(UPDATE) #WhosNext: BLACKPINK To Make Comeback With #SQUARETWO On 1st Nov 2016

Are you ready for new music from K-Pop’s “monster rookie” group?

South Korean entertainment powerhouse YG Entertainment’s rookie K-Pop idol girl group, BLACKPINK (블랙핑크) , may have just made their long-awaited entry into the music scene last month, but they’re already gearing up for a comeback!

For those who are not in the know, BLACKPINK is YG Entertainment’s first girl group since the debut of 2NE1 in 2009. The group comprises of members Park Chae Young (박채영) aka Rosé, Jennie Kim (김제니), Lalisa Manoban aka Lisa, and Kim Jisoo (김지수).

On 30th August, a YG Entertainment insider revealed that the group is scheduled to release 2 more songs, and that the filming for 1 of the music videos has wrapped. However, little was said about when fans can expect more content from the group – until this morning, in a surprise “Oopsiedaisy!” moment.

YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk let slip on his Twitter that BLACKPINK is the agency’s upcoming “Who’s Next” artiste to release new material.

Now, we’re not sure if it was by accident or accidentally-on-purpose because the original tweet (as seen in the screenshot above) was deleted and reposted only after YG Entertainment’s official Twitter made the announcement. But hey, we ain’t complainin’ ;)

The marketing game for BLACKPINK’s #SQUARETWO has finally begun!

Earlier today, YG Entertainment dropped 2 individual teaser images of Jennie and Lisa. It was also revealed that the group’s comeback track is “Playing With Fire”.

The latest teaser photos have been released!

This time, it features members Jisoo and Rosé looking sultry and mellow.

As if previous teasers weren’t enough, YG Entertainment has dropped a couple more aesthetically pleasing teasers :)

Unlike the first 4 photos, these new images were shot in a pastel effect and the girls can be seen wearing casual clothing. We don’t know about you, but we totally dig Lisa’s look in that sleek leather jacket.

See the group’s new look in the gallery below:

BLACKPINK fans, how excited are you for the idol group’s comeback? We don’t know about you but these new promo images that were shot in red/orange-ish fliters are super pretty :)

What do you think their concept will be like for #SQUARETWO? Or rather, what do you hope to see from BLACKPINK come 1st November 2016?

For more information on BLACKPINK, visit their official Facebook page.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Thomas Gold Ft. Bright Lights – Believe

Thomas Gold returns to Revealed with big-room ready “Believe”, featuring Bright Lights!

After releasing the irresistible “Colourblind” last year on Revealed that captivated crowds from New York to Norway, Berlin-based producer extraordinaire Thomas Gold now returns to the imprint with yet another killer weapon in his arsenal – “Believe” featuring Bright Lights.

Built around boisterous introductory beats that transform into a heavyweight build-up, Thomas draws in synth-driven melodies that interject the track with his trademark workings whilst still sounding fresh, before Bright Light’s vocals illuminate across the release, it’s “I Believe In You” top line providing the hands-in-the-air soundtrack that will captivate across the summer and beyond.

As Thomas’s unavoidably catchy working evolves furthermore, from it’s smorgasbord of progressive house key chords to the carnage of club-ready synths and head-spinning break-downs, the high-flying producer is bringing big-room back to the forefront.

“Believe” and grab your copy on Beatport now!

For more information, hit up Thomas’ website or Facebook page.


First Islamic School For Transgender Muslims Opens In Bangladesh

Bangladesh opened its first Islamic school for transgender Muslims in an effort to counter widespread discrimination against LGBT in the country.

They took this initiative in making education accessible for the Muslim-majority nation’s up to 1.5 million transgender people.

The madrasa was opened to make life easier for the oppressed transgender community in Bangladesh. The clerics there are calling it a first step towards integrating the discriminated minority into the society.

Around 50 transgender students read Quranic verses to mark the opening of the Dawatul Islam Tritio Linger Madrasa, or Islamic Third Gender School, which is located on the outskirts of the capital on Friday (6th November). 33-year-old student Shakila Akhter told AFP, “I am ecstatic. We are grateful to the clerics for this beautiful move.”

According to CNA, Akhter was born a girl and had ambitions to become a doctor or lawyer, but she might not be able to because she left home as a child to join a transgender commune. The student added, “We are Muslims, yet we can’t go to a mosque. We can’t even mix with other members of society.”

The top floor of a three-storey building was transformed into the school by a group of clerics led by Abdur Rahman Azad. Azad’s team already offers lessons to seven other transgender groups in the country’s capital and the madrasa was built due to the need for a permanent base for the community.

Azad stated, “For too long they have been living a miserable life. They can’t go to schools, madrasas or mosques. They have been victims of discrimination. We, society and the state are to blame for this.”

Since 2013, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has allowed trans to be identified as a separate gender.


(UPDATE) #SuicideSquad: Your New Favourite Super Villain Playlist

Following the successes of the already released comic-turned-movies such as “Batman V Superman: The Dawn Of Justice” and “Captain America: Civil War”, David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” will finally see its debut on 5th August!

Starring Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, and Will Smith, “Suicide Squad” is based on the original DC Comic of the same name and it centres on a group of super villains who find themselves going on a most unlikely mission for a shot at redemption. However, the mission will probably get them killed in order to save the world.

After many trailers, news, and exclusive photos, Warner Bros. has unveiled the film’s official soundtrack album! And like us, we think that you would absolutely love this playlist :)

The movie playlist can give you a very good idea of what the movie will be like. So sit back, relax, and put on your best earphones because these songs will give you an awesome eargasmic experience:

1. Panic! At The Disco – Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen cover)

Las Vegas-based pop rock band Panic! At The Disco may be known for their original songs such as “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and “Nine In The Afternoon”, but they are also famed for covering Queen’s psychedelic hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

In case you didn’t know, their version of the song was featured in many of the film’s trailers! The track tells the tale of a young man who sold his soul to get something in return. Doesn’t it sound like someone we know? (ahem, ahem The Joker)

2. Confidential Music ft. Becky Hanson – I Started A Joke

All it takes is one bad day to realise that the joke is on you.

Originally written and sung by the Bee Gees, the film’s version of “I Started A Joke” was re-arranged by Confidential Music and performed by vocalist Becky Hanson. In contrast to its 1968 counterpart, the new adaption is extremely chilling, dark, and suspenseful.

We think that this illusional track matches our favourite antihero team really well, don’t you?

Many of you may not know this, but “You Don’t Own Me” was actually recorded by American songstress Lesley Gore in 1963!

Australian singer-songwriter Grace Sewell made her debut with her own version of the classic hit in 2015 and it topped the UK singles chart. Featuring American rapper G-Eazy, the straightforward lyrics depicts a woman telling her lover that he does not own her.

“You Don’t Own Me” also appeared in one of the film’s trailers when Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn can be seen changing her clothes in public ;)

Eminem aka Slim Shady’s “Without Me” is one of the only light-hearted songs in his 4th studio album, titled “The Eminem Show” (2002). The rapper wrote the song in response to his “haters/critics”: former Vice President Dick Cheney, his wife Lynnes, NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick, and DJ Moby.

Though the song has some really obscene lyrics, it earned the hip hop artiste a Grammy nomination.

“Slippin’ into darkness. Take my mind beyond the dreams.”

Created by California-based multi-ethnic funk band WAR in 1971, the song is about trying not to slip off to the “other side” because sanity and insanity is just “one wall apart”. The song was featured in their best-selling studio album, titled “All Day Music”, which was ranked #6 in the US R&B chart that year.

Although “Suicide Squad: The Album” isn’t expected to be released until August, Twenty One Pilots debuted their song, “Heathens” on Spotify on Thursday (16th June)! It was also reported that the musical duo wrote the song especially for “Suicide Squad”. How cool is that?

If you like “Heathens”, you should also check out their latest album, titled “Blurryface”, which won “Top Rock Album” at the Billboard Music Awards 2016.

7. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son

Popular American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival aka CCR is one of the pioneer rock bands in the late 60s.

Taken from their 4th full-length album “Willy and the Poor Boys” (1969), “Fortunate Son” is described as “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant”. The anti-war anthem was released during the Vietnam War and it criticises violent military behaviour.

During an episode of “The Voice”, band member John Fogerty revealed that it took him only 20 minutes to write the hit single. Pretty impressive, eh?

8. Skrillex & Rick Ross – Purple Lamborghini

Music producer Skrillex and rapper Rick Ross has finally unveiled “Purple Lamborghini”, the ear popping, hard style rap song that’s accompanied by heavy beats and trap percussions. The music video features colourful animated skull versions of the two artistes. Word on the street is that the “actual” music video will star Jared Leto’s Joker.

Since the track serves as the theme song for the Joker, we assume that the song may be heard in the nightclub scene between him and Harley Quinn.

Fun fact: Joker drives a purple chrome-coloured Infiniti G35 with a custom Vaydor frame in the film, not a Lamborghini.

Besides the above songs, the film’s album will include other never-before-heard original soundtracks written especially for the film!

Other originals that will be included in the album are:

“Suicide Squad: The Album” is slated for release on 5th August, same day as the movie, and it consists of 14 tracks. The album is now available for pre-order on Amazon and retails for USD11.49 (approximately RM48).

Sources: Amazon, ComicBook.com / Featured image: Screen Rant.

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Hype’s Now Playing: DVBBS – Always

Dvbbs ditches their big room progressive sound for a more chill out vibe.

If you’re expecting massive drops on “Always,” the brand-new track from EDM duo Dvbbs, then we’re sorry to break it to you but you’re not getting any of that.

Instead, what you will get is a rather light song with bouncy synths and danceable beats, topped by a female’s voice.

Accompanying the single is a video following brothers Chris and Alex Andre as they live the ultimate rockstar lifestyle. The video follows the brother across the world as they pump up crowds with their crazy live sets, visit exotic locales, and just have a ball of fun in Thailand, Australia, Switzerland and Albania.

Known for their outrageous live sets and massive drops as well as hit singles such as “We Were Young” and “Tsunami”  featuring Borgeous, Dvbbs takes on a much cooler vibe with this brand new track.

Definitely a breath of fresh air from the duo, “Always” gives out a chill out tropical vibe that makes the track incredibly addictive.

Keep up to Dvbbs’ crazy lifestyle via these platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


#INFINITE: K-Pop Idol Boy Group To Make A Full Group Comeback In May

Surprise, surprise. It seems like BIGBANG won’t be the only Korean idol boy group to make a comeback this year as INFINITE announced that the group will finally make a comeback in Korea this coming May.

The group made their comeback announcement during their large-scale fan meeting “INFINITE Rally 2” at the Seoul Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium on 28th February.

There were approximately 16,000 fans gathered at “INFINITE Ralley 2”, where the group spent time performing and interacting with fans through a talk show style segment. During the event, the group dropped hints about their comeback through a teaser video, which was later uploaded onto their official YouTube channel.

According to Korean media outlet Naver (via Soompi), INFINITE’ s leader Sunggyu said:

As you saw in the video earlier, we are currently planning to make a full group comeback in May. We will be able to greet you all with a brand new album. We have been on our Arena Tour in Japan these days. We know fans are sad that we released a new song in Japan but we will release a new song in Korea as well, so please look forward to it a lot.

It’ll be INFINITE’s first comeback as a 7-member boy group since the release of their repackaged  album “Be Back” in July 2014.

According to Seoulbeats, this isn’t the first time INFINITE made such announcement because during last year’s “One Great Step Returns’ concert, the group revealed that Sungyeol will team up with L and Sungjong to form a sub-unit named INFINITE F. The sub-unit made their official debut in December before Hoya and Dongwoo’s January comeback as the hip-hop subunit, INFINITE-H.

The group’s comeback concept can be seen in the teaser video but it doesn’t reveal much about the comeback. Thus, it is unclear whether they will be launching a new studio album or releasing a new single. More specific details will be shared in the coming month as they are expected to drop a few more teaser videos or photos before May arrives.

What do you think about their comeback concept? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

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#TheNewMutants: James McAvoy Returning As Professor X In X-Men Spinoff

Although production for “The New Mutants” is expected to begin in the next few months, the X-Men spinoff is still pretty much shrouded in mystery and fans are still wondering how it will connect to the “X-Men” franchise.

During a recent interview, a fellow cast member let slip that James McAvoy will be reprising his role as Professor X aka Charles Xavier in the next “X-Men” instalment. McAvoy has appeared as the powerful mutant in 3 films so far – “X-Men: First Class”, “X-Men: Days of Future Past”, and “X-Men: Apocalypse“.

In speaking with Coming Soon, Anya Taylor-Joy, who is also co-starring alongside McAvoy in the psycho-horror film, “Split“, reaffirmed that Demon Bear will be the film’s antagonists. “I have (seen the Demon Bear animatic), it’s pretty cool. I’m a big fan so I’d love to be a part of it. I can’t say very much, but I would love to be a part of it. I think this year’s gonna be very exciting,” said the actress.

For “The New Mutants”, 20th Century Fox will be introducing a new cast of characters to the onscreen X-verse. Taylor-Joy has been rumoured to take on the role of Colossus’ younger sister, Magik. Since there hasn’t been an official cast announcement yet, the actress is being careful not to reveal too much about the role she’s likely to play.

However, she was more forthcoming about McAvoy’s involvement in “New Mutants”. “I mean, I think James is already a part of it, isn’t he?” she replied when asked if she’ll be reuniting with her “Split” costar. Considering that most of the young mutants studied and lived at Professor X’s school, it would make a lot of sense to include Charles Xavier in the storyline moving forward.

Previous rumours have “Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams playing Wolfsbane, while Nat Wolf (“Paper Towns”) is said to be in the running for Cannonball. Dani Moonstar aka Mirage, Sunspot, and Warlock will also be part of the team.

“The New Mutants” is expected to be released in 2018.


#EXID: K-Pop Idol Girl Group To Make Comeback With 4 Members

L.E.G.Os (as fans of EXID are lovingly known), your favourite idol group is going to release a new album!

On Monday (20th March), Banana Culture Entertainment released a press statement to announce EXID’s (이엑스아이디) comeback date.

However, main vocalist Solji, who was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) in December, won’t be taking part in the comeback. For the uninitiated, hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid overproduces hormones, resulting in a rapid heartbeat, an increased rate of metabolism, and even difficulty in sleeping.

Banana Culture said, “On 10th April, EXID will be coming back as a 4-member group with LE, Junghwa, Hani, and Hyerin. Solji will be temporarily halting her activities due to health problems.”

EXID made their debut in 2012 with their first single, titled “Whoz That Girl”. While their 2014 track “Up & Down” didn’t chart well during its initial release, the group gained mainstream fame after a fancam of Hani performing the song went viral on YouTube. Moreover, the girls recently released their first studio album, titled “Street”, last year.

Recently, the girls have received a lot of attention for their vocal skills. Hyerin wowed viewers with her powerful voice on “King of Masked Singer” whereas Hani’s collaboration with MAMAMOO’s Solar and f(x)’s Luna was very well-received. So we’re really excited to see what the girls have to offer for their return.

For more info, hit up EXID’s Facebook page.


Calvin Harris Sets New Billboard Record With 3 Hits In The Top 10

2014 is undoubtably Calvin Harris’ year.

No stranger to success in the EDM industry, almost every single Calvin Harris releases will ultimately reach popularity not only within the dance music community, but also breaks through to the mainstream music industry. Along with his success, breaking records is also an old hat for Calvin, so it comes as no surprise that his name is being written in the record books once again. This time however, he’s not breaking records, he’s setting a new one.

With his forthcoming album “Motion” set to be released today, six tracks are already available for digital purchase; half of which are already ranked in the Billboard Top 10 Hot Dance/Electronic charts. No artist has ever had three songs in the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic charts simultaneously, until Calvin Harris.

His smash hit “Summer” has been on the chart for an amazing 33 weeks, and still remains in the top 10. His more recent release “Outside” with Ellie Goulding has been on the Billboard chart for a week and is ranked 7th, while “Blame” featuring John Newman jumped one spot from last week up to number two!

A giant congratulations is in order for this superstar DJ/producer and we wish his nothing but the best for continued success when the album is fully released later today. You can get your copy of “Motion” on iTunes here.

For now, we leave with you “Slow Acid” one of our favourites from “Motion”.

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#AirAsiaLINE: Air Asia Gets All Decked Out With Cute LINE Charaters

AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline for 6 ￼￼consecutive years unveiled its latest aircraft livery featuring LINE colours and characters such as ￼Brown, James, Cony, Leonard, Sally, Boss, Jessica and Edward at a fun-filled press conference. Spencer Lee, Head of Commercial AirAsia Berhad and EJ Lee, Senior Vice President of ￼￼LINE Plus Corporation were present to reveal this exclusive aircraft livery to media and bloggers ￼from Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.

Unlike other aircraft liveries, the LINE aircraft’s interior will also be decked with LINE characters. The ￼Airbus A320 will be servicing AirAsia routes from all across the region spanning over 22 countries.

AirAsia joined LINE in August this year and thus far we have reached 13.4 million followers. We are pleased to take the LINE characters to the skies and bring them to great cities throughout Asia within our vast network. We are excited to further build and extend our partnership with LINE, a world’s leading mobile messaging company that shares our values and vision. LINE has changed the way people use instant messaging with its innovative offerings. While at AirAsia, we have been the trailblazers of innovation, especially on the digital front.

In celebration of the LINE Livery, AirAsia rewarded all LINE & AirAsia LINE friends with an exclusive promotion with fares from as low as RM39 one way to exciting destinations such as Nanning, Johor Bahru, Lombok, Siem Reap and many more from 21st – 23rd November 2014, with travelling period from 5th January – 30th April 2015. Every booking made during this promotion period along with 20kg baggage was rewarded with double BIG Points.

In conjunction with the launch of AirAsia’s second set of stickers on 25th November 2014, AirAsia will be kicking off with a social media AIRASIA LINE-Lookalike contest! Fans will have to submit their lookalike photos that resemble the AirAsia LINE stickers in action, along with the hashtag #AirAsiaLINE on Instagram from 25th November – 7th December 2014. The best 50 lookalike photo entries will receive a pair of exclusive LINE character dolls. Participants will be required to follow AirAsia on LINE and download the set of stickers to enter this contest.

To get the access to future promotions, fans need to follow AirAsia’s LINE official account (LINE ID: AirAsia).

For more information on AirAsia’s latest promotions and activities, hit the up via Twitter or their Facebook page.


“Fast And Furious” Original Cast Express Disappointment Following “Hobbs And Shaw” Flop

The new “Fast & Furious” spin-off series, “Hobbs & Shaw” features the two main leads, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham, as they work together to fight Brixton Lore. We’ll just leave the spoilers there for now.

However, many have dubbed the latest instalments in the “Fast” film franchise as the worst movie that has been released so far.

Apparently, main lead The Rock is not happy about it. Rumour has it that the filming team and the former WWF star has not been getting along since production of the movie. Dwayne expressed his disappointment while working on the movie, citing fellow casts’ unprofessional working ethics, which led to the filming being postponed.

However, fellow “Fast & Furious” co-star Tyrese Gibson expressed his respect towards Dwayne in his Instagram post, defending him saying that the 47-year-old actor has been working hard fighting for the movies and the characters in it for a very long time. The post was later deleted.

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

Well, we can say that The Rock wasn’t the only one who didn’t like the new spin-off as  some of the original cast members also expressed their disappointment for the well-established franchise well.

Michelle Rodriguez, the actress who played Letty Ortiz in the film series also got real about her frustration on Twitter, saying that the spin-off should have brought justice to the death of the Han character.

I’ve been around since the beginning way before Chris Morgan came along & he has absolutely nothing to do with where this narrative is or where it’s going FYI 😒 Hobbs and Shaw writer promises that justice for Han is coming | https://t.co/B3ZbIZ5vot https://t.co/6u2oDTec5U

— Michelle Rodriguez (@MRodOfficial) August 6, 2019

In fact, the premiere of the movie has ultimately delayed the release date of the new “Fast & Furious 9” movie. “Hobbs & Shaw” – which has a post-credits scene – is currently showing in all cinemas nationwide.

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“Bellflower” To Air On Sundance

The story that follows two friends, Aiden (played by Tyler Dawson) and Woodrow (played by Evan Glodell), as they venture out into Los Angeles where they spend their days building flame-throwers and other weapons of mass destruction in anticipation of a global apocalypse is as odd as they come.

But when it premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, it received high praises. Of Bellflower, even the New York Times were inclined to say, ““Mr. Glodell’s enthusiasm and ability to turn chump change into cinema, as well as the excitement he generated at Sundance and afterward, bring to mind Robert Rodriguez’s arrival at Sundance in 1993 with his debut feature, El Mariachi. Mr. Glodell is working distinctly different story terrain, however — in this case, an affair gone apocalyptic — and with technical virtuosity and beauty.”

Bellflower (made with a minimal budget and shot on a self-assembled camera) has a story line that extends into a tailspin of betrayal, love, hate, infidelity, and extreme violence, more devastating and fiery than any of Aiden’s and Woodrow’s apocalyptic fantasies.

Where did it suddenly go wrong? And how?:

[youtube id=”j3KX2IPTbjE” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Catch the acclaimed independent film when it premieres on 15th August 2012 (Wednesday) on Sundance Channel HD (Astro B.yond Channel 436) at 11pm.

For more information, visit their official website.


The Reason Ben Affleck Had To Exit DCEU As Batman

Ben Affleck is coming clean about one thing – the reason for his surprising departure from the DC Extended Universe in early 2019.

The 47-year-old actor admitted that it wasn’t the script, like he said before (in his own words, he “couldn’t crack it”), but because he had his own personal demons to deal with.

Many felt the Zack Snyder phase of DCEU – namely “Batman V Superman” and “Justice League” – was a hot mess. Despite critics shredding those superhero flicks to bits, Affleck was praised for his portrayal as the caped crusader. He had even signed on to write and direct “The Batman”.

Ultimately, it was a combination of things that resulted in him abandoning the role of Bruce Wayne – alcoholism, divorce from then-wife Jennifer Garner, poor critical reviews, and disappointing box office receipts.

In speaking with The New York Times, the actor recalled, “I showed somebody The Batman script. They said, ‘I think the script is good. I also think you’ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again’.”

So while the quality of the previous script for “The Batman” wasn’t the issue, his personal well-being was hanging by a thread. Rather than risk falling into a deeper dark hole, the Oscar winner decided to call it a day as Batman instead of reprising the role for the 4th time.

The superhero eventually went to Robert Pattinson (going from vampire to bat).


Hype’s Now Playing: f(x) – 12시 25분 (Wish List)

Tired of hearing “Jingle Bells” or other classic Christmas songs every time you walk into a mall or turn on the radio? f(x) has got a little something different for you.

Since Christmas is approaching, the K-Pop idol girl group has released a new digital single as part of SM Entertainment‘s special winter project, “Winter Garden“.

f(x) is the first artiste to be releasing a Christmas-themed track for the “Winter Garden” project.

Titled “Wish List”, the song is not the typical Christmas song that you’d expect to hear during this holiday season. But of course, you can still tell that it’s a joyful Christmas track as you can hear sleigh bells jingling in it. At some point, the song slightly resembles “4 Walls“,  their comeback single that was composed by Andreas Oberg and Maria Marcus, the same UK producing duo who gave us SHINee‘s “View” and “Married To The Music“, as well as Red Velvet‘s “Dumb Dumb”.

Red Velvet and BoA will be releasing new winter singles for the project on 18th December and 22nd December respectively.

It became clear that SM Entertainment is looking to dominate the music charts with its series of winter projects. TaeTiSeo, the sub-unit group of SM’s Girls’ Generation/SNSD, swept real-time music charts with their newly-released Christmas album, “Dear Santa“. The group’s label mate EXO also topped the music charts with the release of their winter special album titled “Sing For You”.

Listen to f(x) singing about their “Wish List” below:

For more information about “Winter Garden”, visit SM Entertainment’s official Facebook page.

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#ArmyofOne: Russell Brand Joins The Cast

Russell Brand is set to bring you tears of laughter.

No stranger to the big screen, English actor Russell Brand, known for his roles in “Get Him To The Greek”, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, “Arthur” and “Rock Of Ages” has taken on yet another role in upcoming comedy film “Army Of One”.

Brand, who was previously married to Katy Perry, is reported to have joined director Larry Charles, the man behind “Borat”, cast which already features Nicolas Cage, Denis O’Hare, Ken Marino, Paul Scheer, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Rainn Wilson.

Scripted by Scott Rothman and Rajiv Joseph, “Army Of One” is loosely based on an article on GQ by Chris Heath about Gary Faulkner, an ex-convict with failing kidneys who made 11 attempts to travel to the most buoyant region of Pakistan to capture Osama Bin Laden, accoutred with only a sword.

The producers involved in the making of the film are James D. Stern and Emile Gladstone from Endgame Entertainment together with Dawn Ostroff and Jeremy Steckler from Condé Nast Entertainment. Julie Goldstein and Lucas Smith will oversee day-to-day production for Endgame, and Patrick Newall is serving as executive producer.

Personally, we can’t wait to see the end result of this flick as Brand has never failed to make us laugh with all his movies!

Source: Variety , GQ/  Featured image via theguardian


#SolarEclipse: Malaysia Will Witness A Partial Solar Eclipse On 9th March

The countdown to the rare astronomical event has already begun!

A full solar eclipse will take place next Wednesday (9th March 2016), where you’ll get to experience dark shadows cast by the moon as it passes precisely between the Sun and Earth. Unfortunately for those of us living in Malaysia, we can only witness a partial eclipse at sunrise, as only parts of Southeast Asia will get the privilege of viewing the full solar eclipse.

“Though only people along the narrow path of totality will see the total eclipse, millions more will see some degree of a partial solar eclipse in Asia and the Pacific, including Hawaii, Guam and parts of Alaska. A partial eclipse will also be visible along the path of totality for over an hour before and after the total eclipse,” NASA said in a statement.

The solar eclipse will approximately begin at 7:20 am and end around 9:30 am, depending on which part of Malaysia you’re currently residing at. During the point of maximum eclipse, almost 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon.

Here are the time slots as provided by Malaysian Digest on when the maximum partial solar eclipse is expected to occur:

NASA has also issued a word of caution against looking directly into the eclipse without proper eye protection. You don’t want to experienced unnecessary eye injury, including blindness, within a few seconds. According to the Science Centre Singapore, the repercussion of eye injury may only be noticed after a few hours, as the retina of the eye has no pain receptors.

Some of the precautionary steps you can take include using a solar-filtered telescope, eclipse glasses, or a pinhole projector. Photographers and videographers are advised to use solar glasses or filters. “These filters block out not only most of the visible light, but also ultraviolet and infrared light that can be harmful to your eyes,” said Dr Abel Yang.

Even though we won’t get to view the solar eclipse in totality, next week’s occurrence is still going to be a spectacular sight.

Sources: Malay Mail, Malaysian Digest, Time & Date.

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Hype Picks: Best Things To Do In The Klang Valley This Week (28th November – 4th December)

What do you mean November is ending already? Where did the time go? These past few weeks have been very eventful for some of us and it’s about to become even more eventful in the coming weeks. Do you know why? If you haven’t been feeling the Christmas spirit, you’ll definitely be feeling it this time.

The holly-jolly holiday is coming up and we hope you’ve done your Christmas shopping. If you haven’t, don’t worry, we got some things on this list that might help give you some ideas on what to get or where to go for the festive season. From festivals to music gigs to anime cons to Christmas markets! Here’s what you can find on this week’s Hype Picks.

1. Batik Boutique Holiday Party @ The Row

Location: 58 Ground Floor, The Row, Jalan Doraisamy, 50300 Kuala Lumpur

Okay, let’s start off with all the Christmas stuff on this list. First off, we have Batik Boutique Holiday Party! Don’t worry, it’s not exclusively a party. You can shop for Christmas gifts and even get your hands on the new BATIK LUX COLLECTION with exclusive in-store promotions! Get ready for batik fun, live entertainment, lucky draws, light refreshments, goodie bags, and more. Make your reservations here.

2. Sunny Side Up Market: Christmas Edition 2022

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us and what better way to spend it than to do some Xmas shopping right? Happening at The Row KL will be the Sunny Side Up Market: Christmas Edition! It’s the perfect occasion to support your local community vendors and pick up some goodies for yourself and your loved ones this gifting season! Click here for more info!

A post shared by The Gardens Mall, KL (@thegardensmallmy)

Wanna feel like you’re in an episode of Bridgerton but a Christmas edition? Then how about heading over to The Gardens Mall and checking out their beautiful and enchanting Christmas display? Not only that, but you’ll also get to enjoy some special promos as well! Perfect time to buy something for your loved one this holiday!

The Klang River Festival (KRF) 2022 is an annual open festival that aims to facilitate public discourse and knowledge-sharing about heritage, culture, and identity. Through various events held in various iconic heritage buildings in Downtown Kuala Lumpur, KRF is a call for people to reminisce, revisit and rekindle their sense of belonging and nostalgia for the Klang River.

Calling all J-pop and Anime lovers! After a 2-year hiatus, RE:Connecting the gig is bringing together bands and fans alike to celebrate the love for all things Anisong, VGM, and J-rock/pop! Bring your friends (and maybe even cosplay if you want) and have a fun night of rocking to your favourite Japanese and anime songs! More ticketing information here!

Speaking of anime and Japanese, how about another Cosplay event? We know some of you love dressing up as your favourite characters so how about you just go ahead and have a fun time at Avenue K? Meet famous cosplayers, enter games and see all things you love about the world of anime and manga! More info here.


Love, Poem: K-pop Star IU To Perform In Kuala Lumpur This December

Lee Ji-Eun, or better known as IU (이지은) will be performing in Malaysia for the first time ever!

The 26-year-old K-pop star is set to serenade local UAENAs later this year as part of her “2019 IU Tour Concert <Love, Poem>”. Would you like to meet your favourite Noona (누나) and Unnie (언니) live?

The press release from Galaxy Group reads:

“The South Korean singer and actress made her debut when she was 15-year-old
with the album ‘Lost and Found’. Her subsequent releases, ‘Growing up’ and ‘IU…IM’ gained mainstream success but it was through ‘Good Day’, the lead single from her 2010 album “Real’ where she became a household name and established herself as one of the top-selling solo artists in Korea. She is also the top charted artiste with the most number-one hits on Billboard Korea, with a sum of ten songs as number-one hits. Her newest singles ‘BBIBBI’ which is released in 2018, is also one of them.

Aside from her music career, IU also ventured into radio hosting, variety shows as well as acting. She started her acting career through drama ‘Dream High’ and has since starred in several dramas, including the Korean adaption of hit Chinese historical drama ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ alongside Lee Joon Ki. Her latest drama, ‘Hotel del Luna’, in which she starred alongside Yeo Jin Goo, was a huge success and made a mark on tvN’s broadcast history with the production of the drama.”

The details to “2019 IU Tour Concert <Love, Poem> In Kuala Lumpur” are as follows:

Tickets will go sale on 14th October 2019, 12pm, but fans can make reservations at www.buytickets.com.my.

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#UMF: Ultra Worldwide Announces “Road to Ultra” Hong Kong 2016

Ultra Worldwide enjoyed a historic year across Asia in 2015, by wrapping up a record-breaking 8-stop tour of the continent that saw hundreds of thousands of people attend Ultra events in the space of a mere 4 months.

2016 will see the Ultra and Ultra Worldwide brands continue to push the boundaries even further, bringing an unparalleled combination of cutting edge productions and the world’s best electronic acts back to previous strongholds and new frontiers across the globe.

From June to September, the world’s most international festival brand doubled its presence in the region in 2015, hosting debut editions in Macau, Singapore, Bali, and the Philippines, in addition to return events in Korea, Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan.

To celebrate this momentous achievement, and as it gears up for an even bigger Asian tour in 2016, Ultra Worldwide has recently unveiled 5 breathtaking aftermovies in the space of just 5 days, taking in the dazzling sights and sounds of Ultra Japan and Road To Ultra events in The Philippines, Macau, Thailand, and Taiwan.

What’s more, hidden at the end of the official recap video for “Road to Ultra” (RTU) Macau, ULTRA Worldwide now announces the incredible news that its RTU show will be heading to Hong Kong for the first time this year!

The full list of Ultra Asia 2016 events is as follows:

In other news, ULTRA Korea recently unveiled their official Phase One Lineup for this year’s 3-day event, complete with some of electronic music’s biggest hitters. Taking to the ULTRA Korea Main Stage in Seoul this June will be Afrojack, Avicii, Axwell Λ Ingrosso, and Martin Garrix. More names will be announced in the coming weeks.

For further details on all of ULTRA Worldwide’s upcoming events, go here.


Chris Tucker The Return Tour 2013 In Malaysia

Born August 31, 1971, Christopher “Chris” Tucker is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the “Rush Hour” film series. Tucker became a frequent stand up performer on Def Comedy Jam in the 1990s. He came to prominence in the 1995 film Friday alongside Ice Cube.

Next he co-starred and exec. produced “Money Talks” with Charlie Sheen and appeared in Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element before beginning work on the highly commercially successful “Rush Hour” films.

In 2006 he negotiated an unprecedented $25 million salary to appear in “Rush Hour 3”, which at the time made him the highest paid actor in Hollywood. Tucker is also a humanitarian and spends much of his spare time traveling and working with his foundation. He currently appears in the Oscar nominated film “Silver Lining Playbook” with Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper.

He is also on a stand-up comedy tour that has received rave reviews all over the world. And guess what? Chris Tucker is making Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia one of his stops for his “Chris Tucker The Return Tour 2013“!

Ticketing: Platinum RM455 (Limited Seats), Gold RM395, Category 1 RM295, Regular RM195

* Tickets can be purchased via TicketPro here starting 23rd May 2013 at 11am

For more information, visit his official website.


#Malaysia: Cashless Public Phones To Replace Coin-Operated Technology

We hardly use public phones nowadays, but a new switch of technology might just convince the public to change their minds.

A Malaysian company, Pure Spectrum Technologies, has developed a cashless public telephone system to replace the current coin-operated technology.

The cashless system, called MyFon, will be GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and SIM (subscriber identity module) based. Apart from calls, the system will also allow users to send and receive text messages.

It is believed that MyFon is the first in Asia to implement the system.

Shafiee Saleh, founder and chief executive officer of MyFon, explained that the phone service will utilise the Celcom network, and will charge users 20 cents per minute for calls and 10 cents per text message sent.

He further elaborated that the company’s targeted markets are the National Service training camps and boarding schools, where attendees and students are usually barred from bringing their mobile phones. So far, 500 units of the phones have been installed at 126 schools nationwide.

The product will be commercialised under the Malaysia Commercialisation Year (MCY) 2016 initiative, where entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialisation activities are encouraged. Industry players were also introduced to the product at an event under the initiative yesterday (Tuesday, 24th May).

Pure Spectrum Technologies, an information and communications technology company, is a brainchild of Technology Park Malaysia.

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#Travel: 7 Breathtaking Diving Spots In Southeast Asia For The Adventurous Souls

In recent years, scuba diving has become a popular water activity among many adventurous wanderlusters. For the uninitiated, scuba diving is a form of underwater diving that allows the diver to breathe underwater through a scuba (an acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus). Sounds easy, right? But trust us when we say that scuba diving is not for the faint at heart. It is a skill that requires plenty of training, courage, and quick thinking.

Southeast Asia boasts some of the world’s most beautiful islands that are endowed with rich marine life, vibrant corals, and crystal clear water. So it’s easy to see why so many travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing the perfect diving location. To help you out, here are 7 breathtaking diving spots in the region that are definitely worth visiting at least once in your life:

Indonesia has always been a must-travel destination in Asia as it is the world’s largest island country. For those seeking to explore the country’s underwater world, Raja Ampat might just be the perfect place for you. Often described as one of the most extraordinary environments on the planet, Raja Ampat consists of over 1,500 small islands and it is remotely located off West Papua. The name translates as “Four Kings”, referring to the archipelago’s 4 main islands – Misool, Batanta, Waigeo, and Salawati. Besides that, the marine ecosystem in this serene paradise has the highest recorded marine diversity in the world.

Sipadan is the place to be for expert divers. Known as a world-class diving site, the island is surrounded by one of the richest marine habitats in the world, with more than 3,000 species of fish including a rainbow of reef fish, sea turtles, and hammerhead sharks. And if you’re lucky, you could even spot a pod of killer whales. Recently, Sipadan became a protected area and all the resorts on the island are closed. Divers are expected to stay in surrounding islands (Mabul, Kapalai, or Semporna) and take a boat onto the island.

Note: Only a limited amount of visitors are allowed per day so be sure to secure your permit in advanced!

The ocean surrounding Similan Islands is said to have the best underwater visibility anywhere in Thailand. The archipelago is located off the coast of Phang Nga in Southern Thailand and it is made up of 9 islands. As this area is largely uninhabited, divers are recommended to take long arduous day trips from nearby islands like Phuket or Khao Lak. While the islands boast a diverse range of exotic fishes, the corals have been damaged due to warmer waters over the years.

Dubbed “the turtle capital of world”, the Gili Islands is one of Indonesia’s top areas for scuba diving and snorkelling. There are about 25 diving sites around its 3 main islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air. If you’re into macro photography, Haan’s Reef (nearby Gili Air) is a popular muck-diving site that houses an array of critters such as the pink-leafed scorpion fish, robust ghost pipefish, and various coloured frogfish.

Note: Divers will be charge a one-time “reef tax” of Rp65,000 (approximately RM22). The money is used to pay for plastic recycling, reef conservation, and more.

Known for its white sandy beaches and clear blue water, the Perhentian Islands is a popular holiday destination among locals and foreigners. The area was named “Perhentian” (meaning “stopping point” in Malay) because it used to be a staging point for traders traveling from Malaysia to Thailand. Some of the popular diving sites include Tokong Laut aka the Pinnacle and Sugar Wreck, an easily accessible 3500-tonne sugar hauler. You can also opt for a single-day trip to Redang Island.

Note: Diving packages are fairly inexpensive, but divers are advised to carefully inspect scuba equipments when choosing a dive centre.

Located in the Andaman sea, Richelieu Rock is part of the Mu Koh Surin marine park not far from the Thai-Burmese oceanic border. The horseshoe-shaped rock (or reef), which was discovered by French marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, is said to be named after Cardinal Richelieu, a French nobleman. Some locals also argued that it was named after General Richelieu, a commander in the Royal Thai Navy. Best known for its rich purple soft corals, the diving site is surrounded by various marine life ranging from tiny harlequin shrimps to large pelagics like whale sharks and groupers.

Apo Reef, the 2nd largest contiguous coral reef system in the world, has been a protected natural park since 1996. Situated in the Mindoro Straight of the Philippines, the extremely popular diving site has an impressive range marine animals such as reef sharks, dugongs, and different species of turtles. Besides that, divers can also find shipwrecks from World War II. According to Viator Travel Blog, the water temperature around the triangular reef is between 25°C and 29°C.

What’s that? Scuba diving ain’t your thing? Then check out these beautiful water chalets or relaxing private-island resorts in Malaysia instead.

Sources: Touropia, Viator Travel Blog, Grate News, Wiki Travel, Mergui.


Hype Picks: The Best Things To Do In Klang Valley This Week (13th-19th Dec)

So we’re midway into December and less than 3 weeks away from 2022 (yikes)! Shopping malls are decked out in festive cheer and for those of you still doing your last minute Christmas shopping, we’ve got you covered here.

This December isn’t just packed with Christmas activities y’all. There’s “The Witcher” invasion at Bandar Sunway, and Spider-Man is swinging into The Starling Mall ahead of its premiere. There are also a ton of other events from Popular, SENSORii and MoMo’s KL happening in Klang Valley.

1. Call The Witcher! A Monster is lurking in Sunway Pyramid.

In conjunction with the premiere of “The Witcher” Season 2 this Friday (17th December), head on over to Sunway Pyramid and embark in an immersive journey into “The Witcher” world. There, you can walk through the dark, ominous forest of The Continent, before getting up close and personal with the terrifying life-sized Myriapod.

Also look out for Kaer Morhen’s Medallion Tree, where you’ll find a variety of Witcher medallions (that honours the fallen Wolf School Witchers) hanging on its branches. By collecting all five designs of the medallion (Geralt, Lambert, Eskel, Cohen, and Vesemir), visitors will get to unlock exclusive deals to use in Sunway Pyramid.

So grab your favourite bard or mage to confront the beast anytime between now and 2nd January 2022. The attraction is located at Sunway Pyramid’s Green Vase Fountain on the Ground Floor (right behind the main entrance of the mall, below the sphinx).

2. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” swings into Petaling Jaya

Our friendly neighbourhood superhero has taken over GSC The Starling Mall. In conjunction with Marvel and Sony Pictures’ latest blockbuster, “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, this cinema outlet has been decorated with lots of Spidey stuff to get fans excited.

Psst, we’re also running a contest “Spider-Man: No Way Home” where you can win some awesome merchandise and movie tickets. Click here to join.

3. BookFest At Popular/Harris Bookstores

Whether you love books, like stationaries or just need some new gadgets, we suggest dropping by Popular/Harris Bookstores sometime this week! They will be having their BookFest from now till 19th December with some pretty cool deals and activities.

Not only will you be getting discounts on various items, they also have vouchers for you to collect. Additionally, there’ll be a chance to meet well-known writers and filmmakers. From Taiwanese novelist and filmmaker Giddens Ko to international authors and local writers like teen novelist Lin Ley Na and author of “The Midnight Children” trilogy Tunku Halim, it’s definitely a session you don’t want to miss. Take the opportunity to ask your questions and learn more about the craft from those in the biz.

Check out their E-Leaflet to see what else they have to offer!

4. Sensorium of Inversion / Immersion (SENSORii)

Have you ever been curious on how can arts play around with your senses? From the first of December up until the 28th of December, you can discover that in REXKL. Art in The City Kuala Lumpur (BASKL), is holding an art showcase that puts up works of light assemblages by notable names in the Multimedia industry: Lim Kok Yoong & KC Tan, Wee Jia Foong, FLUX 28 and Ashly Nandong & Azarikh Amran. The music accompaniments that will tingle your senses even more are composed by Ahmad Muriz Che Rose.

Through this showcase, you’d be able to discover the inner complexities in ourselves that we have never been able to get in touch with; watch the life in the busy city that we live in and pass by each and every day but in a different light. You might realise how different can reality be perceived and memories are viewed through different lenses.

What’s even better is that, there’s no entrance fee to enter the door that expands your mind and senses! Showcase starts from 12pm to 9pm. So, what are you waiting for? Indulge yourself physically and mentally in this sense provoking art showcase!

5. Barbie Ultimate Staycation in Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is bringing your childhood dream to reality! You can now finally stay in a Barbie themed hotel and feel like you’re living the Barbie life. Not only that, but you can also immerse yourself in the experience by having an afternoon tea party with Barbie at their Barbie Café. So get your pink on, and let’s go on a staycation!

6. A MoMo’s Wonderland of Festive Art, Crafts & Music

Throughout the month of December 2021, MoMo’s KL will be playing host to an exciting series of art and music events for partygoers, indie shoppers, and foodies too! From a Christmas Artisanal Market to an Art Fair, there’s a little something here for everyone and more.

True to one of MoMo’s KL core passions of supporting the local art scene, the hotel’s Playground and 10 airwell rooms will once again be serving as exhibition centres for the Art Seni Art Fair, taking place on two weekends: 11th – 12th and 18th – 19th December 2021 from 12pm-8pm. The showcase will feature up to 10 local artists and their take on different types and styles of print art.

It’s a holly, jolly Christmas and MoMo’s KL is bringing tons of cheer! The Christmas Artisanal Market will be held on 11th – 12th and 18th – 19th December 2021 from 12pm-8pm with free entry, featuring lots of good food, one-of-a-kind handcrafts, and fun trinkets to gift your family and friends for Christmas! Attendees can expect popular foodfare from the likes of Fowlboys and Phil’s Pizza, score unique gifts like crystals from Lumiere and handcrafted jewellery by Naluri Hani and Crescentia, and indulge in premium desserts from Merry Ice Cream and The Unusual Greens.

From 9pm till late, choose to dance through the season with a jingle bell-rockin’ Christmas Party on 24 & 25 December 2021 and ring in 2022 with lots of new grooves at the New Year Party on 31 December 2021. In partnership with The Good Stuff, MoMo’s KL will host its longstanding MOJO: Making Magic with Music with plenty of good booze to celebrate!

December is packed with lots of great events at MoMo’s KL, promising an exciting, fun-filled time for everyone. Enjoy the holiday season and ring in the new year with old friends, loved ones, and new connections – let MoMo’s Wonderland take you on a festive journey of new experiences.

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#MyBalloonFiesta: The Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Returns

More than 200,000 both local and international visitors are expected to be at the annual Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta on 12th – 15th March 2015 to enjoy the psychedelic skyline.

The fiesta, now in its 7th year, celebrates its exciting exhibition and activities dedicated to all age groups from 7am – 9pm. The event provides a fun day out for everyone and the perfect spot for parents to plan out their school holiday destination.

Visitors are invited to this free event to get a chance to experience in the fiesta’s eight areas. Hop in the tethered balloon rides; enjoy picnic style breakfast while balloons fly over you; for the adventurous at heart, don’t forget to visit the Extreme Zone; and to keep you energised and well-fed, a revolving cast of food stalls and trucks are waiting to serve you at the Purple Zone.

Also, for the first time, Night Glow will be held for two nights from 14th – 15th March 2015.

Night Glow is the highlight of every Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, it gives visitors the opportunity to see Hot Air Balloons being light up at night as the pilots ignite their burners and transform the launching area into a psychedelic giant light bulbs in the sky, all synchronised to the sound of music and topped off with spectacular fireworks finale. Best of all, for this year, it’s free!

Grab your chance to be up close with the balloons ;)

A new area this year, MyBalloonClub, will offer an option (but with a price) to visitors who would like to break away from the crowds and indulge in a gourmet breakfast buffet with the best picturesque view. MyBalloonClub is located exactly at Monumen Alaf Baru with a private entrance and it provides premium tether rides and admission to Balloon Launch Site while live jazz performance sets the ambience after morning sessions.

There’s no better place to watch the festivities unfold. Bring your fully charged high mega pixel camera for the front row seats to morning session balloons take off, weekend night glows, and rudy’s trophy competition! To ensure a peaceful ambience, organisers limit the number of guests per session per day.

Deets of the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2015 are as follows:

And if you’re still not convinced, check out the gallery below for more pictures from the past Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon events:

Your real-life airborne adventure awaits!

For more information, call 03–7981 8712 or check out the fiesta’s website or their Facebook page.


Fun Facts: 10 Thundering Facts To Know Before Watching #ThorRagnarok

Have you missed Thor? The Asgardian God and the Incredible Hulk were absent from last year’s critically-acclaimed “Captain America: Civil War”, but rest assured that these 2 heroes will be taking back the spotlight in “Thor: Ragnarok”.

As you may know, Thor has made some new friends this time around. He’s also slightly funnier, but more importantly, he has a freaking new haircut! Instead of his familiar long blonde hair, actor Chris Hemsworth is now sporting a modern buzz cut with dark hair.

While “Civil War” saw the Avengers being split into 2 opposing sides (#TeamIronMan vs #TeamCap) when dealing in the fate of the world’s politics, “Ragnarok” will centre on a far bigger universe. If there’s one thing the Marvel franchise has benefited from the “Thor” movies, it’s how the world of Asgard has been conceptualised into a wider frame for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For Thor’s latest solo adventure, fans will get to see old favourites – the mischievous Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston), the all-seeing Heimdall (played by Idris Elba), and Odin (played by Anthony Hopkins). The forthcoming film will also introduce new characters: Hela (played by Cate Blanchett), a Grandmaster (played by Jeff Goldblum), and Valkyrie (played by Tessa Thompson).

The synopsis of “Thor: Ragnarok” is as follows:

“In Marvel Studios’ ‘Thor Ragnarok’, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home world and the end of Asgardian civilisation, at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiator contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger, the Incredible Hulk!”

There’s no doubt that the stakes for our beloved heroes are now higher than ever. Ahead of its release, we’ve decided to shed some light on what moviegoers can expect from Marvel’s next blockbuster. Here are some exciting fun facts about “Thor: Ragnarok” and its characters:

1. The real reason Thor didn’t show up in “Civil War”

For those that don’t remember, Thor was given a glimpse of the future during the events of “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”. In it, he saw that many cosmic plot devices were united under one powerful Infinity Gauntlet, which will eventually lead to the destruction of Asgard. It has been confirmed that “Ragnarok” will take place 2 years after “Age of Ultron”.

“The journey he’s been on at the beginning of this movie, it’s not like 5 minutes after ‘Ultron’ ends we start this movie: it’s a couple years later. And as we know, at the end of ‘Ultron’ he’s started this quest to find the puppet master, and the Infinity Stones, and all that. What he realised really fast– I don’t think I’m giving too much away because it’s right at the top of the film, but basically that 1 quest, that universe-ending peril that he was trying to figure out dovetailed or branched off into any number of universe ending-perils that he’s been adventuring on for the 2 years leading up to the beginning of this film,” producer Brad Winderbaum told Screen Rant.

In other words, Thor was busy chasing after Thanos all around the cosmos, with little or no success, while the rest of Marvel’s heroes were feuding during “Civil War”.

2. “Ragnarok” will incorporate elements from the Planet Hulk storyline

The last time we saw Hulk in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, the Green Goliath was flying off in a Quinjet by himself. It’s likely that the Hulk ends up in Planet Hulk’s Sakaar because of The Grandmaster. Like many fans, we are also interested to watch the square off between Hulk and Thor in the gladiatorial tournament. Moviegoers will also get the chance to see Hulk in his classic one-shoulder armour as seen in the “Planet Hulk/ World War Hulk” comics.

While trapped in Sakaar, Thor is forced to become a gladiator and battle his Avengers frenemy Hulk (played by Mark Ruffalo). “(Sakaar is) basically where every wormhole across the universe dumps out its trash, so you get people from all walks of life with all sorts of incredible abilities and powers. No one cares what prince or king Thor may have been in another world,” Hemsworth explained. “Also, his strength is pretty easily matched with those he finds himself amongst.”

3. Meet one of the oldest living beings in the universe, The Grandmaster

The Grandmaster (real name: En Dwi Gast) is one of the Elders of the Universe, and is also the brother of The Collector (played by Benicio del Toro). As “one of the oldest living beings in the universe”, Marvel’s Wiki states that “the Grandmaster has spent his extraordinary long life in pursuit of amusement through the playing of games. He has traveled throughout the known universe studying many civilisations’ forms of games and play to the point of mastering them. He then began to devise his own types of tournaments and contests, challenging various opponents to games of skill and chance for high stakes.”

4. Thor and Jane Foster are no longer a couple

Since the first moment Thor set foot on Earth, Jane Foster has been his main love interest. Last year, Oscar winner Natalie Portman announced that she was done with the “Thor” franchise and won’t be moving forward with Marvel. It was previously discussed that since “Ragnarok” will be set largely in the cosmos, having a Jane subplot would be impractical. Perhaps her absence will make way for a new leading lady?

5. Does this make Thor and Valkyrie the new couple?

When word first broke out that Tessa Thompson would be making her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Valkyrie aka Brunnhilde, many assumed that the warrior would be Thor’s new lover. For the uninitiated, Valkyrie is an Asgard warrior who works for The Grandmaster. But we know she eventually teams up with the God of Thunder to take down Hela and possibly stop the impending apocalypse that has been teased in the film’s title. So maybe we’ll get to see sparks fly.

Besides Loki, the MCU has had an underwhelming track record of forgettable villains. That could very well change when the terrifying Hela is accidentally unleashed from prison. As the Asgardian Goddess of Death, Hela not only wields power over the dead souls of the Nine Realms, she also has the special ability to generate weapons directly from her body. No one in their right mind would want to get on her bitchy side.

Cate Blanchett revealed that she became well-versed in her villainess character by turning to the comic book backstory. “There are so many iterations of the origin story. For any of these characters, there’s never 1 origin story. Most of the time she was masked. So that’s what I really talked to the Marvel team about was when we would chose to have her masked and when she wouldn’t be masked,” the Oscar-winning actress was quoted as saying.

Seeing as how powerful Hela is, there’s no doubt that Thor is going to need help from some friends.

7. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three will appear

Although Lady Sif and the Warriors Three – Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral – have been completely missing from the trailers and promo campaign so far, fans can rest assure that the quartet will appear at some point during the movie. While producer Brad Winderbaum has been tight-lipped on all the details, he did confirm the appearances of Thor’s besties in July. Not to damper your mood, but there has been speculation that the foursome might meet their inevitable deaths.

8. Is Doctor Strange going to lend a hand too?

We’re not 100% certain on this but he was featured in the Japanese trailer (seen above). Those of you who stayed back to watch the post credits scenes after “Doctor Strange” would remember the meeting between the good doctor and Thor in the Sanctum Sanctorum. In the clip, we saw Strange agreeing to aid Thor in his search for his missing father, Odin.

Similar to Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, it’s likely that that the Sorcerer Supreme has been intentionally missing from the “Thor: Ragnarok” Western marketing in order to make his cameo fun. Hopefully the film will be able to utilise Doctor Strange just right.

9. Director Taika Waititi is playing Korg

Here’s a little tidbit that will excite comic book fans: It was revealed in April that Taika Waititi would be taking on the role of an alien named Korg. The 8-feet tall giant rock warrior may look intimidating in appearance but he’s actually super friendly and helpful. In the movie, Korg befriends Thor and also explains how the society operates on planet Sakaar. In describing the Kronan race, Waititi explained, “They are very endearing, but you don’t want to f**k with them.”

10. Heimdall and the final Infinity Stone

Of all the deaths that are likely to happen, Heimdall seems to be at the top. The reason is simply because of the final Infinity Stone, which is the Soul Gem, could be in his possession. His ability to “see souls” through time and space has been explained in the past. If the theory is true, there’s no way Heimdall would give up the precious Soul Stone without a fight. That might result in him dying in a blaze of glory.

“Thor: Ragnarok” will smash its way into theatres on 3rd November 2017.

For more information, hit up the movie’s website and Facebook page.

Sources: Screen Rant (1)(2), /Film, Movie Web/ Featured image: Marvel.

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Man Lied About Boarding Sriwijaya Air Flight To Visit Mistress

We seriously didn’t see this one coming!

If you’ve been following the news, Indonesia is currently mourning the tragedy of the Sriwijaya Air SJ 182 plane crash. It has been reported that all 62 people, including 50 passengers and 12 cabin crew members, were killed in the incident.

However, things unexpectedly turned awry for this man, known as “Big Boss”. Padang Kita dished that Big Boss told his wife that he would be travelling to Pontianak for business affairs. He also informed that he would be boarding the Sriwijaya Air plane on 9th January (Saturday), scheduled to depart at 2pm.

However, Big Boss’ dirty laundry was made public after the news of the Sriwijaya Air crash began circulating on local media outlets. The husband eventually admitted that he didn’t go to Pontianak, but actually visited Bali to meet his mistress!

The story was shared by a TikTok user known as @Thojenk earlier this week. According to the social media user, he had travelled to Bali to celebrate his birthday with his secret lover. “Now he’s contemplating on whether to return home or stay put,” he revealed, as his wife had already conducted a tahlil (Islamic ritual to mourn the deceased) ceremony, thinking that Big Boss had died in the flight accident!

For those interested, watch the video here:

— Fragancia house (@sayajualperfume) January 13, 2021


#KoreanEmbassy: 2016 Quiz On Korea In Malaysia (The Malaysian Preliminary)

Who is the main actor of the drama “Descendants of the Sun“? What is the name of the district of Seoul famous for its fancy shops, popular pubs/restaurants and fashionable people (hint: it means “south of the river” in Korean)?

If you know the answer to any of these questions, you are in for a treat! “2016 Quiz on Korea” invites a talented Malaysian with good understanding of Korean language and culture to join the global competition on 27th August 2016 in KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) Hall, Seoul.

Do you fancy being on a Korean TV show and beating off contestants from other countries? Just join the Malaysian Preliminary and grab the chance to be a national representative!

1. Deadline for Submission of Application
ㅇ 25th April 2016, Midnight
* Submissions after the deadline will NOT be considered
** Minor applicants are required to prove that they have earned their parents’ consent (statement with signature, ID photocopies)
ㅇ Please fill out and sign the application form and send the scanned version to koreanembassypubdip@gmail.com
※Please visit their website to download the application form.

2. 1st Preliminary (reading and writing test)
ㅇ 4th May 2016, 10 – 11:30am, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kuala Lumpur
* Only top 12 contestants will be chosen to actually compete in the 2nd preliminary contest

3. 2nd Preliminary (ask-and-answer quiz and self-introduction contest)
ㅇ 28th May 2016, Saturday, 3 – 5pm, HELP University ELM Business School
* The first-prize winner will be invited to Korea for the final competition!

4. 2016 Quiz on Korea (Final)
ㅇ 27th August 2016, KBS Hall, Seoul Korea
* The show will be aired throughout a number of countries including Korea

For more information, visit the Korean Embassy’s Facebook page.


#JohnnieWalker: A Night Of Bold & Luxurious Moments At #TheCelebrationLounge

Keep walking and you will find yourselves stepping into The Celebration Lounge, a series of unique parties that will launched by Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve.

The brand promises to deliver us a night of bold, sophisticated and luxurious moments by igniting our senses with sounds of international DJs, the gracefully-choreographed performances, and of course, a glass of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve in hand.

Avalon Club Lounge at TREC KL, which recently opened its grandest of doors to city slickers, will be transformed into a glitzy arena with a touch of class for the Celebration Lounge. The ambiance of the club will be elevated with gold-themed elements and décor that exudes luxury and sophistication. This is part of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve efforts to initiate its series of exclusive parties in key cities across Malaysia.

Guests can expect to have an immersive partying experience with their friends as they will be indulged with extravagant showcases that are set to feast their sense of sound, sight, taste, and feel in The Celebration Lounge.

Music and sound from renowned DJs from all across the region will amplify party goers’ audio experience while our sense of sight will be ignited through a series of visually appealing, glamorous performances and awe-inspiring show moments.

To bring our experience to a whole new level, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve will collaborate with a team of experiential experts to convert selected outlets into an elaborate and lavish arena specially designed for local consumers.

Touted as the celebratory blend fit for indulgent celebrations like The Celebration Lounge, consumers will have their taste buds elevated with the perfect blend of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, as well as unforgettable nights out with amazing friends. Guests will be given the chance to immerse themselves in the serve ritual for the Gold Label Reserve, aptly savouring the luxurious, creamy and honeyed flavours of the blend.

Entrance to The Celebration Lounge is by invitation only, as the brand aims to bring consumers on a progressive journey of a distinguished nightlife experience that is unrivalled and exclusive. These luxurious affairs will also set the tone for the year-end festivity.

Regarding the launch of the Celebration Lounge, Rajesh Joshi, Marketing Director, Diageo Brands said:

The Celebration Lounge is a joyful platform for us to engage and inspire our discerning customers as they continue to seek new, inventive experiences.

“It also enables Johnnie Walker to introduce new perspectives to the local nightlife scene, instilling greater dynamism and excitement which will ultimately benefit consumers,” he added.

So, what else can you, as a consumer, expect from The Celebration Lounge?

For more information, visit Johnnie Walker’s official website and Facebook page.

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B.A.P & TS Entertainment To Hold First Court Trial In March

In November last year, B.A.P filed a lawsuit against TS Entertainment for an invalid contract, calling it a “slave contract” because it was apparently designed to benefit only the agency and was severely disadvantageous to the K-Pop idol boy group members.

The lawsuit has, of course, reminded us about the previous lawsuits that were filed by other idol group members including former EXO members Kris and Luhan as well as JYJ, the original members of TVXQ.

B.A.P’s lawsuit marks the first lawsuit that every member of the group have agreed to file, making fans believe that the company has breached a rule in the contract. However, the talent agency denied the claims and “counter-attacked” by releasing an official statement to explain about the contracts that the members signed.

Since that incident, the B.A.P members have laid low by stopping all promotions. They have also opened up their own fan cafe to communicate with and update fans who supported them through tough times.

On top of that, it was reported just a few days ago that B.A.P will finally be getting their first chance at retaliating against TS Entertainment as the first court trial date has been set for 13th March. This is because both parties weren’t able to come to a peaceful and amicable agreement, hence the court trial.

We’ll leave you now with B.A.P’s last Korean single prior to the lawsuit, titled, “Where Are You? What Are You Doing?” from their album, “B.A.P Unplugged 2014”. Listen:

Meanwhile, between then and now, TS Entertainment unveiled their newest girl group, SONAMOO. Check out their debut song here.


Westlife Fans, Nicky Just Interviewed Mark On His Radio Show & It’s Perfect

Stop what you’re doing because a mini Westlife reunion just happened!

Former Westlife member Mark Feehily, who is currently busy promoting his new ‘Christmas’ album took some time off his hectic schedule to appear on Nicky Byrne’s radio show on RTE 2fm.

The 37-year-old singer also gave Nicky the exclusive first worldwide play of the song “River” from his new album. After listening to “River”, Nicky jokingly said, “You can sing!”, as the two of them shared a laugh.

Nicky was all praise for his bestie’s ‘Christmas’ album, he said it’s the best he has ever heard Mark sing, and even went on to claim that Mark’s ‘Christmas’ album is better than Michael Bublé’s.

Thank you every for all your amazing messages about the ‘Christmas’ album. If you want to order either the Limited Edition CD or a digital copy here’s a link: https://t.co/EnC0RPo0eS pic.twitter.com/1xD8hrOXi7

— MarkusFeehily (@MarkusFeehily) November 17, 2017

The two Irish lads went on to chat and reminisce old times, and Nicky decided to test Mark’s memory with a little trivia about Westlife. While Mark got most of the answers right, he couldn’t seem to remember Nicky’s date of birth.

Nicky also revealed an embarrassing secret about Mark – apparently the latter used to travel with a teddy bear during his time with the band. Also, did you guys know that Mark once challenged Justin Timberlake to a dance-off in a club in LA? Yes, really, it happened.

Mark Feehily’s ‘Christmas’ album will be officially released on December 1. However, you can pre-order it now to get the limited edition CD with a signed Christmas card from the singer himself!

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What Users Will Love About The New HP DesignJet & HP PageWide XL Pro

Remember when large format printing used to be such a hassle? Thankfully that’s no longer an issue as HP introduces a DesignJet and a range of PageWide XL Pro devices that not only responds faster to customer demands but also boost profitability and sustainability.

With the new HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro device, HP is offering print service providers (PSPs) and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysts the latest solutions to produce professional photo-quality prints and high precision colourful GIS-generated maps. Meanwhile, the two new HP PageWide XL Pro printers equip PSPs and repro houses with the ability to respond faster to customer demands and diversify their existing capabilities.

Highest colour quality with HP DesignJet

Marking the 30-year anniversary of the very first DesignJet product, the new HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro offers PSPs and GIS analysts respectively the highest professional photo quality and precision, along with leading security features.

Thanks to the chromatic RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks, HP DesignJet Z Pro users can now achieve 93% pantone coverage – 26% more gamut compared to the previous generation – and produce prints with the image quality of a 12-ink printer with just nine inks. Additional features such as the High-Definition Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) printheads and dual drop technology, which reduces visible grain and eliminates the need for light coloured inks, promise prints with clear details and dazzling-contrasts.

The HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro offers the widest colour gamut in its category, is the perfect choice for PSPs looking for a professional photo quality printer. Users can customise ICC profiles for their print jobs and achieve desired colour accuracy and consistency. PSPs also have the option to include the HP Gloss Enhancer Upgrade Kit to produce superior gloss uniformity.

Additionally, the HP PrintOS mobile app lets PSPs take more control of their print operations – from monitoring performance and reacting to issues, to sharing media pre-sets remotely. For the first time, the new HP DesignJet Z Pro printer series also incorporates the HP PrintOS Service Center application. This smart cloud-based solution enables users to gain a single, real-time view of all ongoing service cases, with updates that are accessible anytime, anywhere.

For GIS analysts looking to produce very precise maps, print sharp contour lines and text with close attention to keeping data secure, the HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro is still the ideal printer. The Adobe PDF Print Engine enables excellent transparencies and layer reproductions – while HP’s HDNA printheads and HP Pixel Control deliver the highest precision, as well as smooth gradients and distinct shades of colour that are particularly needed for printing complex maps. HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro is the world’s most secure large-format printer, promising the best data protection through encrypted communications and Access Control List. Features such as HP Connection Inspector, HP Secure Boot, and Whitelisting ensure the best network protection, putting all worries about data security to rest.

The HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro also enhances efficiency with the fastest media handling, spindle-less and automatic roll feed. The HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro allows users to print up to 18% faster, with better quality, on satin photo media – and 46% faster on canvas.

Maximise productivity with HP PageWide XL Pro

HP has also announced two new HP PageWide XL Pro printers that enable retail PSPs and repro houses to respond faster to customer demands, meeting tighter deadlines. Additionally, users will also be able to leverage new short-term applications including the potential to print on boards, cardstock, and paper from A2 to B1, and thickness up to 10mm.

The new HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and HP PageWide XL Pro 8200 offer print speeds up to 20 D/A1 pages/min, and 4300 ft2/hr (400 m2/hr) and 30 D/A1 pages/min, and 5300 ft2/hr (500 m2/hr) respectively, enabling users to meet short turnaround time. With the PageWide XL Pro 8200 being able to print mixed outputs of both CAD drawings and presentation boards, both printers are also capable of delivering full projects two to three times faster than before. With the new HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and HP PageWide XL Pro 8200, users can also expand their print applications into two-sided, short-term retail posters, which can be easily managed with HP SmartStream.

Designed to help boost profits and cut costs, both the HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and the HP PageWide XL Pro 8200 enable users to save up to 50% preparation and finishing costs.

In other news, HP is also bringing back its Mentorship Project by partnering up with 3 experts from the local music industry – Zee Avi, Daniel Veerapen, and Edwin Raj. Enthusiastic and passionate young Malaysians can apply to this program by submitting their applications and portfolio. 11 mentees will be chosen to learn from the best.

Find out more about the 2021 HP Mentorship Project here.


#Instagram: New Update Makes For Easy Switching Between Accounts

Yes, this is the one major update that we’ve all been looking forward to :D

If you’re a heavy Instagram user, and by heavy we mean you have separate accounts for work, personal, your dog, travel, minimalist photography, then you would understand the hassle of needing to log in and out of accounts.

We feel your pain because we too often find ourselves needing to log in and out of our own work account.

But worry no more because Instagram’s latest update enables a feature to allow users to switch between multiple accounts. Yay! How does the multi-account support work?

Go to your profile settings to add an additional account under “Add Account”.

From there, tap your username at the top of your profile to switch between accounts. Once you have multiple accounts added, you’ll see your profile photo appear in places throughout the app so you can always tell which one you’re using at the moment.

How many accounts can you add? Instagram’s help page says that you can add up to 5 Instagram accounts. Anything more and you’ll have to manually log in and out. Sorry. But at least it the new feature really takes the burden of having to do everything manually.

Music to the social media managers’ ears, we’re sure ;)

The update is included in version 7.15 for iOS and Android, available in the App Store and the Google Play Store.

Sources: Instagram blog, Instagram help page.

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#Twitter: GIF Search Now Made Easier With A Dedicated Button

You can’t even pretend that you didn’t see this one coming.

Twitter has announced that they’re rolling out a GIF button on iOS, Android, and the web. Because obviously, our tweets aren’t animated enough.

According to Twitter, last year, people on Twitter shared over 100 million GIFs – expressing everything from their mood, to an amazing dunk, to their favourite dance move from a music video. So now, users will be furnished with a native button that allows them to search for and post GIFs as part of their tweets.

All you need to do is tap it and search for GIFs using keywords or browse categories of different reactions, then insert them into your tweets and direct messages with a tap. The GIF button appears in the tweet composer in between the buttons for adding photos and polls.

The GIFs are coming! Get ready to search and send GIFs in Tweets and Direct Messages: https://t.co/uk75stt1zN pic.twitter.com/1dDD1B4CW2

The feature is powered by GIF search engines Riffsy and Giphy.

Twitter is certainly upping their game with their recent changes, from adding a feature to allow users to create polls to turning its iconic star-shaped “favourite” button into a heart-shaped “like” button. Word has it that Twitter will also start to implement a 10,000-character limit for tweets soon.

For more information on how the dedicated GIF button works, go here.

Sources: The Verge, Twitter Blog, Fortune.


BBMAs: All The Hollywood Stars That Were Excited To Meet BTS

BTS fever has hit the Billboard Music Awards yet again!

It’s been a year since the K-pop 7-member group began its international takeover. V, Jungkook, Jimin, Suga, Jin, RM, and J-Hope not only gave a jaw-dropping performance of their brand new single, “Fake Love”, they also won the Top Social Artist award for the second consecutive year.

“Thank you so much, Billboard Music Awards, for this precious award 2 years in a row. This time we had a chance to think about what ‘social’ really means for us. And some of our fans told us that our music really changed their lives. And now we realise that our words truly carry weight thanks to you guys. And ARMYs (the official name of BTS’s fan base) out there, you guys keep us going…It’s (this award) all yours!” RM said in his acceptance speech.

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, arrived at the award show wearing 7 distinct outfits by Gucci. Fans weren’t just losing their cool over the boy-band’s fashion choices, but more importantly, over some of Hollywood’s biggest names who showed their support for the popular K-pop group.

Backstage at the #BBMAs2018 with @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/6zLl1uCKgZ

— John Legend (@johnlegend) May 21, 2018

A little BTS with @bts_bighit x ❤ pic.twitter.com/BiQ3qpHNOu

— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) May 21, 2018

A post shared by Kdrama American Fans (@kdrama.american.fans)

with!! @Zedd 🤩 pic.twitter.com/OexoumP7mJ

We are such huge fans of @BTS_twt! #BTSB #DontGoBreakingMyHeart #FakeLove pic.twitter.com/0dyevsf2lv

— Backstreet Boys (@backstreetboys) May 19, 2018

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Of Toasts & Sandwiches: The Best Open Sandwiches In Klang Valley

The waffles trend is like so last year, well, only because we’ve tried almost all the waffle places in Klang Valley that we even wrote about it. Not that we are complaining but eventually, we will get sick of our favourite breakfast food…which is why we came up with a new list of food trends that we look forward to see in Malaysia soon.

Noticed that we included artisanal toasts in the list of food trends? Unfortunately, this particular food trend received criticism in United States mainly because of its ridiculous price tag. But guess what? It is still trending in the States and the trend is set to take over the other regions soon. We are most likely to see this trend take Malaysia by storm too and in reality, it already did.

Despite sharing similar traits as the artisanal toast in the States, we call it a smørrebrød or an open sandwich (a.k.a open face/faced sandwich). It is the famous Danish open sandwich that consists of a single slice of buttered rye bread (rugbrød) topped with a piece of Pålæg, commercial or homemade cold cuts, pieces of meat or fish, cheese or spreads. The only difference is that the artisanal toast uses honey toast, cinnamon toast, or peanut butter toast as its base while smørrebrød uses buttered rye bread.

With the right ingredients, the open sandwich could be a flavourful and visually appealing food item. While we can easily make our versions of open sandwiches at home, some trendy cafes are already doing the job for us and we don’t see why we shouldn’t give them a try.

So brace yourselves, everyone, these artisanal toasts/open sandwiches are going to take over your Instagram soon:

In the recent months, cafe-hoppers have been flocking to Chinatown as a number of unique cafes have started their businesses in the old-world charm of Kuala Lumpur. And of course, the deeper you dig into this part of KL city, the more hidden gems you’ll find. Other than some speakeasy bars, the Front Door cafe is what you’ll find in Chinatown. The cafe is hidden inside a 3-storey building and the only way to recognise the building is the signboard outside that writes “Selangor’s Grocer Guild.”

Formerly occupied by Cantonese-speaking retail traders, the building has been turned into Grocer’s Inn, a homestay for backpackers and budget travellers. Locals and tourists alike would pay a visit to the Front Door cafe for the coffee and its perseverance of the old-world charm. However, coffee is not the star item because its limelight has been stolen the signature toasts.

From beef bacon with honey to pepperoni with pizza sauce to peanut butter with banana slices, there is a wide selection of toppings for the toasts. The size of the toast is just perfect and patrons can opt to have one slice of toast with the topping of their choice for RM6. However, it’s best to order a set of 3 at RM15 or a set of 5 at RM23. The best part of toasts? You can eat it all by yourself or share them with your friends.

Mosano Coffee is founded by Alvin Wong, one of our very own local talents who has been in the film industry for more than 10 years. Similar to the Front Door cafe, its star item is the smorrebrod-style open sandwiches. Although smorrebrod reminds us of crostini or bruschetta, it is not finger food because the size is bigger. The distinctively unique container cafe is conveniently located at Damansara Perdana where patrons can just go and chill out with a cup of coffee.

Since it’s a relatively a new cafe, we haven’t personally been there before. But according to Eat Drink KL, there are more than 15 types of toppings available for the open-faced sandwich. From smoke salmon to smoked duck to shredded lamb confit, the open-faced sandwiches in Mosano Coffee are paired with fresh veggies, herbs, or cheese. The topping possibilities are endless and we say it’s best to come in a group if you want to try all sandwich flavours.

From the owners of various cafes in Klang Valley come Podgy & the Banker, Malaysian Instagrammers’ favourite chill out spot in Sri Hartamas. Why do we call it Malaysian Instagrammers’ favourite spot, you ask? Well, it’s mostly because this picture-perfect cafe is laced with minimalist decors and it serves great breakfast food. Considering how this is located near a residential area, Podgy and the Banker is a great place to clear your mind while you bask in the sunlight that penetrates into the cafe through the large windows.

The cafe mainly serves dishes with eggs, which is why the poached eggs on toast and the Nutella and banana french toast are the star items here. While it’s nothing to shout about, we enjoyed the open-faced sandwich that is served with french fries. The scrambled eggs on top of the sandwich are very well-cooked and the taste will linger in your mouth for a long while. In fact, the dishes are very reasonably-priced.

It’s a brunch affair at the Thirdwave cafe in Bangsar South, KL. Although Thirdwave is best known for its signature waffles, the cafe took things up a notch by introducing their own versions of smørrebrød. Thirdwave serves its open-faced sandwich with various ingredients and it is sprinkled with their homemade sauce. Surprisingly, there isn’t any sweet and savoury combination of smørrebrød as they topped the sandwich with ingredients like house-cured salmon, roasted beef, fresh seafood, eggs, baked walnuts, avocado, and so on.

Nonetheless, the cafe prioritises food presentation and its overall quality so that it’ll be presented as an eye-catching and tantalising dish. The price is a little on the high side but we think it’s pretty reasonable due to its premium ingredients. This is perfect for those who are seeking for a dish that is specially crafted by the chefs.

When it comes to seafood, Shucked Oyster & Seafood Bars is the place to go as the bar ships in the freshest seafood from European countries such as New Zealand, Netherlands, France, and Australia. Located at Ben’s Independent Grocery at Publika, the bar emphasises on the quality and freshness of the seafood so that patrons can buy them to cook at home. However, Shucked has stepped their game up by including smørrebrød in the menu too. This is a piece of good news for those who need to include some carbs into their meal.

There are 5 variations of smørrebrød and each of them is specially prepared by the friendly crew. Like every other smørrebrød, Shucked uses dark rye bread as its base and tops it with their fresh seafood from atlantic prawns to salmon tartare to mackerel pate. The best smørrebrød is the Shucked Special Smørrebrød as the bar tops the rye bread with atlantic prawns, smoked ocean trout, and 2 Irish oysters. It is also paired with caviar lemon aioli. It may be a simple dish but satisfaction is guaranteed with every bite we take.

That’s it for the list of places that serve some pretty awesome open sandwiches in Klang Valley. Which place do you think should be in the list? If there’s a place that serves these open sandwiches, don’t forget to recommend them in the comments box below! :D

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