2cents Magazine Issue 21 Jan-Feb 2020

2cents.my 2cents.my 2cents.my 2cents_my

Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd (26975-W) Customer Care Centre: Tel: 03-79537600 (Mon to Fri: 9am-5pm) Lot 10, Jalan 13/2, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

E-mail:ccc@my.panasonic.com www.panasonic.com.my

VINCENT KEK MARKETING MANAGER

vincent@ brandzoom360.com

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䴀夀匀伀匀倀䠀伀吀伀䈀伀伀吀䠀

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FASHION

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must-have designer handbags we need in our closet Doesn’t matter if it’s a baguette, straw bags or even the tiniest mini tote – you still gotta have em’!

Handbags have always been a fashion statement regardless of how big or small. When a woman carries her bag, she carries it with such poise. You can say that the bag resonates the women for who they are as individuals. Carrying a bag that has its own personality would certainly match up to a woman’s confidence.

With new trends blooming every season, we just can’t help but want more — especially with the year ending and all.

Bags are more than just to serve practical purposes and honestly, that’s the truth. That said, we have picked out some of our favourite in-trend bags that we are obsessed with.

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FASHION

LOEWE Puzzle Cowboy Small Bag Designed by Jonathan Anderson, this Puzzle Cowboy Small Bag has made him a LOEWE icon. The bag comes in the shape of a cuboid for maximum utility. It is crafted from Polished calf and classic calf with precise hand-painted edges and the stamped ‘Anagram’ logo, making it the main key features of the bag. Thanks to its convertible design, the Puzzle Cowboy Small Bag can be carried in five different ways.

Coach Tabby Top Handle Putting a twist on the archival Coach design, the Tabby Top Handle collection is made of mixed polished pebble, snakeskin and refined leather. Introduced in Fall 2019, this versatile silhouette is able to fit more things than what it actually looks like. Featuring two straps which can be carried by hand or with the strap to rock the crossbody style. The bag is available in colour block leather and snakeskin leather.

Chloé Small Chloé “C” Double Carry Bag This sleek designed bag fashions a luxurious embossed Croco effect on calfskin elevating the urban mood. Making a bold statement, the bag is finished with the signature “C” on the flap of the bag. With two adjustable and removable straps, the Chloé “C” can be carried in many ways: long and short. If you are into colours that pop more — the bag comes in five different shades to suit your every mood.

Louis Vuitton Mini Dauphine The Mini Dauphine handbag is from the collection of Spring-Summer 2019. So compact, this retrochic bag is a must-have. Showcasing the distinctive Dauphine LV lock, the bag is decorated with blue guilloché engraving — adding a pop twist to this design. A perfectly sized bag that comes with a removable leather strap that can be carried three ways: crossbody, clutch or worn over the shoulder.

Yves Saint Laurent Classic Small Kate Chain Bag Anya Hindmarch Postbox bag

Bags with the iconic ‘YSL’ plaque has been around since the ‘60s and is known to be a bold statement for fashion. This Classic Small Kate Chain Bag is absolutely great in volume making it have enough space for all your basic essentials. Be bold by going for their other colours as well. A lady needs more than one colour bag.

Introducing the new Postbox bag for Autumn Winter, it is the new key shape for the brand as it’s crafted with Capra leather making it sturdy on top of its lovely sheen. Ideal for formal occasions, it’s constructed around a handmade vintage-gold frame that offers a variety of colours to choose from. This chic bag comes with a leather strap but if you wish to carry it other ways, an additional Hole Punch personalised shoulder strap can be bought separately.

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These Korean make-up brands will leave you feeling

It is no secret that we, Malaysians have taken a huge interest in Korea and its culture. It is all said and done due to the cultural wave that was created mostly by Korean dramas and K-pop idols. Today, you can find everything Korean in Malaysia and honestly, we would like more!

BBIA and EGLIPS have officially launched in all Watsons Malaysia stores and it is quite reasonable in price.

These products were created to enhance women’s feature in the most stunning way possible. Providing a vast array of fun and trendy makeups, it allows everyone to experiment different looks with their excellent colour choices.

GWIYEOBDA

EGLIPS Muse In Velvet Lipstick

BBIA Cashmere Shadow

This is a creamy lipstick with a soft cushiony feel, mediumto-full buildable coverage and features an inherently beautiful velvet finish. It comes in a slim, compact lipstick component for easy travel. Just pair with another product for added dimension or as a tinted base.

Each of the BBIA Cashmere Shadow comes in quite a nice little tub with a clear lid that shows you exactly what colour you're picking out.

There are five shades in each series and the finish range is from soft to glossy via luminous glow and cashmere effects.

Its non-drying formula is enriched with vitamin E and emollients for a creamy texture, while a blend of unique silicones that ensures long-lasting, seamless colour for hours.

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Though in our opinion, certain shades aren't as pigmented and you would have to apply more than once to get that perfect eye look.

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BEAUTY

EGLIPS Matte Fit Lip Lacquer

BBIA Last Lipstick Series (Red 1-4)

A sleek sophisticated lip colour where gorgeous shades of red collide with pristine velvet matte in a rich and creamy formula. It elevates liquid lipsticks with decadent, transfer-resistant, soft-matte formula. Pigment-maximizing technology envelops concentrated pigments in ultracushion-like emollients, creating a smooth, second-skin film on lips. This formula provides intense, saturated, longwearing colour.

The packaging comes in a beautiful matte case, making it look expensive and classy.

Unlike other matte lipsticks that leave your lips dry, the BBIA Last Lipstick Series is richly pigmented with a creamy finish which is what every make-up lover is looking for.

There are four different series to this and it all comes with different packagings, each with five swatches.

EGLIPS Cheek Fit Blusher

BBIA Lip Ink Tattoo (Blood Series 2)

EGLIPS Cheek Fit Blusher is a sheer, buildable, and silky-smooth cheek colour that blends seamlessly with skin for the most natural, fresh look. It is slightly less pigmented, however, in a way it does allow you to adjust the intensity as needed rather than applying too much at once.

This liquid lip colour leaves a lightweight stain on your lips making it ultra-comfortable to wear. It could dry down much faster than the other lip products however one just can't resist the shades, though.

On the bright side, it is long-lasting and leaves behind a nice strong tint when it is rubbed off.

The shades like watercolours range from soft neutrals to vivid pops of colour, with finishes ranging from matte to a subtle sheen with hidden pearl.

The product comes in two series with five swatches each, and the latest one is called the Blood Series 2.

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BEAUTY

BBIA Last Velvet Lip Tint (The Pink Cinema Series)

EGLIPS Oil Cut Sebum Eglips Oil Cut Sebum Powder is a setting powder that blurs the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles for an airbrushed finish. The innovative sifter and custom cap allow for the perfect amount of product to be dispensed.

This high-quality luxury lip tint is so true to its name because of its amazing velvet mousse texture that is lightweight on the lips. With long-lasting coverage, it does not fade easily and requires minimal touch-ups. It isn't a liquid lip tint but more of a matte liquid lipstick.

This translucent powder, formulated without talc, leaves a super smooth finish and is perfect for a variety of skin tones.

The product goes perfectly smooth on the lips and has a velvety finish. Altogether, there are 6 series and The Pink Cinema is the latest edition of the product.

EGLIPS Velvet Fit Tint

EGLIPS Lively Liquid Glitter Shadow The liquid glitter shadow comes in a cylindrical-shaped casing with a luxurious gold-toned cap. Quite sheer but it is buildable, long-lasting and dries quickly to prevent creasing. The EGLIPS Lively Liquid Glitter Shadow comes with over eight shades in the collection, perfect for each day.

The Velvet Fit Tint has a kiss-proof and non-transferring formula while feeling weightless and comfortable as if the lips are bare. It is a buildable, waterproof lip colour but instead of a velvety finish, it has a more whipped creamlike texture.

It's not so bad considering it is much easier to blend and to get a more gradient lip look. Although the product is quite lightweight on the lips, a pro tip would be to apply a lip balm beforehand.

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BEAUTY

Written by Grace Sundram

Get that natural, rosy lip look with

Lip Ice

Magic Color

Having chapped, dry lips is one the most common things that Malaysians share. Caring for your lips is quite an essential thing to do so remember to always stay hydrated, exfoliate and apply lip balm. However, lip balms don't just give you a solution to cure your chapped lips but it also helps give a more natural lip look. Besides lipstick, you can opt for a tint lip balm or in this case, a lip balm that changes colour according to your body temperature.

The Lip Ice Magic Color is effective and affordable. So convenient to bring around, you will no longer be left with chapped, pale-looking lips no more.

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BEAUTY Design: 4/5 The Lip Ice Magic Color comes in slim tubes, each variant with a different shade of pink.

Not to kid around, but the colours remind us of two things, Barbie and cotton candy — both so good and irresistible. With three variants: Fragrance-free, Strawberry and Pink Mix Berry, you can switch between the three whenever. So sleek, it won't even add much weight to your bag making it absolutely travel-friendly.

Benefit: 5/5 Application: 4/5

The Lip Ice Magic Color helps moisturise your lips, giving it the perfect gloss before applying lipstick. What's great about this product is that it changes colour according to your body temperature. The lip balm bullet may look colourless but it certainly does live up to its name.

Although the balm is colourless, the shade will change to a nice rosy colour on the lip once applied. It isn't as dark as lipstick shades but if you're going for a more natural look, the Lip Ice Magic Color is the right product.

Nonetheless, it is quite sheer so it is better to swipe more than once to hide those pigmented lips.

It contains all the great stuff for long-lasting moisture such as Argan Oil and Beeswax.

Also, to smoothen those fine lines — it is infused with Commiphora Mukul Herb Extract that helps keep those lips bouncy too. Apart from that, you can also use the product to apply as a blusher to your cheeks.

Touch & Smell: 4/5

So you can say that the Lip Ice Magic Color is the perfect multi-purpose product for you to carry around, in case you want your bag lighter. Besides colour changing, the balm also contains effective anti-oxidant Vitamin E to protect lips against the harmful environment.

This colour changing lip balm has a softening balm texture which looks a little like wax.

Whereas for the colour of the balm, it's a more translucent off-white shade, to be more precise. As mentioned, it comes with three variants and the berry ones have a nice fruity smell to it. Unless you're not a fan of berries, then we reckon you to go for the fragrance-free option.

Verdict The Lip Ice Magic Color is the product for you to keep your lips moisturised and bouncy throughout the day. You can now opt for the lip balm instead of a nude colour lipstick to go for a more natural makeup look. Incredibly lightweight, you won't even feel the waxy texture on your lips.

Value: 4/5 With natural moisturising ingredients of Shea Butter, Macadamia, Ternifolia Seed Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Aloe Extract, this unique colour-changing lip balm is definitely worth the price. Comes in three variants and suited for all, the Lip Ice Magic Color is sold at all drugstores nationwide at the price of RM17.20. But if you are one who loves to shop online, you can also get it on Hermo.

Images via @lipice_girls_world3 & Lip Ice Malaysia

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Contact us at marketing@brandzoom360.com now!

Malaysians share their lovey-dovey stories with us and we can’t help but feel the love Love is in the air when the month of February is here. It is the month where we celebrate love and show our loved ones how much we appreciate them. No matter how extravagant or even small, celebrating Valentine's Day with our significant other is what matters the most. Being by their side and cherishing every moment that's spent together. For this Valentine's, the 2CENTS team had the chance to hear some lovely stories from newly lovebirds to married couples on how they surprise each other on special occasions.

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LEONARD, 30 MERISSA, 24 Shopping is always fun because we're both idiots making puns and each other laugh.

Planning special events can be a bit tricky because we both like to surprise each other. So it is more of, "hey keep this date & time free, I’m taking you out.” We have been together 2 years coming to 3 this August. Movies, simple dinners, Netflix and chill to the more random rooftop/ Instagram bars or live music events are some of the usual plans.

We’ve been together for like 5 years and usually, we would go for like either brunch or dinner depending on our schedule. The challenges I go through are planning the date and time. We’re both semi-workaholic. Okie I think it’s just me. So it’s always finding the right time and date that we could meet and hang out.

BRYAN, 25 My girlfriend - Marissa and I have been together for 9 years and coming to the 10th year this year. Planning a surprise for my girlfriend was never easy because she will somehow know when I plan a surprise or any events for her. It is also difficult to plan as her friends are also my friends so it is very hard to keep secrets within our group of friends but at the end of the day what matters most is that we are always happy for what we do for each other and to keep our relationship going strong.

ADAM, 25 My name is Adam, and this is how me and my girlfriend, Yee Ning spend our Valentine’s Day. We call ourselves AY as in "ayyy", the initials of our name. I've been with her for almost 2 years now. She lives in Johor and I live in PJ which is really far from each other. So, meeting each other is a challenge by itself.

Which isn’t really a bad thing because those moments when we are together are even more precious. Planning our dates usually happens randomly, when both of us are excited to talk about it. It could be a month before and sometimes even the day before, it depends. We also do surprise plans for each other, meaning that I’d plan things out and surprise her throughout the day or she’d do that to me. Often times we’d just have spontaneous adventures. But for Valentine’s Day, it had to be planned!

The main part of our plan is to make sure we don’t do things that we can do on any other normal day. This is our second time spending Valentine’s Day together. It has to be something special and sweet. Here’s one thing about us, we are extreme food lovers! We’d go the extra mile just to try the best and new foods around. Our friends would normally come to us for some tips and places on food. So, for Valentine’s Day, our centre plan will be to find the most extraordinary meal. Either a really romantic place or exciting new food experience. It doesn’t just stop there. We also think about things we’ll be doing before and after the meal. For this year, we plan to get closer to nature. Maybe we’ll be going on a hike, or find a waterfall, get lost in the jungle but not literally. Before the night ends is usually the sweetest part, we’d just drive around town or scroll through the night. Focusing on each other, blocking out the rest of the world and living the moment like there was no one else but us. It doesn’t matter where we were, as long as we had each other. These are the little things that make our Valentine’s Day special.

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MARISSA, 25

ISABELLE, 24

For me, it's still so surreal that we have been together for 10 years now because it feels like we just started dating not long ago! With that being said, 10 years is still a rather long period of time in which every year trying to gain new ideas and plans for my boyfriend - Bryan can be quite a challenge. One of the main challenges that I face while planning special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries for Bryan is the attempt to organize a better surprise than the previous ones. I always believe in creating new and memorable surprises for my loved one so that each occasion is special in their own way. Nonetheless, Bryan always appreciates my efforts and tells me that he doesn't need big and grand surprises, all that matters is that we still have each other and that we're blessed to be able to see each other almost every single day!

Planning for V-day is a pain in the a**!!! Everything is so expensive and the flowers are overpriced during that time.

Although I love the idea of celebrating love, my boyfriend and I don’t just celebrate it on that day. So for the sake of celebrating Valentines Day, we decided to tapau some Ramli burgers, stay at home and binge-watch on Netflix. This is after being together for 3 years plus. The first year I bought my boyfriend cookies and he bought me the best gift ever (bakkwa-honey pork). That was the best Valentines gift to date and we have been together for 3 years and 4 months now.

MANDEEP SINGH BAINS, 31 We've been together for 3 years turning 4 in June 2020. We try to do different things but end up doing shopping or window shopping. But during our monthsary or anniversary, we try to go out for activities and more. She knows me too well and at times can guess my plans, I'm really a bad planner.

She's the better one at planning but when it comes to execution we only succeed in it 70% of the time. So her birthday is just 2 days after Valentine's and it's always a challenge to plan 2 days simultaneously. Usually, on Valentines, we keep things simple and smooth, a small dinner, flowers and loads of laughter. For anniversaries, on the other hand, we look to having some plans to go out for a day, filled with games, fun and adventure. We strangely met on Instagram, and me being me, only chat with her there for 4 months before I stepped up and asked for her number. The first call and the first time I heard her voice was on her birthday in 2016. That's definitely an unforgettable moment to remember.

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FEATURE STORY

VENETTA, 24 We’ve been together for 1 year 5 months now & things have never changed with what we do as a couple from the time we met. He’s 2 years younger to me so when I was working, he was studying & we always made sure we made time for each other. All our plans up till date have always been an impromptu thing & we like it like that. For example like when he picks me up every day from work, we used to buy large size pizza EACH and sit in the car watching Netflix whilst eating pizza.

Of course, it was difficult for me to think of gift ideas for him cause I’m terrible at picking gifts for anyone. He’s always been a man of old school and simplicity, so I never knew what gift would be perfect for him. So our tradition of gift exchange happens during major anniversary dates and events like birthdays, valentines and Christmas. So during those times, we would write each other letters reminding how much that person means to us even though we don’t say it often. I gave him 60 reasons on why I love him (all handmade) & polaroids photos of us.

My major accomplishment was for Ross’s 21st last year. I had the privilege to surprise him twice for his 21st birthday. One was with his friends & the other time was with his family & friends. I managed to pull off the surprise this time without being caught. The second time was when we had an actual party with his friends & family where I had a chance to fulfil my promise of making sure his mommy’s going to be there for his party. He lost his mom when he was 8 years old and he’s never gotten over it since. He’s always told “V, I wish my mom was there to celebrate with me for my birthday” & I always told, “I promise you mommy will be there celebrating with you”. So when the day came, I had the party planner draw out a portrait of his mom and him. It blew my mind away cause it was exactly the way they looked in the photo! That day was filled with joy and happy tears. His dad thanked me for such a personal touch for him & his family.

Materialistic things will last for a temporary moment but little things are what stays in the heart always. Just checking up on each other on a busy schedule or even just calling and telling them you miss them will make a difference. No matter what the situation may be, if you choose to love the person, you have to make sure you love 100%. Because even if you had the slightest doubts, you’ll never be happy in a relationship. Someone told me, “Always ask yourself why do you love Ross & it could be a positive or a negative answer but as long as you know why & if you don’t know why is when you don’t really love the person at all.”

My name is Arvind but everybody calls me Ross. My girlfriend Venetta and I met in late 2018, August 14 to be exact. We actually knew each other 8 years before date. We used to hate each other. It was the funniest thing ever. When I met her I had just turned 20 and she is 2 years older than I am. She is 24 this year and I am 22. So, we have celebrated Valentine's day once. This year will be our second year celebrating it together.

Some of the challenges that I go through planning things for Valentine’s or even in any day situation would be transport, money and the time because I am a full-time student. Sometimes it can be hard but making her happy is what makes me happy, so I try my best to give her the best. Some of the things we do on date nights are going to a really good food joint, catch a good movie but most importantly having fun and showing all the love that we should in the world.

Even though it's only been two years I and she have grown so much in love with each other and we hope that we have many more great Valentine's Day together.

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GRACE, 24 Planning surprises for my boyfriend is one of my favourite things ever. Being together for 2 years and 10 months now, I have to admit it isn’t easy but deep down with all my heart, he means the world to me. He isn’t a gift kind of person, just like how he isn’t a cake person. So instead of blowing candles on cakes for his birthday, we would actually switch it to apple pies because it is his favourite. To be precise, he is more of a “let’s just stay home and chill even if it’s my birthday” kind of person and I really appreciate it that. But being the hopeless romantic that I am, I like to plan or create something to celebrate our special day together, it being Valentine’s Day, anniversaries or birthdays.

It may not seem like a long time but for us, it feels like forever. I know it’s cliche to say “it feels like I’ve known him my whole life” but it’s kind of true if it’s real, right. Love makes you do crazy things and I love doing it for him. The first time I planned a surprise for him was a bit tough because I had to come up with a good excuse on why I was dragging him out.

You see with him, he’s good with guessing and he knows when I’m hiding something from him. However, he is good at keeping it in and lets me go with the flow as well. Besides him finding out about my sneaky plans, for me, planning out these surprises makes me happy because I'd be able to see the precious look on his face that usually makes my heart go all fuzzy. This reminds me of the time when I took him to Malacca for a mini getaway. He has no prior memories of visiting Jonker Street or even having the famous chicken rice balls since he was only a kid when he last visited. Hence why the trip was even more meaningful because he got to experience a place he’s never been to before while I made special memories at my favourite state with my special someone.

Safe to say, no matter what we do, we will always have a good time because for us, as long we are with each other, it is more than enough.

If I knew what happiness and love were before, I was dead wrong. Every day with you is a never-ending adventure, and I never want it to stop. I thank Him for bringing me, you and for making us stronger as the days go by. You are my best friend, my lover, my everything. Can't thank you enough and forever blessed for you; for us - and for how it all began. Cheers to growing old and crinkly together, lovey.

Well in this relationship, my girlfriend is the one that’s better at buying gifts and planning things that are romantic. I am not romantic. But it was the first Valentine's Day we were celebrating, so I felt I had to get her something nice and have dinner, all while I was on a tight budget.

So basically I went to Sunway Pyramid to buy a gift. I went to Sunway because it just has so many shops that sell nice things. Ended up rounding the mall like three times before I decided what to get. Bought her a pair of earrings and a bunch of hair ties since she keeps losing them. It was something small and nice so I thought it’ll be appreciated.

As for dinner, being bad at picking places, I decided that maybe I should cook something for us to have dinner at home together. Since we always talk about cooking at home but never end up doing it.

COLIN, 27

The plan was to have dinner a candlelight dinner on the attic but on the day, things weren’t looking good for it. Weather was bad and it would be calamitous if it started raining during the dinner and all. So we did an indoor dinner and I gave her the gift. It was a small, relaxed Valentine's Day. Nothing so big or elaborate, but I felt like that’s the best. Just the two of us in a comfortable place, just spending time and sharing the love that we have for each other.

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FEATURE STORY

YEE NING, 21 My name is Yee Ning, I am 21 years old and I have been together with Adam for 1 year and 9 months, for now, that being said we only celebrated Valentine’s Day together once. Last year this time, I was having my semester break, and the fact that my hometown is in Johor while he is currently staying in PJ, it was difficult for us to meet almost every week. As it was our first Valentine's together, we had planned to meet each other with a special staycation, with me travelling by bus to TBS. The feeling of excitement after not seeing each other for a long time was surreal. He was waiting for me at the terminal and we went to the city centre straight, had our lunch together in Kyochon which I had been craving for a long time in the shopping mall we first dated. At night later, he said he has prepared multiple surprises for me. Knowing how much I love seafood and we finally had time together at night without rushing back home, he has booked a barbeque buffet dinner by catching live seafood. The whole time was filled with non-stop laughter, seeing how much he panicked while catching the prawns really cracked me up. We then ended our night by overviewing the scenic city night view at the hill-top with our favourite songs playing on the mini speaker. With us slow talking to each other, almost feel like we were at one of the scenes in Lalaland. That was the best night spent.

For me, I was touched by his efforts in planning all of these and making things happen. And he really considers my feelings in every decision made, knowing the food I was craving for and the places we would enjoy together. It made me feel so secured, and able to rely on him without any further worries. There were no such challenges for us, as we totally considered each other’s preferences, and everything was arranged according to our own liking. Inevitably, things are expensive during a special occasion, especially Valentine’s Day, therefore advanced booking in accommodation and restaurant was very much needed to avoid disappointment. For this upcoming Valentine’s day, we will be doing our favourite activities together, which are outdoor, from hiking, jungle trekking to food hunting. It is certainly surreal to reminisce these memories though it was not long while ago, from the time we were being shy to each other, couldn’t even look each other in the eyes, to lovers who are spending time together on Valentine’s Day, which is a special day dedicated for every lovebird out there. After all, the main purpose of planning Valentine’s Day is about spending quality time with your loved one. It doesn’t have to be expensive, fine dining and even a bouquet of flowers. It is about being by each other's side, spending quality time with each other. It is already the best kind of celebration you can ever have. As love is to be celebrated every day, it isn't just being shown only on Valentine’s day.

Daniel and I are 22 years old and we’ve been together for almost 8 months. I really love planning surprises for Daniel but the problem is that I’m really bad at keeping surprises to myself. One way or another I would blurt something to Daniel and he would know that something is going on. Daniel isn’t really a gift kind of person, but I love getting him gifts I know he will appreciate. As much as I love planning surprises I know one of my struggles is keeping it from him because the minute I see him, I know I would want to share what I’m excited about and well that would just ruin the whole surprise. For this Valentine’s Day since it would be our first time celebrating together, I wanted us to have a mini-getaway just from work and the hectic schedule. Of course, I who couldn’t keep anything a secret ended up blurting everything I had planned to him cause I was too excited about it but the look on his face was priceless and worth it. I know there will be more moments like this in the future and I know a lot of my surprises will be exposed by myself but hey, its love.

AMANDA, 22

Daniel is the most caring, loving, kind-hearted man I’ve ever met in my entire life. He checks out all of the boxes from the list of qualities I would like in a man. 8 months may seem like a short time to some people to say this but after all that we’ve been through together the past year, we know that we want to be together and support one another as long as possible and we’ll always work through our differences and love each other unconditionally.

Daniel, thank you for breaking through my walls and showing me that being vulnerable is a beautiful thing. You are someone I never want to lose.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and I can’t wait for all the times I blurt out my surprises to you. I love you and Happy Valentine’s Day. ISSUE 21

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MAPLE, 29 We got to know each other through National Service (PLKN) 12 years ago. Our long-standing and long-distance relationship wasn’t always easy. As such, we don’t really get to celebrate every Valentine's on the actual day together. It was fine for both of us. As cliché, as it may sound, every day can be Valentine 's Day if we love each other. And that’s what we are doing together now. Got married, staying together and get to see him every day. He would surprise me once in a while when we first got together. During our first vacation trip together with his uni mates to Redang Island in Terengganu.

He surprised me by creating this romantic love ring with candles on the beach. This was something that I never expected and I was so surprised and a little touched for all his effort to make me happy.

Then, he wrote a special loving letter for me on our first 100th day together. He bought a big piece of corrugated plastic sheet, cut it into A5 size, writing and bind them together. The content of the letter was mainly how he felt to me in these 100 days and his promises. After that, it wasn’t much romantic meticulous planning from him since we both graduated and got busy working. Initially, I just don’t get why he was so romantic at the beginning then turned so realistic ever since graduated.

Love is not only sacrificing from one party. I am glad that he is someone who always compromises when we argue. There are so many small gestures in our daily life that he’s done so that I would be happy. He would let me finish his food whenever I am hungry even though he still is. He will bring me to the places I want, though not always, but I am still delighted that he makes the effort to make me happy. And now, the essence that binds us together is to respect and understand each other.

I just want him to be himself when he is with me. I used to be unhappy when he didn't want to join my circle of friends. However, now as time progresses, we both are old enough to please, to impress people around us. I do understand him when he just doesn’t want to join my circle of friends just as I sometimes don't join his too. He will understand and at the end, we are still both living our life together as an individual and as a pair of husband and wife. It is mutual respect and understanding that keep our relationship going.

It has been 2 years and 7 months and our anniversary is on Valentine’s Day. Since we both are students and my man is a gym lover (who can eat a lot) usually on special days like Valentine’s Day or our anniversary, we would always go for a buffet dinner. Then we’ll be wandering around the mall and have a movie night to chill together. The challenges I go through is my man tends to wake up late and leave us not much time to find parking or go shopping. I always expected something like a romantic dinner date but it always ends up with us eating a lot with a huge tummy and walking around the mall.

Oh, sometimes it’s really hard to think about what to buy for a guy but I still remember there is one time I planned to buy a Braun Buffel wallet.

My man likes it because of the gold logo so I went to a few outlets to get it and finally found one. It feels exciting as he always mentions that he wants one but at the same time I’m also worried that he might get one himself.

Luckily on that day though, my surprise was a success!

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DEEP SCAN

CANON EOS-1D X MARK III

Design

THE ALL NEW CANON EOS1D X MARK III IS A COMPLETE GAME-CHANGER FOR ALL CAMERA ENTHUSIASTS

The all-new EOS-1D X Mark III comes with illuminated buttons for easier menu and playback operations in dark conditions. The improved viewfinder is able to display key elements (other than the AF frame) in red. This makes it easy to view information even in very dark or extremely bright conditions whereas the display of other viewfinder elements/information does not impair AF operation.

4.7

Canon is known to have cameras with the most impressive features. With the all-new EOS-1D X Mark III, it is the first full-frame Canon camera to feature 4K video without cropping. Made not just for seasoned professional but also advanced enthusiasts, making it a complete game-changer. With a powerful 20.1 megapixel 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor and the new DIGIC X image processor, the Mark III delivers top-notch image quality in a wide range of shooting situations.

Features 4.8

Since the launch of the EOS-1D X Mark, which was four years ago — it is no secret that the new Mark III will come with notable upgrades. One of their significant upgrades would be DIGIC 8 processor that improves the autofocus speed and tracking performance through the viewfinder. Also, compared to the previous Mark II, the new processor allows a burst rate of approximately 1000 RAW shots which is an important upgrade.

As for shooting, this class-leading gadget sets a new standard as it enables recording at 2-bit 5.5K/60p RAW video internally at a bit rate of 2600 Mbps.

With the ability to capture high-resolution images at up to 20 frames per second (fps) and high-definition video up-to-4K 60P featuring Canon’s proprietary Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus (AF) technology, this is the perfect workhorse for any professional image creator.

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Other features include built-in Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi with FTP and support 5Ghz wireless LAN. Also, the EOS-1D X Mark III is compatible with 2x2 MIMO when used with WFT-E9.

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Performance 4.8

Equipped with a newly developed high-res AF sensor that adopts a square pixel design, there is an increase in pixel density for both vertical and horizontal directions. This pixel miniaturization increases the pixel density by 28 times, resulting in a significant increase of AF points from 61 points (EOS-1D X Mark II) to 191 points (for optical viewfinder shooting) in the EOS-1D X Mark III. The processing speed of the new AF sensor is 40x faster than the EOS-1D X Mark II, resulting in significant improvement in subject recognition and tracking performance.

its fix on the subject’s eye, allowing the photographer to achieve highly accurate focus.

Conclusion

This beast of a camera is definitely a true holy grail for all sports and wildlife photographers. Although mirrorless cameras have taken over, this DSLR will always be a preferred workhorse for the pros. Also putting in mind of its impressive burst shooting power.

With the increased number of pixels, minute variations in the distance to the subject in focus can be accurately detected. This brings about a dramatic improvement in AF accuracy. All 191 AF points support the exposure of up to f/8 over the entire AF area, with 65 cross-type AF points at f/8. This makes the EOS-1D X Mark III great for use with extenders, especially for wildlife or sports photographers.

Whereas with the eye detection AF and head detection routines help to precisely identify the intended subject when using the EOS-1D X Mark III. The accuracy and stability of human detection functions have been greatly improved and coupled with the miniaturized AF area division. When shooting human subjects, the camera will detect and focus on the subject’s eye. Even during burst shooting at a speed of up to 20 fps, the camera maintains

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THUMBS UP

SPECIFICATIONS:

SENSOR: 20.1MP FULL-FRAME CMOS LENS MOUNT: CANON EF SCREEN: 3.2-INCH TOUCHSCREEN, 2,100,000 DOTS BURST SHOOTING: 16FPS (VIEWFINDER) OR 20FPS (LIVE VIEW) WITH AF/AE TRACKING AUTOFOCUS: 191 POINT / 155 F/4 CROSS-TYPE AF POINTS VIDEO: 4K RAW/DCI/UHD AT 60FPS CONNECTIVITY: WI-FI AND BLUETOOTH BATTERY LIFE: 2850 SHOTS (VIEWFINDER SHOOTING), 610 (LIVE VIEW) WEIGHT: 1250G (BODY ONLY)

CONTACT: CAMWORLD LOT 6.30.00 LEVEL 6, PAVILION KUALA LUMPUR MALL, NO. 168, JALAN BUKIT BINTANG KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA 55100

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A P P L E WAT C H S E R I E S 5

and space black. The Apple Watch Series 5 also comes with two size options of 40 and 44mm.

THE APPLE WATCH SERIES 5 IS THE ULTIMATE SMARTWATCH WITH SPECTACULAR UPGRADES

Features 4.8

With the latest feature, the Watch Series 5 comes with an Always-On display that allows the time and other information visible at all times. The screen intelligently dims in an ambient mode when the user’s wrist is down and returns to full brightness with a raise of a tap. Offering the same 18 hours of battery life, other features besides the LTPO display includes a built-in compass, an ultra-low-power display driver and efficient power management integrated circuit.

There are too many smartwatches available with all sorts of features, but when it comes to the Apple Watch Series though — you can rest assured it’s the best of the best. Apple recently launched its latest Apple Watch Series 5, featuring great features such as the always on-display, built-in compass and much more.

Design

4.8

In terms of design, the Apple Watch Series 5 has an identical display like its predecessor. Measures in at 10.7mm thick, it features the same ol’ classic square-shaped design along with a Digital Crown and side button. The Digital Crown functions as a navigator that gives its users a mechanical feel when scrolling through and controlling that watch. Aesthetic wise, Apple introduces a new case material made of titanium with two beautiful brushed finishes: natural titanium finish

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The new Apple Watch comes with watchOS 6 that offers additional health and fitness features such as the new Cycle Tracking app. This feature allows its users to log information as well as providing the predicted timings related to their menstrual cycle. On top of that, the smartwatch’s Noice app also helps alert users of the ambient sound levels that could impact hearing. watchOS 6 also brings dynamic new watch faces, including Meridian, Modular Compact and Solar Dial, which can be easily customized for quicker access to favourite apps.

As for the cellular-enabled version, it comes with an emergency-

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calling feature that allows to calls emergency services without having an iPhone nearby.

Performance 4.8

This new smartwatch is one of the best multipurpose fitness trackers out there. It has almost everything needed, from tracking or recording or even locating — except for one omission which is sleep. Regardless though, it comes advanced workout metrics, GPS and water resistance to 50 metres making it absolutely convenient for fitness enthusiasts and beginners.

Conclusion

With new case materials, the Always-On display, compass, noise app and so on, its users wouldn’t have to worry about not having their phones with them at all time. Combined with the power of watchOS 6, users can finally take charge of their lifestyle with the assistance of this ultimate game-changer of a watch.

THUMBS UP

So well-grounded, it measures its users’ heartbeat per minute.

Users can manually take an electrocardiogram (ECG) by placing their finger on the crown for 30 seconds or so. The apps will show the users the waveform in real-time and notify if their heartbeat looks irregular.

As for the cellular version, the Apple Watch Series 5 allows its users to send and receive texts, make calls, also able to stream up to 50 million songs. Plus, it isn’t just a mere watch like the rest, it can tell time with more than 100 watch faces and infinite ways to personalise them so that users wouldn’t be bored with only one.

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SPECIFICATIONS: DIMENSIONS: 44 X 38 X 10.7 MM (1.73 X 1.50 X 0.42 IN) WEIGHT: 47.8 G (1.69 OZ) BUILD: GLASS FRONT (SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL), CERAMIC/SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL BACK, STAINLESS STEEL FRAME SIM: ESIM, 50M WATER RESISTANT, ECG CERTIFIED (REGION DEPENDENT SW APPLICATION; HW AVAILABLE ON ALL MODELS) TYPE: LTPO OLED CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREEN, 16M COLOURS SIZE: 1.78 INCHES, 10.0 CM2 (~60.0% SCREEN-TO-BODY RATIO) RESOLUTION: 448 X 368 PIXELS (~326 PPI DENSITY) PROTECTION: SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL GLASS, 3D TOUCH DISPLAY, 1000 NITS MAX BRIGHTNESS, ALWAYS-ON DISPLAY

CONTACT: MACSTUDIO, LEVEL CC-06, PARADIGM MALL. NO. 1 JALAN SS7/ 26A, 47301 PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR CONTACT: 03-7887 4799 WEBSITE: APPLE.COM/MY

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CANON EOS-1D X MARK III Price: RM29,999 Website: my.canon

With DIGIC X Image processor, this camera is able to capture high definition image quality and lightning speed. For those who are soon-to-be professional image capturer, this camera has the ability to capture high-resolution images at up to 20 frames per second (fps) and high-definition video up-to 4K 60P presenting Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus (AF) technology.

As this Canon EOS-1D X Mark III just launched into the market, the price is yet to be determined.

XIAOMI MI NOTE 10/PRO

Price:RM2,099 & RM 2,499 Website: mi.com/my

It is the first smartphone with 108MP Penta camera setup which is able to capture underlying details, bringing it to sights. It features 6GB RAM+128GB ROM and a massive 5260mAh battery life. While the other, Mi Note 10 Pro has the feature of an 8-piece lens and a larger 8 GB RAM + 256 GB ROM storage. Both of these phones are able to provide a grand smartphone photography experience. .

SNOWPLUS COFFEE FLAVOURED PODS Price: RM 185 Website: shoppee.com.my

To those caffeine addicts, you are in luck! SNOWPLUS has launched its all-new first vaporize caffeine delivery system. SNOWPLUS Coffee Edition is equipped with 400 mAh battery capacity, and 50 minutes to a full charge. The battery can last up to three days span. It is nicotine free and convenient to bring it on the go as an energizer. You can now grab your SNOWPLUS Coffee Edition at Shopee with the most absolute price offered.

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APPLE WATCH SERIES 5

Price: From RM1,749 and above Website: apple.com/my

The new Apple Watch Series 5 is unlike other watches where it has the function of always-on retina display, allowing you to view the time always. It has a new Noise app which can alerts you when the decibels is raised to the level of affecting your hearing. It allows female users to track their menstrual cycle with just HONOR VIEW20 a tap. You can also go out without your phone by just receiving calls, texts and listening to music with just this watch.

Price: Starts from RM1,999 Website: Ground Floor of Highstreet @ One Utama Shopping Centre.

HONOR View20’s rear camera is the first to be powered by the SONY IMX586 48MP sensor, with a 1/2-inch large CMOS, and equivalent 1.6μm pixels in Quad Bayer array. The sensor, boosted by the Kirin 980 chipset, supports new 48MP AI Ultra Clarity mode to produce photos with unmatched detail and clarity. The Kirin 980’s dual-NPU processes the photo using an advanced AI algorithm – the quality of the photo is assessed, details in dark areas are optimized, and colors are adjusted to appear more vivid.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A80

Price: RM 2,499 Website: samsung.com/my

A rotating triple camera, perfect to document the happenings of your life in front and behind. It can take good Live shots, with 8 MP ultra wide camera, 48 MP main camera and 3D depth camera. Satisfying you with the HD, clear resolution by drawing a line between other devices, in vlogging and streaming. It is also equipped with a wide 123-degree field of vision, to capture what is in sight. Galaxy A80 comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

JBL CHARGE 3

Acer ASPIRE E 15

Price: RM899 Website: Lazada

Price: RM2,659 Website: Acer outlets or authorized dealers

This full-featured waterproof portable speaker with high-capacity Aspire E Series laptops are great choices for everyday users, with lots battery to charge your devices goes a long way. Wirelessly connect of appealing options and an attractive design that exceed expectations. up to 3 smartphones or tablets to the speaker and take turns With many enhanced components, color choices, and a textured metallic playing powerful stereo sound. It even has a built-in rechargeable finish, theAIR Aspire E makes everyday better. With added enhancements, REALME BUDS Li-ion battery supports up to 20 hours of playtime and RM charges you get an even richer media experience. Acer TrueHarmony™ delivers Price: 299 Website: lazada.com.my This is the firstand Realme wireless earbuds is capable of supporting charging.

Withlifelike a singleaudio, charge, this earbuds can keep you companyconsistent for as long smartphones tablets via USB. Plus,which no more worrying about rainwirelessricher, more while Acer ExaColor™ produces as 3 hours. You can also use it to activate Google Assistant or accepting or ending a call with the 5.0 Bluetooth feature. To those of you who are gamers, it can or even submerge water. accuracy and Skype-certified components provide uninterrupted cutspills; downyou thecan audio latency by 51%infrom 243.8ms to 119.3ms by long-pressingcolour both sides.

It supports autoplay whereby you will automatically get to listen to your music once you wore it. With the integrated of Google Fast Pair, your device paired immediately when the cover of the charging case is open. audio will andbe video.

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SAMSUNG GALAXY FOLD

Price: From RM 8,388 Website: samsung.com/my

This is Samsung’s first foldable phone. It has Hexa camera which every photo captured will be in high definition close-ups to panoramic photos. This phone enables users to multitask until 3 apps, also the size of the app window in split-screen view is adjustable. Users can switch easily and smoothly from using one hand to maximizing the full screen of the phone. Compatible to those users who love to many shots on the phone with 512GB and 12GB RAM of the phone.

SONY XPERIA 1

Price: RM 2,699 Website: lazada.com.my

Sony Xperia I provides 3 different types of lenses for any situation according to the subject of your photo, 16mm, 26mm and 52mm. With the built-in UI, you can choose the lens at ease. Sony also developed an adaptive charger which never allows your phone to go overcharged. This phone offered you a cinematic experience like no others with 21:9 cinema wide HDR OLED display. Being the first smartphone with the feature 4K OLED display, providing the colours as how the directors desired.

NIKON Z50

Price: RM 5,398 for twin kit Website: nikon.com.my

The Nikon Z50 is a 20.9 MP mirrorless camera which is installed with DX-Format CMOS Image Sensor, increase the focus on unstabilized shots even in light challenging settings. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth convenient for those instagrammer to share the photos taken immediately. All you need is the Nikon SnapBridge app and you can control the camera with your phone. This Nikon is equipped with a 209-point Hybrid Autofocus giving specialized AF performance when shooting photos or videos. It can record 4K UHD videos up to ISO 25,600. It is now priced at RM 4,098.00 for body only, RM 4.598 when it comes with 16-50mm kit lens, or RM 5,398.00 when it comes along with both of the Z lenses.

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SAMSUNG SPACE MONITOR

Price: from RM 1,799 Website: samsung.com/my

The Samsung Space monitor is designed to save your space on your desk. If you are someone who likes your screen to be close to you when you work, then this adjustable stand fit right in your list. It has a zero-level HAS (Height Adjustable Stand), robust clamp-type stand which can push against when not in use and put towards you when you want to look at the screen in close-up view. This space monitor also provide more screen space and UHD images with its 4x HONOR VIEW20 pixels Full HD feature. Its stand allows the power cable to be placed behind it, making tangling wires in your workplace not in sight. It now comes in two sizes, Price: Starts from RM1,999 varies from 27 inches at the price RM 1,799 while 32 inches at RM 2,199.

Website: Ground Floor of Highstreet @ One Utama Shopping Centre.

HONOR View20’s rear camera is the first to be powered by the SONY IMX586 48MP sensor, with a 1/2-inch large CMOS, and equivalent 1.6μm pixels in Quad Bayer array. The sensor, boosted by the Kirin 980 chipset, supports new 48MP AI Ultra Clarity mode to produce photos with unmatched detail and clarity. The Kirin 980’s dual-NPU processes the photo using an advanced AI algorithm – the quality of the photo is assessed, details in dark areas are optimized, and colors are adjusted to appear more vivid.

BOOST ↑UP™ WIRELESS CHARGING STAND Price: RM 389 Website: lazada.com.my

This charger is able to deliver 10-watts for fast charging wirelessly for iPhone models 8 and also iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, Samsung, LG, Sony and other Qi-enabled devices. You can place your devices either in landscape or portrait mode for charging. With built-in premium shielding and precise resistors, this charger can ensure the battery life and will not disrupt these functions of the phone while charging, network signal, touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth and LTE. An LED light indicator will also signal whether the phone is charging or have been charged.

JBL CHARGE 3

Acer ASPIRE E 15

Price: RM899 Website: Lazada

Price: RM2,659 Website: Acer outlets or authorized dealers

This full-featured waterproof portable speaker with high-capacity Aspire E Series laptops are great choices for everyday users, with lots battery to charge your devices goes a long way. Wirelessly connect of appealing options and an attractive design that exceed expectations. up to 3 smartphones or tablets to the speaker and take turns With many enhanced components, color choices, and a textured metallic BenQ EX600 Price: RM 3,199 Website: playing powerful stereo sound. It even has a built-in rechargeable finish,lazada.com.my the Aspire E makes everyday better. With added enhancements, This smart projector is convenient for hours you as itofcontains built-in wireless updates.

Youexperience. can easily present your ideas with this device Li-ion battery supports up to 20 playtime and business chargesapp and you get anfirmware even richer media Acer TrueHarmony™ delivers with its built-in Firefox browser. It can also support USB saving the troubles of users from connecting it to your PC. With the USB Type-A port, you can project smartphones and tablets via USB. Plus, no more worrying about rain richer, more lifelike audio, while Acer ExaColor™ produces consistent images or documents from a wide range of file formats, JPEG, PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint files, etc. You can use your smartphones as keypad and or spills; you can even submerge in water.a trackpad to navigate around this device colourwith accuracy andSmart Skype-certified the BenQ Control. components provide uninterrupted audio and video.

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THIS RAINBOW-THEMED HOMESTAY IN SEKINCHAN IS PERFECT FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS If you are planning for a quiet trip away from the city, then you should consider visiting the small town of Sekinchan. It is the perfect change of scenery as this quick escape is not too far off from the city centre. The town is known for its picturesque paddy fields and beach, and to accompany that is this cosy rainbow-themed homestay and café called Padi Box.

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This cluster of rainbow-coloured containers is located right in the middle of Sekinchan’s dreamy green paddy fields. Guests will have the luxury of waking up to a breathtaking view of lush greenery every morning, taking a step back from the typical city view. Padi Box offers several types of rooms all equipped with their own private bathroom, TV and free WiFi. To absorb the beauty of Sekinchan, guests could also rent out bicycles from the homestay at RM10 to visit popular tourist destinations as well as the seafood restaurants. Apart from that, Padi Box organises activities for all its guests to participate in such as firefly watching, eagle feeding and a homemade soap class.

They have guided tours for the paddy fields and Sky Mirror as well. However, if the paddy fields are your main reason for your visit, then we would reckon you to check out their harvesting schedule beforehand. Though, a little birdie did mention that June and December is the best time to visit this little town.

Besides enjoying the outdoor activities, guests can wind down and relax in their lounge area that is equipped with a pool table, a variety of board and card games and plenty of plug points to juice up your gadgets. They even offer barbecue packages where you can rent out the equipment and grill your own meat during dinner with your friends and family.

If you want to enjoy something cooler, you can have an out of this world experience by dining in a refurbished bus restaurant.

Padi Box is certainly the right place to wind down and relax. The room rates start from RM118 which is an absolute steal. Get your new year plans ready and head on down to little town Sekinchan.

Padi Box Lot 11126, Jalan Tali Air 4, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor Images via @littlemalingshu_blogger, @bpdgtravels, Seng Chee Photography and Travelopy

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London & China THIS IS MERRIE TEW'S

TRAVEL GUIDE

L O N D O N London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom which is famous for many things. Especially when it comes to modern and old tourists destinations. Some of the famous sights to visit at this 21st-century city is the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey. Whereas the London Eye wheel across the Thames River offers panoramic views of the cultural centre of South Bank and the entire city.

Piccadilly Circus

London Eye

This road junction and space of London's West End in the City of Westminster was built in 1819.

Called the Piccadilly Circus, it is connected to Regent Street. The term circus came from the Latin word 'circle' representing the round open space at the junction.

Famous for its road intersections, it is also well-known because of the architecture surrounding the area. To name a few, you could check out is the Theatre District, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Lights and so on.

The Coca-Cola London Eye is prominently located in the heart of the capital, moving gracefully across the Thames River between the Parliament House and Big Ben. Being the tallest cantilevered observation wheel, it reaches a height of 135 metres becoming the iconic symbol of London. What to expect when you’re up there is that you can witness a beautiful 360-degree view of the whole capital along with its famous landmarks. When it comes to London, it is a must-see destination.

Tower Bridge

Initially, it was designed to help lessen the traffic on the road whilst maintaining access to the River Thames. Although it would be a much more ideal plan if it was a traditional fixed bridge instead, however, it could not be built without cutting access for tall ships. One thing besides taking lots of photos for Instagram, you can go up to the bridge as it has a glass floor.

Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone that is afraid of heights, but then again — if you want to step out of your comfort zone, then we reckon, why not.

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Coppa Club

The Coppa Club has got to be one of the most popular spots in London to be at during the Winter season. It is located in between The Shard on the Tower of London side of the river and the Tower Bridge. Something you could look forward to during the winter season is the igloos that are set up at the club based on a woodland theme. To complete the whole vibe, it comes with cosy recycled wool blankets, cruelty-free sheepskin rugs, sporting candles as well as evergreen trees.

But just a pro-tip though, if you would like to visit this place — do make a reservation a month in advance so that you can secure your spot.

Notting Hill

When someone mentions Notting Hill, the first thing that comes to mind is the Julia Roberts film — such an iconic film till this day. Just like the film, you would come to find that Notting Hill is actually a very trendy area with plenty of cafes along Portobello Road. It is known for their annual Notting Hill Carnival, one of the most top outdoor street festivals with parades and music.

There's also a busy market that is famous for selling vintage fashion and antiques.

Neal's Yard, Covent Garden

Bicester Village

This shopping centre is located on the outskirts of Bicester at a town called Oxfordshire. It was first opened back in 1995 offering many luxurious goods and one of the most popular destinations in England.

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This place is a small alley located in London's Covent Garden between Monmouth Street and Short Gardens. Fun fact, this colourful area is actually named after the developer from the 17th century, Thomas Neale.

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C H I N A Gulangyu Island

This pedestrian-only island is located off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian Province. Covering only 2km of space, the Gulangyu Island is now preserved as one of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

To get here, it will roughly take around 8-minutes by ferry from downtown Xiamen.

Fuzhou Shi San Fang Qi Xiang

Basically translated as Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Sanfangqi Alley Tourist Center. It consists of three lanes that are called Yijin Lane, Wenru Lane and Guanglu Lane whereas for the seven alleys, Yangqiao Alley, Langguan Alley, Ta Alley, Huang Alley, Anmin Alley, Gong Alley and Jibi Alley.

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Tong’an Ying Shi Cheng

Located at the northern part of Xiamen Island, the Tong'an Tourist Area faces the sea in the southeast. Some of the famous spots that are frequently visited by tourists are the Tian'anmen Gate Tower, Prince Hall and Great Wall. Although there are not many scenic points, it is still a place that is considered classy and elegant with a strong sense of history. Taking a replica form of the Forbidden City in Beijing, this tourist destination is an entertainment city that takes you back to the Ming and Qing dynasty days.

Xiamen Zeng Cuo An

If you would like to experience a real outdoor shopping experience, then Zeng Cuo An Village is the correct spot. It might take you some time to walk around and see what the place has to offer. Known as a fishing settlement previously, some of the things you would come to find are fish, other kinds of fresh food, clothes, souvenirs and textiles. Whereas there are also many cafes surrounding the area, so even if you are tired after the long walk — rest assured, you'll be able to grab whatever treat along the way.

Jinjiang Wu Dian Shi

This is a county-level city that is located in the southeastern part of Fujian Province.

Across from the Quanzhou's urban district, it is on the right or south bank of the Jin River. It being a coastal city, some of the most popular sights to be seen is the Shenhu Bay Ancient Forest Nature Reserve, historic interests like Shilang Museum and Zhenhai Palace, Zimau Mountain and the Anping Bridge.

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Quanzhou Shi Xi Jie

Known for the famous Dehua Porcelain, Tieguanyin Tea and Huian Stone Carvings — Quanzhou is a place with many cultural and historical sites. If you are one with history, then this is the place you should visit.

Besides its historical landmarks, Quanzhou also has plenty of natural beauties including Mt. Qingyuan, Mt. Zimao, Mt. Xiangong, Mt. Lingxiu and Mt. Penglai.

PASSIONATE

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN

to be a sensitive person

Do people around you call you a sensitive person? Do you get offended or does the statement fall on deaf ears? The word "sensitive" has always been secretly categorized by people as a negative description. If you are someone who thinks too much, then you might be placed in the sensitive pool.

When it comes to people who have the tendency to be sensitive, you might immediately assume that perhaps a post online was about you. Regardless of the content being good or no. If you're sensitive, then the post might disrupt your thoughts and make you overthink about the hidden meaning behind that particular post. Some might say, why dwell on something that brings you no benefit or whatsoever? To be frank, it is much easier said than done. However, there is nothing wrong with being a sensitive person. We are all humans and we do tend to get emotional at times. Though, sometimes if you excessively think about something, it might affect your mental state negatively.

That being said, here are some ways on how you can still be a sensitive person but still maintain a healthy mental state.

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Be less conscious about what others think As long as you are not doing anything wrong, there is nothing to worry about.

There is an estimated value of 7.53 billion people in this world and honestly, you can't control their thoughts and how they might feel about you as a person. No matter what you are doing (good or bad) there must be someone or a group of people who can't possibly accept you. When you are worried about what others may think of you, most of the time they actually aren't.

Meditate Meditation helps in calming the mind. When you put meditation into daily practice, your emotions might not be so riled up easily. You are in control of your emotions and it's basically a group of energy that can't be destroyed. However, it can be transformed into another form. So, when you feel the negativity arising in you, just reason out with it. Do not push it away or avoid these feelings because one day it might just burst out and may not be a pretty sight. Try not to suppress it either, because the consequences will be just the same as ignoring it.

Differentiate between your own problems and others If you are someone who is sensitive then there is a possibility of you taking in other peoples' troubles as your own. Being a listener to your friend's problems is not equivalent to treating it as your own. You can empathtize with what your friends are going through but never ever take into account the emotions. You might say "I am putting myself in their shoes", but this statement basically asks you to be considerate of what others are going through instead of thinking about your own issues that you are battling.

Writing a journal or diary Being someone who is sensitive, it might be hard to keep track of your sudden outburst or over-reaction. That is when writing a journal or a diary helps. By doing so every day, or maybe once a week, you get to check on yourself. If there is a misunderstanding between you and your friends that week, you could just flip through the pages to recall the incident. Though initially, you might find excuses for not writing, slowly but surely you will get used to it. Writing a journal also helps a lot in regulating emotions. It acts as a place for you to have a heart-to-heart talk with yourself.

Communication Communication is a tool for having a successful relationship. Being someone who is sensitive, your feelings might easily get hurt without being noticed by the people who don't know you well. Therefore, to get things sorted out between you and others, it is essential for you to express your thoughts and feelings to them. By doing so, you are providing an opportunity for you and them to create an understanding to grow another step closer. But do bear in mind, the words and sentences used in expressing should be in consideration of others' feelings.

Always note that if you don't like people doing that particular thing to you, then you should not do the same to others.

Images via thoughtcatalog, theartoflivingretreatcentre, Kelvin Dodge/ Getty Image, quietrev, startupist, upliftconnect, theawarenesscentre

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E E M I AR ARIMEE is a local online store that was launched back in 2011 with the thought of sharing their love of fashion and trendy style to everyone. This boutique strives to provide a perfectly coveted wardrobe with an eclectic range of modern chic apparel and accessories.

U 2 Y P HAP Founded in 2009, Happy2U offers a wide variety of shoes, bag, shades and so on. It's an online boutique that sells comfortable, trendy-looking shoes that are worth every penny. With new arrivals each day, there's plenty of designs to choose from.

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FEATURE STORY

WAY IC A T E G HOL A P SHO If you are someone who cares for the aesthetics then we reckon you to check Getaway Shopaholic out. Popular for its novelty gifts, stationery, décor, accessories (beauty & tech), it is the perfect online gift store to shop at if you’re planning to spice up your life or that someone special.

You can rest assured that the designs are absolutely cute and trendy and will certainly capture your attention.

CO H A EGL

B

For a woman, when it comes to handbags, there can never be enough. You can now complete your handbag collection with Beglah Co. Their bags are absolutely trendy and what makes it more special is that every collection is named after a person’s name. For instance, there are bags called Rachel, Farah, Grace and so on. Why get a basic bag without meaning when you can have one that is named after you? Each design comes with multiple colour options so that you will always have a matching bag to complement your outfit.

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CE A R HG

FAS

These button-down, long fairy dresses could be a trend you would want to consider. If you aren't into showing legs or have not owned any long dresses before, then you should try out Fash Grace's dresses. It's not only inspired by K-fashion but it's also suitable for our tropical weather.

The dresses aren't so thick but not so see-through either, providing girls with ideal dresses for every occasion.

H T A B DER

WUN

This Malaysian brand was founded by Evelyn Marieta, a nutritionist turned bath scientist. She wanted to own lip balms that come in vibrant colours however she could not find any. As she experimented during her free time, she successfully created both cosmetics and bath products.

Just like its name, you can be sure to have an extraordinary bath experience. Be sure to try their body butter, essential oils, candles and so on.

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SKIN If you're someone who is into skincare, then you would love the SKIN brand. The packaging is aesthetically pleasing with its cute pink tubes and jars. Besides their sugar lip scrub, you should get your hands on their Rose Hip Oil as it contains a high level of antioxidants to protect and rejuvenates the skin. Whereas for your hair, the Natural Hair Elixir helps to stimulate hair growth as well to remove the frizziness of the hair.

M

ITH R A M

AQ

You will come to find that Aqmarithm isn’t only known for their amazing ring collection but they also have a huge selection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and even 90s hairpins. So instead of figuring what accessories to put in your shopping basket, just scroll through their Instagram feed. To order, all you got to do is take a screenshot of the accessory of your choice and drop them a text. Bonus point: all of their pieces start from RM 8 only!

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CO C I T HE T S E A Do you need a reason to splurge on some marble plates so that your dishware collection looks hip enough for a millennial? Well then, Aesthetiq.co is the right online store to shop at. Just like when you were kids and you were into stationeries, splurging on plates, glasses and mugs are the stationeries needed for adulthood. It won't just make you feel pleased by looking at your plates but it will also impress your neighbours, friends and family. It's like the IKEA but for plates, mugs and everything dishware.

PVOU When it comes to fitness apparel, there is just no in-between because you got to have it all. PVOU stands for Positive Version of U and with that said, you don’t have to be self-conscious when you’re at the gym no more. With PVOU’s apparel, all of their fitness apparel materials are soft and sweat absorbent. Some of their best sellers consist of the Heart Booty Tights, Erky Biker Shorts and Halter CC Sports Bra & Top.

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Love travelling?

Have an inner desire to share some of your most exotic and beautiful place you’ve been recently?

Share with us your vacation stories and pictures to editorial@brandzoom360.com!

MUST-HAVE DISHES AT

BEARD Brothers bbq Rating 1-5 Presentation 4.5

Ambience 4

Taste 4.5

Value 4.7

Written by Grace Sundram When it comes to barbecue, the first thing that pops in our mind would be a group of people gathered at somebody’s home during an occasion. But what you would find at this restaurant will be more than just a flip of the meat.

We tried out this Texas-style barbecue restaurant called Beard Brothers BBQ at Tropicana and we must say, this is the paradise for all meat-lovers. By smoking it for 14 hours straight after a good rub down of spices, you can definitely be impressed by how tender and juicy the meat gets. It takes years of practice to perfect this edible art of barbecue but these guys are the real OG. That said, here are 4 of the most loved dishes from their menu.

BIG PLATTERS: FOURPLAY (RM180 - RM220) We tried out one of their big platters which come with beef briskets, pulled lamb, chicken and beef ribs on a side of mashed brotatoes (potatoes), chips, cornbread, honey-butter biscuits and coleslaw. Each of the accompaniments was absolutely textbook and these are the kind of sides, one would be looking forward to during a barbecue feast. Straight off the bat, the meat had a nice char on the outside whilst being juicy and tender on the inside. It was certainly a feast and a carnivore’s delight.

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DROOL WORTHY

BB ORIGINAL & BRICK LANE BREAD (RM24 & RM23) In addition to all of that meaty goodness, they also offer a range of delicious sandwiches. At the Beard Brothers Deli, we recommend you to try out the classic BB Original. It is a smoky pastrami sandwich where the meat is smoked for 8 hours and was brined for 14 days straight.

The sandwich is served along with cheese, garlic sauerkraut and BB mustard sauce. Besides that, their Brick Lane Bread is also a must-have!

Just like the Pastrami, the Salt Beef is also brined for 14 days but cooked for 5 hours instead. This savoury goodness comes with pickled cucumber and onion with a drizzle of their infamous BB mustard sauce.

UMAMI BORU : BEEF (RM22) Besides sandwiches, the Beard Brothers kicked it up a notch by adding ramen to the menu. Ramen is known as that go-to dish for everybody.

And as a chef, slow cooking meat for hours especially during late nights — ramen is the simplest dish to cook immediately. It is a meal to fulfil the hunger of a chef and they created one by putting their own twist on it. To get a really kaw broth, they cook it along with the meat for 10 hours to get that strong balance of umami taste and meat. The noodles were nice and soft and the texture is beautiful. Overall, the dish was very aromatic and you could taste some of those flavours coming through.

RIZALAR COFFEE If you think food is all the Beard Brothers got, well you definitely got that wrong. They came up with their own brand of coffee called Rizalar and it comes with two flavours: Cold Brew Coffee & Le Creme Coffee. Turns out the latter is a halal version of Bailey’s and it tastes amazing. Coffee with meat? Yes, please!

So what are you waiting for? Check them out today!

All images via @gracestronomy & @hraiz_riyaz9

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Hours: Tue – Fri: 12–2PM, 6–10PM Sat – Sun: 11AM–10PM Address: P-G-01, Persiaran Tropicana, Tropicana Avenue 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

DROOL WORTHY

Rating 1-5

Presentation

4.7

Ambience 4.8

Taste 4.7

Value 4.7

La Belle Saison

creates French comfort food by using only the freshest local produce

This quaint little restaurant is a hidden gem in Kota Kemuning that first opened in 2016. Showcasing homely French comfort food at affordable prices, the La Belle Saison team is known for using only the freshest produce to create wonderful tastes and textures of their dishes.

A little background on the talented mind behind this restaurant — Chef and owner Quah Jit Hu. He began his career by being a pastry chef under a pastry expert named Chef Karam, which then he eventually found his true calling and took a plane to France. By gaining experience from the culinary world throughout many years of service at restaurants like Fouquet’s Toulouse and Le Pré Catelan and a three-Michelinstarred restaurant in Paris — he then came back to Malaysia and opened up La Belle Saison.

That said, the restaurant does not only whips up authentic French cuisine dishes but it also kindles a much more pleasant and relaxed dining experience that doesn't require its patrons to dress up in fancy attire. As everything on the menu are made to order, it is no doubt that the patrons of La Belle Saison will go home satisfied — we know, we did.

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MEDITERRANEAN (RM18) For appetisers, we had one of their sharing starters: the Mediterranean featuring garlic toast on the side of aubergine caviar and chilled ratatouille. When it comes to the aubergine caviar, you can essentially use it as a spread or a dip. The paste has an ultra-smooth, creamy texture giving a smoky yet savoury-sweet taste overall. What makes this dish special is the traditional french ratatouille and the key to making a tasty one is to use fresh tomatoes. Although it is served chilled, this epitome of what comfort food is absolutely rich in flavour with a hint of acidity to it. the Mediterranean

BRAISED RIBS (RM58.50) Next up, we tried the Braised Ribs that has been slowly braised in stout for over 24 hours. These melt-in-your-mouth ribs are served with oven-roasted cocktail potatoes, mini onions and glazed carrots. So intense, you can taste the meat’s strong flavours. As for the chocolate, it adds a velvety creaminess to the gravy making the dish absolutely irresistible.

Braised Ribs

CORDON BLEU (RM36) La Belle Saison’s take on the classic Cordon Bleu is layered with chicken ham and cheese served with a potato gratin and garlic cream on the side. Fun fact: the name of the dish comes from a French term for blue ribbon that means denoting excellence. The chicken had a nice crisp texture on the outside whilst being succulent on the inside. As for the potato gratin, we absolutely enjoyed it. This hearty crusted side dish is topped with cheese and baked to a welcoming crispness and well-seasoned layer of potatoes.

Cordon Bleu

CRÈME BRÛLÉE (RM18) Dessert wise, we had to go for a classic. La Belle Saison’s take on the classic Crème Brûlée is an orange-infused egg custard with a layer of caramelised sugar on top. The orange was an excellent addition to this French classic as it somehow elevates the overall dish with tangy citrus notes.

Whereas when it comes to the custard, it is delightfully light and airy with a crackly topping that isn’t too sweet.

Crème Brûlée

POIRES POCHEES (RM23) Last but not least, we couldn’t leave without trying their star dessert: Poires Pochees (RM23).

The pear is poached in a spiced red wine and is served with toasted brioche and vanilla ice cream.

One of the representatives of La Belle Saison enlightened us on how to enjoy the dessert in the best way possible. Instead of trying everything bit by bit, the best way would be by placing a small piece of pear on the toasted brioche and top it with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream to elevate this simple dessert to the sublime. This way, you will be able to taste all the flavours together making it a well-balanced dessert.

La Belle Saison - French Brasserie is located at 4-1G, Jln Anggerik Vanilla BE 31/BE, Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor and open from Wednesdays-Mondays at 11:30 AM - 3 PM, 6:30 PM - 10 PM except for Tuesdays.

Poires Pochees

One more thing that makes this quaint little brasserie riveting is that as you enter, you would be greeted with over a hundred different types of spices by HEXA Food, a boutique spice shop. If you’re someone who cooks and enjoys spices as much as our senior writer does, then this is the place for you. It doesn’t just store a variety of spices but it is also way cheaper than grocery stores.

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TAKE A RIDE TO THE DARK SIDE WITH

ROLLS-ROYCE, THE KING OF THE NIGHT, BLACK BADGE CULLINAN When the first Rolls-Royce Cullinan was launched back in 2018, it became the perfect Sports Utility Vehicle made for rough terrain — the diamond of it all, to be precise. RollsRoyce may have been late to the SUV party nevertheless the luxurious Cullinan immediately became the world's pinnacle super-luxury SUV. Now, being the latest addition to the Black Badge family alongside Wraith, Ghost and Dawn — the all-new Black Badge Cullinan: the darkest and most urban statement of Black Badge yet. For the unfamiliar, the Black Badge is the dramatic alter ego of Rolls-Royce that is made for rule-breakers, trailblazers and innovators. With a whole dark and moodier attitude, the Black Badge Cullinan has completed the new generation of super-luxury vehicles.

The team of expert designers and highly skilled craftspeople at Rolls-Royce have over 44,000 paint options as well as being able to develop a signature bespoke hue for its clients. However, it is anticipated that many would be satisfied with the Black Badge's signature black.

POWER AND PRESENCE The high bodied Cullinan reaches 1,836mm, a height accentuated by a large glass to metal ratio. On the prow of the motor car lies The Spirit of Ecstasy mascot with a high gloss black chrome finish. Whereas the Double R badge is now silver-on-black and a dark front grille. These changes are exclusively made for the Black Badge edition.

Featuring all-new 22-inch forged alloy wheels, the marque presents its first-ever coloured brake calliper finished in high gloss red. Specifically making headway to withstand the rigours of elevated temperature generated by the motor car’s uprated braking system, it offers a perfectly smooth finish befitting of Rolls-Royce.

The rear lights remain simple with two narrow upright units house all the lights and are minimally adorned by thin narrow strips of jewellery at their centre. Whereas for their final marks of functionality are the exposed metal exhaust pipes and skid plate, both reminding one of Cullinan’s power and ability.

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PRACTICALITY BY DESIGN Like the iconic Spirit of Ecstacy, Pantheon Grille and Double R monogram, the Cullinan Black Badge features the Starlight Headliner by casting low light over the lavish leather seats. It intensifies the cabin's ambience, with its 1344 fibre optic lights that are handwoven and presented in fine black leather. Incorporating eight white shooting stars, it is a true reflection of the sky at night, indeed.

On top of that, the Black Badge Cullinan comes with a woven carbon-fibre finish that produces a three-dimensional effect. As the interior of a RollsRoyce has been known to be a centre stage for high contrast colourways, the Cullinan is fitted with Forge Yellow-trimmed leather that contrasts perfectly with the black. Every Black Badge is unique and with the Cullinan, it showcases the infinity symbol that embodies "infinite engine power."

CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY Cullinan is the most technologically advanced SUV of its type in the world. On activation via its bespoke key, Cullinan lowers itself by 40mm to make an entry – through unique coach doors – effortless into its sanctuary of a cabin. The marque also showcases its electronically-closing doors with touch-sensitive door handles. Cullinan’s occupants can keep their devices charged with USB ports strategically placed in the cabin; phones can also be wirelessly charged at the front of the cabin.

For the driver, the central console houses the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy controller, the ‘Off-Road’ button, Hill Descent Control button and Air Suspension height adjustment controls. Cullinan’s safety features are peerless: Night Vision and Vision Assist including daytime and night-time Wildlife & Pedestrian warning; Alertness Assistant; a 4-Camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility and helicopter view; Active Cruise Control; Collision Warning; Cross-Traffic Warning, Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning; an industry-leading 7x3” High-Resolution Head-Up Display, WiFi hotspot, and the latest Navigation systems.

IMPECCABLE ENGINEERING Underneath Cullinan is the Rolls-Royce’s unique all-aluminium architecture called the ‘Architecture of Luxury”, delivering extraordinary body stiffness for exceptional 'best-in-class' performance on rough terrain, whilst maintaining the ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ that Rolls-Royce is famous for. This world's pinnacle luxury SUV is engineered with the latest generation of self-levelling four-corner air suspension, sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, allwheel steering, a complete reworking of the new 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 Rolls-Royce engine and the smoothest eight-speed transmission.

Effortless, Everywhere is available from a single source, known within Rolls-Royce as the ‘Everywhere’ button, offering four different programmes within the off-road driving mode. As the Black Badge is a completely different SUV than the rest, this dynamic car comes with more power, more torque and suspension that has been stiffened up for a sharper, more responsive drive. But it's not just about the technical details, the Black Badge generates its own aura as well.

Priced from RM1.8 million (excluding Malaysian taxes), the Rolls-Royce Black Badge can be ordered through Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur.

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HEALTH

Look Within helps spread awareness of social psychology issues in our time The new year is here however we, as a society have yet to evolve from understanding the struggle of individuals when it comes to mental health. It is such a taboo topic as it makes others squirm without deliberately thinking twice about it. But honestly, why, though? The world is changing and so are we as people.

For all things, we should know better and offer to help those that go to battle with their inner demons. It could be your closest friends, family or maybe even you. Nobody asked to be like this, but as humans, it is our nature to be kind and understanding of sensitive matters such as this, but it is also in our nature to be devious and cold-hearted. Note this, it's not just their responsibility but also ours.

That said, in conjunction with Raffles College of Higher Education, the students of the International Fashion Business course has created a campaign called Look Within to address a few common psychology issues happening around us today. By creating this platform, they are helping those who are battling their own demons to come out and share their stories.

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HEALTH

The name of the campaign symbolises the cry for help of people who are unfairly judged by society without knowing the truth behind closed doors. That said, aside from creative workshops and pop-up stores — Look Within also held a discussion on mental health, stereotypes and labels with photographer, Amanda Tan, content creator, Pricilla Mark and co-founder of Ilmu Seks & Cempaka Collective, Herinza Syadza.

Each of them shared the stories of their own battles with anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder to the public. This absolute eye-opener discussion made every attendee comfortable and safe among each other as they shared their deepest, darkest stories out loud as well.

The importance of spreading awareness of social psychology issues in our current generation is absolutely crucial, especially for the younger generation who are slowly coming to the realisation of what it's all about. With that, Look Within has certainly done a great job for making everyone feel included and it's such a worthy event to attend.

As a community, we should encourage more safe space events like this and hopefully someday in the future, mental health will no longer be a taboo subject to talk about.

Images via lookwithin_raffles & @cxpturingsouls

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MOVIE

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MOVIE MOVIE

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MOVIE

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F&N launches its first e-Commerce website called F&N Life F&N just launched their flagship online store called F&N Life. It is the first-ever e-commerce site to provide its consumers to order their favourite F&N products in bulk and have it delivered right to their doorstep. As this marks the first step of F&N to get into the digital platform, consumers can now shop anytime at their fingertips. The online store does not only sell F&N products but it will also provide informative guidance such as recipes, nutrition values, product details and also loyalty programmes to consumers on how to live a healthier lifestyle. Partnered with Touch ‘n’ G e-Wallet, consumers will get RM5 cashback for every RM50 spent from now until 29th February.

Say goodbye to ordinary shaped tortilla chips and make way for strips Mission Foods has introduced three all-new flavours of Malaysians favourites. These new flavours varies from the SzeChuan Mala flavour, Peri Peri flavour and Tom Yum flavour. But what is more exciting is these flavours are in the form of strips, whereby it is so much easier to munch on. To celebrate the launch of these new flavours in their new shape, Mission Foods has invited three locally known rappers to be a part of the #RipStripSkipTheDip campaign, where they present to us new ways to enjoy each flavour.

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NOTICE BOARD

Create amazing dishes with these Australian summer fruits To kick off the upcoming Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, Aeon Metro Prima and Taste Australia has collaborated, and held a campaign “A Celebration of Flavours”. They are introducing some of the world’s best summer fruits to satisfy our thirst during this scorching hot festive season. These summer fruits include White and Yellow Peaches, Nectarines, Black and Red Plums. Not only were these fruits juicy and refreshing, they all have their own auspicious meaning, especially peaches which represent long life. These fruits are also high in nutrients and can be used to make some sweet delights during the celebration. The launch also includes local celebrity chef, Abang Brian providing some recipes on how these combination of summer fruits can be used to make Yee Sang and dessert for the upcoming Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.

PUMA wants you to step out of the zone with their latest show As we dash into 2020, global sports brand PUMA launches its latest shoe of the year. The PUMA Zone XT is designed for high-intensity workouts, and endurance-based running and training. Spearheaded by Brazillian supermodel and PUMA’s global women’s training ambassador, Adriana Lima — this brand new performance sneaker is packed with style and substance. Wrapped in a ‘heart-rate-inspired’ design, the Zone XT reflects the effort it takes for one to keep pushing to perform during a workout. It is specially made for moments when the heart-rate speeds up, the body burns fat, boosts endurance and increases your metabolism.

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CHUNGHO WHI CAFFE EDGE Water purifiers are one of the basic necessities needed in a household and being in the year 2020, it is best to start with a machine that has all the tools to make the perfect beverage. This outstanding machine turns out to be the world’s first water purifier that does not only dispenses pure clean water but it also produces ice cubes and has a selection of premium Italian capsule coffee for all coffee enthusiasts.

Design: 4.5/5

Features: 4.5/5

The ChungHo Whi Caffe EDGE is made with the latest technology from Korea that showcases a unique multi-functional system.

Unlike bulky water purifiers that takes an ample amount of space in your home, this Korean water purifier is absolutely compactsized and can be placed anywhere without disrupting your space.

With extended water dispensing space, this amazing machine can take water with any shape of bottle up to 25cm. Instead of oldfashioned buttons, just like smartphones — this machine has an intuitive touch screen with LED lighting that allows you to choose the options provided on the menu.

With being able to produce water in three different temperatures such as cold, hot, and room temperature like-water as well as ice, there is no more turning back to the traditional ways of using a kettle or leaving your beverage in the refrigerator to cool it. The ChungHo Whi Caffe EDGE produces pure and transparent ice cubes every 15 minutes so users don’t have to depend on their refrigerator’s freezer anymore. This all-in-one water purifier isn’t just a great machine with extended features to suit the user’s preference in one-go but it also has a 24-hour natural water circulation system. Bonus point: it comes with five different coffee flavours: Arte, Perla, Arabica 100% and Morning.

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Performance: 4.5/5

TO P R E V I E W

This convenient water purification system comes with a five-stage filter system that removes dissolved pollutants, gases and odours to improve the quality of the water and taste. ChungHo Whi Caffe EDGE also features an ACS smart cleaning function that sterilises the tank every four days making users not worry about contamination by bacterias.

Rating 1-5

Conclusion

Design: 4.5/5

Users can now forget the long queues as they can now be their own barista and make their coffee with just a tap on the screen.

With five coffee flavours, the ChungHo Whi Caffe EDGE creates an optimum temperature by providing the best taste of coffee within 30 seconds.

Features: 4.5/5

Performance: 4.5/5

Price: RM 5,300 Website: chunghomy.com.my

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YVES SAINT LAURENT ROUGE PUR COUTURE

With just one stroke, the YSL Rouge Pur Couture is highly pigmented in colours. This luxurious lipstick of a brand delivers comfort and hydration to your lips all day long with 30 shades altogether. Comes in a signature jewel-like packaging, it is not only travel-friendly but brings another level of classy and feminine to every lady.

Price: RM 140 Website: yslbeauty.com.my

SAXBORGA STORAGE BOX WITH MIRROR LID

Bring the storage box wherever you like, to put on your contact lenses, jewellery or make-up. You don’t have to look for a mirror, there’s one inside. Perfect for storing tweezers, nail files, scissors, contact lenses or make-up since the storage box has 2 inserts and 12 small compartments.

Price: RM 69 Website: ikea.com/my

WANDERLUST + CO MAKES ME WONDER GOLD BRACELET

The Makes Me Wonder Bracelet is designed with star charms that is studded with the beautiful cubic zirconia crystals, making it look elegant with a touch of magic. If you’re one who grew up watching the Twitches, then this Wanderlust + Co pendant bracelet is for you.

Price: RM 227 Website: zalora.com.my

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LIFESTYLE UNPLUGGED

1. This forbidden cafe at Ara Damansara is one for the ‘Gram

2. SNOWPLUS brings evolution of caffeinated coffee flavoured pods to Malaysia

When it comes to food, it’s a sinful gastronomic adventure.

Just like the saying, forbidden fruits taste the sweetest — you will be absolutely captivated with what Forebidden has to offer. From a mix of modern building to authentic Asian interior design, Forebidden is definitely the place for you to take the risk to place your taste bud in.

This nicotine-free coffee-flavoured pod allows users to have their “coffee on the go” whilst staying energised.

The fine crafted curved-edge body provides a silky smooth touch, a slim and sleek design that fits perfectly in the palm of the hand.

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3. Top 10 Songs Streamed by Wazers on Spotify in 2019 Listening to music as you brave through traffic jams and dreary weather is nothing short of euphoric – it really does keep those metaphorical dark clouds away as you rock to your favourite tunes.

Waze, the platform that brings communities together on and off the road, today reveals the top 10 songs that Wazers around the world listened to most as they navigated to their destinations in 2019.

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FENTY BEAUTY SNAP SHADOWS EYESHADOW PALETTE

Fenty Beauty’s all new matte to shimmer eye shadow palette is now pocket-sized. Each mini 6-pan palette is packed with rich and smooth colours that can make up any look. Being the first mini palette of its kind, the Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palettes is perfectly compact with 8 different shades altogether. Bonus point: each shade was chosen by Rihanna.

Price: RM 110 Website: sephora.my

PUMA ZONE XT

The PUMA Zone XT is designed for high-intensity workouts, and endurance-based running and training. Wrapped in a ‘heart-rate-inspired’ design, the Zone XT reflects the effort it takes for one to keep pushing to perform during a workout. It is specially made for moments when the heart-rate speeds up, the body burns fat, boosts endurance and increases your metabolism.

Price: RM 429 Website: my.puma.com

BOOST UP WIRELESS CHARGING PAD & STAND 10W

Cables are so last decade, so why not begin the new one by going wireless? The BOOST↑UP Wireless Charging Pad 10W is optimized to deliver fast wireless charging in either landscape or portrait mode. The BOOST↑UP Wireless Charging Pads and stands are also engineered to work with lightweight plastic cases up to 3mm.

Price: RM 389 Website: lazada.com.my

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H&M ASYMMETRIC DRESS

This calf-length dress is made from recycled polyester with a woven fabric. Comes with a concealed zip at the back, stand up collar and long sleeves, it is a perfect wear for any casual sunny day. Also, pleated at the top — the dress ahas asymmetric seams with a flared hem.

Price: RM 74.96 Website: hm.com/my

BOOST↑CHARGE POWER BANK 10K WITH LIGHTNING CONNECTOR

Designed especially for iPhones, this MFi-certified portable power bank allows for simultaneous recharging of your smartphone via Lightning connector and the power bank itself. This one-cable solution makes the small, lightweight portable charger your ideal on-the-go power source.

Price: RM 339 Website: lazada.com.my

KFC WHITE BBQ CRUNCH

With a combination of smoky, sweet, tangy and spicy flavours all in one crunchy bite, the all new KFC White BBQ Crunch is available for a limited time only. The 2-pc combo set (which comes with two pieces of chicken, whipped potato, coleslaw, and a drink) costs RM15.30 while the 3-pc combo set is priced at RM20.30.

Price: RM 20.30 Website: kfc.com.my

ISSUE 21

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