Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts

Friday, July 20, 2018

Sport Climbing / Bouldering Equipment & Gear Shops in Singapore


Now that I have passed my Singapore National Climbing Standards {SNCS} Level 1 cert, I really wanted to make sport-climbing {or rock-climbing as most laymen call it} a regular thing.

And if I was going to do it regularly, I might as well invest in proper equipment to do it properly. My plan was to just get the bare essentials first, then continue to rent other gear from climbing gyms as I slowly build up my arsenal of necessary climbing equipment as I get more experience and exposure.

For your info, most climbers would recommend the following as necessary climbing equipment for sport-climbing beginners:
  • climbing shoes
  • climbing harness
  • chalk
  • chalk-bag
  • carabiners
  • belay device
Knowing what to get isn't difficult. There are many different brands and models out there, so deciding what type and where to get them can be difficult though.

As I get more proficient in sport-climbing I may do more reviews on the equipment & gear I get to help you decide on what type to get for each essential item, but for now I can help you with where to purchase them with this list of  Sport Climbing / Bouldering Equipment & Gear Shops.

It includes brick-and-mortar shops in Singapore, and online shops that deliver to Singapore. I've also included some of the brands each shop carries, especially for harnesses and shoes as those are the bare essentials to get starting out.

I don't think this list is exhaustive, and if you know of any good shops that I should add into my list, feel free to contact me.

*****
1. All Sports Equipment
Add: 52 Ubi Avenue 3 #04-44 Singapore 408867
Tel: +65 6337 7728 / +65 6848 9489
Open: Mon - Fri, 9.30am - 5.30pm
Brands: Five Ten, Butora Petzl, Petzi
Website: http://www.allsports-equipment.com/

2. Backcountry {online, based in USA}
Brands: Petzl, Cypher, La Sportiva, Black Diamond, Maxim, North Face, Blue Water, Five Ten
Website: https://www.backcountry.com/

3. Campers’ Corner
Add: 51 Waterloo Street, #01-01, Singapore 187969
Tel: 6337 4743
Open: Mon - Sat, 12pm - 8pm. Closed on Eves, CNY, Christmas & New Year
Brands: Arc’teryx, Singing Rock, La Sportiva, Mad Rock
Website: https://www.camperscorner.com.sg/

4. Crank Factory {online, based in Singapore, aka Climb Asia on IG}
Add: Frontier Building, 52 Ubi Ave 3 #05-31, Singapore 408867 {visit by appointment only}
Tel: 6747 5473
Brands: Ocun, Roca, Bluewater, Trango, Metolius, La Sportiva, EB, Evolv, So iLL
Website: https://crankfactory.com/
*Self-collection available at Frontier Building

5. Gear Express {online, based in USA}
Brands: DMM, Edelweiss, CAMP, Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Beal, Blue Water, Five Ten
Website: http://www.gearexpress.com/

6. Gorilla Gym Shop {mini All Sports Equipment}
Add: 750B Chai Chee Road Viva Business Park, #01-02 Singapore 469002
Tel: +65 6243 0386
Open: Mon closed, Tue - Fri 2pm - 8pm, Weekends 11pm - 6pm
Brands: Five Ten, Butora Petzl, Petzi
*beside the multi-storey carpark and behind Harvey Norman
Website: https://gorillaclimbing.com/

7. Ground Up Climbing Gym Shop {NOT former Climb Asia shop}
Add: 60 Tessensohn Rd C/o Civil Service Club, Singapore 217664
Open: Mon 5pm - 11pm, Tue - Sun 12pm - 9pm
Brands: La Sportiva, Ocun, Evolv
Website: http://www.groundupsg.com/
 
8. Kinetics Climbing Gym Shop
Add: 511 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218153
Tel: 6291 5045
Open: Mon 4pm-10pm, Tue - Fri 1pm - 10pm, Weekends 10-7pm
Brands: Edelweiss, La Sportiva, Red Chilli, Scarpa, Wild Country
Website: http://shop.kineticsclimbing.com.sg/en/

9. Mountain Equipment Co-op {online, based in Canada}
Brands: Edelrid, Black Diamond, Arc'teryx, Mammut, Petzl, Beal, La Sportiva, Scarpa, Evolv
Website: https://www.mec.ca/en/

10. Outdoor Kaki
Add: 11 Woodlands Close, #05-27, Woodlands 11, Singapore 737853
Tel: 9181 2893
Open:  Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm {contact them to visit at other times}
Brands: ClimbX, Salewa, Kailas
Website: https://www.outdoorkaki.com/

11. Outdoor Life
Add: Novena Square #02-60/67, 238 Thomson Rd / Plaza Singapura #04-18B/30/31
Tel: 6255 4814 / 6904 4726
Open: Sun - Thu 11am - 9pm, Fri - Sat 11am - 9.30pm {Novena} / Daily 10am - 10pm {Plaza Singapura}
Brands: Black Diamond
Website: http://outdoorlife-pte-ltd.webshopapp.com/

12. REI Co-op {online only, based in USA}
Brands: Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Evolv, Five Ten, So iLL, Scarpa, Tenaya, Petzl
Website: https://www.rei.com/

13. Rock, Stock and Barrel {online, based in Singapore, also Onsight Climbing Gym Shop}
Add: Onsight Climbing Gym, 100 Guillemard Road, Guillemard Village, Singapore 399718
Tel: 6348 8272
Open: Mon - Fri 11am - 10.30pm, Weekends 10am - 9pm
Brands: Ocun, Ophir, Zephir, Tenaya
Website: https://www.rsb.sg/
*Self-collection available at Onsight Climbing Gym

14. Sierra Trading Post {online, based in USA}
Brands:  CAMP, Black Diamond, Mad Rock, Edelrid, So iLL, Evolv, Five Ten, Scarpa, Cypher
Website: https://www.sierratradingpost.com/

 15. Steep and Cheap {online, based in USA}
Brands: Black Diamond, Wild Country, La Sportiva, Mammut, Salewa, Metolius, Blue Water 
Website: https://www.steepandcheap.com/

16. Trekkinn {online, based in Spain}
Brands: Arc'teryx, Salewa, Black Diamond, Mammut, La Sportiva, Scarpa, Ocun, Wild Country 
Website: https://www.trekkinn.com/

*****

As with all sports, it's important to build up your strength and endurance levels to perform better, so gym time is definitely needed. Do check out my list of Home Gym & Fitness Equipment Shops in Singapore if you want to work out at home, and follow my Fitness Diary posts here or on Instagram {#AiFitnessDiary}.

If you need someone who can help you to plan your exercise program according to whatever equipment you have and your individual needs, motivate you and make sure that you're keeping to proper forms and techniques, I'd of course recommend my personal trainer, Superman, whom I've been training with for 2+ years.

*Note: This is not a paid review or advertorial. All opinions are my own. 


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Friday, July 13, 2018

Singapore National Climbing Standards {SNCS} Level 1 Certificate Course Experience

I had my first taste of rock-climbing back in University while the boy and I were studying in Australia. That was about 15 years ago?? Wow.

Back then, one of our friends, Felix, found a nice indoor rock-climbing place at Northbridge and introduced the sport to us. Sometimes we went as a group, other times the boy and I went just as a couple thing. We both found it fun and went pretty regularly. The boy was so into it that he soon bought his own shoes, harness, chalk bag etc haha...

At that rock-climbing gym, we didn't need to have any certification to help belay one another - just had to learn how to do it with the easy-to-use safety set-ups, much like the ones you see in Climb Central.

However, when we came back to Singapore, we realised that in most rock-climbing gyms, you need to have at least Singapore National Climbing Standards {SNCS} Level 1 Certificate to belay and climb. Especially if you want to climb outdoors.

Since we didn't do it regularly anymore, and also since the boy injured his shoulders which meant that he doesn't do it at all for now, we made do with just going to those gyms like Climb Central or Clip 'N Climb where there was auto-belay walls where Lil Pumpkin & I could climb on our own, and set-ups where I could help Lil Pumpkin belay even if I didn't have the SNCS L1 Cert.

よーし！I get an immense sense of satisfaction from overcoming the challenges of scaling the tall walls ( ᐛ )و

It's not just challenging physically, but also mentally as well as you need the mental endurance to not give up even when you're tired and stuck, and mental alertness to problem-solve and plan your best route to get to the top.

As a sport, it also promotes muscular strength and aerobic endurance too so it complements my gym training as well. Superman says it's a good activity for me to burn more calories and if I do it more often, my grip strength will definitely get better haha..

Last month, I finally got off my arse and went for the SNCS L1 Certificate course so that I could belay and climb more independently in more of the local rock-climbing gyms with some other friends who are interested in rock-climbing as well °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

Here's what to expect in case you're interested in doing it yourself...

SNCS Level 1 is a beginner’s introduction to climbing. No prior climbing experience is required, but it is of course good to have climbed before so that you have a better understanding of what the instructor's are saying.

This is a top-rope certification course {7hrs full day session with 1 lunch break, or 2 x 3.5hrs half-day sessions}. It will introduce you to the basics of the sport - such as equipment, checking procedures, and climbing calls, but the main objective is to teach you how to:
  1. safely use a harness, rope and belay device,
  2. tie a figure-of-8 knot, and 
  3. belay a climber using the 5-step belay technique
As you can see from the syllabus, the course will go through 7 sections of basic climbing where participants will learn:
  1. what sport-climbing {top-rope and bouldering} is,
  2. the correct usage, proper care & limitations of climbing safety equipment,
  3. basic climbing safety knots,
  4. how to safely belay a climber using the 5-step belay technique, 
  5. basic climbing techniques,
  6. practical top-rope climbing, and
  7. final assessment and course review
Note: You need to be 13 years or older to take the course, so unfortunately Lil Pumpkin couldn't do it with me now. She'll have to wait a few more years, and participants under 21 must have a guardian of over 21 to sign on their behalf.

The SNCS Level 1 Certificate Course is standardised and conducted by most of the popular rock-climbing gyms in Singapore e.g. Kinetics, Onsight Climbing, Gorilla Gym, The Rock School etc. by Singapore Mountaineering Federation certified instructors. You can go over to their websites to have a look at their course schedules but they are usually conducted every month over the weekends.

The course costs about S$65-75 and is usually cheaper if you are a gym member.

If you pass the course, you would be issued with the life-long SNCS Sport Climbing Level 1 certificate {card-sized}, accredited by the Singapore Mountaineering Federation.

There's no need for any renewal and after that, you can go on to take the Level 2 {learn how to lead climb and lead belay} and Level 3 {learn techniques of climbing bolted multi-pitch routes safely}.

But that's not the end though...

Some gyms also require you to be further verified to use their premises even if you do have a SNCS Level 1 certificate. Maybe they don't trust it?? haha..

During the SNCS Level 1 course, you will learn how to belay using an ATC {Air Traffic Controller} belay device. However, if you wish to belay using a belay device attached to your harness and climb at Ground Up, Climb Central & Onsight Climbing premises, you need to know how to belay using an ABD {Assisted Breaking Device} belay device as they only allow those belay devices there.

Sooooo... if you wish to climb at those 3 popular gyms, you will need to be ABD verified after you receive your SNCS Level 1 cert. This requires further assessment and costs S$10/pax. After passing verification, you will receive a Verification tag that is recognised at Ground Up, Climb Central & Onsight Climbing as the test requirements are the same.

In Gorilla Gym, you can use either an ATC or ABD belay device, but you still need to be verified that you have the skills and competency to climb & belay and pass to be issued the Verification tag. The verification assessment is free and can be done on-the-spot though.

If you pay attention to what's taught during the course day, it should be easy to pass (*＾▽＾)／

I won't say exactly where I took my SNCS Level 1 course as I reckon it could have been conducted better so won't recommend it to others. Although the instructors were friendly and we had adequate practice time, instructions on how to tie the figure-of-8 knot was a little sketchy and they didn't touch on different types of climbing and basic climbing techniques.

I mean, I already kinda knew how to rock-climb {albeit inefficiently?? haha} and had also tried bouldering before, but there were people in my class who had no rock-climbing experience. Since it's in the syllabus {but not tested}, would have been good to have been taught about the effective use of handholds & footholds, and perhaps tips on how to overcome different wall configurations.

Also, although the cost of the course was supposed to cover equipment rental cost, we were only loaned the harness and belay devices and we didn't get to climb with proper climbing shoes - just our own covered shoes. I think courses conducted at other gyms let you use their harnesses, belay devices and climbing shoes. 

I would have also liked if they touched on where you can find rock-climbing equipment, what brands they personally like, how to choose your equipment, and introduce community groups on how we can meet other like-minded and experienced climbers. Would have been good to share to beginner climbers like myself, no?

I did ask, but their answers were too general and inadequate. I didn't want to probe further due to lack of time and perhaps they didn't want to "sell" anything or show favoritism to any shops?

Anyway, I joined some online community groups who were eager to spread their knowledge, and I did a fair bit of research on what I should get, and where I should get them.

See my list of Sport Climbing / Bouldering Equipment & Gear Shops in Singapore for more information  ( ◞･౪･)

P.S. If you're interested, check out my experience taking the CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course in Singapore too!! Yes, I passed that!! hehehe...

Follow my Fitness Diary posts here or on Instagram {#AiFitnessDiary}.

One-on-On Personal Training Updates:

Genesis Gym Personal Training Updates:
The Beginning - Signing Up for Personal Training


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Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Japanese Beef Curry {ビーフカレー} with Supersoft Tortilla Wraps

It's been pretty cold and wet lately, and the weatherman says that we can expect even more rainy days ahead these few weeks.

The rainy weather certainly makes us want to cuddle under our covers and crave for comfort food that can warm our tummies and souls. Food like the wholesome Japanese Beef Curry that I made over the weekend and served with the new Mission Supersoft Original Wraps.

Kinda like Indian curry and prata??! hehe..

Actually I wanted to serve it over lettuce in tortilla bowls that were baked crispy, but then the wraps taste sooooo good even on it's own! The new Supersoft formula makes the wraps softer, more flexible and more buttery-flavoured so I figured it's best to just eat it just slightly toasted on its own.

The new Supersoft Original Wraps is an upgraded version of the Original Wrap that we all love. It's made from wheat and one piece has about 138 calories & 4g of protein. Not too bad if you're on a low-carb nutritional plan like me.

For one meal, I'd usually take 2 pieces while Lil Pumpkin eats 1-1.5 pieces, depending on what I make it with. One pack comes with 8 pieces.

There are other flavours in the Mission wraps range - 6-Grain, Wholegrain, Onion & Chives, Garlic and Potato.. but they haven't been "upgraded" to the Supersoft formula yet. Soon, I reckon.

Japanese curry if one of our family's all-time favourite and even Lil Pumpkin loves to eat it! She can kinda take medium-hot spicy level, but I usually choose mild spicy {which is practically non-spicy for us haha} for her. We eat it with rice, udon noodles or wraps like this.

It is also super easy and quick for me to make because I just use store-bought curry sauce mix {usually from S&B Foods range} and throw in lots of meat and vegetables in one wok. 


Prep time:
40 mins

Ingredients:
S&B Mild Tasty Curry Sauce Mix {とろけるカレー、甘口}, 200g
8 pieces Mission Supersoft Original Wraps 8"
Cooking oil, 1.5 tsp
400g beef {cubed or sliced}
1 medium onion {sliced}
3 medium carrots {chopped chunky}
3 celery sticks {chopped}
1 medium tomato {chopped chunky}
1 konnyaku {こんにゃく, sliced chunky} block, 250g
Water, 6 cups

Directions:
  1. Cut your meat, konnyaku and vegetables.
  2. Heat oil in large non-stick wok.
  3. Stir-fry meat and onions in wok until the onions are lightly browned {about 3-5 mins}.
  4. Add in the carrots, celery and konnyaku.
  5. Add water and bring to boil. 
  6. Lower heat, cover and simmer until meat is tender {about 10 mins}.
  7. Break the Curry Sauce Mix blocks into pieces and add them in.
  8. Stir until completely melted and curry consistency is thick and smooth.
  9. Add in tomato chunks, cover and switch off fire. Let it sit while you prepare the wraps.
  10. Warm the wraps in the microwave for 20s. You can also warm them in a dry {no oil} pan over medium heat for 30s. 
  11. Cut wraps into triangles, if you like.
  12. Serve hot immediately.
Feel free to use other types of curry sauce mix. There's about 5-6 in the market now and can be easily found in the Japanese section of major supermarkets, and even Daiso.

Lots of people like to add white potatoes to their Japanese curry too but since it's higher calories, I leave them out or switch to just sweet potato or pumpkin for extra sweetness sometimes. Japanese curry goes well with melted cheese topping *drools* and hard-boiled eggs too (/^▽^)/

Yup, Lil Pumpkin can finish that whole bowl of Japanese curry all by herself!!

It's always a joy watching Lil Pumpkin eat the food I cook. Even if it's not the yummiest or prettiest, my sweet child would still grin and compliment me on my cooking... makes me feel like I'm the best darn chef ever hehe ( ᐛ )و


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Monday, June 18, 2018

Happy Father's Day 2018!! #dadsforlife

We celebrated Father's Day in Singapore yesterday (*＾▽＾)／

It was a simple affair. The boy was working, and I was out most of the day taking my Singapore National Climbing Standards Level 1 Cert {more on that later} so we only went out for a family dinner to celebrate at night. 

No need for fancy restaurants or expensive food for a wholesome family meal. The boy was happy to go to our neighbourhood's Mookata {Thai BBQ & steamboat} stall to have a scrumptious, high-protein dinner at a really affordable price heh...

Our whole dinner for 3 pax came up to only S$45+!! And that is after we ordered at least 2-3 each of beef, chicken, pork, salmon, oyster, Chinese sausage, quail eggs, spinach, shisamo, crabsticks etc.

It was a really hot day, and the poor ventilation plus steam from the Mookata grill pan made us perspire more and feel even stickier.. but that didn't stop us from having a good time ヾ(´▽｀;)ゝ

Even Lil Pumpkin had fun cooking her own food with chopsticks.. I must say, she's getting pretty proficient in it nowadays. When she was younger, we did it all for her, but now, we're happy to let her experiment, learn the different cooking times required for different types of food, observe the colour changes when the food is cooked, and dish it out for herself.

The protective part of me is scared that she'd burn or scald herself, of course.. but then, she's old enough to know how to handle herself and learn from her mistakes if she does anyway. We can't protect and pamper her forever, right??

Just a simple video at the start of our dinner with our first round of dishes... after that we ordered some more because it wasn't enough haha!

Lil Pumpkin painted a wonderful Father's Day card for the boy again this year but I forgot to take a pic. Will update this post with it later.

Facebook reminded me of the Father's Day card Lil Pumpkin made when she was 3 years old in 2012 though. Aww my heart just melted when I saw it! Such innocent and frivolous drawings.. That big blob of colour is meant to be a cat as her daddy dearest loves cats.

Happy Father's Day, Poogeo!! Thanks for being such a wonderful and hands-on dad with Lil Pumpkin. Your girls love you very much!! ❤

And Happy Father's Day to my own daddy dearest too!! Even though we don't meet or talk as much nowadays, still appreciate you for all the sacrifices you made taking care of all of us growing up (⌒▽⌒)☆

Hope you'd be able to slow down at work soon and learn to relax and enjoy life now that you're older.. Love you, daddy!!


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Friday, March 30, 2018

Family Ice-Skating @ The Rink, JCube

During the March holidays, I brought Lil Pumpkin to ice-skate at The Rink, JCube. It was one of our most fun thing we did ever, I reckon!

Lil Pumpkin said that she wanted to skate during the March hols but I can't skate for nuts. I can't really balance that well you see {only learnt how to bike in my 30s haha} and I want to do activities with her, not just watch her do it, so decided that the next best thing to do was to bring her ice-skating as there are very helpful skating aids to assist people like me, who can't skate, enjoy the experience..

There are 2 places that you can ice-skate at in Singapore - The Rink at JCube and Kallang Ice World at Kallang Leisure Park. Both places use real ice in their rinks.

You used to be able to ice-skate at Marina Bay Sands {MBS} on a pseudo-ice synthetic surface. However, since 22 Dec 2017, the rink at MBS is now permanently closed and has been taken over by a new digital art exhibit that lets visitors create art with their footsteps, watch fishes swimming underneath their feet, or set off fireworks.

I heard that the pseudo-ice surface was really slippery compared to real ice, and not many people liked to skate there because it didn't feel like ice-skating at all, and it was very open since it was right smack in the middle of the mall so no loss over it closing I guess.

After researching, I decided to head to The Rink with Lil Pumpkin even though it was much further away from home compared to Kallang Ice World.

See an overview of our whole experience there in the video above. If it's not working, check it out on my YouTube channel.

Although Kallang Ice World has free skate aids and is more private as only paying visitors can see you skate {The Rink is open for viewing to all}, some reviews on Tripadvisor said that staff service is horrendous, skates are too worn and the place is in dire need of upgrading. Oh dear.

Didn't want to risk it and since we were at Kallang the day before for rock-climbing already, we headed to The Rink for that day's 12.45pm session. It took us about 1.5hrs to reach there via public transport.

The Rink is Singapore's first and only Olympic-size ice skating rink. Our National Skating Associations {NSA} train there and it also hosts events and activities such as recreational ice skating, and international tournaments in ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, and ice curling so the ice rink must be kept to a certain standard for sure.

We arrived about 12 noon and since The Rink is on Level 3 of JCube, I went to get lunch for Lil Pumpkin first from McDonald's at Level 1, then go to Daiso on Level 2 to get us some gloves as I couldn't find our pairs at home.

Went to buy our tickets about 12.20pm from the sales counter there was no queue. The guy staff was helpful and explained that ice-resurfacing was going on now for about 15-20mins so we could buy our tickets, but it's better if we enter at 12.45pm after that as your 2 hr 15 mins time limit starts the moment you enter the admission gates and the time you use to wait for the resurfacing will eat into your play-time.

Note: After people skate a while the ice melts and gets chipped off so ice-resurfacing is done to clean and smooth the rink's ice surface.

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Lil Pumpkin had her lunch while waiting and when we went back to enter at 12.45pm, there was already a long queue at the sales counter. Thank goodness we bought our tickets earlier!!

But then even after we entered, we still had to queue about 5-10mins to exchange our shoes for our ice-skates. On hindsight, we should have entered about 12.30pm to get our skates and try them on as that takes up some time, especially with the holiday crowd.

Despite Lil Pumpkin's objections about getting skating aids {"No need Mummy, I know how to skate!!"}, I rented 2 Snowman skating aids for each of us.

So glad I did as they were a lifesaver!! They cost S$10 each for 2 hrs rental which is a little steep but well worth the money as we could enjoy skating, without worrying about falling or hanging on to the rink edges for dear life.

I was thinking of getting the Seal skating aid {S$15 for 2hrs rental} as one person can skate while the other person sits on it to get pushed around but Lil Pumpkin didn't want it at all.

Oh well. It's more fun when the both of us are skating together anyway.

Lil Pumpkin had roller blading lessons twice in school before as an after-exam activity. But ice-skating is a whole new experience for her... and me too!!

She was really excited to try it out though and at the beginning wasn't steady at all {again, thank goodness we had the Snowmans!!} but just about 30 mins in, she was ready to try and skate without the aids.

Actually after trying out a few times without the aid, she was adamant not to use it and wanted to go around the rink without it, even if she had to go slower.. she also encouraged me to try and skate without the aid which I did, but I still preferred to use it hehe.

I must say though, that Lil Pumpkin has good balancing skills {unlike her mummy haha} and picks things up pretty fast. By the end of the two hours she could ice-skate around the rink herself without any support, even though her technique isn't very efficient. The video above was taken just before we left The Rink at the end of our session.

We didn't take any breaks and spent the whole 2 hours on the ice rink. A good thing that I rented a locker {S$2 for one-time use} too so didn't have to worry about checking on my bag if I had placed it on the spectator stand with nobody else to look after it and risk losing my valuables.

It was pretty crowded since it was the March holidays, but there was still enough space to skate around comfortably and most visitors were also amateurs and did not skate around too fast or recklessly.

Confession: I'm reeeeaaaaallly paranoid about us falling down with our hands on the ground and someone skating over and slicing off our fingers with the ice-skates' blades accidentally!!

I saw on their website that from 1 Apr 2018, The Rink started selling a multi-visit savers pass with a 6 months validity period - the Skater's Play Pass.

With it, an adult admission ticket is only S$9.80 {U.P. S$14} and a child ticket is only S$8.40 {U.P. S$12}. Pretty good value-for-money and if we lived nearer, I think we would get it and go more often as we really did have a fabulous time for our first visit!! Will definitely be back again!


Tips:
  • Check the public skating sessions schedule in advance before going. I suggest visiting just after the ice-resurfacing sessions to enjoy your full play without interruption.
  • Minimum age for ice-skating is 3 years old, but kids between ages 3-5 years old needs an adult with them on the ice.
  • Smallest skate boots is size Euro 27 and biggest skate boots is size Euro 47.
  • Each admission ticket allows for one-time entry into The Rink. If you exit and would like to re-enter again, you will have to pay for another admission ticket.
  • Toilets, snacks and drinks vending machines are available on premise.  
  • Rent a locker if you have nobody to look after your belongings. Better safe than sorry.
  • If you're not sure whether to rent skating aids or not, you can skate a while and get them later from the sales counter. No need to get them when you purchase the tickets.  
  • Penguin aids are for really small kids {below 1.2m}, Snowman and Seal aids are for bigger kids and adults.
  • Remember the unit number of the skating aid{s} that you rent. Although you can paste a name sticker on them during rental, once you let go of them in the rink, people tend to want to "borrow" and will skate away with it.. so with the unit number it's easier to recognise in the crowd.
  • At least 2 staff are in the rink at any time {wearing yellow tops} and will help you up if you fall down, or help you to find your skating aid if you happen to lose it in the rink.
  • During peak periods, rent your ice-skates early as your shoe size might run out if it is very popular e.g. adult sizes 8-10
  • The Rink sells socks at S$2/pair for adults & kids, and gloves at S$2/pair for adults & S$2.50/pair for kids. Socks are mandatory but gloves are optional. 
  • Wear long, thick socks as the skates might be abrasive, especially if you're skating for long periods. No need for thick winter coats, but a thin windbreaker or fleeced long-sleeved hoodie and long pants/ tights would be comfortable.
  • The Rink also rents out helmets at S$5 each for 2hrs, but nobody wears them. I actually brought Lil Pumpkin's scooter/bike helmet for her to wear but she didn't want to when she saw that nobody else had one on.
  • For convenience, you can purchase tickets and rent equipment one week in advance on The Rink's online website. For online purchase, you will receive a redemption voucher via email which you need to print and redeem your admission ticket at The Rink’s self-ticketing kiosk.

The Rink at JCube
2 Jurong East Central 1, #03-11, JCube
Open daily usually 10.30am - 4.30pm
*Check public skating sessions schedule on website for details as it differs daily due to NSA training sessions.
Website: http://www.therink.sg/

Note: This is not a paid advertorial or sponsored post. All opinions are my own.



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Friday, January 26, 2018

Japan 2017 | How to Get a Tattoo at Tokyo Three Tides {スリータイズ タトゥー/ 三巴刺青}

Ok I said that the highlight for our Japan trip last year for the boy was to see the capybaras soaking in an onsen at Saitama Children's Zoo, but I think getting his first traditional Japanese style tattoo at the famous Tokyo Three Tides tattoo shop isn't too far off either.

Traditional Japanese tattoos usually feature Japanese deities and monsters, mythical creatures such as dragons, but also animals e.g. birds, koi fish, tigers etc., and flowers such as sakura, peonies and chrysanthemums. There are specific rules like you can't tattoo Buddha below the waist as it's very disrespectful, or clouds can only be used above the waist as they represent the sky... and there are also certain ways things are drawn, certain colours that are usually used, certain meanings to the different symbols, and how certain motifs are put together e.g. karashishi with peonies. Sounds complicated, but very meaningful.  

It was a tick off his bucket list and to be honest, I'm kinda jealous that he did it without me!! haha.. 

Note: We've gotten tattooed at Cat Claw Kyoto by Ritsu years before, but not in traditional Japanese style. One day, I hope to have a master do a tebori {手彫り, tattooing by hand & not tattoo guns} tattoo for me.

As a foreigner in Japan, it's not often easy getting things done if you don't speak or understand Japanese.

It's better in the city where there often are English signs or people speaking English around to help, but nonetheless Japan still is a country that holds traditions and cultural etiquette in high respect. I'm sharing his experience so that if you're thinking about getting a tattoo in Tokyo Three Tides, or anywhere in Japan in general, you'd know what to expect and do #yourewelcome

Tattoos in Japan are still a complex issue. On one hand, more native Japanese, especially the younger generation, seem more open towards them, yet on the other hand, they are still stigmatised for their association with the Yakuza {Japanese gangs} who pledge their allegiance with full-body markings.

People with visible tattoos are still not allowed in {most?} onsens, public baths or even swimming pools. This applies to both Japanese, and foreigners. You cannot show your tattoos at certain areas like gyms, and definitely not at work in the office. Some jobs don't even accept you if you have a tattoo.

{When I lived in Japan, the only times I went into the onsen was if it was late at night when no other people were around or if it was a private onsen. I didn't have as many obvious tattoos as I do now, but even then I had to cover them up even at the gym and at work.}

Last year, an Osaka court even upheld a ruling that only medical doctors can legally administer tattoos in Japan, meaning tattoo artists are now technically committing a crime every time they work on their art!! Tattooing, along with laser hair removal and chemical peels, is considered medical work since it involves needle piercing the skin. I'm not sure how vigorously the government is tracking this, but it certainly is food for thought.

It's a shame really, as traditional Japanese tattoos are so exquisite and there are many highly skilled and coveted tattoo artists living there, or even originating from there.

Three Tides Tattoo, is world-renowned in the tattoo industry. Their tattoo artists are well-known in Japan and overseas, and mostly specialise in Japanese-style tattoos, if I'm not wrong.

I reckon one of the reasons why they are so sought-after, other than because their distinct design and tattooing skills, is because they are foreigner-friendly {e.g. staff can speak English, located in popular tourist areas, active on social media} so a lot of their clientele are foreigners who help to spread their name to their friends and families overseas and online.

Anyway, they have 2 locations in Osaka and Tokyo. Their Tokyo shop is located in Harajuku, a little off the main Takashita-dori street.

We've been down that street many times and actually I was the one wanted to go in first, because I wanted to buy some socks from them haha #truestory

Their artists also design goods such as bags, T-shirts, towels, socks, enamel pins, figurines etc. for sale and had collaborations with Porter, Puma, Atmos and even Sanrio for Hello Kitty x Three Tides Tattoo mugs!!

Unfortunately, those mugs aren't available for sale anymore boohoo..

We went in and the boy said he wanted to get a tattoo. Whhhhaaat??! I know he's been thinking of getting a new one for a while but didn't think it was going to be on this trip heh. Anyway we talked to the receptionist / tattoo artist at the counter and she checked the schedule. She speaks English but is obviously more comfortable to converse in Japanese so I helped in the translation and luckily for the boy, Ichibay had a few slots open.. yay!!

Hide Ichibay, is according to one of the boy's tattoo artist friends, is apparently "a legend" in the industry by the way haha. See Ichibay's work on Instagram or in this write-up about him.

Ichibay wasn't in though and we couldn't confirm a tattoo slot until the design was discussed with him so we left. That was a Saturday and the next 2 days was spent communicating back and forth via email with Rita about the boy's tattoo design, who in turn related it to Ichibay.

To prevent miscommunication, I drafted the emails for the boy in English and Japanese, and sent photos for reference haha. As the boy and Douglas, would know... I am very, very anal when it comes to the tattoo details because I believe that they are meant to be permanent.

I reckon some people are quite flippant about getting inked because there are a few ways you can remove tattoos nowadays e.g. through lasers, or you can even cover up unwanted tattoos. However, personally I feel that if you are getting a tattoo, you must think through it carefully and choose something meaningful that you can live with for life. Don't get something that you will regret and if you're not 100% satisfied from the beginning, don't get it.

Above is a cost guide from Tokyo Three Tides website that I translated. On Monday, we went back to the shop for the boy to talk personally to Ichibay about the design, confirm the tattoo slot, and to make his deposit of 10,800yen {non-refundable, tax included}.

On Thursday, the boy had his tattoo appointment in the afternoon.

Tokyo Three Tides has 3 floors. The first floor is the reception, merchandise store and has small couch to wait at. It is open to public.

The second floor is the workspace for 3-4 tattoo artists, and the top floor is another workspace which I assume is a tatami room where they do the tebori tattoos, and the rest-room. The second and third floor are only accessible to those with appointments, as space is tight and they want to protect the privacy of the clients too.

Ichibay let me up with the boy, but since it was full house on top and perhaps they were worried Lil Pumpkin might accidentally disturb the artists at work, she had to wait on the couch below... which she was ok to do with a video to entertain herself haha.

I just stayed with the boy at the beginning to help him check the size & position of the tattoo {original art by Ichibay} and watch Ichibay at work for a while, then went down to wait with Lil Pumpkin. Ichibay is a very efficient tattoo artist and even though it was estimated to take around 1-1.5hrs, I think he took only 1hr to complete the tattoo.

Granted, it wasn't a very elaborate tattoo but it was significant to the boy nonetheless. He says that it reminded him of Xixi, one of his clinic pets that passed away some time back.

Tokyo Three Tides tattoo artists charge per hour. Each artist's price would be different and Ichibay's price was 20,000yen per hour {as of Dec 2017}. On top of that, the tattoo studio also charges 4,000yen for used materials and 8% service tax. The exact price, however, will also depend on the design/size that you and the tattoo artist agree on.

When making payment, your deposit {10,800yen} is deducted from the total amount. Do note as well that if you use credit cards, you will have to pay I think 3%? more for merchant fee, so it's best if you pay by cash.

A post shared by ドクターダル (@the_tattooed_vet) on
He was mighty pleased with the tattoo and I think it's very well done too, especially in the shading. So happy for hubby!!

Tips:
  • Advance appointment reservation is preferred, but walk-ins & on-the-day tattoos are accepted if available. Good for tourists!
  • You can choose your preferred tattoo artist and design, obviously. 
  • However, do note that the English ability of the tattoo artists may be limited. If possible, bring someone who speaks Japanese with you when talking to the artist about your design / during your appointment to make sure the artist fully understands your needs and ideas. On the day of the boy's tattoo, there was a foreigner receptionist there that could speak English, but I'm not sure how's her translation skills and if she works there full-time.
  • Confirmation of tattoo slots are only made after tattoo designs are confirmed.
  • When confirming tattoo slots, you need to show identification and pay the deposit {either in-store or via PayPal}.  
  • The deposit is non-refundable, even in cancellation.
  • If you can't make your appointment, you may change it at no extra fee but notification must be given in at least a week in advance.
  • Arriving over 30mins late for the appointment without prior notification will result in cancellation & forfeit of deposit. 
  • You can go back to the shop 1 month later for them to check on your tattoo after it has healed. 
  • If necessary, they will help you to touch up the colours, make alterations etc. for free then.

Tokyo Three Tides {スリータイズ タトゥー/ 三巴刺青}
3-24-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo {東京都渋谷区神宮前3-24-2}
Opening hours: Daily 12noon - 8pm
Tel: +81 03-6455-5908
Website: http://www.threetidestattoo.com/

P.S. I actually started a tattoo blog, Red Shibui, haha some time back as a pet project. Haven't had time to update it but if you want to know some general FAQs about getting a tattoo, pop by to have a look!

Other things to do in Japan:

Useful info for Japan travel:


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Friday, October 13, 2017

Fitness Diary :: 10 How to Meal-Prep Tips

I've been meal-prepping for about 9 months now since the beginning of the year, when I started training one-on-one under Superman. Although tedious, and sometimes quite boring, when coupled with my daily calorie-tracking, it has definitely guided me in making better and healthier food choices.. most of the time haha.

This meal-prepping habit I've formed has benefited not just me, but the rest of the family too since I also prep some meals for the boy and Lil Pumpkin too. This year, although I'm still not cooking often, I'm happy that we get at least 6-7 homecooked meals a week and I do feel like we're eating much cleaner and healthier.. plus getting a good deal of fresh, wholesome food, especially vegetables, into our bodies.   

I'm no expert in meal-prep, but here are some things I've learnt and 10 Tips on How to Meal-Prep I'd like to share with you. Feel free to comment and let me know some of your other meal-prep tips too! ( ◞･౪･) 
***** 

1. Think Positively
Don't think of meal-prepping as a chore for the week, or something you must do to keep healthy. Instead, think of the time, money and effort you can save from cooking daily, or as a relaxing me-time to create food made with love for the family {and yourself}, or even the freedom it gives you from worrying about what to eat for each meal and how you can focus on other things that matter.

2. Cook for the whole week
Plan ahead to save time and money when you buy in bulk. Make sure you have a grocery list before you go shopping for the week. When cooking, prepare them in one batch, then portion for your individual meals for the rest of the week or pack the food dishes separately and portion before each meal, “buffet-style”. Refrigerate or freeze for later use.

3. Buy food in bulk
It will keep the cost lower, and you can prepare them in a variety of ways to keep the meals interesting. Stock up especially on staples e.g. frozen meat, fruits and vegetables {less expensive & last longer}, and rice, beans, oats etc.

4. Go for convenience
Get food that require very little prep-time e.g. pre-cut veggies, pre-washed salads, cooked rotisserie meat. Make use of protein shakes / protein bars to fulfil your protein needs on the go, but do so sparingly {at most once a day} and you can also order pre-packed healthy food delivery services for busy days e.g. YOLO Food, Grain, Maki San, Fit Three, AMGD


5. Portion and Go
Ready-portioned meals save time for you to weigh the individual ingredients each time, and prevent you from mindless eating from the bag or jar.

6. Invest in the right containers
Proper food storage containers allow you to re-heat your meals and eat from them, saving you time and effort from extra washing. Use air-tight, microwavable containers {preferably glass} or zip-lock bags for dry snacks to keep them fresh.

7. Set a Time Limit 
It's not enough just to set time aside to meal-prep {I usually do mine once a week on Sunday} but it's very easy to go overboard and spend a long time in the kitchen cooking and prepping since in your mind, you're prepping for so many meals so you should spend more time on them. No, you don't have to spend your whole day prepping food for the week! Set a time limit of maybe 2-3hrs, focus and learn to multitask e.g. bake something while cooking on the stove. 

8. Use MyFitnessPal app
It can be more than a calorie-tracking app. Use it to record recipes and meals so that you can reuse them again in the future, with modifications if needed, without needing to weigh the food and calculate the calories again.

9. Think Outside the Box
Be consistent, but not boring. You don't always have to eat the same thing all day, or even the same meal for lunch the whole week. Create standard "meal bases" e.g. salads or rice, and change the toppings or side dishes to shake things up.

10. Be Kind to Yourself ❤
Even with the best-laid plans, things may not always go your way. You might not have time at all over the weekend to meal-prep, you might have to eat out unexpectedly, or you might just give in to your cravings and go overboard with unplanned snacking. It's really ok. Don't beat yourself up over it, but most of all, don't let it affect the rest of the meals for the day or even the week! Refocus and push through!


Follow my Fitness Diary posts here or on Instagram {#AiFitnessDiary}. 

Other Fitness Tips:
10 Tips on How to Meal-Prep

One-on-On Personal Training Updates:

Genesis Gym Personal Training Updates:
The Beginning - Signing Up for Personal Training



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