Again it's been a long while since I've written anything. Well this won't be a long post anyhow.

So I met a friend who I got acquainted with through the marvels of technology and he's visiting Singapore soon and I decided to compile this quick list of shops to head since he too is into fishing. This might not be the most thorough list of shops and I may have missed out on a few shops in the vicinity so do forgive me. The shops listed are shops which I personally have ventured to before (except for TTC as of the date this is written) and any which I have missed out would probably be because I have not personally been there before.

Each of this shop has it's own set of unique attributes that make them very special in their own individual way and I'll try to cover them all at best I can. Let's go.

Anglers Outfitters

This shop isn't a shop which I am super familiar with as I've only discovered it recently. (I know, what a noob right?) Tucked away close to the corner of the building, this shop has a wide range of AOF jigging reels displayed at its windows. I chanced upon this shop whilst searching for 2000 tackle and also found another tackle shop whose name I can't quite recall adjacent to it. This shop has an interesting range of lures that I have not yet encountered in other shops including some Salza brand ajing/mebaru rubbers which I bought on pure impulse on my first visit. They also stock some Super Fireline range of braided lines and I returned to the shop to have one of my reels spooled with the 4lbs Fireline Crystal at what I would deem a very reasonable price. 

Address:

BLK 13, NORTH BRIDGE ROAD, #01-3968, 189856

Phone number: 6294 7567

2000 Tackle

This was a shop I used to visit when it was still located at Pasir Ris next to the pay ponds. Ive only scanned through its inventory once and was very tempted to get a few things but my wallet refused to compromise. There was a huge range of Daiwa lures including the Emeraldas range of egi lures but what I really wanted to get were the Cultiva soft lures they had which I have not seen brought in by other shops so far. 

Address:

13 North Bridge Road #01-3986 Singapore 190013 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 190013

Phone number: 6789 2000

Tan Thong Cheong (TTC)

Okay, I'm not one to comment about this establishment but I have heard great and wonderful things about it. This shop should be able to cater to all your Shimano needs. I'll be heading there in the coming week and may or may not update this section depending on my mood.

Address:

Blk 1 Maude Road, #01-30, 200001

Phone number: 6297 3536

OJ Tackle

This shop is hidden in at the corner of the Textile Centre it resides in. They carry quite a sufficient range of rods and reels including various Shimano and Daiwa reels. They also have quite a range of Zman lures which I was fortunate enough to buy on a certain day when all other shops in the vicinity were closed (silly me shopping on such a day) as the shop owner was in doing some stock take.

Address:

200 Jalan Sultan, Textile centre #01-10 199018

Phone number: 8374 4904

JDM Tackle

If you're into jigging or deep sea luring then this shop would suit your needs. They do also carry quite a number of clothing and accessories to allow one to dress the part. The thing which caught my eye, however, was the lower priced Varivas fluorocarbon leader they carried (packed in a more compact packaging at that!). This shop however leans towards bigger jigs and big GT-catching poppers so freshwater anglers might shy away but the competitively priced Varivas FC would be a real hooking point (for me at least).

Address:

766 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198734

Phone number:  6341 5333

Kaiser Pro

If you're coming from the Bugis MRT direction, chances are you would pass by this shop. I have a very vague recollection of what this shop sells but I do recall quite a number of beautiful rods. There were also quite a huge range of soft frog lures which pushed my hand closer to my wallet. They also have quite a variety of SPRO brand lures.

Address: 

390 Victoria St, Singapore 188061

Phone number: 6396 6232

Joe Fishing Tackle

If there is a one-stop shop for anglers in the area, this has to be it. With every thing from baits to lure to rods and reels, this is by far one of the most well-covered shops in terms of type of fishing. While some shops choose to specialize in a certain area, at Joe's, you probably can get almost anything you require for any type of fishing. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a megastore for fishing but more like a condensed all-needs-covered convenience store. The really neat thing I like about this shop is that because there is a huge variety of brands and products, this is a perfect store to for somebody who has a certain budget or is just starting out.

Address:

331 Beach Rd, Singapore 199562

Phone number: 6392 3888

Lure Haven

This shop isn't for the weak-willed. A simple shop at first glance but once you reach the second floor, your life's decisions would be re-evaluated and you'd wish you had the bank account of somebody obnoxiously rich like Justin Bieber. A candy store for anglers await the brave. This shop is definitely a proper reflection of it's name.

Address:

10 Bussorah Street, 199488

Phone number: 6297 4898

Sabre Strokers

Halco products are on sale in this establishment alongside a few really nice lures and accessories. The specialty of this store, however, is in its wide range of rod-building accessories. Be it Fuji guides or thread wraps, this is the one place where you should be able to get all your custom rod components. 

Address:

35 Arab St, Singapore 199734

Phone number: 6396 0982

Zamzam/Victory

And yes, with all that tackle shop hopping activity, this would be definitely your place to head to for a quick refuel or to assess what poor buying decisions you have made thus far and how much money you have left. Known for their competitive business rivalry, these 2 shops are located side by side and sell almost identical food items. I would not help you decide on which of these 2 shops to head to but i'll definitely recommend the Murtabak (mutton) from either. 

Address:

Postal code 198677 or 198675 (so hard to remain neutral for this)

Alrighty, so that's all for a quick summarize of shops to head to in the area and once again I apologize if I missed out any information of any shops! That aside, do share this if you think it might aid a friend otherwise TIGHT LINES AND SMILEY FACE :D

My oh my, it has been quite a while since I wrote and man do I miss writing. Well, I have been pretty busy with YouTube videos off late and while more often than not (esepcially for my case) the videos show you that which has already happened, writing on the other hand truly captures the ideas which I would like to bring across. Anyway, this post primarily aims to put into perspective the type of fishing you can do on this little island to hopefully steer you in the right direction. You see, when I came into possession of my first fishing rod(s), they were bought without proper knowledge of the terms, idealogies and purposes and I ended up buying a lot of things I don't quite use anymore. So without futher delay, let me attempt to aid you in your quest for answers regarding the art that is angling. Sorry but this is going to be real wordy.

The Water

The first idea I would like you to comprehend is that water bodies are generally classified under 2 major groups - salt water (SW) and fresh water (FW). The former (saltwater) refers to water that contains high levels of salinity which more often than not includes water found in seas and oceans. This type of water is also know as sea water. In Singapore, this type of water is found at the perimeter on the shorelines, offshore (out in the open sea, on a vessel) and certain pay ponds. Fresh water on the other hand has lower salinity levels than salt water and is usually linked to the many canals, drains and reservoirs on the island. There is also an in-between group know as brackish water which is saltier than fresh water but less salty than sea water, like an eggplant that's having an identity crisis. So let's not make things confusing and stick to just SW and FW for now. This information is highly crucial as the fish that you will be targeting at this 2 different class of water vary quite a bit from one another. To make things simpler, if you see a "no fishing" sign put up by PUB in your vicinity, high chance that is a fresh water body and if you don't, it's salt water and of course, if you know a place that is a fresh water body that contains fish and does not have a signage, you probably didn't need to read this section. :D

The fish

Okay, this is another important section. This will further narrow down the type of fishing you should look into. There is an unsaid rule amongst anglers in Singapore to not take home their catch if it was caught from a fresh water body. This rule is further strengthened by the no poaching laws that surround said water bodies. The idea is that fresh water fish is only meant for sport fishing and since fish are not aplenty for the hoards of anglers on the island that are restricted to using artificial lures at such places, it is for the benefit of the community that catch and release be practiced. That said, a decision has to be made on whether you are aiming to catch a meal or not, selfies with your catch is optional either way. If you are aiming to catch a meal, generally you would be looking to fish at SW bodies that contain an array of species for your picking if you manage to get one to bite. I've added a quick list below to aid you in your target but of course the list is not limited to these species and I've actually left out a whole bunch to keep things simple.

If you noticed, the list contains quite a number of catfish. This is in honor of its resilience and ability to adapt in a variety of water bodies. I read somewhere that 70% of all water bodies all over the globe contain catfish and honestly I am not surprised at all. Do note that certain groups of fish can be found in both freshwater and saltwater like the barramundi (sea bass) for one and also gobies. I know, I know, things can get pretty confusing sometimes with these fish but it can't be helped as there are no black and white with these things unless its a zebra tilapia. :| bad joke. Technically, squids are not fish but they're tasty so I've put them into the list too.

Okay, now that you roughly know what kind of fish you would prefer to land and the purpose of fishing, you can decide on which location is best for you.

BLATANT SELF-ADVERTISING HERE. This is a video showing some common fresh water catches.

Location

If you have decided on embarking on the freshwater path, it is safe to say you would be venturing to the many reservoirs on the island with a setup more suited for luring. Depending on your location, you would bring a slightly different rod. If you are heading to legal FW fishing area, a 6 to 7 foot rod in the light to ultralight range (3-10lbs) would suffice in most cases if you're aiming for the foreign-turned-local species that is the Peacock Bass. These are generally the easiest to land as compared to the other trophy fish - Tomans (aka the Giant Snakehead). If you're heading to the other types of fresh water areas, chances are you already know what to get or have friends that would point you in the right direction but generally you'd go for a slightly heavier setup (10-30lbs probably).

On the salty side, you would generally be travelling to the perimeters of the island. If you reside in the east side of the island then you would be fortunate enough to have Bedok Jetty close to you where casting far out would not be an issue meaning your rod length can go as short as you want or as long as you have to to compensate for any lack of....distance. If you are not so fortunate or would just like to do a little shore casting, venturing to the realms of surf casting should be considered. This art is generally done with a long rod around 10 feet and above to allow casts not easily achieved with shorter rods. 

Example of Surf Casting. Visit the SSCC page if you need help regarding Surf Casting. The guys in there are brilliant.

And if you truly are desperate for a catch and do not mind paying a sum, you could always hire a boat to take you offshore or head to one of the many pay ponds on the island. In both cases, a long rod isn't necessary and the weight range of the rods you would look for would vary depending on where you are headed to.

Baiting and Luring

These 2 techniques of fishing both have their pros and cons and have been the debate of anglers since the beginning of time. Personally, I enjoy both for different reasons but I can safely say that baiting is definitely easier. Baiting refers to using attractants such as pellets, food or live organisms to entice fish to take the hook whilst luring refers to the act of using an artificial bait known as a lure to trick a fish into getting hooked. To make it even simpler, if it tastes like paint, plastic, metal or soft synthetic rubber-like polymers, it probably is a lure. When it comes to baiting, you let the bait do the work but luring on the other hand has a learning curve regarding understanding what kind of lure would work for the species you are targeting and also the way the lure should be worked, moved or retrieved in order to entice a bite. A good analogy (credits to Oz Bangkok Hooker) would be luring is similar to a performance by a marionette whereby a good performance results in tricking a fish. Luring would definitely create a bigger hole in your pocket considering how expensive some lures are but the satisfaction of landing a fish on lure does often feel more like an actual achievement compared to baiting.

With this 2 types of fishing techniques understood, you can further decide how heavy your rod should be as luring typically requires many casts and a heavier rod would erect some discomfort in your arm after multiple casts whereas in baiting you usually make lesser casts and can afford a heavier rod. But of course, these 2 techniques are not exclusive to rods, you can bait or lure with any rod really.

Spinning VS Casting

All right this section is easy. Spinning4life. 

Yes yes, there are advantages of using a casting reel, conventional reel, or baitcasting (BC) reel. The learning curve is pretty steep and so are the prices. Sure, BC advocates would argue about the benefits of mastering using one but I would honestly not recommend it to any sane individual who has a faint interest in fishing. BC reels are nice to look at and let's just keep it at that (I KID I KID NO HATE NO HATE). If you are a beginner who is actually looking for information regarding your first setup, the easier choice would definitely be spinning but if you are really looking for a challenge then head over to the BC corner where backlash will punch you in the gut moments after you enter the arena.

In all seriousness, either setup will catch you fish if you use them right.

Conclusion

This guide is an oversimplified version on the choices you have on fishing rods and the decisions you need to make to narrow down to what you need. I did not go into reels as I believe the reel should fit the rod and the rod should fit the purpose. Hopefully in reading this you have a rough understanding on what kind of fish you are trying to land, where you are going to head to, the length of rod you require and the type of rod you would be looking at. Once you have gathered the answers to the header titles of each section, you should be able to waltz into any tackle shop to get a few recommendations on rods based on your specific needs and also your budget. If you require more assistance in getting a rod for your particular needs, there are avenues you could get answers from including Fishingkaki and Eat Sleep Fish on Facebook, both of which have strong communities of knowledgeable anglers with all sorts of expertise who are always willing to help.

Tight lines and smiley face :)

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There's something about the D'Best Pro Pond at Pasir Ris which always compels me to do up a blog post. No, I am not sponsored by them but I'd gladly welcome any of such opportunities thrown my way.

It's the September school holidays and D'Best Pro Pond has a few promotions on going including the "Kids fish for free (with each paying adult)" promo and the buddy package promo. Being the unemployed bloke that I am, I'd definitely think twice before visiting any pay ponds as I am never confident about recouping the initial investments in value of fish. However, seeing that a few promotions were on and being the weak-willed person I am when it comes to angling, I succumbed. 

My entourage for the day was made up of Marcus and Reuben. 

The setup I had with me for the session was my ultralight/ajing setup which consisted of the Majorcraft First Cast rod paired with the Shimano Nasci 500. Pink colored Fins Windtamer braided line of 4lbs break test was spooled on the reel with a 8lbs Varivas fluorocarbon leader. Initially, I had thought this setup was akin to bringing a knife to a gunfight but it was not the case at all with me comfortably managing the 2 barramundis. Of course, the story would have been starkly different if I were to have hooked on to some of the bigger snappers and GT in the pond which other folks were landing today.

The day started off pretty decent with me landing 2 KBLs within the first hour and also missing one about 5 minutes after the hour mark but my luck ran out after the hook spit. Reuben managed to land 2 KBLs around the size too. Marcus on the other hand has not had any luck getting bites at the Pro Pond for quite some time now (don't give up Marcus!). 

All in all, as always I enjoyed my time at the Pro Pond and would definitely recommend anybody acquainted with children under the age of 16 to take advantage of the current promos to share the beauty that is fishing. The promotion ends on 12th Semptember. If you're too busy to take your child fishing, I would gladly take him/her fishing during this period as long as you sponsor my session (yes, I am willing to make the greatest of sacrifices for the future of the world that is your offspring). 

Tight lines and smiley face :) 

The group behind the Singapore Beach Fishing Competition, the Singapore Surf Cast Club or SSCC for short also owns a highly active Facebook group linked here and the group was the main reason why I bought my first surf casting set (which I am trying very hard to sell on Carousell hahaha). With members in the SSCC page always updating on catch reports which occasionally include monster-sized fish, it was just a matter of time before I owned my own surf casting setup.

Reaching the venue at around 0730hrs, I was greeted with the coastline fenced up with surf rods. This was my first time attending a surf casting fishing competition and man was I psyched just by the number of rods lined up. Many groups of anglers had stayed overnight at the venue to secure spots for the event. I promptly made my way to the registration area and collected my goody bag which included a tee shirt and a Shimano cap which was part of an early bird registration giveaway. Initially, I was excited when I read that SSCC managed to secure Shimano as one of the sponsors for the event and thought they might give away maybe a few goodies like maybe some fishing lines or maybe a pair of pliers like for their open house event but I was slightly disappointed when I could not find any Stella reels in the goody bag (hahahah, just kidding la, the product brochure definitely made better reading material as compared to Twilight). The organizers for the event also briefed me roughly on the procedures for the day which I felt was definitely a good touch.

With the sun slowly rising, I made my way to my eventual fishing spot. The walk to find an opening between the line of rods was definitely a better atmosphere as compared to when at a pay pond. People greeted with smiles as compared to the usual death stare I have faced at pay ponds as though a lousy angler like me would even manage to "steal" a fish (how is that even possible though haha). Anyway, I managed to find a spot next to the guys from Team DFG or Deckhand Fishwhisperer Gonewild. Kaya buns were the plan for meals for the day and I consumed 2 for breakfast.

At 9am, the sirens blazed and the surf casters took turns casting their lines of hope. With my amateur casting technique, I managed an average cast which was an insult to my 14 foot rod. My only concern was really to not cross anybody's lines but I think I did it all the same (sorry guys haha). The day went on with retrievals and recasts with little to catch which is of the norm for Singapore waters generally.

The highlight of the day was definitely the shouts that blared through the air whenever anybody managed to get a bite. "MARSHAL! MARSHAL~~!!" shouted groups of anglers as they tried to get the attention of the event marshals that had to be present during the removal of the hooks for the fish to be counted. It was definitely an amusing occurrence and everybody would actually feel joy for the person who has landed the fish. Midway through the competition with little bites from my area, an angler 2 rods beside mine landed a pretty nice grouper on his fabulously red rod. I took a video of the catch just to show you guys what I'm talking about.

Going to such an event alone is never a good idea because you can't just leave your rod there to go pee or to get some sustenance and surf rods are not like luring rods which you can just carry along to the toilets. Luckily for me though, I have a big bladder and my new friend Khai from DFG. He introduced himself to me and I tried my best to converse in my unpolished bahasa ( I know now that "umur" means age. I learn something new everyday. LOL). Later that day, I would receive some kindness from the group in the form of Mee Goreng which was definitely a class higher than kaya bread. It wasn't the first time I received kindness in the form of food from surf anglers with the previous time from a regular angler at Labrador Park during my first overnight solo session there a while ago.

The rest of the day was pretty mundane at my side and I did not manage to catch that stingray which I had initially hoped my sand whitings would attract. Somebody did manage to land a 5kg stingray though which was also the heaviest catch for the day.

Overall, the event was well-organized and with the event area being so huge, it must have been a tiring event to run. Thank you SSCC team for making the competition a success and I'll definitely look forward to more surf casting competiton once I learn how to do a pendulum cast (kidding la, don't cross line I happy liao).

Tight lines and smiley face :)

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Sand Whiting, Ikan Bolos, Ikan Pasir Pasir, Silver Silago, Swachiam/ Suachiam. This fish comes in many names and has been herded as one of the top baits to use when fishing for stingrays. I personally have not caught a stingray but seeing that SSCC 2016 is just a few days away, I decided to reload my ammo and stock up on the ammunition to be used on game day.

9am and the sun was mildly taunting my skin at West Coast Park. I figured since I was going to video the hunt, I might as well do up an article documenting my methods used to catch those slippery little things. So here goes.

Location

The sand whiting is a group of whitings that live in the sand, hence the name. In order to achieve a fruitful hunt, fish for sand whiting in waters with sandy bottom. In my experience, most beaches should be stocked full of them and it's not always necessary to cast far to locate the whitings. One example where sand whitings would be almost impossible to be caught is places with rocky bottom like at the viewing decks at Labrador Park. Rocks are not big sand. NO.

Tackle

Almost any light setup would suffice for catching of sand whiting. However, with a majority of sand whiting being  rather small in Singapore, I would recommend a more sensitive setup to detect bites more effectively. I am currently using a Majorcraft First Cast UL rod paired with a size 500 Shimano Nasci reel and its terrific for the job (no, I did not buy the rod just to catch sand whiting). Initially, my 4'6" Vivid Light Game Rod was my choice for sand whiting hunting but with the rod being less sensitive, I missed many fast takers and only managed to land whitings that set the hooks on themselves.

Rig

To catch small-mouthed bait fish, the most important aspect is definitely the rig. Use rigs with extremely minute hooks in order to fish effectively. My go-to rig is definitely a 2-hook apollo rig.

For the hook size, I can't recall the actual size which I use but the width of the hook gape should be around 3mm as the whiting mouths are ridiculously small. I'm currently using some cheap 10lbs monofilament line but I'm pretty sure pushing the diameter down to around 4lbs should be no problem as these sand whitings are pretty small usually. The true test is tying knots on those puny hooks and a smaller diameter for your rig line will definitely decrease the probability of slippage of the snell knot.

Bait

Cut prawn meat for bait is definitely one of my favourites but I have read of people who have found success with sea worms too. When baiting your hooks, always expose the tip of the hook so that the chances of snagging in the lips of the whiting increases. Do not use too much bait as these creatures have a knack for ripping bait off hook.

Technique

The idea of whiting hunting is fairly simple. This is my ritual for hunting sand whitings. First, I would bait up my rig and cast far in a certain direction. Next, wait for the rig to hit the bottom where all the whitings are. If after 10 seconds there are no bites, retrieve your line slowly by dragging it along the sandy bed. Keep repeating these procedures until you finally get a bite. Once you know where the whitings are, keep at it and casting in the same direction and distance until the bites become slow then repeat again from the top. Setting the hook on sand whitings requires a nimble touch. When doing the ritual, if there is a series of struggles just jerk your rod in a swift fashion like you would a micro lure to avoid pulling the entire hook out of the fish's mouth.

Just to be clear here, I do not own Pokemon GO, and with good reasons too. Forgive me, I do not even play the game that has taken over the world overnight. However, being in this day and age, there is no escape from technology and the amount of information on the subject being fed to me daily has given me a rather decent understanding on how the madness works. If it were up to me though, I'd make a few changes which might really push people to the edge, physically and mentally and also use the madness for a few personal gains.

The following are a few suggestions which may or may not have already been part of the ultimate plan behind Pokemon GO but they're definitely things which could be explored.

IDEA NUMBER 001 - NPC

From what I've gathered from my Facebook newsfeed and also a couple of my zombified friends, the game basically revolves around the idea of completing a collection of Pokemons. It astounds me that such a purposeless task could actually gain so much hype. Sure, there are gyms and battles but the main hook is the collection element.

NPC is an acronym for non-playing characters. There are a bunch of these in the original Nintendo series of the game which adds purpose and challenge to the game. For example, there were certain items or Pokemons which could only be acquired by completing tasks set by these NPCs. If I owned Pokemon GO, what I'd do is implement an NPC concept which would require players to complete certain tasks before being able to acquire certain items to capture certain Pokemons. Now being the Jenius I am, I'd take this further and monetize the concept. If you've played the original Red/Blue/Yellow version of the game (I'm pretty sure they have these in order versions too), you'd be familiar with a few items such as Silph Scope or the Pokeflute. These were items which enabled the player to capture certain Pokemons. Couple this with merchants and you'd be able to "distribute" these virtual items after the players made a real-life purchase. QR codes on receipts would occasionally contain items which players need.

I'd attack you too if you played some nonsense tune while I am sleeping.

IDEA NUMBER 002 - REALISTIC GAMEPLAY

As an avid angler, I am rather insulted that Magikarps are so easily caught in the game (so I've heard). I've seen images of Magikarps being caught in shopping malls, roadsides and even bedrooms which begs the question if the creators of Pokemon GO even bothered playing the original series of the game. Old rod, good rod and super rod were needed in the past to capture most water-based Pokemon (hence idea number 001). Of course, making all Pokemon GO players purchase an actual fishing rod to capture a virtual beast is definitely pushing it a little too far even though I am pretty sure the fanatics would get one if they deemed it necessary.

How about trying something simple yet challenging enough which makes actual sense. Like say, put Caterpies only at gardens and parks, Sandshrews in sand pits and sandy beaches, Tangelas at that noodles stall that won the Michellin Star and of course Gengars only at cemeteries. Maybe that last one is going slightly overboard but man would that be fun to hear about. Haw Par Villa at least for the ghost-type Pokemon?

IDEA NUMBER 003 - TEAM ROCKET

What is Pokemon without Team Rocket?

The antagonist of the whole franchise is definitely Team Freaking Rocket but there has been no mention about it currently. Niantics would probably implement something related to the Rocket Gang later on but if it were up to me, this is how i'll implement it. Sure, I could do the whole NPC thing with Team Rocket and it'll definitely be safe gaming for everyone but this is where the evil Jenius in me takes over.

Firstly, I'd make Team Rocket consist of actual human players. With the team of villains normally out to steal items and Pokemons, they'd be given a different set of tasks from actual players. They'd have their own leader board based on stolen Pokemons. Using the same GPS location technology, they'd just have to be in the same vicinity as regular Pokemon GO players to swipe Pokemons off of other players. Of course, this would breed suspicion, chaos and even anger and it feels a little like Joker from the Dark Knight in my opinion but there are ways to manipulate populations using this gameplay. With the emergence of my version of Team Rocket in the game, there would generally be a common hate for said group, which would ultimately bind Mystic, Instinct and Valor ( Ozymandias idea here). Hence, the group has to be picked with intent and not just a random selection of players. For example, give all Trump supporters to have the ability to be Team Rocket and then watch the madness ensue.

Re-reading that last paragraph, let's just keep Team Rocket as NPC characters. Things could get pretty ugly.

IDEA NUMBER 004 - POPULATION CONTROL

Crazy. Crazy people everywhere. Well, if I were a real evil Jenius who just wants to watch the world burn, what I'd do is put a bunch of Pokestops with amazing catch rates and whatnots at the locations where my enemies sleep. I'll release rare Pokemons only at the wee hours in the morning so that my enemies would definitely not have a good night's rest. Pokemon GO affects not just those who play it but everybody around as well. Imagine if I do this for months on end with new modules and new Pokemons every couple of weeks. Sure, those who play the game would definitely feel fortunate but everybody else who is just trying to get some shuteye would definitely feel the impact. Hougang has been in the news in recent years mainly for political reasons but to use Pokemon to torment its residents would definitely be considered Farfetch'd. OR IS IT? JENG JENG JENG!

IDEA NUMBER 005 - MAPPING THE WORLD

Having had worked with GPS modules, digital accelerometers, digital gyroscopes and digital compasses during my internship, I am rather impressed at the extent that these technologies are being used in the gameplay of Pokemon GO. NERD.

Recently, I came across a video on how the brains behind Niantics and Pokemon GO came to build the game we have today. The gist of the story is in the video below.

With such technology and a whole bunch of players everywhere, it is possible to harness the "manpower" to map the entire globe. And no, I don't mean in a Google Maps kind of way, I mean in a all-seeing eye kind of way like that echolocation super computer technology Batman used in The Dark Knight to locate the Joker. Imagine each and every player (and there's really quite a number of them) going to a location which the program points them to and then said player has to "find" a Pokemon in a certain direction and "captures" the Pokemon. With a huge enough database, Niantics pretty much has an organic pool of cameras mapping the world for them. In the wrong hand, say Team Rocket, this technology could be used for a whole bunch of infiltration-type missions. I'm sure a few of you were bragging about how you caught a dozen Pokemon at home but what if that's what they wanted you to do? 

You see, Google Maps can only go so far with images of the external of buildings and the environment but now they've a technology that could truly map almost every inch of the world and the best part is, they don't even have to do the work themselves. The government probably knows all of these prior to the launch in Singapore which was why the Singapore Armed Forces were so quick to reinforce their no camera usage in certain zones in army camps.

So yeah, that's about it from me for this post. I'd probably never play the game but for all of you out there, be the very best that no one ever was. PSY-YAI-YAI-YA-YAI-NING OUT!

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To Soulmix, thank you for supporting SASAS 2016 and here's to a great year ahead.

Volume 2 please? 

Pokemon GO has recently been available in Singapore but NO, I'm not giving up any valuable fishing time for it. I'd choose Peacock over Pika any day. I was here at Pandan Reservoir a few days back and had a day of only misses and decided to come back to EXEGUTE my revenge.  Unfortunately my batteries were giving me problems and I didn't manage to get the footage of the first 2 fish I landed. None of the fish landed were comparable to the one I missed that day though. I'll definitely be back.

It's that time of the year again where universities are filled with clueless young souls who will after their time in college, either find the meaning of life or dwindle into Alice's rabbit hole. I'm in the latter but having spent the last 4 years on campus accommodation, I've picked up a few 'hacks' to make living the hall life pretty darn comfortable. Sure, alternatively you could search the web and YouTube for a dozen of school propaganda material where specially chosen individuals, of which the selection process is akin to Trump's systematic analysis of his choice of wives, show you how they decorated their rooms with unnecessary yet seemingly attractive ware in an attempt to hide their empty shells of self. 

Here's a quick tour of hall if you'd like to know more about the overall compound.

I do have to add, however, that the things I'm about to share might not necessarily be relevant for your hall or you type of room. Take what you can and alter it according to your needs if it helps. So yes, before you go out to an IKEA and grab a bunch of rugs and that cliche square and short coffee table that will not fit with any of your home's furniture at the end of your stay, allow me to indulge you with my unadulterated unsexualized knowledge (unsexualized, just in case they create a hoohah like that orientation thing). Oh right, I did contemplate on churning out a post on the whole orientation thing but seriously guys, there are worse things on the internet that will screw with you on a degree far greater than the things divulged in the news. In my opinion, its an over-sensationalization of the facts, like my incident at Jurong Point a couple of months back. 

Now let's get back to topic.

First of all, we have to understand what kind of place Jalan Bahar is before determining the way of life. Situated at the far west of Singapore, the place is close to many factories and the compound internally is constantly undergoing expansion works such as new halls and a new sports complex but the free access gym is still as pathetic as a broken condom AHHHHH CRAP, this article is over-sexualized now. This builds a dusty environment throughout the year which means your floor has to be mopped constantly or you'd be walking in soot. This calls for Hack #1.

HACK #1 - HOOKS 

There are also hooks located behind most hall doors so use those too to hang more barang barang.

See how I hanged my laundry bag on the handle?

HACK #2 - Fridge

Another thing you have to understand is that university students who stay in hall start their daily activities at two in the morning. Depending on where your hall is located, you'd have to walk a distance out to get to the nearest sustenance-serving location or you'd have to order in a delivery of soggy fries and burger. Alternatively, you could pair this hack with a frying pan and you could well be on your way to be the Heston Blumenthal of your block/hall.

Steamboat pot in the bottom left corner of the picture which I have in no way used to conduct any steamboat parties because it is prohibited.

HACK #3 - Printer and router

If you're getting a printer, get a laser printer with automatic duplex functionality which will save you effort, paper and time. I've been using the DCP-7060D for the past 4 years and its still going strong and the scanner on this baby is a real bonus to have.

Yes, I was a university student who played with Nerf guns.

HACK #4 - Extension Cables

Yep, that's it for this hack. No explanation needed for a device you could plug and then turn it on *wink* .

HACK #5 - Indoor Clothes Rack

Could totally have been an underwear model had I used this pull-up bar for pull-ups instead.

This is by far my greatest innovation yet. You could use a pull-up bar if your room allows but I found that a really long piece of nylon string would do the same. Just tie a string to an anchor point and tie the other end to another point and you're good to go. You could make the system a little smarter by tying a hook at one end for a more convenient setup. With this hack, you can avoid erratic weathers and underwear thefts whilst riding on a quick-dry system. Furthermore, add an amazing softener to your laundry and your room would smell as fresh as your clothes. Do take note to air your room though as this hack might in turn incubate unnecessary dampness.

So yeah, that's pretty much it for this post. Initially, this was just a 'tips to living in hall' post but the whole hacking thing took over and they're not really real hacks but if you think this might help your freshies do share this, otherwise thanks for reading anyway.

Just a short update on a recent trip back to Jurong Lake Park first. Went to my usual spot earlier this week for some last light action before heading to an event back in school. The water was unusually clear for the lake but water levels seemed awkwardly low too. Managed to land a couple of juveniles that day and it was great fun. It was actually the first time I managed to spot the peacock basses in this part of the lake because water conditions are usually quite bad. Towards the end of the session I was able to do some spot fishing which was definitely a much better experience compared to my usual blind casting.

For the past few weeks, I've been fishing slightly more at my usual haunts and have met quite a number of characters along the way. It's really quite intriguing how a hobby or passion that has a stigma of being boring has allowed me such opportunities to interact with these strangers. We do not exchange names but the amount of insights they share definitely tells more about who they are than their names ever could.

A man in his early forties shouts to me from afar like we have known each other for years as he leads his family to the beach. He tells me about my terrible choice of fishing location and shares with me his preferred spot. Stories of fish he has caught keeps my attention for awhile before he excuses himself to have lunch with his family. It's been years since they last came here as his daughters reminisced the years that prelude. One of them follows him with a small net in hand as he tosses a pancake with his casting net.

Wrinkles and sun-aged skin covered this next one. A different location on a different day. Trips out to sea and working at ports exposed this man of experience to situations I was not familiar with. A man who has stopped fishing for years as age has crept close but yet he labors on as society deems it so. I realized that for all I know, there is much that I still do not know and he has no trouble reminding me of the fact so tactlessly. 

With this next man, our conversation begins with fishing and ends with a reminder of different systems that govern the world . His dog stares blankly into the distance as he asks about the pliers which I had left in the open. Nobody likes being on the wrong side of the law but the inflexibility annoys him as he explains his woes. An avid traveler who has seen more of the world than I have my own country. 

She smiles at me as I sat next to her and she asks about my destination. The law I abide by of catch and release of fish doesn't go too well with her. A wizened old lady who talked about the Japanese occupation and how I am privileged to be in the now. She speaks truth and while I do not like to admit it, I know that there is no better time to live than in the now. I avoid sitting next to her as we board the bus.

"Hello" was all it took for this other lady. She loves her son and she speaks to me of her son's fortunate circumstances and her take on life. A lady who is familiar with bus captains and had no trouble making friends. We were on the last bus and she smiles throughout but her eyes betray her. She is thankful that I am willing to listen as she talks to me about her family and how her son seem to care more about his pet fish than her. I reflect on my own actions and guilt takes over. She alights and stands at the bus stop to wave goodbye to me. We were both smiling but I am sure she sighed right after, just as I did.

A routine check which I was familiar to. Two young men dressed in blue approached me. One of them initiated a conversation akin to a subtle form of interrogation and the other radio'ed in to do a background check. One of them, I can't recall which, tells me about his fishing experience when he was younger. He tells me to sign on.

He wore a bucket hat and strolled confidently as his lady friend puffed away beside him. A Chinese man who was not local. He set up his rod before proceeding in an exchange of saliva. My casts close to his direction got his attention as he approached me. We shared photos of fishes we've caught and he took a few pictures and videos of me which was a little amusing .

Then there was this boy. A boy who stunned me with a statement. A boy probably ten years younger than me and has gone through so much more. A boy who whilst beaten, is still positive about his future and seizing every moment.

It is understandable. I have felt it too before. We all know that feeling where people come up to you and are moderately interested in your activities and occasionally they prod and prod and get on you. My take is that while many a times, they poke to get information, sometimes it turns into a sharing session instead and you never know what others have to share. This is where the beauty of fishing plays its part in giving people opportunities to initiate a conversation. Sometimes people really just need a reason to share.

It's 3am in the morning and I'm not quite sure if any of it above makes any sense or even what point I'm trying to drive at but just hear me out. You see, I'm at some sort of crossroads in my life currently. I am no longer a student and I am not sure if I am ready to adult yet (is anyone ever ready anyway?). The thing is this, I am all of these people I have met and maybe we all are at every point of our life. Some parts of me are the older folks who occasionally look back at the past to put into perspective of where I am now, some part of me is the man with the cigarette-puffing lady, enjoying the now, and maybe some part of me is also that boy who has ended one journey and looking forward to the next. 

Maybe sometimes fishing is more about people and less about the fish.

Maybe sometime if we share a little, we gain more in return.