Singapore 2015 World Stamp Exhibition

My first ever stamp exhibition visit coincided with Singapore's grand celebration of its 50th birthday, making this year's visit a memorable one. It is an honor for the nation to host this high profile philatelic event, which gathered showcases spanning 66 countries and trade booths from various nations for collectors to fuel their obsession. The decennial exhibition was last hosted by Singapore 20 years ago (in 1995), and is held with the full support and patronage of the Federation Internationale de Philatelie (FIP) and under the auspices of Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP), so it is natural for this exhibition to gather postal authorities and philatelic traders from different corners of the world.

The last time Singapore hosted the World Stamp Exhibition was 1995, and they returned to the position to coincide with the nation's 50th birthday.

Travel Malaysia 2013

Missing NATAS Travel Fairs deal does not need to be a heartache, for there is still Travel Malaysia Fair 2013 in November. With the year end Christmas holidays approaching, holidaymakers can now consider travel packages to various destinations in Malaysia! And the good news is that unlike the semi annual NATAS fair, the entrance is totally free! Head over to EXPO to get a look at potential Malaysian destinations!

Note: This fair is only available in Singapore.

Date:             1st (Fri) - 3rd Nov (Sun) 2013

Entry fee:      free

Location:       Singapore EXPO, Hall 6A
Website:        Main website and Facebook page

MATTA Fair 2013 is back!

If you aren't aware yet, be aware! Holidaymakers are now rushing to the greatest travel fair in Malaysia, petrol price rise and inflation be damned! Attractive tour packages to the corners of the world awaits, involving various tour agencies within Malaysia. Do choose carefully and be wary of possible disreputable agents. Read carefully and ask for details before signing up for your choice of holiday trip.

This time Indonesia holds the focus with its 'Wonderful Indonesia' theme. Be it a visit to wonderful Bali or quiet Lake Toba, you can find more info here to plan for a personal trip there or to hunt for a tour package that could meet your wants.

Date:             6th (Fri) - 8th Aug (Sun) 2013

Admission:    10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Entry fee:      RM4 (free admission of children under 12)

Location:       Putra World Trade Center (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur
Website:        Main website and Facebook page; entrance ticket can be purchased online here: MATTA Entrance Ticket

NATAS 2013 (2nd Round) @ Singapore EXPO (again)

The 2nd half of the year welcomes the return of NATAS for its latest available offers. This time, holiday makers planning for the year end's Christmas travel will be able to look for mouth-watering packages in Singapore EXPO. Again. Be sure to be there early to fight for the travel to your dream destinations!

Date:             16th (Fri) - 18th Aug (Sun) 2013

Admission:    10:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Entry fee:      SGD4 (free admission of children under 12)

Location:       Singapore EXPO, Halls 3, 4 and 5A
Website:        Main website and Facebook page

The New Singapore Coins

If you are in Singapore from this month onward, you may be surprised to see the shiny coin in your palm to have the usual obverse image of the Singaporean coat of arms, but a totally different reverse image. Gone is the familiar orchid above the denominated value.

If you are visiting the island nation of Singapore recently, see if you could collect this series of coins circulating in the market. They are still in their near mint condition, and still worth as a keepsake (image obtained from MAS Third Series Coins website).

Bon Odori Festival 2013 @ Penang Esplanade

Penang has been a host to a notable Japanese culture for years. 17 to be exact. And this year becomes its 17th year in hosting the Penang Bon Odori Festival in Esplanade, just as it had been the years past. The good news? It starts tonight!

It's Bon Odori! Dances! Music! Cosplay! Japan! All here in Penang (except the last one, which is in a land far far away...) (image taken from Penang State Tourism official website).

Singapore Food Fair @ City Square Mall

Location: City Square Mall, Singapore

It seems that the month of July, coinciding with the mid-year's GSS (Great Singapore Sale), offers a whole lot of food festivals and offers. Right after the one I saw in Takashimaya Shopping Center, I stumbled into another one in City Square Mall, a short distance away from the former.

The food festival offered here has less choices, but the flavor caters more to the local taste. The average price of food items here is less than $10, an affordable choice for me. Most of the items on offer here are street foods, such as selling glutinous rice and fish balls, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a stall selling crabs, each of them cooked and readily soaked in your choice of gravy.

If you are working near the area or are passing by the area, why not drop by and savor the delicious items on offer on L1 Atrium of City Square Mall?

Date:           5 - 14 Jul 2013

Entry fee:    Free

Location:     180 Kitchener Road, L1 Atrium, City Square Mall, Singapore 208539.

Takashimaya Food Fest 2013

Location: Ngee Ann City, Orchard, Singapore

Anyone visiting Orchard Road in July should not miss the food fair that is partially hidden from view in the basement level of Ngee Ann City, which also goes by the name Takashimaya S.C. (Shopping Center). Running its course until 21 July, various food items are on display and on offer. 

From condiments to tea leaves, from local items to imported goods, an array of mouth-watering food dazzles and beckons. Miss not such an event and prepare to bring back loads of food to satisfy that rumbling tummy!

Date:           ends 21 July 2013

Entry fee:    Free

Location:     B2 level, Takashimaya Shopping Center, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238873.

NATAS 2013 @ Singapore EXPO

Once again, the semi annual travel fair is hitting the streets of Singapore! Back at its old haunt of Singapore EXPO, the fair will run for 3 whole days from 22 - 24 February, offering exciting travel destinations and tours. Be prepared for the crowd though, as travel enthusiasts crashed with each other to visit booths and get the latest tour package for their annual holiday trip. Be sure to get more updates on their Facebook page!

Date:             22^nd (Fri) - 24^th Feb (Sun) 2012

Admission:    10:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Entry fee:      SGD4 (free admission of children under 12)

Location:       Singapore EXPO, Halls 3B, 4 and 5

Jurong Point's Red Hot Deal Chocolate Sales

Are you aware of a Red Hot Deal Chocolate Sales in Jurong Point? No? Then what are you waiting for?Head on now to that shopping mall on the western frontier and indulge yourself in getting as much of those imported branded chocolates at bargain price.

I wasn't aware of it, seeing that there wasn't any announcement anywhere about it, until I passed the shop front, a temporary setup with lots and lots of chocolate on offer. I had selected a large range of different chocolates which I seldom see in the usual outlets, and now I have myself to blame when I get fatter.

The shop is located on the third floor of the mall, located 2 shops away from Lai Lai Kitchen. To get to the shop, just exit from Boon Lay MRT and turn right once you entered Jurong Point. Go all the way to the end where OCBC rests, then travel upward by 2 floors. 

The sales, as I understood from the salesperson there, will run throughout the month of September.With only another week left before the month comes to a closure, it would be best to head over A.S.A.P. to get whatever chocolates are still available for offer. The chocolates there ranges from a little under $10 to $30 per box, with most of them offered in bundles.

Date:           throughout September 2012

Entry fee:    Free

Location:     Level 3, Jurong Point, Jurong West.

MATTA Fair 2012

Are you aware of MATTA (Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents) Fair being one of the most sought after travel exhibitions in Malaysia? If not, it is still not too late to head over to either Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur or Ipoh Parade of Ipoh from 7^th - 9^th Sep to get a sense of how popular the exhibition is.

Anyone who will miss this has no fear, as the state of Pahang will be the next stop of the fair, with Kuantan Parade hosting the exhibition from 14th - 16th Sep.

Running a 3-day marathon to showcase whatever travel packages or deals travel agents of different popularity could offer, this is where most traveling Malaysians prefer to buy their tour packages from, what with discounts and offers of all sorts to be chosen from. 

But as SaveMoney.my mentioned in its blog, one should plan his budget properly when it comes to matters of seeing the world. Their website outlined some information about the fair as well as tips of purchasing in the exhibition, advises which are sound and solid, and should be heeded.

Date:            7^th Sep (Fri) - 9^th Sep (Sun) 2012

Admission:    10 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily
Entry fee:     Free
Location:       PWTC, Kuala Lumpur; Ipoh Parade, Ipoh, Perak
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Date:            14^th Sep (Fri) - 16^th Sep (Sun) 2012

Admission:    10 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily
Entry fee:     Free
Location:       Kuantan Parade, Kuantan, Pahang

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Side Bar and List of Blogs

There is major renovation going on in Drafts from My Coffee Table! The blog now features 2 columns of side bar, allowing easier access to more information without the need to scroll down past more than a few turns of the mouse wheel.

2 is better than 1!

In my surf across the web, I came across some interesting blogs on food which I find worthy of sharing with my readers, and here is where I placed them. I have just added a new one: The Princess Diaries - Cheryl's Travels. Do visit them if you are interested. Please do visit and support my other blog, A Book Under the Sun, as well! ^^

Do check out the list of blogs and their updates !