I've just gotten my iPhone 5S on 23th Sept (spill the story behind it later)

& this post is dedicated to those who are considering iPhone 5S as an option.

even if for those who dont like Apple, at least give a chance to hear me out!!

do you know Apple took exactly 1 year to launch their new iPhone 5S?

& this time it didnt disappoint me as compared to iPhone 4S

design wise always didnt change for the same series of iPhone,

but they do offer colour alternatives & this time iPhone came in...

in my opinion, I think it is a nice colour based on the photos,

but I'm more concerned that if guys in general can pull that off.

they also come in silver or space grey

yup, didnt know space has their own colour of grey till now...

OKAY, I shall start with current iPhone users who are using 4S or prior to that

if the new addition of colours & slight design alteration isnt enough to win over ur heart,

lets hope the following main points will hit ur mark to upgrade ur current iPhone

it makes alot of difference as iOS 7 can make prior iPhone lag

& you dont have to worry apps crashing on you coz now the processor can handle it.

you will say that you can live with it until the moment your phone starts to retire on you.

btw, it is also there to handle the new Slow-Mo video function

120 frames per second & you can set the timing when Slow-Mo kicks in.

since the iPhone 5S launch coincides with Singapore F1 Night Race,

we are in luck to catch not just a glimpse of F1 racing car,
but rather a better view of the race with Slow-Mo!!!

nowadays, many people takes photo with their photos & this wins me over.

the cameras on iPhone 4S & above are ranked among the best in smartphones.

although it remains at 8 megapixels, it can now capture 33% more light

coz of the larger sensor & f/2.2 lens that is in the iPhone 5S.

I can only say that 8 megapixels take clear enough photos for our daily life

& I prefer better performance in low light setting than a phone with 13 megapixel

coz most of the time the flash turns out to be too harsh  & wash out ambient light

the complementing feature is the truetone flash that comprises of 2 LEDs (1 white, 1 amber)

where the right variation of flash makes photo of subject & background more natural

3) Touch ID

as the name suggests, it has something to do with Touch & ur ID
it is ur FINGERPRINTS!!!
what it does is to unlock by simply pressing the home button
& it unlocks almost instant if it gets a good read of ur fingerprint.
on top of that, you can just scan ur fingerprints for app store downloads.
more applications of the fingerprint scanner will be used in the future updates!
in the case where the home button spoils, you can still input the pass-code.
so dont worry that once the button spoils, all the data is gone.
if you're doubting the accuracy of the TouchID, it differentiates not just fingers
different parts of the body or even cat paws can be registered

I will have to say that it is really quite convenient & one of the best security.
imagine how much time you can save from just a day's use without swiping or pass-code
it wont take you long to do those, but which provides you the level of security?

dont have to worry bout people hack ur phone & use of the fingerprints to do bad stuff
coz the fingerprints are converted into strings of data rather than image of ur actual fingerprint.
if someone wants to rob you, he will probably have to cut off ur fingers or hand first.
if not, the person must be a tech guy to hack ur phone (lets not get into details)
for a phone? I will like to believe that it is highly unlikely.

Note: iPhone 5C is almost too similar to iPhone 5
in fact, you are paying the same amount now for unapologetic plastic.
I'm not saying it's no good, but it will be more appealing if they priced it even lower at $49 USD.


as for Android users, why switch over / back to Apple?
there is the new iOS 7 that is meant to provide more quick access to settings.
there are more apps in Apple store & if you prefer the difference in layout & interface.
if you dont need much customisation, I would suggest iOS coz it is more intuitive.


Journey to get iPhone
as I was saying at the start of the post that I've just gotten my iPhone 5S on 23th Sept,
it all started on the 11th Sept where Apple announces preorder will start on the 13th Sept
& just so happen that Singapore is among the countries that will be receiving the new iPhones.
however, I wasnt able to preorder with M1 telco & can only register for updates of it.
days passed & there wasnt any word bout the preorder or the pricing of the iPhones.
anyway, there was this email bout priority registration to buy the iPhones on the 20-23th Sept
I didnt get to check my email, but it was already 3pm by the time I saw it,
priority registration was at 9am & I totally missed it


 as expected all the Champagne Gold & silver were all snatched up.
however, it puzzles me that nobody wanted space grey.
is it that ugly that nobody wants it or is there some other reason?
I find it perfectly cool & catered more to the guys, but does that mean no guys buy iPhone?
soon the truth was revealed coz people were recontracting to sell them
Champagne Gold at $1500 (16GB) - $1800 (32GB)
silver at $1000 (16GB) - $1250 (32GB)
space grey at $950 (16GB) - $1200 (32GB)

I got myself a space grey set coz it is still cool, though not the most exclusive.
the fact is that people can differentiate it with iPhone 5 coz it is not full BLACK
I know this might sound abit sour, but I'm gona say it

if I cant get Champagne Gold, I will rather get space grey
it will be so hard to say notice a silver iPhone 5S.
dont simply follow the trend blindly, but choose what you like!!

1st stop, Peranakan Museum @ Armenian Street
although SNF just started, but the crowd already starts to gather

what's a festival without some live band performances???

FYI earlier that day, there was an article about '114 pieces of Night Festival artwork go missing'
the visual art installation by Karen Mitchell showcases 365 words to represent Everyday Aspirations.
I was quite disgusted by the actions of whoever it may be coz they have ruined the festival spirit.
when I was there, I get the feeling that the art installation is not complete.
disappointed, I am
nevertheless, I shall make the best out of it

once you find ur word, hang it up & let the light cast a shadow on the walls
I find the light too bright and not much shadows were being casted
 anyway, make a guess who is the person in the photo below 

he is.... PORNSAK~~!!!
what are the chances to meet celebrity and you dont really recognise them?
hahah problem with holding a big ass DSLR, Pornsak dont want to turn his head back

moving on to the tree with birds soaring into the skies....

underneath the tree are light twirlers, jugglers and what not

after the performance, they invited kids to have a go with the mesmerizing lights

National Museum of Singapore was too packed.
so we decided to come back later in the night

contemporary dance about movement?
dont really understand coz its too abstract

for a moment, they going at hyper speed


a small area for people to pick up balancing performance of 'walking the line'.
awww~~ I find it so sweet when parents take such good care of their children~~~

it just seems that there is some sort of performance or art installation everywhere!!!
people are everywhere too partly coz of TGIF & dont mind going home late or later haha

Lightseeker
it is a musical by Dick Lee that is gona be at RWS in 24 Nov 13

they are pretty amazing considering that they are singing live out in Orchard

in a snap, we were absorbed into the performance & brought to a mystical place

and we have sorta like a rave party here, a DJ & a rapper

kid sitting on dad's shoulders to catch a better view =)
faster rush back to National Museum of Singapore for the main event

the main event of the night is The Water Vault
it is a mega stunt of underwater escape by 'Magic Babe' Ning 
at first, I find the name pretty weird haha.
it is like calling myself, 'Awesome Hunk' Ming
it was so crowded that I was worried that I block people behind me
so I was somewhat half-squatting & looking through other people's camera screen

she have to get out of the chains around her as well as the chain securing the steel vault.
throughout this stunt, we cant see through the steel vault & we can only wait for her patiently.
she have roughly less than 2 minutes to free herself before she runs out of breath.
If it's me, I think I can only stay 30-45 secs under water?

a min passed, she reaches out with force as though she's running out of air.
the rest is pretty much as expected... unlock the rest of the locks & TADAAA~~

faster breathe in more air before she faints on stage~~

she must be enjoying the moment where everyone focuses their attention on her

once done, they get to laugh if off as if nothing happen & thats all for the night
the human traffic was very bad after the 'The Water Vault'

so we walked back to actually visit Peranakan Museum this time round
apparently, you can purchase some pottery & throw it down from the 3rd floor

I'm not sure if this is just for SNF or is it a Peranakan practice,
but I overheard that one should focus all the bad stuff into the pottery & throw it away.
hopefully the pottery breaks apart & the bad stuff is gone for good =)

unfortunately, it isnt that easy to break those pottery 

Contestant #1

Contestant #2

Contestant #3

Contestant #4

walked back to National Museum of Singapore AGAIN~~

this time for Absolut Exhibition!!

every year, your parents buy you Absolut as birthday present

gorgeous ladies in the bottles

change the rhythm or beat by slotting the Absolut bottle into different holes

old school kopitiam

next, Singapore Arts Museum

films back in the olden days

if you need some inspiration......

break glass for good ideas!!!

anyway, I was walking down this dark hallway alone
& the sound of switches going on and off echoed out from a creepy door

soon we found out that it is just a studio set-up with lights going on & off.
as more and more people take turns to sit on the chair, the lights were flickering faster.
soon, we realise that the lights were flickering based on the person's heartbeat!!
it was fun when you sit down with crazy fast heartbeat
& the switches go TIC-TIAK-TIC-TIAK-TIC-TIAK really loud!!!!!

and we have a lady singing a Israel song with a feel of James Bond theme song

an illustration of Mr Lee Kuan Yew made up of shampoo bottle caps,
FYI, please do not mix this up with the colonel sanders that we are familiar with
after that, we walked over to Rocher Original Beancurd for soybean & head home!!

following day or should I say night, 31th Aug 13,
I was there again at National Museum of Singapore
Ultimate Inversion by J.C.Sum & Magic Babe Ning
world's first ever tandem upside down straight jacket escape.

as you can see, they are strapped in those jackets that are usually worn by patients in a psych ward
"okay, give a round of applause to these gentlemen who are gona escape from these jackets"
haha thats how I imagine what magicians will say, but the gentlemen are just helpers

2 straight jackets strapped tightly with no room to budge

J.C.Sum 1st to be hanged upside down

gets raised 75ft above ground if i'm not wrong

it just seemed too easy for them to get out of those jackets

that concludes Singapore Night Festival 2013