My funny, daily, delicious life at Raffles Place

“Yeah!” I thought to myself, after successful morning meetings and lunch meetings. Finding a decent spot around the grassy patch of Raffles Place, I sit down for a break and whip out my phone.

I was quite engrossed with my social media updates but I noticed my surroundings. A well-dressed not repugnant man circles me. He wasn’t tall but he wasn’t short, looked about early 30s and had his work clothes crisply over a nice watch. He wasn’t bad looking, but I know he was up to something. As I kept my eyes on my phone, I felt his eyes on me. I watched him as he watched me.

I was actually thinking about a reply to an email, when he finally sits next to me and opens with “Hi, I’m a part of a Bachelor party dare…”

I swing my head around to stare squarely at him, and then around me. I didn’t see any other guys standing around, nor any potential PUNK’D type of video cameras.

“Where is the rest of the Bachelor squad? The wolfgang pack?” I ask.

“They are in a room at Fullerton Hotel, and we need a female to witness the groom-to-be doing a striptease.” Well dressed early 30s man explains.

“A full striptease? Take out everything?” I ask incredulously.

“Yes.”

“On a Tuesday?” Nevermind the groom-to-be’s undies – I was more shocked that they wanted to do this on a Tuesday.

“Ya, my friend is the boss of the company so most of us have the day off for it.”

Do I look meek and vulnerable or am I wearing Yves Saint Lauren “Ask me for bad and illegal things” perfume? I smiled politely as I pretended to think about this.

Even the eager beaver boys next to the Standard Chartered poster nearby holding survey clipboards would give me a pen for my time (or maybe even, points for a free holiday if I decided to sign up). Do I get a free Takashimaya shopping voucher for subjecting my eyes to a FULL striptease from a man that I (hopefully) don’t know? Probably not. My friend Christine would probably ask to see a photo of the stripping guy if she was in my situation. She might not even go through with it, but I know she’d at least be curious to see what he looks like.

“I have a meeting in 15 minutes, but thanks for trying.” I kindly rejected the offer.

“How about after your meeting? We can do it after your meeting.” He persisted. I don’t think there was a long line of ladies for him to pick from.

“I have meetings, though, so I won’t have the time today but good luck with the special day.” I pushed it off nicely. I also offered some suggestions of things he could do and shook his hand. He thanked me for my time and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.

I read a couple more emails on my phone and take off as well. Walking into Raffles Place MRT, a thought shot through – “Maybe I should have asked to see the photo of the stripping man?…” Not like it would have made a difference.
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Would you have said yes?

Hugs and Pictures with DAVID CHOI, WESLEY FROM WONGFU, NICKO’S KITCHEN, CHESTER SEE, and COOKING WITH DOG via YouTube Fan Fest 2013

Wrote an article about the world’s first YouTube Fan Fest 2013, brought in by Branded and Music Matters Live. XINMSN featured it on their homepage under “Stories we loved”, nice! Did I charm my way in to get cosy with some of the digital economy’s current reigning stars? Yes I did. Did I ask some real good (or ridiculous) questions? I think I did. Here they are!

Read and weep, as celebrity blogger and xinmsn’s social media queen Estelle Kiora compares YouTube to the main media industry, and gets pictures and hugs from some of the globe’s hottest Internet icons to date. She shows you how she did it and spills her favourite answers from them in this exclusive article.

ABOUT ESTELLE KIORA: She currently owns an Influencer Agency, Zero Copycat Pte Ltd, where she links companies and campaigns up with iconic and influential individuals. She was voted one of the Top 10 Lifestyle Bloggers in Singapore in OMY SG’s Blog Awards, and writes about her search for love, party and adventure on her comedic and heart-warming blog, loveyouwrongtime.com .

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What happens when you hear that your favorite YouTube inspirations are in Singapore?

You stalk them, corner them, tell them you’re a celebrity blogger with xinmsn, throw out a big smile and ask them as many charming questions as you possibly can.

Of course, you’re shaking inside and you ask for a photo after. Should I be ashamed that I feel like a 14 year old fan? Maybe. But after all, it’s not everyone who gets to meet and greet the billion-view boy Ryan Higa, and the entourage of Social Media movers and shakers who you watch online every day (or in many people’s cases, it seems to be every night, say around 2am). Bing, Global Creator Dvelopment & Management Lead of YouTube gave a splendid summary of this fast-changing digital landscape and I was shocked to hear that 70% of the viewers watching most of these American sensations were from Asia. Yup, that’s us.

These YouTube stars have something that Hollywood doesn’t – they are relatable, and represent the dreams of you and me. We all know how rare it is to make it big in Hollywood, but these individuals have made their fame and fortune by vlogging (video blog style) about common issues that plague you and me, usually in and around their house. Sometimes, their friends, parents or even dogs make a cameo appearance. I was practically depressed when I realized that my two favorite and awesome YouTube personalities – Jenna Marbles and Natalie Tran – were not physically present at the YouTube Fan Fest, but whether you’re a fangirl or just fascinated at the level of social media stardom these individuals have amassed, here is everything else that you might like to know.

More than 20 global online sensations were brought in by Branded for Music Matters Live (a 3 day free concert spreading various locations) and most significantly, the world’s first ever YouTube Fan Fest #YTFF, a 2-night showcase broadcasted ‘live’ online and powered by HP (in partnership with Google and Singapore Tourism Board). I certainly had a hard time refraining from asking them ridiculous questions like, “if you had an elephant, what do you think you would do with it?”

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WESLEY FROM WONGFU PRODUCTIONS (US)
youtube.com/wongfuproductions
OVER 1 BILLION VIEWS

What did you say? You’re Wesley’s biggest fan in Asia but you didn’t know he was coming to Singapore? Well, it’s not your fault. Wesley isn’t officially part of YouTube fan fest, but that’s not going to stop me from talking to one of the world’s most popular YouTube sensations!

During my one on one chat with Wes, he confessed that he would love to live in Asia, perhaps in Singapore.

“THERE ARE PLENTY OF VIDEOS POPPING UP ONLINE AND SOME CONTAIN DRUG AND SEXUAL REFERENCES, POLITICS, OR RACIST REMARKS. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULDN’T MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT?”

We like to use our videos to enforce positive messages, and we stay away from controversial topics like politics. I know we can’t please everyone, but we love our fans and wouldn’t be here without them. So we try and stick within a boundary of topics that they might like better.

“WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING 10 YEARS FROM NOW?”

Wow, I didn’t even know about YouTube 10 years ago so it’s really hard to guess what I’ll be doing 10 years from now. But I can definitely say that I hope to be creating something. I am a creative at heart, and I know I will still be creating things with WongFu, whatever that may be.

“FRIENDS FOREVER!”

That’s right! I will am very keen on blogger feature films, so I hope our Asian fans will like that.

“I LOVE WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND IT’S BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL SO FAR, BUT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD MAKE ANY CHANGES?”

I actually would love to live in Asia for a change. I shot “THE ONE DAYS” in Hong Kong and I loved the vibe of these dynamic Asian cities. I would like to live in Singapore.

“COME! LET’S DO AN EXCHANGE PROGRAMME.”

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DAVID CHOI (US)
youtube.com/davidchoimusic
OVER 100 MILLION VIEWS

You’ve entered David Choi’s bedroom and you’re floating on a dream of clouds, as he cooes out original love songs written for you and only to you. Okay, so maybe that’s not true – but it certainly feels that way when you watch his videos, doesn’t it?

It felt like heaven was smiling down on me that day as I sofa-ed down for a drink with David Choi in a more intimate setting, atop the “ship-like” building of the stunning Kudeta (Thanks to Charmaine Yee of HotFM 91.3 who hooked it up!). From his dopey expression in his videos, I expected him to be a reserved and quiet person, but he was charismatic and held good conversation with everyone around him. In contrast, Ryan Higa actually seems more calm and collected in person as compared to the comical craziness in his videos (which I won’t elaborate on here, since Mr Higa deserves his own piece).

“I FIRST SPOTTED YOU AND YOUR MAGICAL GUITAR IN WONGFU’S VIDEOS. DO YOU ENJOY MAKING VIDEOS AND WOULD YOU MOVE INTO FILM?”

I enjoy collaborating with others and I love the Wongfu guys, but I started making videos mostly because it was an efficient way to showcase my music. I’m all about my music and I would consider filming projects if they came to me, but I’m not going to go hunting for them.

“I HEARD THAT YOU’VE BEEN TO SINGAPORE ABOUT 6 OR 7 TIMES. WOULD YOU LIVE HERE?”

I think it would be cool to live here for a month.

“ONLY A MONTH?! THAT’S NOT ENOUGH! WES FROM WONGFU SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO LIVE HERE TOO. MAYBE YOU CAN BOTH BE ROOMMATES AND GET THE COOLEST BACHELOR PAD IN SINGAPORE. MAYBE A HDB FLAT.”

That would be fun. By the way, Wes is a very clean person. I’m also a clean person, but Wes is even cleaner than I am.

(The conversation then digressed into girls who have messy rooms, which I won’t bore you with.)

“YOU HAVE A LOT OF FANS IN SINGAPORE, AND ALSO AROUND THE WORLD. WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED FROM A FAN?”

It was a vibrating ring that you put on a special part of the male anatomy.

“WHAT!?”

And it came with a flavored condom too.

“COULD IT HAVE BEEN FROM A MALE? DID IT SCARE YOU?”

No it was definitely from a female. I know she likes me. I wasn’t scared, but it was interesting.

“WOW. SO MUCH LOVE.”

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NICKO’S KITCHEN (AU)
youtube.com/robjnixon
OVER 78 MILLION VIEWS

There’s something quite enchanting about watching Australians cook – just look at the success that Jamie Oliver has had. One thing is for sure – other than putting their “shrimp on the Barbie” (a popular Aussie saying), their down to earth-ness and laid back vibe make great ingredients in this hot pot entertainment industry. The formula for success though, doesn’t quite have the same spice – the nicest difference between YouTube and mainstream broadcast media is that it lets you be your own boss. You’re fully in charge of the background, execution and action, as opposed to a set of requirements when dealing with mainstream media.

Rob of Nicko’s Kitchen says a resounding yeah – he likes that YouTube gives him a complete reign of creativity and he doesn’t have to “dilute” his ideas.

“WE DEFINITELY DON’T WANT TO WATER DOWN YOUR RECIPES, ROB! HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR SHOWS COMPARE TO THE REST OF THE STUFF ON YOUTUBE?”

Music and comedy is widely appreciated but what I do with food – such as my bacon channel and baby food channel – is a niche market, so not everyone gets it. I feel like I have to put in more work to get views and get ahead.

“ANY MORE CHANNELS OR PLANS FOR YOU?”

It’s hard work running 5 YouTube channels so i dont think i’ll set any more up just yet. I think i hit a sweet spot with my fans, and I have a loyal following on the things I’ve created. Anything further and I’m spreading myself too thin, and you start cannibalizing your own views. So I’m good for now.

MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS AT YOUTUBE FAN FEST HAVE A YOUNG GROUP OF AUDIENCE OR FANS. DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A DEMOGRAPH OF OLDER VIEWERS?
It was nice to see the younger Asian fans tonight, but I do think a number of my channels appeal to people across age and ethnic groups.
Whether 14, or 41 or 71, a number of people do like my cooking ideas so I think I have viewers across all ages.

“WHAT’S THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING YOU’VE EVER COOKED ON YOUR SHOW?”

A cat.

“REALLY?”

No, it was a joke. I pretended to kill the cat but cooked a different meat dish. I had a huge reaction to that.

“PEOPLE DO EAT STRANGE THINGS IN PARTS OF ASIA.”

I don’t mean this in an offensive way, but I actually had many Asian viewers and even a TV station call me and ask me for the recipe.

“THAT’S FUNNY AND ALSO HORRIBLE. COULD BE A NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL IDEA TOO.”

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COOKING WITH DOG (JP)
youtube.com/cookingwithdog
OVER 64 MILLION VIEWS

Now, I know I scared you with Nicko’s Kitchen cat story, but this lovely Japanese lady doesn’t cook dogs. A canine host named Francis shows you how to cook a variety of popular dishes in Japan, alongside a mysterious Japanese chef whose real name is not revealed. I checked it out for the novelty, and some of the recipes actually look quite doable. Japanese cuisine is also a tasty favourite in Singapore and around the world, but how does she choose what to cook on her show?

“WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR POPULAR REQUESTS ON YOUR YOUTUBE SHOW?”

I actually get a lot of requests asking me to showcase ramen noodle dishes, Japanese pastry, and items like matcha (green tea) roll cakes are popular. I found out that there are a lot of anime fans who hear about these dishes from anime shows, and want to learn more about them – especially for the sweeter treats.

“DO YOU LISTEN TO YOUR FANS SUGGESTIONS ALL THE TIME, OR IS THERE DIFFICULTY IN EXECUTING THE DISHES?”

What people don’t realize about Japan is that there are 4 seasons which greatly affect the ingredients and dishes cooked. Thus, I can only select dishes that are seasonal but I try to listen to my fans as much as possible!

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CHESTER SEE
youtube.com/chestersee
OVER 113 MILLION VIEWS

Chester See saw the loudest screams. (See what I did here with the see-saw? Lol.) Whether it was at the press conference or on stage, he was never without a noticeable presence, alongside his signature cheshire grin. I picked up a Ryan Seacrest-esque vibe – probably because, unlike most of the other YouTube icons, Chester did come from a substantial acting and professional hosting background. You could definitely feel the bro-mance in the air – he brought up stories about David Choi at least 3 times even when asked questions about himself. For fear of his rampage of female fans, I kept my questions as professional as possible.

“YOU’RE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE AS A ONE MAN SHOW AND YOU’RE DOING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS AS WELL. DO YOU CREATE, PRODUCE, EDIT, MANAGE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND DO EVERYTHING ELSE BY YOIRSELF, OR DO YOU HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE HELPING YOU ON THE BACK END?”

It all depends on the clip or the channel. On my personal stuff, I mostly do it myself and I do throw $1000-2000 into producing it. On the YOMYOMF channel, there is actually a team of salaried workers who carry out designated tasks. Sometimes, I work with a deputy producer and assemble a team to create something of a bigger budget and higher production value. You can tell – the clips are much, much cooler!

“SO WHILE WE SEE A VIDEO CLIP OF YOU OR OTHER YOUTUBE SENSATIONS IN THEIR BEDROOM, SOMETIMES THERE ARE A BUNCH OF PROFESSIONALS IN THERE THAT WE’RE NOT SEEING. HOW DO YOU THINK YOUTUBE COMPARES TO MAINSTREAM MEDIA? DO YOU THINK YOUTUBE WILL OVERTAKE MAINSTREAM MEDIA? “

I think YouTube HAS already overtaken mainstream media. A lot of the younger generation or our regular audience don’t watch as much TV as they used to. YouTube is the new NBC. Oh wait, scrap that, I think YouTube has more views than NBC.

Met and spoke to two Chester See fans (Sylvia and Jolene) on the MRT after YouTube fan fest – they made him a homepage background on their iPhones. So sweet!

***

Very frankly, most of these YouTube stars don’t have head turning Brad Pitt bodies or Angelie Jolie’s good looks (except for the dog of course, it’s so cute) – but their X-factor lies in their unassuming wit and wonderful ability to engage audiences from all over the world.

The adults (old foggies) don’t quite get it, but internet video platforms like YouTube are the new millennium generation’s television. There are no boundaries, and no one to tell you what is wrong to do or right – only your audience decides. In a competitive bid for hits, fresh content is springing up and being shared everyday. We love YouTube because it is a reflection of reality, and it’s on demand – we decide and watch what we want, who we want, when we want.

With YouTube’s new “partner” programme, any Tom, Dick, Harry or Ah Huat can now have a shot at Justin Bieber’s fame. For the first time in media history, the official judges of who will be the next big star is YOU AND ME.

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Stay tuned to xinmsn for more up-close-and-personal interviews with YouTube celebrities, including Ryan Higa and Eat My Kimchi!

Did you hear me on the radio? Did I sound like a toad?

I was had a little conversation on air with HotFM 91.3′s bubbly Charmaine Yee on Monday!

Thanks to those who Facebooked, Tweeted or messaged me about it. Haha. I hope i didn’t sound like a toad! They introduced me as a celeb blogger (how nice, does that mean someone is going to start paying me ‘celebrity’ monies now?!:D). I spoke about the YouTube fan fest event I was attending, along with the song I wrote/played/sang (see my embarrassing video in previous post) about delightful YouTube boy David Choi. Through that, I got to meet him and hang out. It was all quite amusing!

It’s nice to hear that I sounded quite natural. The truth is, the official on-air discussion lasted about 5min and I wasn’t in the studio, so it literally felt like I was just picking up my phone and chatting with a telemarketer.

Except that Charmaine Yee wasn’t selling me anything.

If she ever does, I’ll probably buy it.

Listen to her sexy voice on 91.3FM in Singapore!

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PS/IMPORTANT: Thanks to everyone who’s been so supportive of my blogging journey. My Dad asked me when I was like 11 years old/young, “if there’s one thing in life you want to do, and you wouldn’t get paid a single cent, what would you do?”

Of course at that age, I had no idea what blogging was but I replied, “I think I like to write. And make people laugh.”

He laughed. And said, “Well, then you really probably won’t get paid a cent then. But go ahead and do it!”

And so I did. Thanks Dad! ^_^

How to be a BAD boy with a GOOD heart

A girl told me recently that while my brother was in ACSI and RJC, there were a number girls who thought he was hot. Of course, as an older sister who cannot fathom my brother in any sexy way, I find this extremely funny. Girls were digging his bad boy rep on the outside, but alas, no one seemed to be onto his squishy soft good-naturedness on the inside. Well, I’m about to pop the bad-boy-bubble RIGHT NOW and announce that my dearest little brother, who I love very much, is indeed a bad boy with a good heart.

He will be done with his studies soon in London, and to celebrate the excitement of having him back in my physical life, here’s a list of how (and why) my brother is a bad boy with a good heart. Feel free to take a tip or two.

PS: My brother hates me Facebooking/blogging/posting about him, and he really hates attention. (I know, so unlike me right? They don’t make them any more opposite than this!)

So, for the sake of your entertainment (and I will probably be scolded for this), I hope you like this post!

BAD BOY TIP #1:
Have piercings. On your eyebrow, nose, ears, tongue, or really just anywhere.

GOOD HEART TIP #1:
Don’t be afraid to love and cuddle animals.

BAD BOY TIP #2:
Take up bad habits like clubbing.

GOOD HEART TIP #2:
But you should only really enjoy it when you’re with your sister.

BAD BOY TIP #3:
Make a fuss everytime you have to be seen with your sister. Say that she embarrasses you.

GOOD HEART TIP #3:
But really, you love your sister. Cook for your sister, and do her laundry even.

BAD BOY TIP #4:
Hang out in a wolf pack with the coolest boys.

GOOD HEART TIP #4:
Occasionally allow your sister to borrow your boys for her blog advertorials.

BAD BOY TIP #5:
Always look moody. Even in the presence of stunning scenery.

GOOD HEART TIP #5:
Smile in the presence of special occasions, such as when you come across good coffee or whisky. Especially when you’re with your sister.

BAD BOY TIP #6:
Wrestle with the biggest fishes and win the battle.

GOOD HEART TIP #6:
Eat them for protein. Fish is literally, good for the heart.

BAD BOY TIP #7:
Work out.

GOOD HEART TIP #7:
Put those muscles to good use. Like helping your sister to carry her stuff.

BAD BOY TIP #8:
Look like a bad boy vagabond.

GOOD HEART TIP #8:
Actually is a very decent homely and family boy.

LAST BAD BOY TIP:
Wear a leather jacket, of course.

(Bad boys shop at Zara, apparently.)

Disclaimer: I hope you are mature enough to know that this is just a tongue in cheek post for fun, and not to be taken seriously. Bad boys are only cool if they have a good heart. Stay in school and study hard like my brother does.
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Countdown to the month of his return! *JUNE 2013*

A video of a song I wrote + me singing + playing the piano + talking + making faces

My video entry for Charmaine Yee’s #HotFMDateMeDavid contest. YouTube singing sensation David Choi is in Singapore lah. I’m not so much a singer, nor a sensation, so I decided to hack a new song from the first line of his first song…

PS: This is my FIRST time writing a song. And singing it. And recording it. All at the same time. Don’t laugh all at once!
(I guess Rome was built in a day after all)

OOTD – My everyday Singapore street fashion style

If art is a crime, may God forgive me.

UNICORN SKIRT: Mono, Japan
BASIC SINGLET: Supre, Australia
BAG: Altrose, Japan
CUFFS: Assorted frm Bugis
SHOES: Jimmy Choo
BRIGHT LIPS: Sleek Makeup
HAIR: Hairloom Singapore

#ootd #fashion #art #qotd #sg #iphonesia #instacool #sgig #blogger #sgblogger

OCBC Money Insights advice: E-banking = EASY banking

Read my first post HERE to find out why my handbag has no receipts anymore.

If you don’t want to crowd your handbag with ugly stacks of receipts, or manually track your expenses with excel or an iPhone app, then OCBC’s new Money In$ights banking tool is super valuable. Best of all, it’s free! (But of course.)

<strong>Why is this a good tool? </strong> Probably because it’s the small things that matter. When you add little expenditures together, you might get a shock at how much money has wafted out of your pocket, just like this cartoon guy in the video. (Poor, poor guy. Literally.)

I don’t know about you, but my guilty pleasure is taking taxis. Late here, lazy there. $10 here, $15 there… Before I know it, I have $200 missing from my bank account that month. (Taxis are getting so expensive lah.) There is power in knowing how much you’re spending and how much you’re saving. I don’t know about you, but I feel pretty powerless right now.

What OCBC Money Insights does is keep track of where you’re spending your money, so you can start deciding how to save your money.

You can view your spending by bright and appetizing pie-charts too, if you like that sort of thing.

The data in the system also offers you a median explanation of how other people like you are spending their money. Are they earning more than you? Maybe. Are they saving more than you? Likely.

Don’t cry for me Argentina.

Set individual budgets for each category to help you stay on track with your finances. The system even sends you kind reminders through SMS and email alerts when you’re coming close to blowing the budget.

The full step by step E-BANKING EASY-BANKING guide is available through OCBC’s website.

Ladyxtel, Melissa Celestine and I are all smiles now – knowing how to turn our spendings into savings. If this rich new service and cute pictures doesn’t convince you to become an OCBC customer, I don’t know what will.

I have to figure out which bank gives me maximum return % on my savings, but other than that, I am seriously considering using OCBC now for my personal spending account. What do you think?