Monthly Archives: September 2017

The E & O Hotel, Penang

The Sarkies brothers were a group of brothers of Armenian ethnicity, born in Isfahan, Iran and best known for founding a chain of luxury hotels throughout Southeast Asia. These include the Raffles in Singapore, the Strand in Rangoon, the Oriental … Continue reading

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Toh Soon Cafe, Penang

Was in Penang last week and came across this little roadside “cafe”: Toast is done the old-fashioned way, on a grill above coals in a stove: Now, the fellow doing the toasting, patiently waits for the toast to be ready, … Continue reading

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The Moretti Obsession Continues

There’s something about Moretti pipes! Here’s one that just came in; its almost 10 inches long and what a beautiful masterpiece it is!

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Come on, it’s Bullshit, no Matter What you Call it

In a newspaper headline stating that “PR firm Bell Pottinger Asia mulls over name change after crisis hits UK parent” Bell Pottinger Asia Chief Executive, commenting on a crisis that has engulfed its British parent over a campaign in South … Continue reading

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Can a Smart Nation be led by Dumb Asses?

Singapore is in the throes of change. MRT stations and many other places where monetary transactions take place – including at hawker centers –  are going cashless, food courts deploy robots, robots fry our rice, parking coupons will soon belong … Continue reading

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More Morettis

My addiction to Moretti pipes continues unabated. Here are my latest acquisitions:

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RIP Sir David Tang

Sir David Tang was chairman of the Pacific Cigar Company Limited, the exclusive Cuban cigar distributor for the Asia Pacific region. He walked with royalty, and cavorted with stars, yet he made me, a nobody, felt like a somebody.

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Well, I Guess it’s Still Better than Blowing her own Trumpet

In mid August, I was attending a three-day training workshop at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine when suddenly a loud sound – like a foghorn – came from where some of the admin staff were sitting. I almost … Continue reading

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Why I’m Singing in the Rain

Fox umbrellas have been hand-made in England since 1868. I opted for a “solid” meaning the handle and stick are made from one continuous piece of wood and is, therefore, almost as strong as a walking stick and can actually … Continue reading

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Rimowa Gourmet Travel Humidor

Cost me an arm and a leg; what I paid for this could enable me to buy 5 pieces of Samsonite luggage, but what the heck, YOLO!

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