30 Mar 2014

Tips For Safety Driving



Road accidents are just some of the common issues, and worst, causes of death for many countries. Unfortunately driving errors almost always causes these road accidents.

The moment you decided to learn how you drive, it is important that aside from the road rules is to make yourself knowledgeable on how to keep yourself and your passengers safe at all time and cost. Remember that once you take charge of the driving, the pedals and brakes, your passengers are also depending their life on you.

Here are some tips to make sure you will have a safety driving always:

WEAR EYEGLASSES IF NECESSARY

If you need to wear eyeglasses to meet the standards of vision for driving, do make sure you wear the correct one. There is an obvious reason why drivers need to have a regular eye examination at least every two years. Our eyesight changes over time so keep your eyes checked regularly. You can look for the nearest eyewear shop in your area or buy online prescription glasses. Make sure to always keep it clean and scratch free.

FOCUS AND DROP YOUR CELLPHONE

The evolution of technology also paved way for more distractions even to driving. The United States even had passed laws on certain areas where they ban the use of cellphones while driving. Research shows that using cellphone behind wheels can delay reactions to up to 20%. Aside from using the cellphone, other factors that may cause distractions is eating, applying make-up, listening to music or even talking to your passenger can cause distractions. Drop them off if necessary.

SLOW DOWN

You are not in a racetrack so don’t exceed the proper speed limit. It will save you illegal charges and most importantly it would save lives. Remember that the higher your speed is, the higher your chances of getting into a car accident. Also avoid being aggressive which may lead to over speeding.

WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT

This is probably one of the most common advise even to kids. Wearing your seatbelts can definitely save you to much greater impact during vehicle crash. Many road accidents have more than have of the passengers not wearing a seatbelt. On the brighter side, there is a greater chance of survival with those who chose to buckle up. To make it better, it isn’t really hard to do, so why don’t you?

NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE

This is probably not a new thing when talking about safety driving, in fact it is repeated many times already it’s a wonder why there are still many road accidents caused by the influence of alcohol. The presence of alcohol reduces reaction time and coordination. If you’re much drunk, it can even cause blurriness and double vision! The most important thing to consider before drinking and driving is that once you’ll have passengers with you, you are also putting their lives at stake.



Singapore Transport System



Considering the growing businesses and establishments, as well as residencies in Singapore, the accommodation of space for roads or passage may have added to the challenge of traffic management in the country.

But the best thing about Singapore is still being able to sustain the disciplined and strategic transport system to avoid congestions. This will include the capacity of the road, policies implemented, technologies provided, and down to the road safety signage on the different roads in the country.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

MRT

The MRT or Mass Rapid Transit system is very common and the quickest way when getting around Singapore. This is great for foreigners as aside from being the most neat transport system around the world, the MRT also provides a great view of the scenery of the city. It is also very accessible to some of the country’s busiest area like Orchard Road and the Central Business District.

There are different ways to avail stored value smartcards depending on your needs, from one time usage to tourist concession passes. There is what they call the ez-link cards which can be bought from the TransitLink Ticket Office situated at selected MRT stations while standard value tickets are bought from General Ticketing Machines on all MRT stations. You can use it by tapping the card on a card reader which will deduct the used amount from your card. Minimum value is $10 and maximum stored value is $100.

CABS

Taxi cabs are also one of the transportations you’ll commonly see in Singapore. You may hail a cab in most parts of the country but they can alight passengers only on designated areas. Same as the usual, all cabs charge passengers by meter. There are also additional surcharges when travelling on peak hours.

BUS

In Singapore they have the bus services network. SBS Transit is the country’s major public service operator.  It was originally named Singapore Bus Service until November 2001 to maintain status as a bus and rail operator. They provide bus services for less accessible areas. They also the Nite Owl for those who want travel and discover Singapore at night. They operate on Fridays, Saturdays and eve of public holidays.

A competitor of the SBS Transit is the SMRT Corporation which also run bus services mostly on the Northern parts of Singapore. Same as the Nite Owl, they have the NightRider that provides affordable and safe transportation on weekends from 11:30PM to 4AM.

Both transit operators mentioned accept cash or the stored value card, as what is mentioned above, the ez-link card. You can also purchase it from TransitLink Ticket Office located at selected SMRT stations. Standard value tickets are also (same on MRT) purchased on General Ticketing Machines at all SMRT stations.

What are the Most Famous Singaporean Dishes?



Singapore dishes are somehow similar to Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine. These neighbouring countries have almost similar recipes to offer. But despite these, they offer distinctive flavours and features too.

You can always learn all their dishes via reading some Singapore food blog for your reference. By doing this, you can already have some idea in mind as to what dish to try once you visit the country.

Below are the lists of the Most Famous Singaporean Dishes that locals enjoy and travellers and food bloggers should definitely try!

Rojak –Or Rujak in Indonesia means mixture. It is a mixture of vegetable and fruit.
It is compose of beansprouts, greens, pineapple, cucumber and peanuts. You can also add prawns depending on your preference.

Otak Otak – Is a Peranacan cuisine which means that it is a combination of Chinese, Malay and other influences which are blended together to create a one of a kind taste of a dish. It is a cake made with mashed fish plus spices and covered into banana leaf which is grilled or steamed.
Ice Kachang – or also known as Ais Kacang. This is a commonly known dessert in Malaysia, Brunei as well as in Singapore. It is made by shaving ice and then adding ingredients like red beans, jelly, sweet corn, palm seeds, coloured syrups and milk.

Singapore Sling – Is known as the Singapore’s National drink. It is commonly known in South East Asia. Made primarily with Gin or Brandy garnished with cherry or pineapple and served with no ice.

Rendang – originated in Indonesia, this dish is commonly served to honour guests or to any occasion.
It is made with spicy meat dish consists of beef or chicken stewed in spices and coconut milk.

Kaya Toast–It is a commonly known a popular snack not only in Singapore but also in Malaysia.
Consists of eggs, coconut milk, pandan and then it is being toast.

Hainanese Chicken Rice – it is often known as Singapore’s National dish. It is famous not only to the local as well as to different tourists. The simplicity of preparation as well as the ingredients creates a delicious and juice cuisine that is being loved by everyone.

Fish Head Curry–the usual fish use in making this dish is red snapper fish. It is cooked with vegetables and spicy hot curry. Fish head is used for they say that head is the meatiest part especially the cheek.

Chili Crab – Singapore’s love to seafood is evident in their dishes. Chili crab for instance is one of the signature dishes you can find in Singapore. It is made by frying crabs with chili sauce.

Te Tarik – is also known as pulled tea. This just means that tea is tossed with condensed milk.

Don’t miss the chance of trying all these dishes as you tour Singapore! They will definitely satisfy your tastebuds!

Parts of the House That Gives Additional Accent



A home may be seen differently depending on every home owner in Singapore. It may be a humble abode, a relaxing environment, a place where you can pamper yourself, a family retreat or a great masterpiece. Either way, there are parts of the house that provides additional accent to every home. This is something you can try doing at your home if you think that it’s a bit plain or boring. These elements can add great value to making your home even more beautiful that it already is, from inside and out.

Living Room
Apart from the actual designs of any living room, adding some other elements such as living room tables, a good cough, and several items such as magazine racks can add that bit of interest to any owner or guest. One can even accentuate it by adding fresh flowers to the tables or living room desks, and even provides a centrepiece of your choice. Some good suggestions are purchasing framed artworks, frames with family pictures or even cute little statues or figures to the room.

Bathroom
Bathrooms can be made into a great ‘conversational piece’ by adding a bit of personal and relaxing touch to it. Why don’t you try adding some aromatherapy candles which are either hanged on the walls, or placed near the bathroom sink? A bowl of good scented potpourri also adds to making the place even more pleasant. Or there are a number of aromatherapy oils available in specialty stores that can be used alongside oil burners or air purifiers.

Terrace
There are homes which may have small to big sized terraces, and you can make your even prettier by adding a durable and sturdy roof shade with a great design, plus some pots with flowers or plants to have a natural touch to it. To check out some good retractable awning Singapore, you can check them out online and look for the perfect design that you want.

Kitchen
Kitchens can give more vibrancy to any home not only by adding up different accents, but making sure that the place is organized. Remembering that the kitchen should be considered one of the cleanest parts in the home should be something to keep in mind, to ensure the safety to any home owner and the whole family. But to add some oomph to it, why not try adding a good piece from wood or metal that you can use to hand those pretty pots and pans in your kitchen. It would also be a great idea to provide some good designed plates near your cupboard or even cute jars where you can place different kinds of basic ingredients such as coffee, sugar or milk.

Basement
Not all homeowners may have a basement, but just in case you do have one, most homeowners try to convert them from a storage area to a game room that can be used as a great ‘hideaway’ for you and your friends. Set up some good game stations, or buy a good game table of your choice to make it more interesting. Other times, people also try to set-up their own improvised home theatre by purchasing a good LCD projector unit and LCD projector screen. With a good popcorn machine on your table side, this is possibly where you can really stay for hours and hours.




26 Mar 2014

What to Prepare for Your Business' Grand Launch

Most people today dream of having their own businesses. For some, it is a testament of one's success. Still, all of us know how difficult it is to establish a business, especially because it involves a lot of risks in terms of investment. After all, people who are starting up are putting their time, money and effort in great risk, as start-ups do not have guaranteed return of investment.

Just like a fresh graduate applying for a job, newly opened businesses should make a good impression. Your business should have a good publicity in your target market. As much as possible, invite your future customers to a grand opening.

Here are some tips you canconsider when organizing a grand launch for your new venture.

1. Organize a soft opening. Since you are trying to make good impressions for your product, holding a soft opening builds up curiosity among customers. During a soft launch, offer your products at a discounted price. Try to slash at least 10% off your product so you could get more attention. Through soft opening, you could attract future customer via word of mouth from people who have tried your product.

2. Publicize your grand opening. Whichever works, you can try giving out flyers, or putting up banners or posters announcing the details of your grand opening. Social media can also be a good medium to publicize your launch. Make sure that you publicize your event to your target market. After all, they will determine the success of your new business.

3. Prepare freebies for your grand launch. People are always attracted to free stuff. If you are opening up a tea shop, you might want to give out free cookies or pastries. If you are opening up a book store, you may want to offer free pens and other office supplies. Coupons for free items from your store also help.

4. Offer food during the grand launch. Offer finger foods that people can eat throughout the program. Make sure that your guests feel special. Through this, you create a special relationship with your future customers. A good relationship with customers create loyalty. Brand loyalty is important in making your new venture successful.

5. Prepare an interesting program. Organizers of grand opening events should ensure that guests will not be bored of the launch. Prepare something surprising for your guests!

6. Make it spectacular. Grand opening flowers and good sound system can attract customers. Play music that are upbeat. Grand opening flowers should also be eye-catching.


Organizing a grand opening could be really stressful. However, organizing a launch can provide a great leverage for your business. Creating good publicity can boost your sales and product image.

24 Mar 2014

Different Types of Outdoor Furniture

Planning on designing your lawn or yard, but don’t know what to do? Whether you have experience in designing or not, you can still decorate the open space in your home. This can also be one of the fun activities you can do. Let your creativity flow by designing and giving style to your backyard.
Here are some design ideas you can do:

Wrought Iron

If you want a long-lasting material you can use for decorating your yard, use furniture pieces that are made from wrought iron.This brings a classic yet formal outdoor environment. Most of the furniture made using this material provides contemporary or even traditional style.
The good thing about wrought iron furniture is it doesn’t chip or break easily. You don’t have to worry about strong winds that may lift the furniture out of its place. The weight is heavy and it requires you a great deal of strength to push it back and forth towards the position you want it placed. It may also require some care to prevent corrosion and rusting.

Aluminum

Aluminum will provide a contemporary style to your backyard or lawn. It is also a common material for furniture pieces.
This type is lightweight yet sturdy. Unlike wrought iron furniture, those made with aluminum are easy to move from one spot to the other. The material also resist corrosion and can still be in a good condition even if it’s left outside for a long time. The advantage of using aluminum products is it’s easy to maintain because it can be cleaned without a hassle.

Wicker

Just like wood, wicker furniture are also great for indoors and outdoors. This provides a rustic, country style to the outdoor environment. This is easy to use and comes in neutral shades that allows you to combine with other furniture pieces with different color palette.
Outdoor wicker furniture items are lightweight and easy to clean. It is made from woven materials—whether organic or synthetic—such as bamboo, cane, rattan, reed, resins, willow, vinyl, etc. that provides versatility and durability.

Wood

Wood is another common material for furniture. Wood pieces can be used whether it’s for indoor or outdoor. It provides a natural style, while giving a casual and warm look to your home’s exterior. There are different type of wood materials that are great for outdoors such as eucalyptus, cedar, oak, pine, and teak.

You don’t have to worry about the durability of wood furniture pieces. These are low maintenance and you just need to treat it with anti-termite chemicals to prevent those pests from ruining the wood. You may also polish it with varnish to give a sleek look. Take note that woods like teak are needed to be protected against extreme temperatures, harsh weather, high humidity, and rot.


Any of the furniture materials mentioned can be used for designing your home’s outdoor appearance. Try to look for different furniture pieces at stores or online furniture shops, then incorporate the styles of the objects you like and see if it will jive accordingly to the design you have in mind.