Martell VSOP The ultimate start-up space 2011 is onto their 2nd phase today, with 10 final business ideas being shortlisted. As part of their challenge, they all need your support by pledging to help fund their business should they win.

These 10 teams now receive mentorship from renowned local entrepreneurs Mr. Jimmy Fong and Mr. Low Cheong Kee, as well as undergo a one-week intensive business training course provided by INSEAD. The ultimate winner of this year’s competition will walk away with a 1,400 square foot storefront at Boon Tat Street, an area rich with heritage, rent-free for a period of one year, and a start-up cash prize of S$20,000, fully sponsored by Martell V.S.O.P. How cool is that? I’d wanted to submit my business idea too but alas my own start-up and the happenings in life just didn’t give me the time to get down to submitting my idea!

Yes! That’s what we did last weekend. It’s like that when I can’t travel on boat nor plane during this period. So we imagined we were in Hong Kong and went around shop, eat, shop, eat around Marina and Suntec! It was actually quite fun and we did buy lots of stuff can? Imagine 3 days of shopping!

I’m 50% recharged from this and already started working on my dying MBP in bed the moment I got home. Very unhealthy for me, but its like that lah. I’m a hazardous worker.

More on the getaway when I’ve time to get the photos out from my Canon S95. Do have some not so good review about the hotel we stayed at. :(

In short:

1. I loveeeee swimming in mineral pool! I want one in our house can?
2. Lion King rocks!!
3. PC Show at Suntec was crazy as usual! Better human traffic control though. Good job!
4. Didn’t get to eat buffet at Melt nor AquaMarine cos I can’t eat as much as I used to.
5. I want to do more of these short getaway, even if its in Singapore!

Two years of silence, half a year of hard work and many more years ahead; that’s the life of RediscoverSG. A site like this cannot be done overnight. The crew behind works very hard to put together the content in a way that engages you as much as they can.

Pictures speak a thousand words, and I believe videos speak much more than that. Publishing a site with eye catching photos and short bites of the topic in video isn’t child play. I’m very proud of what the crew have done and achieved. And now, shortlisted as one of the Top 10 finalists in OMY Singapore Blog Awards 2011, it shows that their hard work is being recognized. Winning it is going to be a bonus for the crew.

Please do go take a look at RediscoverSG and see why this group of young Singaporeans deserve our support and votes. If you love it as much as we do, hope you can spare a few seconds everyday from now till 3 July, to vote for RediscoverSG for Best Photography Blog in OMY Singapore Blog Awards 2011.

I’ll be voting everyday. Hope you will too. :)

If you haven’t met the crew behind RediscoverSG, here they are… Song, Jeremy, Derek and Lizzy.

Reality check: Houses in Singapore is becoming smaller and smaller and pricing raising and raising. We’re in the stage of looking for a suitable nest and facing many problems. Location is one, size and price is also major concerns.

We both agree that the house should not be too big as keeping it clean is going to be tedious chore. But it should be able to fit our family (of four perhaps) in it comfortably.

While the search for our nest is on-going, saving few interesting videos of very small homes that’s functional and pretty cool here for future references. I’m always amazed at these houses!

Travel plans for June and December had to be put on hold and that means its a no-holiday-for-Claudia-in-2011! Almost every year for the past 7 years, we will at least go somewhere together. We need our time to get out to relax and recharge.

The last island escapade for us was at Batam, which is an island but not quite an island escapade since we didn’t get to go to the beach. Our past two getaway at a beach was at Bintan. First was in 2005 and the other in 2008 so by right we should have one to Bintan in 2011 right? If only we can go to Nikoi Island! The one we read about in 2008 but couldn’t go due to budget. And now, Tiger Beer is giving away a private island escapade to Nikoi Island!

Back to my dream island escapade…

Been riding quite a roller-coaster lately.

With changes happening in life and tough challenges at work. One keeping me high up straight in the air while the other keeping me inverted ready to fall. Challenges once overcame will make us all stronger and better person. I believe we will survive!

Life’s changing and there are much to prepare mentally. How we set the foundation is essential and very very important. Foundation if not done well, consequences can be devastating. We’ve seen the good and the worst. We know we just have to do it right and all will be well.

Its been 3 weeks since we moved to our new studio at Joo Chiat Road.

And yes, we are now known as Dice Studio! That’s our signboard at our entrance. Nice?

Before we moved here, we were excited about the vast variety of food outlets around and the options we will have. Alas, when we finally settled and started going lunch daily, we realised options though plenty, it just isn’t as economy as compared to when we were at Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre. All of us miss Jia Yi Curry Fish Head stall very much. So grass isn’t always brighter nor greener on the other side. Ok, I talking cock liao.

So what have I been eating at Joo Chiat so far? Keeping a food diary on Facebook to help me keep track, and here I’ll share some of my hits and misses.