The_King
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A woman's body was found floating on the Singapore River near the Clarke Quay area on Apr. 26, 2024.
According to Shin Min Daily News, the identity of the woman was established as 33-year-old Vietnamese Dang Hoang Ly Na.
Roland Tay, the undertaker who helped arrange for her body to be sent back to Vietnam, told Shin Min that he decided to offer his services for free.
This was after he found out that she's a single mother living in a small village with an 11-year-old daughter.
Tay wanted her daughter to be able to see her for the last time.
Shin Min reported that Dang had only come to Singapore to work for less than a week before her demise.
According to Shin Min, Dang had lung problems but still decided to come to Singapore to work at a night entertainment outlet as she, as a single child, has aged parents at home and needed money for her family.
It was previously reported that the police received reports of a body in the Singapore River at around 11am on Apr. 26.
Preliminary investigations ruled out foul play. Further investigations are still ongoing.
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6 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
They are too expensive for wht thay do
Like that might as well buy a basic ECM/Profitec or a GCP/Rancilio machine
Last you 20+ yrs
no worry, no plan to buy all these, i quit already , no way i going to burn cash like 12 yr ago
either robot or AP, but i will read up more first
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3 minutes ago, Huat Zai said:
Why you never go to the 4 face buddha temple and the 'massage' parlour beside it?
Kew Ong Yah Temple? massage at space @kovan??
space@kovan is clean up already
that area is not the worst mall, the worst one is the one i jsut updated my last post
liv and the village for me is the worst,
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25 minutes ago, Huat Zai said:
fake, he did not go to the a few hidden area. only the real pro know where is it. i not saying i am but i am. muhahahaha
his type of mall explore is boring, must go to the real hidden area, that where the fun is like this from 10.17 min onwards. not many ppl know where is it, there no cam there. another is at carpark
LOL, the worst mall in sg wait till he go here
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maybe i can hoot this, hahaha, nowaday lazy, drink freeze dried kopi. i dont think i will get this maybe AP, but see first, as i already got a good grinder
https://www.lapavoni.com/en/products/domestic-machines/stradivari-professional-lusso
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6 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
Knn you got a La Pavoni get it serviced so the seals are checked and replaced -then make espresso with it. Can make on weekends. Weekdays use the AP :s
i sold it last yr. it was sitting on my storeroom for 2yr. so i thought after selling it, can get robot but i know robot cannot compare with La Pavoni.
maybe when i retire, next, i get a new La Pavoni
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end of the yr go jb check and wash teeth
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There might be different reasons that drive the patients over, but when patients feel they can trust dentists here in JB as well as the ones they’re used to in Singapore, then ultimately it’s their choice.”
cannot eat grape, say grape sour
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SINGAPORE - Ms Jo Lim was looking for a solution to a root canal issue that had been bothering her. She had sought out diagnoses and treatment plans from dental clinics in Singapore, but an appointment would either take a long time to schedule or cost a hefty sum.
After doing her due diligence as a consumer, the Singaporean financial representative eventually settled on Dr Shim Chung Nam at The Smile Dental Lounge.
The difference? Dr Shim’s clinic is located in Mount Austin, across the Causeway in Johor Bahru (JB).
“He’s very gentle, detailed and explained a lot to me. My experience was calm and painless, it helped me build trust in his treatment,” said Ms Lim, who “sampled” his skills through a scaling session in October 2023.
Her experience convinced her to arrange a next appointment with Dr Shim for a more complex root canal procedure a week later.
Dental clinics in JB have increasingly become a viable option for Ms Lim and others from Singapore.
There are more than 20 dental clinics operating within a 6km distance of the checkpoint available to would-be patients from the Republic, with dozens more when venturing further out of JB’s city centre.
These Singapore-based patients say they are primarily drawn by an array of restorative and cosmetic teeth treatments offered at a fraction of what they would cost in Singapore and little to no compromise on the quality of care.
For instance, while a course of treatment for in-clinic teeth whitening in Singapore may start from $900, similarly US-imported products available at private clinics in JB would cost only around RM1,300 (S$370).
Dr Jolene Lai, principal dentist at Pink and White Dental in Jalan Tebrau, told The Straits Times: “Teeth whitening is a very popular procedure. We used to have only one whitening light, but because of the demand, we got another one, and we usually get booked out for groups of friends or family who want to get their whitening treatment done at the same time.”
She added that her clinic also gets many inquiries for clear aligners and wisdom teeth procedures.
Supply chain manager Feldman Kuah said that for the same amount in Singapore, getting his dental care sorted in JB would give him more bang for his buck, a consideration made more pertinent as he works with a claimable corporate dental allowance amounting to around $400 a year.
He added that costs are maximised when his family of four goes for dental treatment together in JB, usually for bi-annual cleaning services.
Dr Shim Chung Nam of The Smile Dental Lounge in Mount Austin, Johor Bahru, tending to a patient. PHOTO: THE SMILE DENTAL LOUNGE
“A regular scaling could easily cost more than $100 for one person in Singapore. In JB, that could be just RM200 plus,” said Mr Kuah, who has been going to E&E Dental in Taman Abad, less than 3km away from the Singapore checkpoint.
The allure of the city’s other offerings are also such that Singaporeans like Mr Kuah can plan a day trip to JB prioritising a dental visit, which sets them up for shopping and feasting pursuits the rest of the day.
“You just need to do it twice a year, it’s quite easy to plan,” he said, adding that he draws the line at an emergency such as a toothache that would require more immediate attention in Singapore.
No compromise on quality
Selecting a dentist she could trust was important to Ms Lim, since her unpleasant school dental encounters imprinted on her a “trauma and phobia of visiting dentists”.
Dr Shim had arrived at the same diagnosis as the dentists she consulted in Singapore, but having been quoted around $5,000 by Singapore dentists, she spent only half that amount in JB for two root canals that also involved two dental crowns.
While Ms Lim acknowledged that “we save a lot due to the currency exchange”, she reiterated that “it’s the dentist’s quality, experience and skills” that matter most.
“If the dentist is not skilful, I would not have proceeded and would have come back to dentists in Singapore,” she said.
Dr Shim, who founded his clinic in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic in July 2020, has noticed an increased patient flow in the past couple of months, with clients now needing to book appointments two weeks in advance for weekend slots.
Most of his patients from Singapore – a figure he estimates at 60 per cent of his total clientele – have been seeking him out since 2022.
Technology has helped him to cater for day-trippers to his clinic on tight schedules with equipment such as intra-oral scanners and 3D printers available to record patients’ teeth impressions and facilitate same-day retainers, he said, noting that his patients from Singapore are treated and charged the same as other patients.
Clinics in JB may also offer patients a change of pace relative to their experience with dentists in Singapore.
Dr Chris Tan, who runs Family Dental with his wife in Setia Tropika, said: “Some patients gave us feedback that it is very hard to get appointments in Singapore clinics, and their scaling sessions always finished within 15 minutes, while mine take longer and are more detailed.”
To Dr Lai, it is important her clients make an informed, educated decision on their course of treatment.
“Some people’s pain tolerance may be different to the next person’s,” said Dr Lai, who has been practising for 14 years. “A lot of people feel judged when they see a dentist. So when they come in, we make them feel like they can say they are scared of us, make a joke out of it, let them talk and share their concerns.”
She counts six to seven clients from Singapore out of every 10 she receives, but notes that not all may be “true-blue” Singaporean, given the diaspora of Malaysians working in the Republic. There are also Singapore-based expatriates who go to JB for dental care.
A favourite question of hers is “How did you find us?” and her clients have told her that Pink and White Dental is featured on some Facebook groups for expat wives in Singapore, apart from the Google reviews and many word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and past patients.
A personal touch helps. Dr Lai, for instance, sometimes gives a lift to some of her Singaporean patients to the checkpoint, which is about 5km away from her clinic.
And it is not always about the money. She also advises some of them to use their MediSave funds in Singapore where possible for procedures such as wisdom tooth surgery or implants, as prices may be about the same.
MC consideration
One consideration for Singaporean patients is the fact that certain dental treatments might require medical leave as they recover.
According to the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore employers have the discretion to grant sick leave for medical certificates (MCs) issued by overseas doctors.
Singapore Human Resources Institute’s executive director Alvin Aloysius Goh cautioned that local companies are not obligated to accept overseas dental MCs.
However, some companies do accept MCs for overseas dental emergencies or approve leave for medically required dental procedures, such as wisdom tooth extractions, he said.
Mr Joshua Yim, chief executive of recruitment firm Achieve Group, said recognition of overseas-issued MCs will still come down to each employer’s policies, with multinational firms accustomed to having employees deployed overseas being more likely to allow for overseas-issued MCs.
The importance of a Singapore-based clientele to dentists in JB was made the most apparent during the pandemic, when the borders were largely closed from March 18, 2020, to March 31, 2022, meaning a large proportion of their clients were stuck in Singapore and “everything halted”, Dr Lai said, as she did not receive an income for almost 18 months.
But after the borders reopened, travellers from Singapore have returned in record numbers especially before long holidays like the Good Friday weekend that saw around 510,000 clearing the land checkpoints to JB on March 28.
E&E Dental’s Dr Edmund Ooi has accepted the fact that the punctuality of around half his clientele is dependent on the Causeway’s traffic.
“We have to be ready for patients who may be late,” he said, adding that reminders and constant communication with his patients help manage expectations on arrival times, while also keeping their waiting times to a maximum of 30 minutes.
JB dentists described their Singaporean clients as being knowledgeable about their oral healthcare, which Dr Ooi said makes them easier to explain treatment plans to, especially when the recommended course of treatment is not the cheapest.
And while the experience of soldiering through the pandemic has made dentists in JB intimately aware of the need to build up a solid base of local patients too, they are more than happy to welcome patients from Singapore.
With greater mobility increasing the pool of options to consumers, competition may not be restricted to that within one’s country’s borders these days.
“We’re all colleagues; we go to the same conferences,” said Dr Lai of her Singaporean counterparts.
“There might be different reasons that drive the patients over, but when patients feel they can trust dentists here in JB as well as the ones they’re used to in Singapore, then ultimately it’s their choice.”
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Over S$370,000 was recovered for a 70-year-old victim of a technical support scam.
The organisations involved included the Singapore Police Force's (SPF) Anti-Scam Centre (ASC), along with DBS bank, the United Overseas Bank (UOB), and the Hong Kong Police Force’s Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC).
Victim called a number on a pop-up notification
According to a press release by the police, the victim had been surfing the internet on his computer when a pop-up notification appeared.
The victim was unable to close the pop-up notification and called the "Microsoft Helpline" number that was displayed on it.
He was informed that his computer was "hacked", and that his bank accounts were being used for illegal activities.
The victim was then re-directed to a "SPF cybercrime unit officer" who alleged that the victim’s bank accounts were used for illegal activities.
Acting on the scammer's instructions, the victim divulged his bank account credentials, which included his user ID and passwords, to facilitate the "investigation".
This allowed the scammers to take control of the victim’s bank accounts, resulting in money being transferred out.
First detected through suspicious transactions amounting to S$180,000
The scam was first detected by DBS on Apr. 18, 2024, through suspicious transactions from the victim's bank account to an account in Hong Kong.
These transactions amounted to about S$180,000.
The DBS Anti-Scam Team immediately blocked further transactions from the victim’s bank account to prevent further losses and notified the ASC.
The ASC then notified the ADCC regarding the beneficiary bank account.
Discovered that the victim also had S$240,000 missing from his UOB bank account
The police said that as the victim was uncontactable, the ASC activated officers from the Ang Mo Kio South Neighbourhood Police Centre’s Community Policing Unit to visit the victim’s residence.
However, the victim was not at home.
The ASC then tried other means and managed to reach the victim’s family friend, who disclosed that S$240,000 was missing from the victim’s UOB bank account.
The ASC immediately worked with UOB to suspend the victim’s UOB bank account and traced the funds to a bank account in Hong Kong.
At the same time, the ASC worked with ADCC, successfully recovering the full amount from the bank account in Hong Kong.
What to do if you might have fallen prey to such a scam
SPF advised the public to take the following steps immediately if they believe that they have fallen prey to such scams:
- Turn off your computer immediately to limit any further activities that scammers can perform,
- Uninstall any software that you have installed at the instructions of scammers,
- Perform a full anti-virus scan on your computer and delete any malware detected,
- Report the incident to your bank to halt further activities relating to your bank account(s),
- Change your Internet banking credentials and remove any unauthorised payees who may have been added to your bank accounts, and
- Report the incident to the bank and the Police.
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4 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
Correct. Get AP, get a milk pitcher that you can use to press the Aeropress into like the Tim Wendleboe beedio. Add 2 blocks of ice - make a nice summer drink :s
Save the $$ - buy better quality coffee instead.
me only drink black kopi, i use to drink espresso from this but got lazy so nv make liao, that explain my grinder.
nvm my grinder unscrew everything to wash then get ready for AP
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3 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
Dunno whether Tritan is safer and to what extent, but I think Tritan has a higher heat resistance compared to many of the plastics used.
Yeah, you buy the AP Clear with the paper filters first (it comes standard with the package) - see how it tastes. Then buy a pair of Able metal filters - then you can check the difference and decide which one tastes better to you.
You can use it to make fake espressos as in 18-20g of coffee with 50/60g of water and get a concentrated brew of about 40g. Or use regular ratio - 15g coffee to 240g water
many thanks,
i just get aero, no need spend so much on kopi .
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2 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
The new AP clear made of Tritan .. more heat resistant and will leach into the coffee. Plastic bottles, pipes .. all contain plastic already. Water purifier, RO system - again plastic. Really is cannot escape - so might as well.
Wit Flair, probably best to get the Flair 58 which comes with the pressure gauge, and preheating electric setup. Other models without the electric heating supply for pre-heating the brew chamber drop a lot of temperature when you pour boiling water.
Flair 58 wins over the Cafelat Robot in flexibility but it is more expensive also, I think. Robot pricing is comparable with the non electric Flair Pro/Pro 2/Neo. But then I'd choose the Robot over that model.
You watch videos of people brewing both in real time - Flair 58 vs Cafelat Robot - see which one easier for you. Robot I think is easier to clean.
same thinking, that why i choose robot
didt know the new aero is Tritan . in that case Tritan should be safer. this one right?
https://aeropress.com/products/aeropress-clear
i guess i try the metal filter, i alway love my kopi with more oil
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6 hours ago, coffeenut said:
No better choice for a strong cup of coffee, and the brewer is portable and versatile
I've had the ones marked with numbers.
1 - was a gift from a forumer on Coffeegeek - but BPA fears so didn't use it after 10-15 times
2 - Bought this one when it came out and used for like 4-5 years, then the rubber plunger seal got wonky and decided to buy a new AP. Went through 2 filter packs so 700 cups
3 - Bought this one in 2016, I think. Still have it - works great. Been through another 2 filter packs - so 700 cups. Changed the rubber seal last year - $6 spare
4 - During early COVID - like March 2020, bought the 4th one - just cos looked different and red lettering
So now got 3 and 4 - the material is fine and doesn't scratch. Usually brew, wash in warm water, Wipe dry, leave to dry completely then store
the problem with plastic, even if no BPA, there still other chemical. they remove BPA but they still have other chemical like BPS, BPF etc...
CNA say BPS behave the same way as BPA, the plastic that is good is triton or called polyester plastic
do you know anything about flair cause it was my 2nd choice after robot?
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2 hours ago, coffeenut said:
Difference in the size of holes. Your coffee once you brew and press through - some of the coffee particles will pass through the tiny holes. The super fine lets in fewer coffee particles.
So when you drink, it will feel cleaner, smoother. Like when you drinking from French Press - you pour out from the French Press into a mug - after you finish drinking from the coffee mug, got some coffee particles and silt at the bottom. The extra fine will have less silt at the bottom compared to the one on the right. But both should be less than your French Press
If given a choice will you get aero press again or other better choice
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9 hours ago, coffeenut said:
Aeropress filter paper comes in a pack of 360 - last you 1 yr if everyday 1 cup
There is also a metal filter - you use, wash and keep using it - no need buy paper filters lol
But metal filter lets in some oils which the paper absorbs. So it is a choice - whether want a very clean coffee, or are okay with the metal filter.
I think you buy AP with paper filter (this comes anyway with the AP box). Later after that box finish, you can buy a metal filter. AP ownself started making a metal filter, but I'll recommend the metal filters made by Able - they have 2 discs - one super fine, and another with slightly bigger holes.
AP paper replacement filter pack of 2 on Amazon https://www.amazon.sg/dp/B005UPSLX8/
Metal filter disc for AP from Able - https://www.amazon.sg/dp/B00E58P81E/
Maybe can get cheaper on Carouhell/Shoppee
The fine and super fine, what the different.
Kopi go kopi is the best
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14 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
cb .. I didnt know he made this grinder. Only remember the Lido grinder he made earlier. Am subscribed to his YT, but don't remember anything recently
No wonder you want Cafelat Robot cos I remember he was doing something with it too.
Moccamaster too much for you la .. single guy at home. AP is easy for single cup brews if you are only going to do it for oyurself. Robot/ etc too much effort for 1 cup of coffee, especially in hot Sinkieland.
robot can last a long time mag. when i buy, i was one of the first batch
maybe aero press but nothing is confirm yet
for aeropress, you buy lot of filter paper?
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11 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
WTF is Doug liao? I only know the Doug from Orphan Espresso - the old guy with. along white beard lol
Dunno when last time I login to Home Barista also
Nong nong time ago, there got announce AP release - then I go buy that. Use a few times till realise it leech plastic to coffee 
Then buy new version with food grade plastic that's still in use now :s
ya Doug from Orphan Espresso. the old guy.
i forgotten my HB account liao
me thinking exculding robot, it either aero or moccamaster
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2 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
Which kopi forum - home-barrista? Burrs only a few companies make - but the grinder housing, assembly, adjustment mechanism is usually made by the grinder manufacturers who just borrow the most cost effective burr set.
Okay leh, got grind setting indicator via that printed thing looks good. But the crank for manual grinding looks damn iffy and hard to operate cos looks like table-top grinder
You use the power tool attachment on top then should be fine.
king is cheapskate. if this is good, use hand also nvm
kopi forums is home-barrista, Coffee and Espresso Machines, r/espresso, but mainly stay in HB cause doug is there to answer question
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43 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
Yeah, if got use power tools can liao. Also should have easy to adjust settings in super fine increments. Same burr set doesn't matter as long as doesn't have fine adjustment.
Never saw this grinder before liao - only the electric Compak k3 variants in shops.
i go amdk forum mah, those kopi connoisseur. keep recommending this as the best manual kopi grinder and and able beat many low and mid teir grinder
many post picture of the grind quality, how many it can go, shot after shot, and doug (doug is the founder, it say 68mm but the founder say it was compak k3 gind head buy from the same factory in itay that compak k3 use) that how i knew i have to get this, 68mm compak k3 gind head for only USD 150 or $240. it was worth it
i also add this, but i printed in paper given by doug. the plastic thing with a pointer
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4 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
You buy a brewer like AP or a standard pourover dripper + paper filters and use the rest of the $$ to buy coffee can liao. 1 cup manual brew got more caffine than espresso via Cafelat Robot. Plus, finding a tiny jewelers scale that works with the Robot is a headache
i was thinking if nv get robo, i stick with FP and also use FP as cold brew
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Just now, coffeenut said:
WTF ..
Knn not this grinder la, I thought you meant this Compak K3
You set your grinder to espresso grind setting and try to grind 18g of coffee - then see how long and how much effort it takes you. Manual grinding no joke for espresso
Confirm take you 5x time to grind than for French press coarse setting
i mod it to use power tools liao. muhahhaha
Doug was smart, remove the heart of the compak k3 and created a manual grinder for only $150 8 yr ago. this is fine enough to make Turkish kopi powder
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1 minute ago, coffeenut said:
Nice that grinder should be fine But long time since I saw a Compak K3 - last time saw one with a timer grind function from before COVID
Espresso hole jin deep le .. need to get a lot of accessories :s Tamper, mat, leveler, distribution tool, a nice cup
Then cleanup and storage for all this
But really should get rid of your FP la .. that and moka pot reminds me of my parent's era
mine is version 1
now version 2 liao but using the same 68mm Italian made conical commercial steel grinding burr set
this kopi not confirm la, since i got good grinder. and get a robot and i can make my own kopi liao
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6 minutes ago, coffeenut said:
Just get AP la .. much easier to clean and store. Though at one time, you won't be able to get more than a 220g cup of coffee. There is a larger Aeropress XL, but advise against it.
Robot machine is what - the Cafelat espresso maker? Buy liao, you need to buy a decent grinder for espresso. Heng I forced out of espresso hellhole by wifu
ya Cafelat . i got a decent grinder using compak k3 grinder head
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Ah tiong tio arrested for flying drone outside parliament house
in Chit-Chat
Posted
A Chinese tourist flew a drone near the Parliament Building and was taken away by the police for investigation. The Chinese Embassy in Singapore issued a document reminding citizens to abide by my country's drone operation regulations.
The Chinese Embassy in Singapore posted on its WeChat official account on Wednesday (May 1): "A few days ago, a Chinese citizen flew a drone near the Parliament Buildings of Singapore in order to record a "wonderful moment" during his trip to Singapore. He was arrested by the New Zealand police. Take him away to assist in the investigation and have an impact on his subsequent journey.”
The Chinese Embassy in Singapore also reminded Chinese tourists visiting our country and Chinese citizens in our country to enhance their legal awareness and not to fly drones at will.
According to the law, it is illegal to operate a drone within certain areas, such as within five kilometers of an airport or air force base, within a restricted area, a protected area, or to fly at an altitude of 200 feet above sea level without a permit. Violators may be fined up to $50,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.
Data released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore in April this year shows that the authorities took enforcement actions against 309 incidents of illegal use of drones in 2023. Among them, eight people and seven companies were charged in court, with fines ranging from 4,000 yuan to 4,000 yuan. 5,000 yuan.