Week 11, 2026 - Beware, the ides of March...

• Colour me not surprised that MBO finally threw in the towel this week
• Gasket Alley is getting rebranded next month, but most of the existing tenants are still gonna be there... hmm. It's been awhile since I was last there. 
• Because no one knows for certain when Raya is starting, gahmen announced an extra day of school holiday, just in case? 
• And also public holiday on either end... hmm. 
• The stadiums at Bukit Jalil are now TM National Stadium and Unifi Arena. Hokay then.
• Saw Hamnet on Saturday

Hamnet

Saw Hamnet on a Saturday morning. Purposefully picked a seat right at the back because I know I'll probably be second-screening this and I didn't want anyone else in there with me to be bitching about it. 

Been hearing about this since last year when it was making waves, but I guess I should be glad that GSC brought it in under the International Screens banner. 

I know some Shakespeare as much as most people, I guess. I'm not a Shakespeare fan or whatever. I may or may not have seen at least one production of Hamlet in my lifetime, no shade to David Tennant's Hamlet (if you can still find it online someplace).

• Was the written prologue about how "Hamnet" and "Hamlet" were used interchangably for the benefit of the thicky thicky dumb dumb viewers? 
• Apparently so was Agnes/Anne...? Ok, sure.
• There's no way any living Agnes today has had her name pronounced the way it is here... not in these parts anyway LOL 
• I guess having her in red the entire time was a choice..
• No wonder the kid playing Hamnet got buzz - ngl, that last scene of his made me cry a little. And he does kinda, sorta looks like Prince George LOL 
• I sort of forgot that Globe Theatre got standing area like they do general areas at concerts now. But ngl, I would be at least upset if I had to stand for the entire 3, 4 hour production of something like Hamlet now.  
• Watching the audience standing up moshing at a play is kinda jarring.

I guess it's okay, but not one I'd watch again in a hurry. 

Crime 101

Finally found time to watch Crime 101 in my busy weekend schedule - I had to catch the 10 a.m. screening at the second home cos I got a thing in the afternoon. If nothing else, they only played 15 minutes worth of ads before the movie. And I only had time for lunch before I had to leave. 

Anyway, it was just me and probably almost a dozen people there on a Sunday morning. 

• The 101 in the title refers to the highway, not a freshman class on how to commit crime, but the way the protagonist plans his heists so that there's no violence and casualties is anything but freshman.
• Mark Ruffalo being an old, grizzled detective that's too honest and straitlaced for his own good is better fit than erm, Pedro Pascal? This is the one movie Pedro Pascal is not in LOL...
• There's no way Nick Nolte spent more than a day on that set; same goes for Tate Donovan, come to think of it, I feel like I'm the only one who still remember these unkers from the 90s.
• NGL, watching Thor and Hulk together (in the third act) in a non-MCU context was kinda jarring LOL 

For a movie not already based on existing IP, etc, it's okay lah. I'm not sure it needed to be quite so long (2 hours 20 minutes), but what the hey - if you're suffering from IP fatigue (I think there's a term for it, but can't be arsed to look it up right now), you could do worse than this. It doesn't have TV movie feels. 

Week 10, 2026

Mum's had issue with her left knee, so she's been in some discomfort. Drove her to a chiropractor a couple of times this past week.

Weekend was kinda busy. 

• Went for the free red light therapy session at Centrepoint on Sunday evening
• International Women's Day was on Sunday
• Finally found time to watch Crime 101 on Sunday morning
• Dropped off some umbrellas for repair on Saturday morning
• Kens Apothecary F&F sale on Saturday morning. Didn't get much, just one candle.
• Finally tried Lotteria this week

Flying from Subang to Changi (via Batik Air) in 2026

It has been YEARS since I last flew out of Subang, especially to Changi. I have the usual hesitation everyone has when it comes to flying Batik Air (don't get me started), but I figured cos it's the only jet flight out of the day, it shouldn't be so bad.

On the one hand, I wouldn't have to be up so god damned early to make it to KLIA 3, 4 hours before my usual pick of mid-morning flight out. On the other hand, I still had to wake up at 5 something to be there before the check-in counter closes at 6.30 a.m. cos the flight is at 7.30 a.m.. 

So yeah, woke up 5-ish, put myself together pretty quickly, had a bit of breakfast, and left the house around or close to 6 a.m.. Cos it was still too damn early in the morning, made it to Subang airport in under 20 minutes. I just barely made it to the bag drop off (if they're gonna include 10 kg checked luggage in the ticket price, you bet your ass I'm gonna use it). They gave me another boarding pass despite having checked in online. As someone who saves the card stock boarding passes for the journal, I appreciated that. 

Before going in, I meandered around to see what's open at Subang Skypark at that hour, and it's the usual suspects: Starbucks, Coffee Bean, ZUS, MyNews, and erm, CU. Kinda sad that McDonald's also don't have liao. 

Spent a few minutes trying to understand and install the free eSIM I got from Pelago (2GB for 3 days, which is more than enough for me) before finally going over to the screening. We got stuck behind this group of people who seem to be unaware of the LAG rules or what, and I can see the fler keep pulling full bottles of liquid out of their bags... 

Wasn't waiting long before they commenced boarding. A bit the potong stim when the flight captain announced that it was gonna be a 50 minute flight, but fine by me cos I got the window seat, and I won't be the only pax catching Zzzs. 

All in all, the flight was okay, still alive. Made it to T4. 

The only snag is what to do with the extra time cos it was too early for anything...

Chick-fil-A, Bugis+, Singapore

One of the things I had to check off the list this time was going to the only Chick-fil-A in South East Asia. 

Dragged myself and the luggage (cos I got in early, and it was still too early to try to check in at the hotel just yet) to Bugis+, but have to walk through Bugis Junction (which is just off the Bugis MRT station) first to get to there.

Maybe cos it's been a couple of months since it opened, or cos it was a working Friday, or cos it was only 10-ish in the morning, there was no queue. Maybe the line happens later? 

Walked up to the counter, asked for recommendations for first timers. So I took the recommendation for once and ordered the deluxe chicken sandwich meal (the only difference between regular and deluxe is the additional fresh veg), so that I get to try the waffle fries and lemonade. I was also asked what sauces I wanted and apparently can choose up to three, so I went with the OG Chick-fil-A sauce, the Singapore exclusive Spicy Chilli sauce, and erm, honey mustard.

Sat at a table where I could slide my luggage under the table without obstructing the flow. I guess they were all too free (not that crowded, and they only just opened for the day), the service was ok. The uncle aunties working there also offered to help refill the drink (bottomless), but I guess that's cos the drink fountain wasn't publicly accessible, and don't want randos back there.

How was it? Okay, here's how I felt about it... Remember, this was my first proper meal of the day since 5-ish in the morning.

1. Chicken sandwich - Oklah.
2. Lemonade - Servicable
3. Waffle fries - Not crispy enough for my liking, which is probably just me. But it wasn't even piping hot, or even adequately seasoned leh. Sigh.  
4. Sauces -
1. Original Chick-fil-A sauce: Only ok if you like smoky flavour? Not for me personally. 
2. Spicy chilli sauce: It's basically like the garlic chilli sauce you'd get at a dim sum shop.
3. Honey mustard: TBD; still sealed, brought it home with me, in the fridge right now LOL

Wasn't sure what to do with the sauces besides using it as a dip for the fries, so I had some of it on bites of the chicken sandwich. 

Dunno if I'd go back again... Maybe?

Now You See Me Live - Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands

I can't remember the last time I've been to a magic show (still salty about missing out on David Blaine when he stopped by here years ago), or ever..? But as someone who's enjoyed the Now You See Me franchise (we all know it's a cashgrab opportunity), I'm all for this. But I dunno why they wait until the third movie to create a live show...?

I got a ticket months ago back when there was a UOB cardmembers' promo, but as it was getting closer, more promos showed up, which is great if I was local, but I still had other things to think of, so I didn't risk it. (You could get cheaper tickets on Klook, etc, but you might not be able to pick seats?) The issue was deciding when to go. After a lot of dithering, I went with a Saturday morning show (11.30 a.m.).

Based on Lionsgate’s worldwide blockbuster magic-heist film franchise that has captivated audiences across the globe, the Asia premiere of Now You See Me Live will bring the magic to life in Singapore with an explosive mix of high-tech illusions, solo stunts and jaw-dropping spectacles.

For the first time in Singapore, four world-class illusionists will unite as The Horsemen, transforming the magic of the films into a live stage spectacle with never-before-seen feats of wonder. Collectively, these illusionists have performed thousands of shows in hundreds of cities including sell-out residencies on Broadway and in Las Vegas leaving audiences spellbound and questioning the very limits of possibility.

From the creators behind Broadway’s record-breaking hit The Illusionists, this breathtaking blockbuster experience is an all-new live experience that will defy your senses.

Did not cross my mind that this would be considered family entertainment until I saw a lot of kids running around. I wonder if the kids have seen the movies, or they're just here for the magic show. 

If you've seen the movies, you'd know right away who was which Horseman. 

Walking in, I knew the isotonic drink (not 100Plus) I was carrying was gonna be an issue at the bag check - I either had to finish it (it was 90% full, we all know that it wasn't feasible for me to chug it), or check it at the cloakroom. It's kinda funny checking in a bottled drink, but I get it. I'm sure the cloakroom aunties get that a lot too. Did not get anything from the concession this time, but can't say I wasn't sorely tempted, only cos I know it'd be lunch time by the time it's over, so might as well just wait.

At least this time there was a big screen, and a cameraman getting his steps in every show tracking everyone, so that the rest of us could see the closeup magic on it, etc. They packed a lot in 2 hours (including the 15 minute intermission; I practically flew to the bathroom) - sleight of hand, teleportation, close up magic, quick change, crowd interaction (both kids and adults), even the infamous Chinese Water Torture Cell escape.. One of the funnier moments was when a 9 year old girl took too long to lie about her age so that she could go up on stage to be part of the act (kononnya had to be 10), but I say she was being too honest, cos it took the magician asking her age FIVE times for her to finally take the hint LOL

The crowd interaction was not bad - at one point, they had us tear up cards (which was on everyone's arm rest as they came in), do a lot of shuffling, etc, so we'd end up with pieces that matched up. I still have my pieces.

It was almost 1.30 p.m. by the time the show ended. Ended up getting a shit lunch at So Pho upstairs. 

Random thoughts:

• I wonder if they brought this show to Singapore cos it's year of the Horse...? 
• I hope these guys actually get to stay at MBS while they're here.