Jack Neo and “We Not Naughty” Gala Premiere

Posted on April 7, 2012 by David Tann

I attended the recent gala screening of “WE NOT NAUGHTY” together with the movie cast including the likes of Jack Neo, Shawn Lee, Joshua Ang, Eric Moo, and Daniel Chan Hiu Tung. The gala screening took place at the Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), Tropicana Mall. As one of the sponsors, i had the privilege of backstage pass and meeting the actors in person. For your info, WE NOT NAUGHTY is not a sequel from I Not Stupid 1 & 2.

L-R: Shawn Lee, Jack Neo, Eric Moo, Eric Moo, Daniel Chan Hiu Tung and Joshua Ang. Shawn Lee and Joshua Ang were the kids who appeared in the first movie “I Not Stupid”. They have grown up now.

Me…and the stars.

The crowd at GSC before the screening.

Miss Malaysia World 2011 winner, Chole Chen was there too. I don’t understand the relevance of having her there. LOL…

Me and Jack Neo

Me and Daniel Chan Hiu Tung

I had an earlier post on Jack Neo’s shoot for this movie at Taylor’s University. The post is [here...]

What Are My Top Five Travel Tips…

Posted on March 17, 2012 by David Tann

I have personally encountered many bad experiences when it comes to travelling because i didn’t do enough homework. I wish to provide you readers with the top five travel tips to avoid travel nightmares and make the most out of your time on the road.

Eat like a local
Wherever you are, eat what the locals are good at or famous for, and eat where those locals like to eat it. Do not rely on your concierge for dining tips. He’s in the business of making tourists happy. You want the places that make locals happy. Seek out places crowded with locals. Avoid places where others of your kind are present.

Show appreciation
People everywhere like it when you are appreciative of their food. I cannot stress enough how important your initial reactions to offerings of local specialties are to any possible relationships you might make abroad. Smile and try to look happy, even if you don’t like it. If you do like it, let them know through word or gesture of appreciation.

Visit local markets
Get up early and check out the central food market. It’s a fast way into a culture, where you’ll see the basics of the cuisine. You’ll often find local prepared foods at stands or stalls serving markets’ workers.

Travel prepared
Be prepared to be stuck in an airport for indeterminate periods of time. Load your mobile device with as many games, songs, apps, and e-books as possible to keep busy during long waits. Also, make sure to pack a battery charger to power up.

Get comfortable
Remember to bring something scrunchy and long-sleeved, like a sweatshirt. You might need it as a pillow.

Careful Eating in India

Posted on March 7, 2012 by David Tann

Tucking into street food is one of the joys of travelling in India – here are some tips to help avoid tummy troubles.

1. Give yourself a few days to adjust to the local cuisine, especially if you’re not used to spicy food.

2. You know the rule about following a crowd – if the locals are avoiding a particular vendor, you should too. Also take notice of the profile of the customers – any place popular with families will probably be your safest bet.

3. Check how and where the vendor is cleaning the utensils, and how and where the food is covered. If the vendor is cooking in oil, have a peek to check it’s clean. If the pots or surfaces are dirty, there are food scraps about or too many buzzing flies, don’t be shy to make a hasty retreat.

4. Don’t be put off when you order some deep-fried snack and the cook throws it back into the wok. It’s common practice to partly cook the snacks first and then finish them off once they’ve been ordered. In fact, frying them hot again will kill any germs.

5. Unless a place is reputable (and busy), it’s best to avoid eating meat from the street.

6. The hygiene standard at juice stalls is wildly variable, so exercise caution. Have the vendor press the juice in front of you and steer clear of anything stored in a jug or served in a glass (unless you’re absolutely convinced of the washing standards).

7. Don’t be tempted by glistening pre-sliced melon and other fruit, which may keep its luscious veneer with the regular dousing of (often dubious) water.

Choosing A Good Spa

Posted on February 25, 2012 by David Tann

When that extra piece of chocolate or glass of wine is no longer helping you unwind, you may decide to hit the spa for some professional care and a little “R and R.” But how do you choose the right spa, and what do you do once there?

If you’ve never been to a spa before, the best way to start narrowing down your choices is to start asking questions. The first contact the client has with a spa usually is by telephone. People should not be afraid to tell them that they’ve never been to a spa, that they’re new to this and they need to ask more questions.

“How much do I tip?” “Do I have to take off all my clothes?” and “Will any treatments have an impact on my medication?” are the kind of questions any spa newbie should ask of prospective salons. Answers should come easily from spa owners and receptionists.

They’re very much aware of new customers, new people to the spa services, and they will explain things to the customer. If the spa does not do this, I would recommend you go to another one.

Walking through the door

Once in a spa, there are some other ways to tell if the place is serious about the spa business.

If you walk into a spa and you are not greeted with a smile or if you see that the spa is dirty or you don’t feel comfortable for any reason, those are excuses to walk out. The first rule is cleanliness; it’s got to be spotlessly clean. The sheets on the massage table or a facial chair need to be changed after every client. If you have any inkling that this is not a clean place, walk.

Another hallmark of a good spa establishment is membership in a national or international spa association. Usually they are marked with an accreditation emblem. It assures that this spa is really serious about what they’re doing, serious about their business and has been in business for quite a while or plans to be in business for quite a while.

Massage therapists and aestheticians should also be licensed.

The consumer needs to be very diligent to make sure that the therapist who is working on them is licensed in their state. Even if the state doesn’t have a license — in the case of massage therapists — they should have documentation from their school (a reputable one) that they have completed training. They also need to be able to produce certification that they actually are trained in some of the machines they’re using, the devices, and the application of certain products.

Your spa experience

Another idea to keep in mind when choosing a spa is what kind of spa experience you're looking for. There's more than just one kind of spa.

A destination spa, historically, has been a minimum of a seven-day visit, and that's where you'll find yourself completely immersed in that spa experience. A resort spa is going to be where you go for a meeting or for a family vacation and there happens to be a spa on the property and you go and enjoy the spa several times when you're there, but that's not the sole driver of why you're at that event. A day spa is where you go for several hours.... day spas are everywhere now; they're definitely mainstream.

And with more people wanting spa experiences, availability is growing.

Consumers are driving spa components being added to your health club, your fitness center, your beauty salon, or the hotel where you go for business a lot.

Wherever you choose to go, a spa's purpose is to create a stress-free, nurturing environment. The price of your spa treatment usually includes some hospitable extras, like refreshments, robes, sandals and more. The one extra that should raise a red flag to spa-goers is alcohol.

Wine does not go with spas, and I would stay away from any spa that serves alcohol. You are doing treatments to the body, you are moving muscles and masses, blood, and you don't know how a client is going to react.

No unpleasant surprises

Spa clients should fill out a form that includes information about health, like what medicines you are taking and what physical conditions you may have. This is important because some spa treatments can affect some drugs or ailments.

Some of the skin care products have ingredients that may not be tolerated by certain people who are taking certain medications or have certain medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and pregnancy. Even supplements people take can have an adverse reaction to some chemicals in a skin care product.

Spa-goers should also be aware of outcomes of treatments and have realistic expectations.

When you have your first facial, you're not going to come out looking like a model on the cover of Vogue. Your aesthetician is going to tell you what your skin needs, what some take-home treatments can be and how to take better care of your skin. Likewise, massage therapists and aestheticians will advise clients in the best ways to make the effects of their spa treatments last, even ways to continue treatment at home.

“I didn’t dare to show my face…too shy”

Dreading tip etiquette?

Whether you choose a 60-minute facial at a day spa or a weeklong rest at a destination spa, one nagging question that might keep you from totally relaxing is how to tip.

At a resort spa, a lot of times they'll add it on [to the price of service] and let you know it’s added on. It takes the pressure off.

In a day spa, it’s more typical of going to a hair salon; it’s your discretion. The range is anywhere from 10 to 20 percent, 15 being the norm.