Showing posts with label Others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Others. Show all posts

Tuesday 5 July 2022

[Post 126] 5 Skillsfuture Course To Take For $500 and Below (Fixing Stuff)

Every Singaporean over the age of 25 will have at least $500 in their skillsfuture credit account by 2021. I was just looking through the skillsfuture website the other day to see which course I should spend my $500 credit on, so I decided to write a post to summarize the research (over 21,000 courses!!). So, here are some interesting courses to take for fixing stuff

(Disclaimer:I am not affliated to any of the training provider etc).

1.NSA - Handyman: Furniture & Fabric Fixes($190.00)


Course Objective:

1) To Provide basic understanding of furniture repair 2) To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Stain and Lacquering 3) To demonstrate with participants hands-on installation of locks 4) To demonstrate with participants hands-on install and adjust hinges 5) To demonstrate with participants hands-on repair of furniture surfaces 6) To demonstrate with participants hands-on hand sewing fabric and accessories


Course Content:

In this 7-hour course, participants will learn to fix common problems with their furniture and fabric. This course teaches basic quality fixes for strengthening unstable furniture, replacing knobs and handles, installing new cabinet and drawer locks, fixing and adjusting hinges, refurbishing furniture surfaces, etc. In the fabric repair, participants will learn basic skills to mend common types of fabric materials by learning basic skills in hand sewing, installing eyelets and other accessories, and other useful tools to mend bags, tents, attire, cushions, etc.


For more information,click here


2.NSA - Handyman: Home Electrical Repairs($190.00)


Course Objective:
1)To Provide basic understanding of LED lighting
2)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Conversion To LED lights
3)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on lighting control
4)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Wall Electrical Socket
5)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Electrical Cabling
6)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Ceiling Fans Servicing
7)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on AV System wiring & Digital TV Conversion from non-Digital systems

Course Content:
In this 7-hour course, participants will learn how to replace lighting systems like the conversion of regular lamps to LED lights. Participants will also learn to replace wall electrical outlets, run cabling, lamp fixtures, light switches, and fix ceiling fans. With these skills, participants can tackle most common home electrical repairs.

For more information,click here


3.NSA - Handyman: Plumbing, Drywall & Adhesives($190.00)


Course Objective:
1)To Provide basic tool usage training 2)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Faucet Repair 3)To demonstrate with participants hands-on Drainage Systems 4)To demonstrate with participants hands-on Toilet Flushing System 5)To demonstrate with participants hands-on Hose System 6) To demonstrate with participants hands-on Drywall Fixtures 7) To demonstrate with participants hands-on Adhesives adjustment

Course Content:
In this 7-hour course, participants will learn to tackle various plumbing problems like changing and maintaining faucets, clearing drainage chokes, installing faucet attachments, plastic pipe installations, toilet flush systems etc. Participants will learn to install fixtures in dry walls and learn the applications of adhesives. Learning these skills, participants will be able to tackle common plumbing challenges, install drywall structures, and fix things with adhesives.

For more information,click here


4.NSA - Handyman: Home Repair Maintenance

Course Objective:
1)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on usage of the electrical drill on different materials 2)To demonstrate with participants hands-on Change of different types of door knobs and locks 3)To demonstrate with participants hands-on different types of hinges and their adjustments 4)To demonstrate with participants hands-on changing tiles. 5)To demonstrate with participants hands-on installation of fixtures and plugs 6)To demonstrate with participants hands-on patching of holes in concrete

Course Content:
In this 7-hour course, participants will experience the use of power drills in home repairs of different materials. They will learn how to drill through wood, tiles, metal, plastic and concrete. They will get to install fixtures and screws with wall plugs, replace tiles and patch concrete holes. Participants will also learn how to change various types of locks, install and adjust cabinet hinges. Learning these skills will allow you to make simple repairs at home without waiting for and having to pay servicemen.

For more information,click here


5.SCF Basic Bike Mechanics Course($500)

Course Objective:
Equip you with the basic bike mechanics and maintenance skills set by UCI trained trainers

Course Content(Summarise Version):
1) How to quick release skewers
2) Removing front and rear wheels
3) Repairing a puncture
4) Changing a tube and tires
5) Effective bike cleaning
6) Fixing drop chain
7) Removing and installing pedals
8)Headset
9) Gears adjustments
10) Basic bike fit
11) Routine checks and safety tips

Do note that this may be a little expensive.For more information,click here


Research for other Skillsfuture course are still under going,do expect another post soon!


Saturday 2 July 2022

[Post 125] 1 Day trip to Johor Bahru (Eat and Movie)

Two weeks ago, I took a day excursion with my family to JB to catch Top Gun: Maverick at the Mid Valley Southkey Mall. We were met by a lengthy line at the Malaysia custom side, stretching all the way to the back, and it took approximately an hour and a half of line time before we were able to get our passports stamped, in contrast to my previous trip, where there was not much of a line. By that point, it was already after two in the afternoon, and we were starving.

We chose to grab there as our destination that day was the Mid Valley Southkey mall. Unfortunately, no driver was available that wanted to pick us up. Instead, we used the cab counter at the CIQ, which is below the CIQ and next to the Malaysian bus interchange, to get there.

(Author's note: Just specify your destination at the cab counter to get a quote on the cost. You may be assure that the quoted fee is fair, and a cab driver waiting by the counter will direct you to your vehicle. We were given a quote for RM16 to the nearby Mid Valley Southkey Mall about 10 mins aways.It is a little expensive but we are taking from CIQ after all.)


After about 10 minutes, we arrive at Mid Valley Southkey Mall. A brief overview: It is the largest mall in JB and was completed three years ago in 2019. Additionally, it houses Sogo, a Japanese department store and it is modeled after Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur (KL)



We decided to go to B1's restaurant because we were hungry. But first, we had to buy our movie tickets. The GSH Cinama in the Mid Valley is located on the 4th floor and appears to be very impressive at first glance.Do note that  tickets could only be purchased through the machine, so there will be some waiting time. The ticket 🎫 costs about RM23.50 (almost SGD8) per person.


Author's note: A weekend movie ticket in Malaysia (almost $8) is less expensive than one in Singapore ($14.50). If you are visiting JB, especially City Square, for a day trip, consider seeing a movie as it is a great way to spend your time there. If you're feeling rich, grab a popcorn combo for around RM13rm, or (whispering...) sneak in your preferred food/drink(Just kidding!).🙅

After purchasing our tickets, we proceeded to B1's restaurant section. Because there was a long line at Din Tai Fung, our family decided to eat at Kenny Roger instead. We decided to eat the Kennys' family meal because it was already 2.30pm and close to dinner time.

The Kenny family's meal (menu) consists of the following items(Menu):

1. 1 Whole rotisserie-roasted chicken

2. Three side dishes (Macaroni and cheese,Aromatic Rice and Garsley Potatoes)

3. Four soft drinks ( 2 sprite and 2 fanta strawberry)

4. 4 Kenny's Chicken & Mushroom Soup


Verdict:After adding extra charges, the total damage was around RM110+, which is equivalent to RM36.66 (or nearly $10 per person). However, it appears to be a typical Singapore Aston/Chic a Boo price. The side dishes were delicious, particularly the Aromatic Rice. My mother enjoys the macaroni and cheese a lot. The chicken was also decent, but when compared to our previous experiences with Kenny Roger in Msia at Genting Highlands, there was definitely a drop in quality. Will probably only return if other restaurants have long lines like that day.

We went to A&W after lunch because we still had time before the movie.

I ordered the hot dog meal and the waffle ice cream meal after 3pm++, both of which are about 8-9rm if my memory serves me correctly(menu).

Verdict: One of the fast food restaurants to try in Malaysia, as the Singapore branch is always crowded and has a long queue. The food was adequate and would make a good afternoon snack. Although the waffle is fairly ordinary and lacks the appeal of some cafe waffles. Root beer was great with ice-cream though,pretty easy to make one at home.Among the items I ordered, the corny hot dog was the best.

After we finished eating, it was finally time for a movie, so we returned to the GSH cinema on level 4. It was the first time that I watched a movie at GSH Cinema, and I must say that the seats were quite comfortable for a 2D movie ticket. The theatre was also pretty packed, as we only managed to purchase a seat in the second row beforehand.

Verdict: I hadn't seen Top Gun 1 before, but it was still pretty enjoyable for me; I would have probably appreciated the film more if I had seen Top Gun 1.

Then it was time for dinner at Arashi Shabu Shabu restaurant. I didn't photograph dinner for some reason (Forgotten actually,haha). We pretty much end the day after dinner and return to CIQ, this time with Grab for about RM14. On the way back to Singapore, traffic was also relatively smooth.

Sunday 12 June 2022

[Post 124] 1 Day trip to Johor Bahru after 2 years (Eat, Massage ,Karaoke)

After about two years, I traveled to Johor Bahru for the first time with a few friends for a day trip.We were pretty excited because we hadn't been to JB in over two years ever since covid.Fortunately, none of our passports expired during this time period, and we manage to went in without much queue

We met at the Woodland temporary bus interchange to board the 950, which will take us directly into customs.

(Note: If you want to take the 950, you must do so from the Woodland Temporary Bus Interchange, not the new Woodland Underground Air Conditioned Interchange.I'm not sure why it's planned this way though.)

The line for bus 950 is as long as usual, but the lines at the Singapore customs are relatively short. One notable change was the machine to verify your Identity.Previously, it only required your thumbprint as shown below.

Old thumbprint regconition machine(Source)

However,  the new machine will verify your identity through face recognition. If the machine does not recognize your face, be prepared to use your thumbprint.

(Note: Remove your mask or spectacles to allow the machine to regconise your face. This is what I observed from other queues)

New Facial Regconition Machine (Source)

We took 170 to the other side after passing through Singapore customs. On the Malaysian side, the queue was relatively short because we went after lunch, around late afternoon

(Note:We got lucky! 🤞)

City square was pretty much the same as two years ago, however there were quite a few shop and restaurants that closed down in the inner city section.

We decided to have lunch at the newly opened meng meng roasted duck in JB city square as we had a good experience eating it at the KSL branch


If my memory serves me right, we ordered(Menu):
1. A roasted trio consisting of crispy roast pork, honey-roasted port, and roasted chicken (RM33.80)
2. Half duck roasted with Chinese herbs (RM44.80)
3.Old cucumber soup with pork rib(RM13.80) 
4.4 fragrant rice (for two people) (RM1.20 each)
5.5 herbal infusions (RM3.80 each)

Verdict: Damage was around 150rm ++ after extra charges, about RM30+ per person (not bad!). My friend claimed that this was the most delicious duck he had ever tasted in his life😂,will probably be coming back

After which,we went to secret recipe to eat some cakes! .I order blueberry cheese cake(RM 10.19 per slice),while my friends order hokkaido triple cheese cake (RM 12.17 per slice ) and chocolate indulgence(RM 10.19 per slice)

(I'm too broke to eat cakes in Singapore 😂)

Blueberry Cheese Cake (Source)

Chocolate Indulgence(Source)

Hokkaido Triple Cheesecake (Source)

We then decided to go to Holiday Plaza for a massage. But, due to the high cost of the grab and that no driver responded to our request, we returned to Malaysia Customs and took bus s1 from its bus interchange instead.

(Note: A one-way trip to KSL city mall via BUS S1 costs RM1.50; bring some coin or notes with you as payment is made by passing the money to the bus driver or inserting the notes/coin into the ticketing box.)


Bus S1 JB CIQ TO KSL(Source)

We arrive at KSL city mall after about a 10-minute ride. As we passed by the KSL hotel lobby, it was already fairly crowded, with Singaporeans checking in for a two-day, one-night stay.

There were quite a few shops selling screen protectors  ranging from RM10 to RM15 depending on your model, and one of my friends took the opportunity to change the phone screen.

(Note: This is relatively inexpensive in comparison to Singapore, where screen protector changes can cost up to $10.)

After that, we go over to Holiday Plaza, which is about a 5-minute walk from KSL, for a massage. Before covid, I used to come here for massages with my family, and many shops have since closed down, including the KFC and McDonald's outlets. On the way there, we stop at the K Fry outlet at the holiday villa for a reservation at 7 p.m.

I often go to two massage parlors on a regular basis: Javanese and Chinese traditional massage (opposite of Javanese massage). Due to the fact that there were only three lady massagers available at the Chinese traditional massage, two of my friends (couple) went shopping.

Javanese Massage(Source)


Verdict: As usual, it was a good massage and the masseur was skilled. Highly recommended since 1 hour of full body massage is around RM45, which is pretty cheap compare to the outlets in KSL mall. We did about 1hr 40min, which ended up being about RM70 because we had time to spare until 7pm.

(Note:The ladies masseur will tend to chat with each other, so if you are more of an ambience person and wish to have a better experience, try another more expensive massage or go alone next time.Both massages are also family-friendly.)

We meet at kFry after the massage. One plus point was that their welcome drink was coka cola (self refillable), which was very refreshing after the massage.


As below,we order(Menu):
1.K fry Garlic Soya wings(RM 25.40)
2.Original cheesy fried chicken Bambuk(RM 68.32)
3.Bulgogi fries(RM 20.76)
4.Truffle Fries(RM 21.92)
5.Plain water(Free)


Verdict:Total damages was around RM150++ .The chicken was pretty good itself, except the cheese mixed over the chicken tasted like chewing gum. It was also quite crowded. Most likely not coming back in the future.

By the way, during dinner, my two friends (couple) told us that while we were massaging, they went to sing karaoke at KSL city mall at I am a singer family karaoke (located on level 2 KSL city mall) for about an hour, which cost them about 50rm (after 6pm)




It was about 9.30pm and we decided to head back to JB city square to watch the new Dr.Strange movie as the last Bus from Malaysia custom to Singapore custom was around 12.30am midnight.But alas,there was no Dr strange showtime but only Top gun at 10.30Pm.It cost RM17 per ticket for weekend.

We decided to sing Karaoke instead at the newly refurbished neway karaoke ,now known as Queens karaoke by a majority vote🎤

(BTW ,I voted for karaoke 😏)

Neway Karaoke Box before (Source)


Queen Karaoke (Source)

Queen Karaoke Room Rate (Source)


Previously, Neway Karaoke charged per head, which was quite expensive despite the fact that it had a buffet, but the new Queen Karaoke has since changed to a per hour charge, which is a welcome change as one of my friends did not sing. We initially wanted to sing for an hour, so we booked the deluxe room (4-7 people) at RM38, which was similar to the one shown below. We ended up extending it another hour because we were having too much fun singing😁.

Queen Karaoke Deluxe Room 4-7 pax (Source)

Verdict:Each room has two microphones. The song selection system is similar to other karaoke in JB. My ordered iced tea tasted like plain water though . Will definitely return for the RM38 per hour price, but will probably order only canned drinks next time.

After the karaoke,we simply head home to singapore without much queue as it was already past midnight.It was a breeze to get home because I live in the north.One of the rare perks of staying in the north😏.

Final note: It was great fun to return to JB after a two-year absense.Can't wait to go back and explore other parts of JB to see if anything has changed in the last two years😁. Will be sharing my experience to Mid Valley mall soon just last week

Wednesday 3 June 2020

[Post 110] Event and Convention: FSM Invest Expo 2020 part 2(Rise of the disruptive technology fund)

Continue from my previous post...

One interesting thing that I have noticed throughout the event was the offer of disruptive technology fund by various fund houses such as BLACKROCK, FRANKLIN TEMPLETON, and Nikko AM(P.S not sponsored by them!)




So, the big question here is "What is disruptive innovation? 

Our definition of disruptive innovation is the introduction potentially changes the way the world works. 

The Nikko AM ARK Disruptive Innovation Fund enables the investor to easily access emerging and growth companies through listed global equity market opportunities.  we have identified five major innovation platform that enables long term investment opportunities

What are the five innovation platform?
  • DNA sequencing 
  • Blockchain
  • Robotics
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Energy Storage
These five innovation platforms rely on or benefit from the development of new products or services, technological improvements, and advancements in scientific research relating to. Genomic Innovation, Industrial Innovation, Internet Innovation, and FinTech Innovation. 

Industrial innovation categories
  1. Autonomous Vehicles 
  2. 3D Printing 
  3. Automation & Robotics 
  4. Battery Technology 
  5. Space Exploration 
  6. Mobility-as-a-Service 
  7. Innovative Materials 
Genomic Innovation categories
  1. Programmable Biology 
  2. Stem Cells & Immunotherapy 
  3. Digital Health 
  4. Biological Hardware 
  5. Diagnostics 
  6. Beyond Health 
Internet Innovation categories
  1. Cloud Computing 
  2. Big Data 
  3. Neural Networks Mobile / loT 
  4. Digital Media 
  5. E-Commerce 
FinTech Innovation categories
  1. Transaction Innovations 
  2. Customer Facing Platforms 
  3. Risk Transformation 
  4. Frictionless Funding Platforms 
  5. Bitcoin / Blockchain 
  6. The New Intermediaries 

But why invest in disruptive technology? 

Despite its potential, the magnitude of disruptive innovation, and the investment opportunities it creates are often unrecognized or misunderstood by the traditional investors. Our Investment process recognizes that true disruptive, cuts across sectors and geographies, and spawns further innovation, stimulating growth over extended time horizons.

Potential Growth 

There are five primary disruptive platforms that are expected to generate more than US$50 trillion in business value and wealth creation over the next 10-15 years. Today they are in their infancy and account for less than $6 trillion in global equity market capitalization. 


Why invest in Nikko Am disruptive innovation fund?

1.Not your typical FANNG and BAT

Unlike traditional assets manager, the team at ARK devote 100%of their time researching and investing technologically enabled innovation 

The team is made up of experts in multiple areas of innovation such as biomolecular engineering, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, robotics blockchain, technology

This result in a distinctive portfolio of what the team believes to be true disruptive innovators such as CRISPR technologies,Stratasys and 2uINC beyond typical technology stocks

2. Capture early-stage disruptors

 ARK Invest's Open Research Ecosystem is designed specifically to identify disruptive innovation at an early stage, enabling the investment team to sift out and uncover unique insights, which the team believes to be true early-stage disruptors. 

3. Low correlation to traditional asset classes 

The Nikko AM ARK Disruptive Innovation Fund has little overlap with traditional indices, so it can complement traditional strategies. Thematic investing in disruptive innovation can offer low correlation to a number of core asset classes held in most investors' portfolios.

(Investor of the fund should have long term investment horizons) 


The Nikko Am ARK disruptive innovation fund seeks to capture long term capital growth by taking advantage of changing trends created by technology-enabled innovations that cut across economics sector, industries and geographic region(ARK investment management LLC(ARK), a strategic partner of the Nikko AM group, is the investment advisor for the strategy. Based in new york, ARK is an investment manager focus solely on disruptive innovation that should change the way the world works.

Fund characteristics 

Seek to capture long term growth  and capital appreciation created by disruptive innovation
  • Actively managed, high conviction portfolio
  • low overlap with broad market indices 
  • Unique research process is driven by ARK Open research ecosystem
  • investing across multiple sectors, geographies and capitalization 

Fund details:

Nikko Am Ark disruptive innovation fund

SGD class B
USD class B
Total fund size :
USD 2,481,655 as of November 2019

Minimum investment:
USD 1,000 or equivalent in other currencies
Legal structure:
sub-fund of Luxembourg  SICAV qualifying as a UCTIS
Investment manager:
Nikko asset management America, inc
Investment advisor:
ARK investment management LLC
Management company :
Nikko asset management
Management Fee
1.50% p.a
Sales charges:
Up to 5.00%
Dealing:
Every valuation day
Base Currency:
USD
Inception date
26 July 2019
11 january 2019
ISIN code
LU1861559042
LU1861558580
Bloomberg tickers
NIKAD85 LAX
NIKADBULLX

Onto the next brochure!




The Emerging Market Appeal in a Low-Yielding world 

Global investors searching for income opportunities may find the current climate particularly challenging. With developed market fixed income yields at or near record lows, yield-seeking investors may need to look outside the at to satisfy their income requirements — the answer lies in emerging markets (EM). 

Why Emerging Markets Matter

It is difficult to dispute the long-term investment case that emerging market presents. Investing in EM provides exposure to countries with the lion's share of today's global GDP expansion, whch is estimated to be two-thirds of the world's GDP by 2024, up from one-third in 1980. 

EM equities have a stronger potential for capital growth 

EM fixed income has higher yields than developed market

Why Templeton Emerging Markets Dynamic Income Fund 

The Fund is designed to deliver on the goals of an active, multi-asset approach to tap the EM growth story, by dynamically allocating assets between equities and fixed income to capture opportunities and deliver income. 

Seeks capital appreciation and consistent income 
• Targeting consistent and sustainable income(Distribution rate resets annually, using multiple sources of inputs and expectations)

Integrated and Dynamic Investment Process(Dynamic asset allocation dials asset class exposures up or down to capture the greatest opportunities )

Three Pillars of Expertise; One Strategy (The fund draws on the expertise and experience of three investment teams in the emerging markets equity, unconstrained global macro and income investing space)

Experienced and on-the-ground management team 
-Michael Hasenstab, Ph.D. Chief Investment Officer Templeton Global Macro San Mateo, California, USA 
-Chetan Sehgal, CFA Director of Portfolio Management Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity Singapore 
-Vivek Ahuja Portfolio Manager Templeton Global Macro Singapore 
Consistent, 
-Subash Pillai Regional Head of Client Investment Solutions, AP AC Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions Singapore

Consistent long-term performance 
-The Fund has delivered consistent outperformance against its peer groups

That's all for the FSM Invest Expo 2020!