July 31st, 2013
If you’re looking for a new pair of sandals, you’ll be spoilt for choice at the Ramadan Night Bazaar.

Sandals snaking down the wall at a stall in the Ramadan Night Bazaar. Both photos taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
Most of the stalls at the night bazaar were open to photographers, especially if you ask the stall holders politely before snapping away.
Some even offered to pose with their wares.
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Tags: bazaar, Islam, markets, Muslims, night, photography, photos, potd, Ramadan, sandals, shoes
Posted in Holiday, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, POTD | No Comments »
July 30th, 2013
In a groundbreaking ceremony today, Seagate announced that the new facility will be located at one-north and is expected to completed in early 2015.

“The Shugart’ is Seagate’s S$100m investment in Singapore, and will be completed in early 2015.
The new Design and R&D Centre will be named “The Shugart” – after Seagate’s founder, Alan Shugart – and provide world-class research and development (R&D) facilities for the mobile storage R&D team in Singapore..
“The Singapore R&D team plays a key role within Seagate’s global R&D efforts. With growing consumer demand for tablets and notebooks, the need to innovate within the mobile storage solutions industry is critical,” said Mark Re, Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Seagate Technology.
The facility will be able to house up to 900 employees, and have have a gross floor area of approximately 40,880 square metres.
The Shugart will comprise a nine-floor tower connected to a six-floor tower with three basement levels.
It will focus on the development of 2.5-inch small form-factor products for notebooks, ultra-books, convertibles and tablets.
The new facility will allow all R&D personnel to be housed together, thus fostering greater collaboration and innovation.

From left: Mike Troemel, Vice President, Development Engineering of Seagate Technology; Bob Whitmore, Technical Advisor of Seagate Technology; Julian Ho, Assistant Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board; and Mark Re, Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President, Research & Development of Seagate Technology.
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Tags: data storage, groundbreaking, HDD, R&D, Seagate, Singapore
Posted in Events, Gadgets, Launch, Seagate, storage drive, Tech news, Tickers | 1 Comment »
July 30th, 2013
What’s Hari Raya without those twinkling lights that brighten up the neighbourhood at night?

Lights galore at the Ramadan Night Bazaar. Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
One of the distinctive signs that Hari Raya is approaching is the lights that you see decorating homes – both inside and outside – as the festival approaches.
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Tags: bazaar, decorations, Islam, lights, markets, Muslims, night, photography, photos, potd, Ramadan
Posted in Holiday, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, POTD | No Comments »
July 29th, 2013
Arabic calligraphy is the artistic expression of handwriting and the Arabic script, and is often framed up and used to display excerpts of the Qur’an in a Muslim household.

Arabic calligraphy beautifully framed and ready to decorate the wall in the home. Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
Arabic calligraphy is based on the Arabic script, which was used by Muslims around the world in their own languages.
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Tags: Arabic, bazaar, calligraphy, Islam, markets, Muslims, night, photography, photos, potd, Ramadan
Posted in Holiday, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, POTD | 2 Comments »
July 28th, 2013
Henna is a dye made from the henna tree, which can be used for applying intricately-patterned body skin tattoo that is temporary.

These two friendly Malay girls at the Ramadan Night Bazaar were generous enough to offer their beautifully hennaed hands to model for the photo – while waiting for the freshly applied henna to dry. Photo taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
Many cultures use henna to decorate their body and arms, as well as dye their hair and nails.
Nearer home, they are used by Indians and Malays.
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Tags: bazaar, cosmetic, henna, Islam, makeup, markets, Muslims, night, photography, photos, potd, Ramadan
Posted in DSLR, Holiday, Lens, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, POTD | No Comments »
July 27th, 2013
One of the things I love about Hari Raya is eating the delicious cookies that Muslim friends and colleagues share when the festival approaches. They are tasty and make delectable snacks suitable for all occasions.

Rows and rows of Hari Raya cookies on sale at the Ramadan Night Bazaar. Both photos taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
You can also buy them at shops and the Ramadan Night Bazaar.
If you’re a baker or feeling adventurous, you could also try baking some yourself!
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Tags: bazaar, cookies, Food, Islam, London Almond, markets, Muslims, night, photography, photos, potd, Ramadan
Posted in Food, Holiday, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, POTD, Shopping | No Comments »
July 26th, 2013
SingTel says the majority of BPL customers unaffected. The existing mio TV Gold Packs are still available from SGD$64.90.

Football fans regardless of pay-TV platform can call the mio TV hotline on 1609 from Thursday, 1 August 2013 to subscribe; or they can get more information and register their interest at www.miotv.com.sg/bpl.
mio TV has unveiled its packages and prices for the upcoming season of Barclays Premier League (BPL) broadcast in Singapore, after MDA’s decision that mio TV does not have to cross-carry channels included in its BPL Gold Packs.
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Tags: BPL, MDA, prices, Singapore, SingTel, Soccer, sports, StarHub, subscription, TV
Posted in Announce, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Prices, Shows, SingTel, Sports, TV | No Comments »
July 26th, 2013
For Muslims sprucing up their homes for Hari Raya Puasa, there is a wide selection of carpets at the Ramadan Night Bazaar.

Carpets with modern designs with modern designs and abstract patterns. Both photos taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
From traditional geometric patterns to more modern designs with sceneries or abstract shapes, you’ll be spoilt for choice when choosing a carpet to decorate your home.
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Tags: bazaar, carpets, Islam, markets, Muslims, night, patterns, photography, photos, potd, Ramadan
Posted in DSLR, Holiday, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, POTD, Shopping | No Comments »
July 25th, 2013
The mid-range LTE and NFC capable BlackBerry Q5 runs on the BlackBerry 10 operating system and will be available in Singapore on 2 August in Black and Pure White from M1, SingTel and StarHub.
RRP: SGD$528 (without line contract).

The BlackBerry Q5 (SGD$528 without line contract) will be available in Singapore on 2 August in Black and Pure White from M1, SingTel and StarHub. The Red version is not available in Singapore.
The Q5 comes with the classic BlackBerry physical keypad and is the younger sibling of the Q10.
It occupies the market segment previously held by BlackBerry’s Curve series, and is targeted at the young and fun-loving crowd.
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Tags: availability, BlackBerry, launch, Q5, QWERTY, Singapore, smartphones
Posted in App, Availability, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 10, Events, Gadgets, Launch, Operating Systems, Phones, Prices, Q5, RIM, Software, Specifications | 1 Comment »
July 25th, 2013
Apart from selling food for breaking of fast, the Ramadan Night Bazaar also sells plenty of interesting and beautiful stuff to help Muslims prepare for Hari Raya Puasa at the end of the fasting month.

Baju Kurung in many colours for the men. Both photos taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
Once the fasting month of Ramadan ends, the first day of the next month (Shawwal) is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr – the Arabic term meaning “festival of breaking of the fast”.
“除了卖开斋食品以外,回教斋月夜市也摆卖许多其他物品,譬如新衣,新鞋以及装饰品等。斋月过后,就是庆祝开斋节的时候了。大家都得穿上颜色鲜艳抢眼的新衣拜访亲戚朋友。” – 科技点心(微薄)
The day is known as Hari Raya Puasa in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei; and is also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Idul Fitri.
Hari Raya means “celebration day” in Malay.
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Tags: bazaar, clothes, colour, Islam, markets, Muslims, night, photography, photos, potd, Ramadan
Posted in DSLR, Holiday, NIKKOR, Nikon, Photography, Photos, POTD, Shopping | No Comments »