car wash, claying, polish, sealant, rims & tyres shine, interior leather polish and vacuum. Quite a good deal.

This is the groupon deal:

My appointment is 4pm, when I reach there, the staffs are sitting there, nothing to do, wow, looks like they are not so busy on a Sat afternoon.

This is the shop front view:

When I produce my groupon voucher, they quickly start to work and at the same time ask me if I want to top up another $38 for an interior detox using Dettol product. This is to kill the interior germs. I was thinking maybe next time as they told me the whole polish session already need 3 hours. So if add to this service, it will take even longer time.

So they start to wash my car and they told me to wait upstairs, where there is a customer lounge. Wow, not bad. So i go 2nd level and I have the whole room to myself. With TV, magazines, and drinks!

This is the customer waiting area:

So while waiting, I played with my ipad. Once I while I would glance to see the whole process...

A view from the customer waiting room:

After about 1 hour, I was bored, so I go downstair to take a look. And they are almost done, saw them already doing up the interior area. So actually they only took 1.5 hour. While waiting, I chit chat with one of the staff and he told me they used to provide mobile grooming. As business is not very good, so they decided to open a shop.
Then upon further discussion, he offered me to buy another package at same price. He told me only left with 2, with no expiry date. I told him I would considered first, he is fine with that and gave me a complimentary car wash worth $5 and the car park ticket as well. Hmm, good service!

Time is 5.45pm, and they are almost done. But I recalled I had forgotten to ask if they can wash my engine bay area as well. They say can be done and should have said earlier as the washing may dirty the paintwork again. But they say can be done and offered me to pay just $10. Of course I quickly say YES!
The boss started to spray some chemical wash to the engine area and with a brush, I see all the stains starts to repels off the surface. Then he use a jet wash spray to wash out the dirt. After that, he use the air gun to dry the area. Finally, he applied a layer of shine and the whole engine look so clean! I am very pleased with their service and paid him $10.

He told me to recommend more customers and I say I will. Bid them goodbye and I feel I am like driving a new car again.

Below are the end result after polish, see the difference:

Before polish:                                                                                                                After polish:

   

The boss told me to wash my car using water will do.
Should not use car shampoo as it will wash off the sealant. I noted on that and he told me this sealant effect should last 3 to 6 months. I touch on the surface and it is smooth and slippery. So water or rain water will not stay on the surface and it will roll off. This will not leave watermark on the surface.

This is my engine bay area after wash:

This is the shine on my rims and tyres:

I will monitor and see how the shine will last. If it is good, I might return to their shop again.

This is the address of Amazing Shine:
First East Centre
10 Kaki Bukit Road 2,
#03-20
Singapore 417868