Author: Mitchell Pereira

Lover of all things that go bump in the night, Mitchell a.k.a "Gragok Jahat" is a seasoned writer with experience to perhaps fill a pint glass or two. Still seeking permanent residence at his local bar.

With the emergence of UFC, ONE Championship and Angela Lee, there’s been a sudden increase in interest in the sport. Just like in E-sports, we’ve come to realise that we as Singaporeans are pretty good at these things. You may not be privy to what’s going on or understand why there’s so much hype centred around it. A number of people in fact frown upon the sport and look at it as a violent waste of time. But take a read, and perhaps you’ll come to understand why it’s a growing phenomenon. So here’re 6 things that you should know about…

Read More

If you too want to be on a boat and be a king like Leo, then you need to get yourself a berth on this party cruise. It’s The Ship has been a success year after year, drawing crowds from all over to rave while you sail the night away. You’ll be able to make it rain, make it snow, blow champagne and more aboard the pimped-out liner come 17 November 2017. With a line-up featuring Krewella, Yellow Claw, Higher Brothers, Joji, Keith Ape and more, you know it’s going to be an intense affair. Early bird cabins have been snapped…

Read More

If you’ve grown up with an older sibling, you’ll know this feeling very well. I’m the eldest in my family and so I know I’ve done this many times before. Whenever my younger siblings wanted to join in and play with me whilst I was in the middle of a very serious video game, I’d pretend to plug the second controller in and let her believe she’s actually contributing. That’s exactly what many Singaporeans feel about the President of Singapore. I’m sure he (or well now, she) has got more responsibilities than playing pretend, but we’ll never truly know how…

Read More

Dream Theater is to rock what Cirque Du Soleil is to circus. The band has been together a long, long time and they’re celebrating their 25th anniversary with this 2017 tour. They’re probably one of the longest running acts in rock history, considering that rockstars are as fickle as all my ex-girlfriends. The band’s known for their melodic tunes despite being a hair raising rock act, as well as some truly heartfelt lyrics. Throughout the years, Dream Theater has lived up to their own reputation – just watch their live performance in Budokan 2004 for a masterclass. If you’re looking…

Read More

I remember when I thought of preschool as just another childcare centre. I hate starting any conversation with the words “back in the day”; it implies that I’m old. However, back in the day, preschools were a very different thing from what they are today. For a start, technology wasn’t as advanced. These days, the education system in Singapore heavily incorporates technology into its curriculum. It’s impossible to ignore the fact that smart gadgets are a basic in today’s society. Kids aren’t spared that, and even my five-year-old niece operates an iPad like a champion. Technology is however, just but…

Read More

After watching Connor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather spend 12 rounds knocking each other about, we Singaporeans are treated to yet another celebrity match-up between two former Idol contestants. Whilst one could actually sing and finished as first runner-up, the other has gone from eyebrow plucker to stripper, modelling agency owner and even a self-declared YouTube sensation. I got a few words from Sylvester Sim in the lead up to his fight with Steven Lim and found out a little more about what this whole fight is actually about. At first I assumed that anyone would take the opportunity to rain…

Read More

It isn’t easy competing with the likes of his other bandmates, neither does he strive to. He bobs to the music and he takes his craft seriously. The scene is predominantly Chinese, although the attractions are mostly Thai. He’s a musician in a Thai Disco, a “flower joint” where girls from poor neighbouring countries sing, dance and mingle for a garland or two. Garlands don’t come cheap, yet if you’ve been before, you’ll know that garlands fly off the rack very quickly. Thai Discos In Singapore The amount of money you see float through such joints can border on insanity,…

Read More

If you’re Singaporean, chances are you’ll know Bata. I used to buy shoes from the brand for school, but then again who didn’t? With its new direction however, it’s very likely that you’re not going to “buy and throw away” anymore. Bata is such a household name and a staple in every Singaporean’s life, so it’s pretty surprising that many are still unaware that Bata isn’t some Asian brand for all of us to buy school shoes from. Bata is in fact a Czech brand, named after the Bata siblings who started it. Bata has done really well for a brand…

Read More

We’re heading into a contactless and techno-smart society, and it’s going to affect everything; Things such as the future of parking your bicycles. If you’re one of those who still has your own bicycle, you no longer need to ride it around with a padlock wrapped around its frame. Buzzvox is a game-changing bike rack that’ll keep your bike safely secured whilst you’re off gallivanting. Buzzvox is an app that’ll help you locate bike racks near you as well as activate the locks on them. Scooter riders will also be able to leave their scooters parked safely as well, so…

Read More

There are a ton of apps out there in Singapore that assist those stuck in the lonely hearts club. Not everyone has a similar agenda though, and it can get tedious trying to sieve out those who are there with honest intentions and those looking for a quick “coffee”. Introducing GaiGai Then there’s GaiGai – a sort of bespoke offline matchmaking service that guarantees they’ll find you someone based on your preferences. “But what’s the difference between this and traditional matchmaking services?”, you’ll ask. Well, GaiGai is affiliated to their quick-fire, right-swiping sister application, Paktor. And if you’re familiar with…

Read More

The annual Hungry Ghost Festival is nearly upon us, and the gates of hell will soon be open in Singapore. For the Chinese, it’s the time of year to make offerings of food, money and entertainment to wandering spirits. For many, it’s also a month full of superstitious elders reminding us of all the various superstitious observations. I don’t know about you, but I’ve survived without ever once getting possessed, because I was a well behaved young boy that listened to his Ah Ma. Don’t worry though, I’ve compiled a list of 20 things you can do to either push…

Read More

China is a land of mysticism shaped by its natural wonders and impressive creatures. Out in the country, away from the congestion, skyscrapers and smog that most of us know about China, lies vast mountainous landscapes and open plains – home to the region’s majestic and diverse wildlife. Disneynature’s Born In China follows the tales of the creatures that inhabit these tranquil lands, like a mother snow leopard and her two adorable cubs, a mother panda and her adorable cub, as well as a mischievous golden monkey. Narrated by John Krasinski of ‘The Office’ fame, the documentary takes on a life…

Read More

I know you say bad things about Singapore. All of us like to say things about our country, and if you say you don’t then you’re a liar and your pants will catch fire. A Good Citizen however, is not afraid to say, or (in this case) draw the things that we all think about before we go to bed. The Singaporean art and illustration house that’s helmed by Dan Wong (aka Citizen Dan) churns out mostly satirical comic strips that speak about issues that hit close to home. Drawn in detail with really profane humour, his work is something that I…

Read More

Some people like to say that at least compared to other countries, our Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is still pretty good. Those people wear white, drive cars and eat caviar with their soft boiled eggs. What was once the pride and joy of our public transport system is now a shell of its former being, just like that trophy you won at Sports Day in Primary School. Once a shiny beacon of accomplishment, now a reminder that you once had dreams. There may be a way though to ease that pain a little, or avoid that pain totally, and…

Read More

I’m sure you want to stick out like a well-manicured thumb in our world of over-hyped beasts. Nobody usually goes to the Nike website to get their kicks, but here’s a good reason why you might want to before purchasing your next pair – the Custom Nike iD. If you’re looking to get a certain colour-way for your Nike Airmax 90s or go patriotic with your next pair of Nike Mariah Flyknit Racers, then you certainly should check out the site and play around with the various colour schemes. The site is pretty user friendly and smooth despite the variety of…

Read More