MORGAN AWYONG

THE TUNNEL (TUNNELEN) – A REVIEW

Norway has more than 1,100 road tunnels, with only a few of them designed with emergency rooms or escape routes. Some would call this a recipe for disaster or a ticking time bomb but it’s the reality for Norwegians. Since 2011, eight big fires – including one in 2015 involving a tanker truck with 16,500…

I WEIRDO – A REVIEW

Living with a younger brother with autism, I have a front-row seat to how Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects one’s life. The term is used loosely these days for people who fuss over small discrepancies, say a slightly tilted photo frame or their colour-coordinated stationery, but for people like my brother, it is less a…

BEAUTY WATER (FILM REVIEW)

The beauty industry, at last count, was a 532 billion dollar industry. And with Korean skincare and cosmetics trends leading the way for growth in the male sector, one can only imagine how important looking groomed is turning out to be. Let’s admit it – we are swayed by attractive people. There’s even a psychological…

JAPANESE ETIQUETTE 101: REMINDERS FOR YOUR NEXT VISIT

Renowned as one of the most courteous and systematic countries in the world, I wouldn’t blame the first-time visitor to Japan for being overwhelmed. And even if you manage to figure out the subways and navigating the rush hour throngs, there is always the fear that one might make some social faux pas and that…

REVENGE WITHOUT THE FRILLS

Revenge films a la Kill Bill and Old Boy has seen great success from individuals honing their anger into a fine point. Their skills are near supernatural – a nod to their intensity and focus – which stirs the blood in all of us. But would this happen in real life? Cold in July and…

LOVE YOU FOREVER (FILM REVIEW)

China’s movie-making efforts have largely fallen either towards epic fantasy and dramatic action flicks, or the overt comedy that basically doubles as a ham and cheese sandwich. It’s only the odd while you’ll get a romantic piece. Love You Forever is one of these rare attempts, and true to form, features a sprinkling of fantasy…

GREENLAND (MOVIE REVIEW)

There’s nothing like timing a disaster film to coincide with a similar real-life event – minus the devastating consequences of course. Ric Roman Waugh’s Greenland has been released just as the comet Neowise is coursing through our skies. The astronomical phenomena was at its brightest on 22 July, becoming as bright as the North Star…

THOSE WITH PANDEMIC WOES CATCH A BREAK ON CAROUSELL

Because there is time to kill and bills to pay. When Covid-19 landed, it landed hard and fast. It not only disrupted entire industries, but the ensuring ripple effects had a very definite impact on the everyday folks as lockdowns were implemented. And the worst part – the restriction periods got longer and longer. Even…

CAPELLA UBUD, BALI, JUST NAMED NO.1 HOTEL IN THE WORLD

AS AWARDED BY Travel + Leisure 2020 World’s Best Awards Somewhere between the lines of the idyllic and the elegant, a winner emerged on 8th July 202 at the annual World’s Best Awards by Travel + Leisure. Not only did Capella Ubud, Bali receive top honours, but parent company Capella Hotels and Resorts also won…

DEPARTURE: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU CHECK-IN

While flying isn’t in the cards for most of us anytime soon, our fascination with planes is certainly still there. So maybe some flight-themed entertainment might solve our withdrawals. The new series Departure has an aviation premise, but veers away from the romantic travelogue and more towards a “high-octane” mystery thriller. When a plane goes…

SYDNEY AND ITS SURROUNDS WILL FOSTER NEW MEMORIES FOR OLD FRIENDS

The city of Sydney needs no introduction. A vibrant city that brings art, shopping, and world-famous dining experiences in one spot. But to add another layer of excitement, the greater area of its surrounds promises a natural escape that few are familiar with. Hot air balloon rides over vineyards and world-class whale-watching sites are some…

QATAR AIRWAY’S NEW LOUNGE IN SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF LUXURY FOR BUSINESS FLIERS

Last year’s winner for World’s Best Airlines, Qatar Airways has catapulted itself as a brand. I remember how I took one of its first flights when it began, and was already impressed by its high standards. But never one to rest on their laurels, the airline has been striving to add to their value. Their…

HOTEL MUMBAI: FACT VS FICTION

The danger of films based on true stories, is that sometimes people take it for the whole truth. This is often not the case, as movies ultimately have to engage and tell a story within a span of a few hours. Thus the aertistic license being waved. That said, there are plenty of dramatisation that…

LIVING IT UP AT WALDORF ASTORIA BANGKOK

It’s not everyday I spend SGD$400 on a night’s stay at a hotel. But I did from 26- 28 March 2019. Hear me out. I’m not someone who necessarily is in that income bracket to easily drop that kind of money, but remember what they said about experiences? My first encounter with Andre Fu‘s work…

THE MAGNIFICENT FILM UNIVERSE OF A24

If there was ever a film company that displayed a cutting acumen for successful films, A24 would be a shoo-in contender. Founded only in 2012, the company has curated an archive of films known for their commercial and critical success. It’s indie done right – by capturing the flavourful powers of personal expression, along with…

THE DOUBLE LIFE OF JIUFEN

There was already so much I was looking forward to. The pretty tea houses. The scenic views. The romantic lanterns along the street. The only thing better, was to experience it for longer. So for my visit to Taipei in 2014, my focus became more about Jiufen than it was about the main city. And…

NO MORE EXCUSES SINGAPOREANS – IT’S ALL ON YOU

“Singaporean or not, people will want some form of security or peace of mind at time like this especially those with old forks and kids at home. So why we always wana label our fellow citizens those bad names? And how we know that those in q were all Singaporean? This is just simply human…

BOMBSHELL (FILM REVIEW)

Playing out one of the most important chapters – the prologue if you will – of the #MeToo movement, Bombshell drops us into the frenetic offices of Fox News to witness the buildup to the sexual harassment allegations levelled at media mogul Roger Ailes. Director Jay Roach and writer Charles Randolph doesn’t go full The…

THE SNOW THAT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE: HOW A SHANGHAI & SUZHOU TRIP GOT EXTRA MEMORABLE

It was freezing. And haven’t been one to have seen falling snow before this, I ventured if something like that would happen from my local friend. She sniffed, an incredulous expression dealt to my suggestion. “It hasn’t snowed in over 50 years!” Oh well. But a few hours later, heading back to the hotel, she…

TOOTSIES & THE FAKE (FILM REVIEW)

For the uninitiated, tootsie is a affectionate term used in Thailand for a campy gay guy. And celebrating this without restraint, Line TV created a series based on the online accounts of Thachpacha Setthachai, a proud tootsie who does a Carrie Bradshaw and recalls the many humourous episodes he has with his three best friends…

JOJO RABBIT (FILM REVIEW)

In today’s era of instant media and trigger-happy sensibilities, presenting a film about Nazis and their famed chancellor is like a game of dice… with razor blades. Fortunately under Taika Waititi’s treatment, Jojo Rabbit doesn’t draw blood, but instead, a mixture of laughs, shock, or indignance. How you enjoy this film might be an indicator…

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF LIBERTE – TRUE WIRELESS STEREO HEADPHONES FROM ATTA GORA

There’s no shortage of wireless earphones in the crowd-funding realm. And I’ve bought myself a fair number of them over the years. Atta Gora‘s version, launched in November 2019, surprised me with two things: One, the fact that it promised a first shipment before Christmas. Secondly, with it’s refreshingly hipster palette and Nordic-inspired design. It…

THE AERONAUTS (FILM REVIEW)

To be honest, the trailer was a little underwhelming. The Aeronauts seemed to pitch the adventure of a lifetime in the air, and with Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones offering captainship, the premise seems to have some heft. But are a sea of clouds and fluttering butterflies enough to strike wonder in this age? With…

IS CYPRUS THE NEW GREECE?

There’s nothing quite like Greece of course. In fact, there’s never any real replacement for one particular country when you get down to the details. That said – if one is asking for a little twist from the (currently) Instagram hotspot, without loosing that formula or sun, sand, sea and stunning history, then Cyprus is…

DETENTION (FILM REVIEW)

Wrapping a terrifying story around a true period of human horror, Detention is a layered tale that’s heavy on scares, but also dripping ripe with messaging. Touching on the political scene in Taiwan in the 1960s, it unfolds in the White Terror period, which was an era of martial law in the country that lasted…

RACE START – HOW COMPETITION MAKES A DESTINATION COMPELLING

Every competition and race comes with a clash. Thankfully, it’s more of energy and excitement than anything negative. From World Cups to the Olympics, sports have pulled fans to events across the world and will continue to do so. While big brands such as the above, along with others like Formula One and Wimbledon, continue…

KNIVES OUT (FILM REVIEW)

There’s a certain appeal to whodunnit movies that always keeps the audiences coming. One would hazard it’s due to our inherent curious nature, as well as an intrinsic engagement of our own sleuthing skills that keeps us addicted. It is this successful formula that has birthed a few renowned genre writers – such as Sir…

SIGNATURE EVENTS TO WITNESS IN 2019 AND 2020

Every season its mood, every country its character. Festivals are often the pinnacle of expression for both, teeming with plenty of culture and activity. Some of these might have been around for centuries, while others are sparks that exploded into wonder, but each of these events have become iconic to these destinations, and sometimes even…

WET SEASON (FILM REVIEW)

Treading the line between artistic integrity and commercial viability is never easy – especially so in our tiny isle of Singapore. With Wet Season, Anthony Chen establishes his quiet finesse in creating films that strikes a chord with the audience, but bags critical mention and awards to boot. Chen’s sophomore feature has recently picked up…

GLAMPING IN THE MOUNTAINS: DHARAMSHALA’S CAMP LUNGTA

The Himachal Pradesh region is often chosen for its adventure – both into the natural and spiritual realms, and the mountainous area with its otherworldly beauty, is believably straddling between the realms. Dharamshala is best known to be the location where the Dalai Lama has chosen for his official residence, and unsurprisingly, has made the…