Cleffairy's Blog, page 5
May 29, 2023
Fun with Buddies at Scuba Dobedo Divers’ Grand Re-opening
May is a really busy month for me. I had my SSI Mermaid and also my SSI Dive Guide evaluation training throughout the entire month, and I didn’t have much time for anything else. As of writing, it’s already almost the end of May, and I only got the time to sit down to put thoughts into writing now. There are many updates and experiences that I want to share, but let’s start with this one; fun with my scuba diver buddies at Scuba Dobedo Divers’ shop grand re-opening.
It happened back on the 4th of May. And any Star Wars fans would say that it was an auspicious date- cuz it resonates with the Star Wars quote; May the force be with you( May the fourth be with you). Get it? Yes? No? Well, it’s ok. I’ll stop babbling and here’s sharing with you the fun stuff we did at the new Scuba Dobedo Divers’new shop.
Plenty of fun and educational activities were prepared for us divers.
There was an abundance of good food and plenty of fun. We participated in games and I personally learned lotsa new stuff during the event.
Participated in the Akuana race where we learned how to assemble a backplate BCD from scratch as well.
My team may have lost, but we still won back some knowledge and oh…a t-shirt in the process.
Stayed til late for their movie night and had plenty of ‘uncensored’ fun…but let’s just leave the uncensored part for later.
This is one of the crazy things we did that night. There’s many more pictures from where this comes from, but those other pics and videos are blackmail material 
The new shop is conveniently located in Akasa Cheras Commercial Centre. It’s an upgrade to the new expansion that they’re having as a PADI 5 stars IDC centre. Scuba Dobedo Divers is now currently a one-stop centre for scuba diving, freediving, swimming and also mermaid courses. So, if you’re interested in any of these, do give them a holler.
For more information on the new Scuba Dobedo Divers shop, check their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/scuba.dobedo.divers
May 26, 2023
TOWA BIRD PREMIERES NEW SINGLE “BOOMERANG”
Today, rising singer/songwriter Towa Bird shares her frenetic new single “Boomerang” via Interscope Records. An up-close look at the torment of long-distance relationships, “Boomerang” spotlights the mesmerizing guitar work that’s made the Hong Kong-born artist one of the most dynamic new voices in the alt-pop world. Listen to “Boomerang” HERE.
Produced by Thomas Powers of New Zealand indie-pop band The Naked and Famous (Towa’s main collaborator on the LP), “Boomerang” emerged as the Los Angeles-based musician struggled with the constant back-and-forth of her relationship with her girlfriend, who lives in New York City.
“This song was born after spending a glorious but short-lived five days visiting my girlfriend,” says Towa, who co-wrote “Boomerang” with Powers and Alisa Xayalith (also of The Naked and Famous). “I stepped off the plane back in L.A. after crying into my face mask for the entirety of the six-hour flight, and the concept for ‘Boomerang’ was born. It’s about how long-distance relationships are possibly the worst thing ever to be invented — the worst party ever. (Pro-tip: don’t do it!) But if you do happen to find yourself in that sort of scenario, just know that me and this song will meet you there.”
Built on a bold collision of Britpop and garage-punk, “Boomerang” opens on a blistering riff before taking on a feverish momentum fueled by fuzzed-out guitar tones, pulse-pounding rhythms, and wildly soaring melodies. As the song unfolds, Towa’s voice channels both dreamy fragility and raw frustration, achieving a certain soulful intensity at the chorus (“Leave me like a boomerang/I know you’re coming back”). Equal parts heart-on-sleeve confession and sublimely furious anthem, the result is an immediate hit of pure emotional catharsis.
The latest offering from Towa’s forthcoming debut album, “Boomerang” arrives on the heels of “Wild Heart” — an April release that earned praise from the likes of NYLON (who called the track “exuberant”) and Guitar World (who hailed it as “an infectious indie-pop romp”). Another prime showcase for the dazzling musicality that landed her on Dazed’s definitive list of creatives shaping youth culture, her debut single was soon followed by a gritty but fantastical video in which Towa performs an explosive guitar solo in a glittering, Elvis-esque jumpsuit —watch it HERE. Check out Homme girls’ recent coverage of Towa HERE.
A half-Filipino, half-English artist who spent much of her childhood in Thailand and London, Towa first started playing guitar at the age of 12, honing her technique by strumming along to The Kinks, The Who, and other bands she discovered through her father’s record collection. After forming her first band at age 14, she cut her teeth playing dive bars and street festivals in Hong Kong, then went on to study at Goldsmiths, University of London. Naming Jimi Hendrix, Joan Jett, and Prince among her longtime inspirations, Towa dropped out of school after two years to pursue her love of music and got her start producing and co-writing for other artists, in addition to posting videos that found her soloing over hip-hop, pop, and R&B songs. As her singular guitar style gained attention across the globe — and earned admiration from the likes of Willow Smith and Tyler, the Creator — Towa began sharing original music and soon after inked her deal with Interscope Records. Due out later this year, Towa’s debut album offers up an intimate exploration of queerness, identity, and the complexities of love.
Photo Credit: Thong Luc
Click HERE for hi-res press photo
Towa Bird – “Boomerang” eSingle
Retail: https://TowaBird.lnk.to/Boomerang
Amazon Music: https://TowaBird.lnk.to/Boomerang/amazonmusic
Apple: https://TowaBird.lnk.to/Boomerang/applemusic
Deezer: https://TowaBird.lnk.to/Boomerang/deezer
iTunes: https://TowaBird.lnk.to/Boomerang/itunes
Pandora: https://TowaBird.lnk.to/Boomerang/pandora
Spotify: https://TowaBird.lnk.to/Boomerang/spotify
Tidal: https://TowaBird.lnk.to/Boomerang/tidal
YouTube Music: are dating sites useless
Visualizer: http://cleffairy.com/baptist-dating-for-free/
For more information on Towa Bird, visit:
May 25, 2023
YUNG GRAVY & BBNO$ RETURN WITH NEW SINGLE “GOODNESS GRACIOUS” OUT NOW
Ready to flip the game upside down (all over again), the most dynamic of duos Yung Gravy and bbno$ (baby no money) return with a brand new joint single entitled “Goodness Gracious” via IMPERIAL today. Listen to “Goodness Gracious”—HERE. Watch the lyric video for “Goodness Gracious”—HERE and stay tuned for the official video premiering on Friday, May 19th at 12pm PST.
On the track, upbeat guitar twirls around handclaps as high-energy verses crash right into a chantable chorus. Gravy brings his signature drip, while bbno$ serves up no shortage of swagger.
Most importantly, it sets the stage for the event album of 2023, Baby Gravy 3, the long-awaited third collaborative LP between Gravy and bbno$ and their first in three years.
Stay tuned for a whole lot more very soon
As legend has it, Yung Gravy and bbno$ first stirred up the simmering sauce at the heart of their union on the 2017 Baby Gravy EP. It’s an ever evolving love affair between these two best friends and musical soulmates who locked into a once-in-a-generation chemistry blown up widescreen on the likes of “Rotisserie,” which cranked out 80 million Spotify streams. In 2019, they reteamed on the gold-certified “Whip A Tesla” from Gravy’s Sensational album only to reheat their partnership to a boiling point on 2021’s Baby Gravy 2. The latter tallied over half-a-billion streams powered by the gold-certified “Welcome To Chilis” and “shining on my ex.” With countless memories, sold out tours, and one appearance on Family Feud under their collective fly designer belt, they are back with “Goodness Gracious” and a whole lot more heat in 2023.
About Yung Gravy
Only the best things get better with age—wine, cheddar, 401ks, the list goes on. It turns out Yung Gravy gets better with age too.
When you think about it, the name Yung Gravy says a great deal. It’s perpetually youthful, and it oozes “sauce.” As such, Yung Gravy uses his own special recipe to bring originality and positivity to make his one-of-a-kind impact on the genre. Gravy flexes his passion for soul music and oldies in his production, sampling a wide range of musical styles dating from the 1940’s to the present-day. Nostalgic and often-jubilant melodies paired with heavy trap drums form the usual canvas for his signature baritone voice—reminiscent of Barry White. Showcasing effortless flows and endlessly quotable lyrics, Yung Gravy paints something truly unique while clearly having a good time doing so. In the span of six short years, Gravy has transformed from Soundcloud stalwart to platinum powerhouse. To date, his accolades include three platinum and four gold singles as well as 10 sold out tours of North America, Europe, and Australia. He has collaborated with his self-proclaimed musical heroes, including Lil Wayne, Chief Keef, Juicy J, T-Pain, and the late Young Dolph. Gravy became the soundtrack, and unofficial second mascot, of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and was given an honorary Stanley Cup Ring. He starred in a worldwide commercial campaign with Martha Stewart, and weeks later performed for the VMAs and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Not to mention, he partnered with Samsung and Jimmy John’s for campaigns. Tallying 6 billion streams and selling 5 million units thus far, he’s notched four entries on the Billboard 200, two in the Top 30 of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart, and two on the Top 20 of the Top Album Sales Chart. He’ll hit the stage at Bottlerock and Hangout Music Festival in 2023.
For all of the swagger and style he exhibited upon his arrival, he managed to become even smoother since his introduction in 2016. After streams in the billions, packed venues, and “side missions” with Martha Stewart, he stirred up his tastiest sauce yet on his 2022 third full-length opus, Marvelous [Republic Records] introduced by the chart-topping platinum-certifiedBillboard Hot 100 Top 30 single “Betty (Get Money).”
About bbno$ (baby no money)
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “A Viral Pioneer” and named one of 2020’s “Breakthrough Artists of the Year “, bbno$ (baby no money) is no stranger to producing addictive hooks, having released the first ever TikTok hit, “Lalala” with Y2K in 2019, which has gone multi-platinum across the globe. 2021 marked a breakthrough year for bbno$’ with the successful release of his fifth studio album eat ya veggies, the brilliant 12-track album featured hit singles “edamame” with 88Rising’s Rich Brian, “yoga” with Rebecca Black as well as audience favorites ”i remember” and “wussup” with Yung Gravy and was streamed collectively over 1 billion times. “edemame” with Rich Brian has now gone 2x Platinum in Canada, Platinum in Finland, Platinum in Indonesia, and Gold. He had opportunities flow in from this with a performance at the JUNO’s, guest appearance during Rich Brian‘s set at Coachella, a Capital Jingle Bell Ball performance in the UK, and a Late Night TV performance on Jimmy Kimmel.
Over the years, bbno$ has become a case study in how to succeed as an independent artist. The sheer success accumulated by the young artist is evidenced by the fact that his tracks have now been streamed more than 5 billion times. He has amassed more than 2.9 million TikTok followers, and over 1.2 million Instagram followers, and his tracks have been used in over 15 million TikTok videos which have been watched a total of 2 billion+ times. He has been featured in Billboard, Flaunt, tmrw, Rolling Stone, NME, LadyGunn, SPIN, Euphoria, i-D, Ones to Watch and many other publications. His work as an artist and songwriter has received praise and support from the likes of both Capital FM and BBC R1’s Jack Saunders (Tune of The Week + Jingle Ball performance), and Triple J. Previous headline tours in 1-2k cap rooms across North America, China, Australia and Europe have all been sold out.
In 2023 bbno$ plans to release his 8th studio album and 3rd album with Yung Gravy, Baby Gravy 3. He will also be returning to North America, Europe, and Australia on headline and festival runs throughout the course of the year.
YUNG GRAVY UPCOMING DATES:
05/21 – Hangout Music Festival (Gulf Shores, AL)
05/26 – BottleRock Festival (Napa County, CA)
05/27 – August Hall (San Francisco, CA)
06/15 – Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN)
06/30 – Milwaukee Summerfest (Milwaukee, WI)
07/15 – Calgary Stampede (Calgary, AB)
07/21 – The Pacific Amphitheatre (Costa Mesa, CA)
07/29 – Tailgate N’ Tallboys (Auburn, MI)
07/30 – Ohio State Fair (Columbus, OH)
07/31 – Monroe County Fair (Monroe, MI)
08/05 – Lollapalooza (Chicago, IL)
08/10 – West Virginia State Fair (Lewisburg, WV)
08/12 – Erie County Fair (Hamburg, NY)
08/28 – Alaska State Fair (Palmer, AK)
08/30 – Minnesota State Fair (Saint Paul, MN)
09/02 – The Great Allentown Fair (Allentown, PA)
09/03 – New York State Fair (Syracuse, NY)
09/09 – Worcester Parking Lot Party (Worcester, MA)
09/15 – Utah State Fair (Salt Lake City, UT)
09/16 – Music Midtown Festival (Atlanta, GA)
09/22 – Washington State Fair (Puyallup, WA)
09/23 – Live is Beautiful (Las Vegas, NV)
BBNO$ UPCOMING DATES:
05/24 – Vas Live House (Shanghai)
05/25 – Vas Live (Shanghai)
05/26 – Alive (Chengdu)
05/27 – PH + Qindao Festival (Beijing)
05/28 – DF ARTSPACE (Changsha)
05/31 – Hou Live (Shenzhen)
06/01 – Damai 66 (Hangzhou)
06/02 – Three live (Wuhan)
06/03 – Galame (Foshan)
06/04 – Galame (Foshan)
06/24 – Tinderbox Festival (Odense, Denmark)
06/27 – Roxy (Prague, Czech Republic)
06/28 – Den Atelier (Luxembourg, Luxembourg)
06/30 – Lollapalooza Stockholm (Stockholm, Sweden)
07/02 – Arras Main Square Festival (France)
07/06 – RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (Ottawa, ON)
07/08 – Summerfest (Nova Scotia)
07/11 – FEQ (Festival d’ete de Quebec) (Quebec City, QC)
07/15 – Calgary Stampede (Alberta, Canada)
07/21 – The Pacific Amphitheatre (Cosa Mesa, CA)
07/30 – Ohio State Fair (Columbus, OH)
07/31 – Monroe County Fair (Monroe, MI)
08/04 – Osheaga Festival (Montreal, QC)
08/10 – Feldkirch Poolbar Festival (Austria)
08/12 – Erie County Fair (Hamburg, NY)
08/17 – FM4 Frequency Festival (St. Poelten, Austria)
08/18 – Parkenfestivalen (Bodø, Norway)
08/19 – Findings Festival (Oslo, Norway)
08/26 – Riot Games VCT finals (Los Angeles, CA)
08/30 – Minnesota State Fair (St. Paul, MN)
09/02 – The Great Allentown Fair (Allentown, PA)
09/03 – New York State Fair (Syracuse NY)
09/08 – MacEwan University (Edmonton, AB)
09/15 – Utah State Fair (Salt Lake City, UT)
09/22 – Washington State Fair (Puyallup, WA)
Follow Yung Gravy on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify
Follow bbno$ on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify
April 7, 2023
The Food Merchant Introduces All-New Little Farm and Kids Trolley to Promote an Egg-citing and Educational Shopping Experience
In conjunction with Happy Easter Day, The Food Merchant gracefully welcomed the children of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Home of Peace Kuala Lumpur to its grocery at Pavilion Embassy. These children and teenagers, aged from six to nineteen years old were first introduced to and educated about Little Farm, which is the newest addition to the grocer.
Aeroponic farming is a method developed by
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which helps plants grow faster and larger indoors with less water required.
The introduction of Little Farm is in collaboration with The Vegetable Co., whose expertise is in growing fresh and pesticide-free, harvest-to-table vegetables, and RipeFresh, which promotes sustainable farming by building and operating intelligent aeroponics farms.
Wally is a modular Indoor Farming Unit Powered by Artificial Intelligence, using Smart Cameras that automatically create the optimal conditions for plant growth.
This new addition combines the expertise of two industry leaders in indoor agriculture to bring patrons of the grocer the freshest and most nutritious produce possible.
Leong Pei Khim, Chief Operating Officer of The Food Merchant said, “This is indeed the perfect collaboration for sustainable indoor farming. With our shared commitment to promoting sustainable farming practices, we are proud to offer our esteemed customers an eco-friendly and healthy option for their daily meals as we aim to provide safe, clean, and the most nutritious vegetables! Now, customers can conveniently get these fresh-packed from our chiller”.
In addition to this, The Food Merchant also introduced its fun-sized Kids Trolley as part of its latest addition for all of its grocery stores.
Following this introduction, the children were paired with the trolleys as part of an exciting Easter Egg Hunt where the attendees and children were able to redeem exciting prizes from the thrilling activity.
Justine Morais, Founder of Home of Peace, expressed, “We are thankful for this Easter Day gathering as it is indeed a special one for these children and myself. The girls are beaming with inspiration as they learn about the Little Farm”.
Up until this Sunday, 9th April, patrons can stand the chance to win FREE delicious chocolates. To win, customers will only need to visit any of The Food Merchant stores and seek a hidden Easter egg nearby the chiller (or anywhere that is near something fresh). Terms and conditions are applied for this giveaway.
The Food Merchant, the country’s 1st international premium grocer, has curated and sourced over 250 international brands in-store, so shoppers can get a taste of the world’s culture and authentic international cuisine as they traverse the aisles. Shoppers will enjoy dine-in selections from East Asian oceans to European vineyards simply by stepping into the grocer and experiencing authentic international food under one roof.
Website: https://thefoodmerchant.com.my
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefoodmerchant.my/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefoodmerchant.my/ (@thefoodmerchant.my)
April 2, 2023
A Day at Sungei Wang Plaza
It’s been awhile since I last went on my crazy Shophaholic mode in malls since COVID-19 pandemic strike. I used to hangout in malls from the time the malls opens it’s door to the time the mall closes. Yep. I was THAT fond of shopping.However, for some period of time, shopping in malls no longer have an appeal to me. To be honest, I was terribly traumatized by all the brainwashing stuff that happened during lockdown period-where they practically stuffed into your brain on how dangerous it is to be in the crowds and stuff and I had nasty anxiety and nervous breakdown whenever I’m in public. I only got better last year after my late MIL’s passing where I was slapped with the notion that; Covid or not Covid, you’ll die regardless, so why live in fear all the time? I shouldn’t let the fear-mongering gets to me and control my life. I started to heal from the global fear-mongering trauma and decided to slowly go out and be social again. I started doing outdoor stuff like practicing martial arts, going on scuba dives and mermaiding.Despite the fact that I was going out again, I still avoided malls and enclosed area. But I’ll be honest. As much as I’m now comfortable with online shopping, it’s not really as gratifying as physical shopping in the mall. When I shop in the mall, I get all the ASMR sensation; the sight, the touch, the smell, and it makes me feel so good.
Speaking of feeling good, I’ve recently had a feel good experience at Sungei Wang Plaza.
Can you believe it? I’m finally back with my Shophaholic Extraordinaire mode and spent the whole day shopping and having fun at Sungei Wang.[image error]The Raya deco is up and it’s really amazing. They’ve set up a kampung in the midst of a paddy field and it reminds me of my hometown in Kedah.
Part of the Raya deco includes a traditional games section and provides interactive spot for shoppers to play traditional games like congkak, batu seremban and many more.
I find this very heartwarming as occasionally I will spot some kids playing over there.
It’s certainly nice to see the kids of this generation playing with each other instead of their phones.
Raya deco aside. What did I do over there for the entire day? Well, I spent my day shopping for Raya makeover. First, I visited the Optical street at G-Level at Sungei Wang. This is where you can find loads of optical shops selling specs and eyewear stuff at a very competitive price.
It’s high time for me to upgrade my spec’s power. I was spoiled for choices and it was quite hard to make decisions on which shop I should make my specs with. After browsing for awhile, I ended up at Nice Eyework at G-117.
Nice Eyework is currently having a great promo of RM40 and RM65 for spec’s frame and lenses.
It’s a very affordable price, if you ask me. This price is applicable to certain range of lense’s power, though. Those with the power of 600+ and more would require abit of a top-up. This is because the higher power you require, the more expensive the lenses are.
Got my eyes checked, and discovered that my power has increased from 400&500 to 525&625. I’ve already expected an increase in power as my current specs is already giving me blur vision whenever I wear them, so there’s no surprise here. It sucks. I totally blamed the Covid lockdown and my emo-Kdrama binging on this. The increase of screen time has contributed to this.
I had a blast trying on some on.
After browsing for awhile, I settled with this one, and as promised in their banner ads, it’s ready for collection in just 40minutes.
This costs me RM145. Still inexpensive as my lenses are an upgraded version and the specs came with a clip-on sunglass lenses. What do you think? I feel that this is a tad too big for my face but it’s pretty cool when I clipped on the sunglass lenses. Made me feel like a supermodel.
Next stop is the MinNature Malaysia. If you want to go for a Cuti-cuti Malaysia but on a very tight budget and time restrictions this is exactly where you should head over to.
MinNature Malaysia is a miniature gallery located in Sungei Wang. It features miniature models of famous Malaysian landmarks and buildings, diorama of lifestyle and iconic Malaysian food.
This is where you can visit interesting touristy attractions in all states of Malaysia in just a a few hours.
Some of the tourists attractions in Malaysia in miniature artworks.
A showcasing of Malaysian food culture in tiny artworks.
I have nothing but respect for those who made this. These artwork are really exquisite.
Every artwork tells a very interesting story. So do take your time to read up the descriptions of each artwork when you’re there, okay?MinNature Malaysia is located at JUMPA@Sungei Wang, Level 1, and is opened from 10am-10pm. You may check their website here HERE for ticket pricing and stuff.
After playing tourist at MinNature Malaysia, I hopped over to Watsons.
They’re having this fantastic Rahsia Gaya Raya campaign where they’re offering price slashes up to 50% off, and if you’re a Watsons card member, you’re entitled to special member’s price and it’s stackable on top of those discounts.
I spent about an hour browsing.
Spotted some good deals in the Hair Colouring&Styling section, and grabbed some hair dyes and haircare products. My hair is in a sorry mess after all the scuba diving and frequent mermaiding that I’ve been doing for the past few months. The pool’s chlorine is not exactly the kindest on anyone’s hair, and that includes mine. I’m due for some hair care time at a salon. Sadly, with my hectic schedule these days, I no longer have time to sit in a hair salon to get myself a makeover.This would be the next best thing, I guess. I’ll just DIY my own haircut and treatments.
For those who are prepping for upcoming Hari Raya, you might want to check out awesome Raya goodies and fabulous traditional clothes at Sungei Wang Plaza’s Mew Market located at the Main Entrance. This Raya Bazaar will be ongoing from 3 March till 1 May 2023, Concourse Floor where you can shop for traditional Raya clothing, Kuih Raya, Raya decoration, souvenirs and more.I wanted to buy some cookies, but it’s still early Ramadan as of the visit, and I wouldn’t wanna stock these up at home. You see, I lack self control. Raya cookies and tidbits and would have been long gone before Raya if I were to get them now, so I’d be making a revisit soon to get my hands on these.
I haven’t been walking much since lockdown, and my feet were already showing signs of cramping by the time it’s time to end my shopping spree.
Last stop is at Kekatoo Restaurant for breaking fast session with my media friends and lovely children from Pertubuhan Pembangunan Insan Darussalam Malaysia.
As part of Sungei Wang Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental, Social and Governance initiative, these children were invited for a day of shopping and fun in Sungei Wang before the buka puasa session at Kekatoo.
During their visit, they had a blast shopping and participating in games and fun batik colouring workshops.Things have been so hectic for me where work, scuba diving and mermaiding is concerned that this is the first buka puasa invitation that I’ve accepted among many that was extended to me during Ramadan. I feel really bad, honestly. But it is as it is. I need to accept that my life is longer the same as before the pandemic. If anything, it’s really nice to finally be back on my crazy Shophaholic Extraordinaire mode. It really feels good to be able to spend a whole day in the mall again.
Sungei Wang Plaza is currently having a Hari Raya campaign. Come and celebrate varieties of interesting Raya performances such as Traditional Dances, Tradition Musical Instruments Performances such as Caklempong, Ghazal, Gamelan and Angklung, Suara Raya Kids Karaoke and Acoustic Raya Challenge, fashion shows which will bring delight and excitement your shopping experience from 31 March till 1 May 2023.
You may also redeem limited edition collectible Raya Packet with a minimum spend of RM218 in a maximum TWO (2) receipts. And, with a minimum spend of RM418 in a maximum of TWO (2) receipts to redeem yourself an exclusive Sungei Wang Plaza Raya Cookies Set. Terms and conditions apply.For more information, visit Sungei Wang Plaza’s website at www.sungeiwang.com or check real-time updates on Sungei Wang’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sungeiwangplaza.
Home Theater Experience with INLAB Senz Projector
I’ve never been a TV person. In fact, I don’t own a TV since the last 20 years. I’m an outdoor person, and if I’m in the mood to chillax at home, I would always pick a good book over something that’s shown on TV, so TV has never been relevant to me.
Sure, I have my Kdrama binging moments whenever I’m all stressed up because of work or in need of some romantic escapism, but it’s all done on my desktop or my laptop. It’s never been a necessity for an entertainment unit like the TV until the COVID-19 pandemic happened and the entire world were thrown into lockdown. Being an active outdoor person I am, being all locked up at home by my gov and will be criminalised if I were to travel more than 10km away from home is almost a death row for me. Out of the sudden, both my personal and professional life were thrown into a serious mess and I discovered that I needed to do alot of things online, and an entertainment unit like the TV kinda made sense after all, especially after I discovered that I had having severe withdrawals from all my movie outings at the cinemas and the frequent mamak session where I indulged in watching whatever movies they decided to turn on over my meals.
Nothing can ever beat the cinema ambiance or the high energy surroundings in mamak joints, but when it comes to home entertainment, you got to make do with the next best thing that can decently replicate it. No, I’m not talking about the good old TV, but something better; the smart projector.
Having a smart projector at home is an absolute game changer where home entertainment is concerned. Unlike the traditional smart TV, a smart projector is pretty versatile and most importantly it’s very mobile&travel friendly. And the best part? It replicate the feelings of watching movies in both cinema or at the mamak in a rather convenient manner. All you need is a smartphone to connect with and a plain white wall, and you’re good to go.
There are plenty of smart projectors in the market, but here’s one that I would like to share with all of you out there; the INLAB Senz Projector. This is something that came across my shopping feed while I was lurking in Shopee for my monthly shopping spree.
So what’s good about INLAB Senz Projector? Ok, fasten your seat belts, boys and girls, I’ll take you on abit of a tech review ride.
About the INLAB Senz Projector
First of all, the INLAB Senz is a smart LED projector that runs on Android OS. Unlike the bulky old type of projector, the INLAB Senz is pretty much chic in design and sports a clean and minimalistic look. It is also pretty much lightweight and small in size, so carrying it around is not an issue should you need to relocate it from one place to another. If you’re looking for a portable cinema on the go, INLAB Senz Projector is a go to gadget for you.
Functionality
• INLAB Senz projector can cater to connectivity both wired and wireless.
• INLAB Senz projector comes with HDMI port that works with desktop or laptops, TV Stick, PlayStation console, and Nintendo Switch console.
• Supports wireless mirroring. This function is compatible with both iOS and Android OS smartphones.
• Grants access to smart TV, YouTube and allows you to stream from stream sites like Netflix etc.
• Have bluetooth function that will enable you to connect it to external wireless earphones, headphones, and external speakers wirelessly.
• Comes with USB port, so it can be connected to that works with portable harddrive, external harddisk, and yes, a pendrive as well
• 3.5MM AUX jack is available and supports external speakers or audio devices like earphones and headphones.
• Packed with 7000 lumens lighting and delivers sharp and clear visual presentation.
•Equipped with Dolby Atmos-certified sound system and delivers high quality sound for user’s enjoyment.
So, do I recommend the INLAB Senz? Is this a yay or a nay? Well, it is a yay. Who wouldn’t want a big screen to see the visual with while watching movies or gaming with family and friends at the comfort of their own home? I certainly love how I’m able to spend more quality time at home with my family while doing things that I like; watch movies or playing games. No more going to the cinema or mamak to enjoy the big screen is a big plus! I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking to set up a reasonably priced home theatre system without breaking the savings account. The INLAB Senz costs merely a RM989.90 (current promo price). This is a fraction of the price that you will have to pay if you’re to buy some huge smart TV and set up the sound system, that can easily cost RM15k.
Of course, this projector can not only merely be used as an entertainment unit. It’s diverse on how you can use the projector. You can use it as a presentation tool or an education tool as well. I’m sure corporate bodies and teachers would be able to appreciate having this as well.
Interested in getting one? Well, check out the official INLAB Senz site or hop over to Shopee or Lazada to make your purchase. It’s ready stock and ships from a local warehouse, and comes with a neat 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Don’t forget to key in INLA0030 before you checked out for another additional RM30 off.
March 14, 2023
My First Freediving Experience with Scuba Dobedo Divers
I have always wanted to try freediving, especially after I started scuba diving. I thought this diving discipline is really cool, as you can just go and enjoy the underwater world without having to worry much about equipments. But I keep putting it off trying out freediving…as you know, I was quite afraid of unknown. I’m not exactly comfortable in the water at depth without my scuba equipments on. What’s worst is that in freediving, it will challenge your physical endurance as it involves alot of breath holding.
The thoughts of not being able to breathe at depth was frightening, but I have recently started mermaiding, which is also a form of freediving, albeit a more freestyle and artful one at a shallower depth of 5 meters at most. While mermaiding, my feet are bounded together with a monofin that’s all wrapped up in a mermaid tail skin. I have to hold my breath while mermaiding as well, but of course, unlike freediving, mermaids don’t really challenge themselves to hold breath as long as they can, and when they feel like they can’t hold their breath, they’ll just come up for air. After a few months of mermaiding, swimming and diving without my scuba equipments on doesn’t seems so scary or traumatic anymore, and I decided that perhaps, it’s high time that I go and try freediving as well.
I was contemplating on which dive centre and which instructor I should go with, as to me, it’s really important to have an instructor that you are comfortable with and able to trust your life with, considering the nature of the sport.
And then, by chance or luck, Scuba Dobedo Divers organizes a freediving tryout session with Instructor Swen Becht. And I thought, this is just perfect. I’ve always been comfortable with Scuba Dobedo Divers and it’s crews. Even my first scuba fun dive after my certification was with them and they’re nothing but a bunch of professional people who not only put divers’ safety as a priority, but treats people with genuine warmth as well. A plus point that encourage me to sign up for the tryout is that I’ve seen Instructor Swen Becht in action with his students prior to the tryout announcement during my weekly lake dive clean up session at Bandar Saujana Putra Lake, and I was somewhat impressed on how he teaches and takes care of his students.
So yea, I signed up for the tryout. Here’s a picture of me with Instructor Swen and Bryan. They were the one who took care of us during the tryout.
I’ve already have half a mind to follow this through to the end, if I were to be honest with you. But of course, after all the nightmares of not knowing my instructor better during my Open Water Diver certification 3 years back, there’s still nagging doubts and I would like to get to know my future freediving instructor better before I made any commitments, and the tryout session was the perfect opportunity for me to do so.
So here’s yours truly, at the freediving tryout session organized by Scuba Dobedo Divers at Kelab Golf Negara Subang’s pool.
Yours truly and her mermaid buddy Kelly. Kelly has been kind enough to come to the tryout with me and keep me company. I am so grateful that she came with me the other day.
Pretty ladies who were there during tryout session as well.
Getting my fins on before the session starts. To be honest, I got a little nervous cuz I wasn’t really sure what to expect.
Happy excited faces during the tryout.
Class in session. We were split into two groups for the session. We were quickly briefed on what we should do, what we shouldn’t do and some short introduction on the freediving discipline that’s available. We were told that during the tryout, we would be doing a little duck dive and a dynamic swim of 25m underwater and static apnea. For those who are not familiar with the term, static apnea is where you hold your breath as long as you can without moving.
@elliecleffairy
Freediving tryout with Scuba Dobedo Divers
And here’s a video of us in action during the tryout.
So how did I do? Was I happy? Did I think freediving was fun and it’s something I would like to pursue further? Well, I was practically sold. I didn’t change my mind after the session and I really wanted to go on with the full course. I was so happy as well because I finally managed a 25m dynamic swim during that session. I never did hit a 25m underwater swim in one breath before. And oh here’s sharing my first static apnea record:
Static- 1 min 20 sec
Static- 1 min 30 sec
Static- 1 min 38 sec
I wouldn’t wanna gloat but hey, I think I deserve a little pat on the back for this. I thought I wouldn’t be able to hold my breath pass 30 seconds.
And of course, apart from the personal achievement, I was also very happy that I got to spend time with my buddies from Scuba Dobedo Divers as well. Here’s Farah and Yin Chao. They’re Scuba Dobedo Divers in- house scuba instructors. They’re both my dive buddies.
This is my Laoshi (mentor), Tom Chan. People generally knows him as a scuba instructor or a PADI Course Director in Scuba Dobedo Divers, but he doesn’t teach me scuba diving. Instead, he teaches me Chinese martial arts, which is Qigong, Taichi and Taichi weapons. I got to know him by fate during lockdown as well.
Two years back I spent alot of time with some of these buddies online during lockdown, especially with my Laoshi . I was practically still sane because of them. Without them I would probably have gone cuckoo cuz of being locked up at home for so long. And here’s us spending some time offline together.
There is a saying that says; ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’. But that saying is not applicable in real life situation at all, as sometimes, no one wants to accompany you at the beginning, so you will have to go alone on your own, or you’ll never go anywhere at all. This is especially true for me, as there are many things I want to do, and yet, most of the time, whenever I asked my friends to join me or to accompany me, they would refuse as the things that I would like to do is usually not their cup of tea. But you know something? Don’t worry about being alone. The right people will always appear along your journey as you start walking further.
March 11, 2023
Mermaiding with X7 32G Bone Conduction Earphones
While I appreciate some quiet solitude, but total silence is deafening, and I hate that feeling, especially when I’m in the pool, practicing my mermaid moves. And so, I got myself a swimming earphone.
Alongside my diving mask and monofin is the X7 32G Bone Conduction Earphones. I bought it from Shopee and it’s a bluetooth wireless earphone with the rating of IPX8 waterproof.
The manufacturer claimed that it can be immersed in water at 10m for about 30 minutes without malfunctioning. So I thought it’s probably good enough for me to go mermaiding with.
@elliecleffairy
Mermaiding while having my waterproof swimming earphone on. Decided not to play by rules and just go freestyle mermaiding today. #elliemermaidjourney #iamssi #wearessi #ssimermaid #mermaid #mermaidtiktok♬ Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
Here’s a Tok video of yours truly mermaiding while using the X7 32G Bone Conduction Earphones. So how was it, was it a yay or a nay? Well, I have to say that for a swimming earphone under RM200, this is definitely impressive. I can duck dive and swim with it with no issues at all. I’ve dive down to a max of 4.9meters in the pool and it works great, where sound is concerned.While the earphone is a tad bigger for my head, it’s tight enough to be secured around my ears and no swimming cap is necessary to keep it in place. It also didn’t fall off when I performed back flips and whatnot, which is really great.
The sound can pretty much be on the lower volume side when you’re not underwater, but it’s super loud and clear when it’s immersed underwater, so if you ever bought this for watersports purpose, remember that sound travels 4 times faster and louder in the water, so keep the volume on low if you want a relaxing swim.
The disadvantages of this earphone is it’s vibration.The earphone’s vibration can be quite annoying but since it’s a bone conduction type, then it’s forgivable, I guess. The earphone’s default mode is bluetooth, which means you can just pair it with your phone, but bluetooth connection does not work underwater, so if you’re swimming, then simply switch it to the Mp3 memory mode. The buttons can be quite tricky to work with to switch between modes, but other than that, I have no complaints.
Function wise, the earphone is okay and easy to maintain. Battery life is pretty long too. I used it for a max 4 hours and the battery still does not deplete.
So, is this a yay or nay? Definitely a yay! Mermaiding can be quite lonely at times. Having music to listen to while practicing makes it more fun and less lonely. Highly recommended to swimmers, mermaids and yes, freedivers who are practicing in the pool.
March 10, 2023
Where to Buka Puasa in Kuala Lumpur 2023: BBQ Lamb Kemensah
She was the only person from the blogging world who actually bothered to check on my mental health throughout the lockdown period through video calls. She was also there for me last year when I was feeling awfully sick and being miserable on my own. If I were to die last year, she would probably be one of the first person to know that I’m dead. That’s how often she checked on me. I have to say that last year was pretty much traumatic for me in many ways, and I’m still trying to heal, but I am blessed to have people who helped me along the way. Of all the wrong things that I might have unwittingly did, I must have done something right somewhere to deserve them in my life. 
Anyway, enough lamenting about my sorry state of mental health. What I really want to share with all of you here is my outing to BBQ Lamb Kemensah with Syafiera; where we treated ourselves to some sumptuous pre-Ramadan iftar buffet. 
We were practically spoiled for choices when we were there. 
The buffet mainly highlights authentic Malay traditional dishes. Among the must try dishes are; rendang ayam, ayam masak merah, sup kambing, ikan masak tiga rasa, daging salai masak lemak cili padi, kari kepala ikan, sambal sotong and many more. A big forewarning, though. These are authentic, which means they’re not catered to be diluted in flavours. They are strongly flavoured, and yes, very spicy. Those who loves combustion of flavours on their palate will definitely find these an enjoyable treat. White rice and fragrantly flavoured rice is available for you to pair them with. 
Freshly picked ulams to go with your hot dishes can be spotted at the buffet table as well. 
Assorted traditional Malay sambal and dippings is also available. 
Pasta and salad counter feature is smaller than the traditional Malay dishes spread, but they’re not to be overlooked. The pasta selection is to die for, especially their carbonara spaghetti, and I’d recommend you to at least have a grab at some of their salad of the day. They’re wonderfully refreshing. Not to be missed is also their creamy mushroom soup. The mushroom soup is thick and rich with chunks of mushroom pulps. 
BBQ Lamb Kemensah is well known for their western food selection; mainly BBQ items, so yes, there’s action counter for BBQ during the buffet as well. 
Available for your enjoyment would be all their star items on their normal days meny, which is smoked chicken, smoked tenderloin, smoked lamb shoulder and of course, their smoke duck and some seafood. I’m a huge fan of their BBQ dishes, so I tried a bit of everything. My favourite would be their smoked lamb shoulder and smoked duck. If you’re ever there for the Ramadan buffet, try not to give their smoked duck a miss. They’re absolutely mouthwatering. 
Here are some of the food that I’ve tried the other day. They’re so delicious that I wished I had a lot of space in my stomach, but alas, I overindulged on the meat and had no space for desserts by the end of the meal. I know, it’s so silly, but I seriously can’t help myself as their meaty BBQ items was so good that I can’t help myself but to have them one plate after another. 
Their dessert and beverage stall offers ais kacang and cold laichi kang. Fresh tropical fruits can also be found at this stall. I didn’t manage to try the ais kacang, so I can’t speak for that, but I did tried the lai chi kang and it’s perfect to cool off with, especially after all the hot and spicy food that we had during the buffet. Here are some info on the BBQ Lamb Kemensah Iftar 2023 Buffet if you’re interested to break your fast with during the upcoming Ramadan:The Iftar Buffets are only available on:
Before Ramadan starts 4th, 11th dan 18th March 2023.
(7pm-10pm)
RM68/pax.
Children 6-12yo/Senior citizens RM40/pax
Throughout Ramadan month 23th-31st March 2023.
(7pm-10pm)
RM68/pax.
Children 6-12yo/Senior citizens RM45/pax
1st -7th April 2023.
(7pm-10pm)
RM78/pax.
Children 6-12yo/Senior citizens RM45/pax
8th-18th April 2023.
(7pm-10pm)
RM88/pax.
Children 6-12yo/Senior citizens RM50/pax
For more information on BBQ Lamb Kemensah, please refer to the details below:
Address:
BBQ Lamb KL Kemensah Jalan Taman Zooview, Kampung Kemensah, 68000 Ampang, Selangor
For reservation or enquiries, you may whatapps or call: 012-211 4100
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/YxpwHeR9j6p
March 2, 2023
Malaysian Mermaid Gathering at Braveeer Mermaid Tail Exhibition
If you have been following my social media, you would know that it’s no secret that apart from scuba diving and Chinese martial arts, I’m now also into mermaiding. There are two main reasons why I started mermaiding. First it’s because despite being a scuba diver, I’m still scared of depth without my scuba equipments, and this must be fixed if I were to go divepro; which I fully intend to do. Secondly, many sad and traumatizing things happened last year, and once again I found myself battling with anxiety and depression. It’s been difficult, but I’m not going to elaborate on that, cuz I decide to take charge and give myself something new to focus on; something that I’ve never done before and that’s mermaiding.
Although this diving discipline itself is very challenging and requires alot of practice, I find it pretty amazing and healing. My life changes tremendously when I decided to start being a mermaid. I started getting to know more and more amazing people who practically vibrate on positive energy. Although I’m still not good at mermaiding, they’re always full of encouragements and supports, which helps alot in my healing journey. It’s nothing short of amazing.
Anyway, as I’ve said, I was blessed with wonderful people around me. I’ve befriended some via social media and recently I managed to meet some of them during the recent mermaid event; Braveeer Mermaid Tail Exhibition. It’s an event by Braveeer and supported by PADI.
The exhibition showcased beautiful silicone mermaid tails, and events attendees were allowed to try them on and swim in it. I didn’t try the silicone tail on during the event, but I’ve had the opportunity to try the tail prior to the event at Onshore Mermaid (this is where I learn mermaiding at) during my weekly practice, and it was nothing short of amazing. These mermaid tails are worth RM4000 and above, but during the event it was being sold at a discounted price of RM2799, which is quite a steal. I must say that I had half a mind to make a purchase in the near future, when I’m better at mermaiding and when financial permits, of course.
Here’s sharing with you some fun time in the sun with other mermaids at Braveeer Mermaid Tail Exhibition.
Spectacular scene where mermaids descending and swimming together.
Some mermaizing moments during the event.
Beautiful people I managed to catch up with at the Braveeer Mermaid Tail Exhibition; my mermaid buddy Kelly and my BSP lake dive buddy Darryl . Darryl is another one of those rare scuba diver who enjoys limited vis diving like me.
Who says you must wear sexily to be a mermaid? That’s an absolutely wrong assumption. You’re free to wear anything you want, including modest clothings as you go mermaiding. Say hi to the beautiful Muslimah PADI Mermaid Instructor Nur Fathiyah . Prior to the Braveeer Mermaid Tail Exhibition, we were only friends on Facebook. I’m grateful that I get to meet her in person and even go mermaiding together with her during the event.
Say hi to PADI Mermaid Trainer Ser Ling . Yes, people. It’s safe to go mermaiding even when you’re expecting, provided you have a pass from your doc and your energy level is high. This radiant mer-mama deserves all the respect she can get. Not many expecting ladies are blessed with abundance of stamina and up to doing sports during their pregnancy. I was one of those who were constantly low on energy throughout my pregnancy. I was cursed with morning sickness practically up to my third trimester and could only eat properly during the two final months before my due date. I wouldn’t dream of walking more than 100meters back then, what more go mermaiding.
For those who are curious; yes. It’s actually okay to swim, freedive or mermaiding when you are pregnant. However, please get your doctor’s clearance before doing these activities, ya? I’m all for fun and safe sports, so safety first, ladies.
With SSI Area Manager Vincent Lai and PADI Regional Manager Mark Hedger . Who says you can’t be friends with divers from different agencies? We’re not enemies or rivals. Both of these agencies are under WRSTC, and the aim is to produce safe and competent divers of all disclipline, and uphold the highest training standard. I know there are many bias against this agency and that agency, but don’t get me started on things like this. I took my Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver with PADI, but I decided to go for Rescue, Mermaid and hopefully divepro soon with SSI and therefore, I will always be friends with everyone. There’s nothing wrong with that. No matter where our diving certifications originates from, we are all still good friends.
I’m glad I get to meet Mark and Vincent today. They’re both inspirational people and vibrate on extremely positive energy.
Last but not least, yours truly with SSI Mermen and PADI merman. I know you people thinks mermaiding are for ladies and there are no male version of mermaids. Good grief. You are very wrong. Actually there are plenty of hot hunks in the mermaiding world and most of the mermen I know can swim way better than I do. You should see them in action. They’re mermaizing!
It’s been an amazing and healing journey so far. So many new friendship has been forged, and if anything, I’m grateful that I decided to pursue the mermaid pathway. Hopefully there’s more events like this in the future where I can meet like-minded people to exchange knowledge and have fun together.
