No more aircon for us, please?

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO SAVE THE EARTH?

The comforts of modern urban life are many. Step into any room on a hot, humid day and instant relief can be sought simply by turning on the air conditioner. If the room is too dark, a light switch is all it takes to illuminate the surroundings. But this very convenience also brings about its own set of problems, particularly in Asia.

According to an article published in www.forbes.com, the world’s seven largest megacities are located in Asia. In fact, Asian cities are developing so rapidly, they are consuming electricity at an alarming rate and pumping out 70% of the region’s total carbon dioxide emissions. For example, Bangkok emits about 7 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita, a rate equivalent to New York City.

With urban density in Southeast Asia set to rise, buildings, both residential and commercial, are growing taller in a bid to beat the urban sprawl as compact city policies become more commonplace. And buildings are major producers of carbon dioxide while the main contributors are air conditioners, lights and elevators.

Global warming – once a distant term in scientific literature is now common in our everyday language. With global warming a rising threat to our livelihood and wellbeing, the need to consume energy more efficiently is clear.

Here’s the rub: Eco-living may mean we have to sacrifice some of our urban comforts and conveniences. But, are we willing to do so?

We look at 3 ways technology can help you beat the eco-perils of the modern urban living.

• AIR CONDITIONING
• ELEVATORS
• LIGHTS

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Up-and-coming travel destinations in Asia

Ipoh is a city known for its food and certainly is not an unfamiliar destination for locals. But while we might be familiar with its attractions, many outside the country are not.

Now the city in Kinta Valley has made it into the list of up-and-coming travel destinations in Asia drawn up by Agoda.com. Ipoh came in 4th on the 2013 list of "fresh" Asian destinations.

Agoda.com's team studied booking patterns, read thousands of customer reviews and spoke with local experts to come up with the list. These destinations all had high growth rates, attracted a large amount of expert travellers (i.e. those who travel frequently to new destinations) as well as increasing numbers of locals on vacation.

Here is the full list.

1. Tana Toraja, Indonesia

It's about 320km northwest of Makassar on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Tana Toraja is a misty, densely forested region in the highlands of South Sulawesi province known for its animist beliefs, unique houses and grisly (to Western eyes) funeral ceremonies.

The past few decades have seen interest wane and income from tourism dry up, but the rich culture and natural beauty of the area are begging to be explored again.

Tana Toraja tourism is centred in the town of, Rantepao. Between April and October is the less rainy season, and up in the mountains near Tana Toraja, it might even get pretty chilly at night.

There are sporadic flights from Makassar but it's hard to say when or if they're operational, so most people get a morning or overnight bus from Makassar, which takes about eight hours.

Traveller tips: A certain Michael from Canada recommends a solid dose of Dramamine for the long and winding bus ride from Makassar, while almost all recommend hiring a guide to provide the inside scoop.

2. Nantou, Taiwan

Nantou County is literally the heart and agricultural centre of Taiwan - the only landlocked county on the island. The biggest draw is the serene Sun Moon Lake which anchors a large area popular with boaters, fishers, hikers, bikers and sightseers.

The variety of homemade agricultural products on sale at the many farms that surround the area also serve as a tourist pull. The county is home to Mt Yushan, Taiwan's highest point, and offers hot springs, rivers and rolling green landscapes, aplenty.

From October till January is an especially pleasant time in Nantou's higher elevations. Avoid going during major festivals such as Chinese New Year (January/February), Ching Ming (April) and Mid-Autumn Festival (September), unless you book well in advance and don't mind larger crowds.

Almost every large town in Taiwan has a bus service to Nantou, and the tourist railway route from the town of Ershui to Checheng is a great way to see the countryside. Checheng station is only a few kilometers away from Sun Moon Lake.

Traveller tips: Visitors have highly recommended the gondola trip, which gives a great view of the lake from above (some say it's a tad expensive). It's worthwhile to go to bed early and get up for the sunrise over the lake.

3. Ella, Sri Lanka

On the southern end of Sri Lanka, about 140km from Kandy, Ella is known among travellers but has remained largely off the beaten tourist trails.

Nestled amid Sri Lanka's mountainous interior, the town is well situated to take advantage of some seriously relaxing downtime -, hiking, eating, exploring and relaxing. The best time to visit is from December to March, although this is the high season. As it is in the mountains, even the low (hot) season can be comfortable (even chilly at night).

Buses come through here from various points on the southern part of the island, but most people catch the train which circles in from the bigger cities on the west coast.

Traveller tips: A trip to Lipton's Seat, the favoured hilltop viewpoint of Sir Thomas Lipton whose beverage empire began in the 1890s with tea exported from the then Ceylon, is a must.

4. Ipoh, Malaysia

Between Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Ipoh was a sleepy little town that boomed with the discovery of rich tin deposits in the early 1900s. Today it's known for its delicious food and surrounding cave temples.

Take advantage of the area's stunning natural beauty, visit huge limestone caves, endless trekking opportunities and even some great whitewater rafting trips. The town itself is worth checking out and offers some gorgeous colonial-era buildings and, temples.

There is no real cool season - the best time to visit is during the least-rainy months, which are May, June and July. Due to its location just off a major north-south highway, almost everyone arrives via bus or car from Penang or KL.

Traveller tips: Many visitors recommended the Tambun Lost World and hot springs for a great family adventure (they also suggested bringing towels to save on rental costs). Another suggested healthy doses of Ipoh's famous white coffee, where the beans are roasted with palm oil margarine.

5. Mai Chau, Vietnam

Mai Chau is in northern Vietnam, about 140km southwest of Hanoi and 80km or so from the Laos border. It's a small town in mountainous Hoa Binh province surrounded by limestone cliffs and green rice paddies, populated largely by members of the ethnic White Thai tribe.

It's not as popular as Sapa where you get the same experience, but verdant rice fields surround the town on all sides while dramatic hills rise up on either side of the valley, offering breathtaking views around every corner., There are also several interesting markets to check out as well as some nearby caves.

It gets uncomfortably hot in June/July, but the surrounding vegetation is at its brightest green in February-May, and turns a lovely golden brown in October/November. The only way to get to Mai Chau directly is by private car hired in Hanoi. Buses head to nearby Hoa Binh, though, and from there one can arrange bus or motorbike transport.

Traveller tips: Many visitors recommend renting bicycles to explore the town - or motorbikes. The Sunday market is also popular, which sees vendors from around the area.

6. Hakone, Japan

Southwest of Tokyo, Hakone is at the top of the Izu Peninsula and about 30km from Mt Fuji.

A visit to Hakone is all about two things - hot water and great views. It's a very popular local destination and rising in popularity with foreign visitors.

Hakone is widely known for its bubbling hot springs (onsen). Some are merely hot pools where guests sit and relax, while others approach full water park status. And don't miss the, black eggs, boiled in the hot water - each one is said to add seven years to one's life!

There are also great hiking trails in the surrounding hills and the beautiful Lake Ashinoko, where on a clear day one can catch a spectacular glimpse of Mt Fuji.

Cold in the winter, warm in the summer and comfortably cool in spring and autumn, it's your choice when to get there. There are plenty of bus companies that go from Tokyo, Yokohama or any big city nearby. Of course, this being Japan, it's easy to catch the train - a Japan Rail bullet train goes from Tokyo to Odawara, then change trains to the Hakone-Tozan line. There are also regular commuter trains of varying cost and speed.

Traveller Tips: Note that stores and restaurants close early in Hakone, so prepare meals in advance or stock up on groceries if meals are eaten late. Many recommend the Hakone Free Pass, which provides unlimited use of buses, trains, boats and cable cars within a certain zone.

7. Damyang County, South Korea

Damyang is in the southwest of South Korea, right next to, the major city of Gwangju. Known for its bamboo goods and fruit orchards, it's popular with Korean tourists but still has plenty of unspoilt countryside to explore.

Lakes, mountains, parks, bamboo forests, historical sites... what's not to like? Among the notable sites are Soswaewon, a 16th-century garden, the Gwangju Lake ecological preserve, the historical village of Samjicheon and Jungongwon Garden, where towering bamboo trees sway in the wind far overheard and where many of the hyper-popular Korean period dramas are filmed.

Nearby one can also find Mt Mudeung, where the view from the top is epic. Summer finds the area at its most lush and green, while the colours in autumn are breathtaking, especially from the top of Mt Mudeung. For fans of winter, taking a walk amid towering snow-covered bamboo in the crisp, cold air is totally invigorating.

It's easiest to grab a bus or taxi from Gwangju, which has easy connections to all of the popular sites nearby.

Traveller tips: Don't miss the bamboo tea, grown locally of course. For a bit of adventure, try a night climb up Mt Mudeung, which is lit with lamps for much of the way.

8. Phonsavan, Laos

In the northern Laos province of Xieng Khouang, Phonsavan sits on a wide plateau surrounded by the foothills of the Annamese Cordillera mountain range. A location off the beaten path, it's most notable for the mysterious Plain of Jars archeological site.

Despite its history and relative isolation, Phonsavan is a lovely place with friendly people (although one must use a certain amount of street smarts to avoid pitfalls related to an underdeveloped tourist infrastructure).

The locals have also, rather ingeniously, taken to fashioning everything, from spoons to entire house, out of remnants of the war. Huge bomb casings are now flowerpots and bathtubs while grenade fragments have been turned into jewellery. There are also nearby hills to explore, dotted with various ethnic hill tribe villages, as well as hot springs, waterfalls and lakes.

Note: Due to lingering UXO (unexploded ordinance) from the war, one should never leave a marked trail or road to wander into a field or forest. Be safe, and hire a tour guide who knows the area.

November to March sees the nicest weather, in Laos, and as one might expect, it's busier than normal and requires some advance planning. However, if rain isn't a deterrent, the countryside is especially green and beautiful during the May to October rainy season.

Grab a Laos Airlines flight from Vientiane or Hanoi, Vietnam, but perhaps the most popular way in is via VIP bus, public bus or hired vans, which come in from Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Vinh, Vietnam.

Traveller tips: A guided tour will provide the best insights into the history of the place, while a stroll around the night market in the middle of town is recommended.

9. Kep, Cambodia

Kep is in Cambodia's southern corner, 15km from the Vietnamese border, 85km from Sihanoukville and 160km from Phnom Penh. It was a thriving, elegant beach resort town in the early 20th century.

A visit here is all about enjoying rural Cambodia and unplugging from a hectic lifestyle. It has a healthy dose of small-town charm, is laid-back and dotted with crumbling colonial reminders of a bygone age, and boasts wide roads, swaying, palm trees and friendly locals.

It's well known for its plentiful fresh seafood (especially crab), available in dozens of beachside shacks. Explore the lush countryside, caves, waterfalls, small beaches, a pepper plantation and the nearby Phnum Bokor National Park for trekking and camping.

The best time to visit is during the cool season - November to March, roughly. Most arrive by bus from Sihanoukville, Kampot, Phnom Penh or across the border from Ha Tien, Vietnam.

10. Khanom, Thailand

Khanom is about halfway down Thailand's southern arm, on the little bump that curves upward toward Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan. The Thai version of Kep is a sleepy little town on the Gulf of Thailand with few tourists, friendly locals and miles and miles of lovely, largely empty beaches.

It's harder to find a nicer example of small-town Thai life. There's very little to do in town except wander, lazily around chatting with locals, sampling the delicious food and enjoying the fresh air on a long walk down one of the many empty beaches.

One could also rent a motorbike and head off into the surrounding areas - jungles and hiking trails and waterfalls are there to discover - or take off in a kayak with a snorkel and fins aboard. If the timing is right, it's even possible to spot a rare pink dolphin. There are also a moderate number of bars and restaurants, so you can avoid returning to the same place every night.

December to April is the best time, with cool weather and little rain. Get in via bus or mini-van from almost any big city in the area, including Bangkok. One can also come across from Koh Samui/Koh Pha Ngan if island life has gotten tiresome.

Traveller tips: With little in the way of tourist infrastructure, many visitors recommend renting a motorbike to get around the town. One notable attraction is Khao Wan Tong Cave, about 12km inland from the beach.

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A step-by-step guide to creating a business plan

Photographer’s Corner: A step-by-step guide to creating a business plan

As a professional photographer, it is very important to create a thorough business plan to outline your goals and determine a course of action for achieving them. Even if you have already been running a successful company, you can benefit from organizing your efforts into a well thought out business strategy.

Start by thinking about what you want to achieve in the next year. Create a few large goals for yourself that will get you closer to the success you strive for. As you work through these steps keep in mind that nothing you decide is set in stone. You can adjust your plan as you go along to reflect what is working best and how your goals have changed over time.

Step 1: Define your Focus

Choose a specialty
The first step in creating a business plan is to determine who you are as a photographer and what you want to specialize in. While you may enjoy all genres of photography, a focused area or niche is highly recommended. Trying to represent all genres of the industry in your portfolio can communicate a lack of focus and a failure to master any one area to potential clients. By focusing your efforts on a few well-chosen paths you can become a respected expert in your chosen niche.

Make it unique
The industry is as competitive as it’s ever been, so it is important to set yourself apart from your competition. For example, if you want to carve a place for yourself as a wedding photographer, decide what types of weddings you want to shoot. When considering this question, think about your strengths. If you love shooting with natural light the most, or you adore black and white images over color, think about whether you can build your business from this angle.

Map it out
Geography can also play a large role in determining your niche. If you live in a rural area, but your passion is fashion, it may not be a good idea to choose fashion photography as a focus. Instead, consider shooting portraits and weddings using fashion lighting. Brainstorming what you love to shoot and how to make a practical choice for your business based on this is time well spent.

Learn by example
Let’s take Shelley Paulson’s portrait work as an example. In addition to being a spectacular wedding and engagement photographer, Shelley takes beautiful portraits, mainly of high school seniors. What sets her photos apart from others in her area is that she specializes in portraits with horses. As a lover of horses all her life it was a natural choice for her to focus the portrait area of her business in this direction. So as you can see from this example, a niche does not have to be one thing alone. In Shelley’s case, focusing on weddings as well as equine portraits caters to her specific interests and skills, and it keeps her busy all year.

Know your competition
It’s always a good idea to see who you’re up against. Some basic research of your local competition and their specialties can go a long way. However, you shouldn’t be daunted by what others are doing. For example, if there are a lot of family portrait photographers in your area, this does not mean that you have to choose a different genre. Instead, think of ways to approach family portraits from an unexpected angle. This could be shooting in and around the families’ homes where they are most comfortable, or at the beach with natural sunlight. The key is to combine areas you are comfortable and skilled in and turn them into your niche.

Be specialized but not limited
Whatever area you choose, be sure that it is something that has room to grow. Choosing a niche is great for becoming an expert in that area in a relatively short period of time. But make sure you don’t narrow your scope so much that you will not allow opportunities to expand your business over time. The key to many successful businesses is their ability to grow and adapt to changes in the market.

Step 2: Determine your Audience

Find your target market
Start by asking yourself who your clients are. Are they male, female, or an equal percentage of each? What is the largest age group? Where do they hang out? What websites do they visit and what magazines do they read? This will give you a very good idea of where to start when you are ready to advertise and market to this demographic.

Learn by example
Let’s answer those questions using a pet photographer as an example.The majority of pet owners are female, ages 30-45, who visit parks and pet stores and are interested in magazines like Pet Planet and The Bark. For a commercial photographer, they might think about which companies and accounts to go after. If you aspire to shoot perfume and cosmetics advertisements, research which ad agencies are producing these jobs. Or if you want to shoot for fashion magazines, narrow down which ones you think are a good fit for your style and aesthetic. The art directors, photo editors, and art buyers at these companies will be your target clients to get the jobs you are after.

Size your market
It is also important to consider whether your target market is large enough to sustain you. If your focus is shooting head shots for actors, you will need to determine how many working actors there are in your area and how often they need head shots. You also need to know how much revenue you’ll generate from each head shot session and determine how many of these you will need to keep your expenses paid. Be conservative with these estimates and don’t count on repeat clients for your long term planning. You should always be working to increase your client list.

Step 3: Polish your Persona

Get a complete website
As a professional photographer it is an absolute must that you have a well designed and easy to navigate website. There was a time an online portfolio alone was enough, but these days you need to have a comprehensive site. When setting up your site look for a full service option that will enable you to display your portfolio and includes an e-commerce platform, marketing tools, and an easy to navigate client interface.

Let your website make you money
If you do any type of consumer photography you will want the option to sell online as well as use online proofing tools. In-person proofing is a great way to make and close print sales, but that method doesn’t allow you to reach all of your client's friends and relatives. By offering an online proofing gallery to your clients, they can choose to share it with friends and family, possibly opening up new revenue streams for you.

Stay fresh and current
Many photographers use an integrated blog to show off their newest images and let visitors know what they are currently working on. These blog posts help show that you are keeping busy, which is one of the best ways to drive up business. When clients see you as a prolific professional in your field they’ll want to get the chance to work with you while your career is on fire.

Start with Zenfolio
Luckily Zenfolio can help you with achieve all of the above. Voted the Best Website Builder by the 2013 Framed Awards, Zenfolio offers everything you need to create a dynamic and beautiful photography website. From the moment you sign up with Zenfolio you’ll have your own site that you can quickly and easily customize using intuitive tools that were designed with photographers-not computer programmers-in mind.

Step 4: Get Discovered

Know your SEO
Once your website is in great shape you will need to make sure that people are able to find it. These days there are many ways that you can maximize your search engine optimization (or more commonly referred to as SEO) so that when potential clients search for a specific type of photographer in your area, your name will appear if you fit the search criteria. When looking at website options for placing your photography online be sure that the one you choose includes built-in SEO tools. Having the ability to quickly add search tags to a group of photos or import photos that you’ve already tagged in Lightroom will save you a ton of time and energy.

Make yourself visible
Search engines primarily look for text on pages which can be an issue for photographers who have a website full of images. If there isn’t any text data (tags) that accompany the images your site might be virtually invisible to search engines. So take the time to provide relevant titles, captions, and keywords for your photos wherever possible. The more detail you can provide with these, the better. You should also include your geographical location in the text of your site so that your website is found in searches such as "Wedding photographer in San Francisco".

Link up
The more times a link to your website is clicked, the better your site ranking will be and you’ll appear higher in search results. How do you get more people to click on your link? Share it everywhere. We recommend that you add links to your site in your email signatures, on photo forums, on social media, websites, and anywhere else you can think of.

Be friendly
When looking for a job you’ll often hear the old adage “It’s not what you know but who you know.” The same applies in the virtual world. Having other services link to your website as much as possible is key to achieving this. If you belong to any photo clubs or professional organizations, make sure you have a profile listed with a link to your site. This can really help to boost your search ranking.

Find a pal
SEO might seem like a daunting task to take on but the effort you put in will pay off in the end. But don’t feel like you have to go it alone. Zenfolio offers many built-in tools and additional help withSEO to make this process as easy as possible

Step 5: Create a Marketing Plan

Market, market, market so you can sell, sell, sell
With marketing you get what you put into it. There is simply too much competition these days to sit back and wait for clients to come to you. Now that you have outlined who your customers are in step 2, think about how to target your marketing efforts toward them. Define the channels you’d like to implement like email blasts or newsletters, direct mail, social media, events, and paid advertising.

Start with emails
Promotional email blasts are cheap to produce, easy to target, and effective. Try sending a few promotional email blasts. Try spreading them throughout the year to your contact lists using seasonal promotions, reminders of prior purchases and products reviewed and timely offers. Also, plan to send a certain number of regular newsletters as well that highlight your latest work, new available products, or anything else your current clients might find relevant or interesting. Don’t forget to provide a way for people to unsubscribe if they choose.

Be direct
Direct mail, that is. You probably will need to take your budget into consideration when planning a direct mailer so consider creating a few different strategies for different groups within your contacts. For example, consider creating a well-designed, but inexpensive, post card to send to all clients while reserving more expensive promo pieces for your top 20 leads.

Spread the word with social media
Many people will go to a restaurant or use a service based upon a recommendation from a friend. You can use this word of mouth advertising effectively to drive up business in the same way via social media websites. One way to do this is to allow your clients to share the images you have taken on their Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google+ pages. If they love your work they will likely share it with an ecstatic compliment and their entire network will see it. One thing to keep in mind if you go this route is to be sure that you brand your images with a logo or unobtrusive watermark so that potential clients know who you are and can easily find you. Logos and watermarks will also help protect against illegal reproduction of your work.

Be a social (media) butterfly
Don’t be afraid to share some of your own successes on your social media page. If you were recently featured in a publication, share this news on Facebook, Google+, Twitter etc. to help you get the word out. Or if you decide to run a promotion, announce it on Facebook as well as through newsletters, email blasts, etc. Your successes will more easily build on each other if people know about them. Think about using a service like HootSuite to automatically add social media posts so that you can schedule them in advance.

Show your face
Events in your area are great way to get in front of your target market. For example, if you shoot weddings, find out if there are any bridal fairs in your area and get involved. Also think about approaching bridal stores in your service area and other vendors who may have events or promotions you can be a part of. Having the opportunity to meet potential clients in person or through other companies can be a huge help in selling your services.

Spend a little
You don’t have to be a large company with a million dollar budget to have effective advertising. Paid advertising has become easier in recent years with companies like Google lowering the barrier to entry. Google Ad Words can be a great way to try out online ads without spending a lot. However, if you do not have the budget for advertising like this, don't let it get you down. There are so many ways to reach clients these days that your other marketing efforts can more than make up for it.

Measure success
When creating a marketing plan, keep in mind that your plans are fluid and can be adjusted at any time based on how they perform. Make sure you’re measuring the return you’re getting from each channel so you can make necessary adjustments. If you see that a particular approach is working well while others are getting no traction, reallocate where you spend your time and money to get the most bang for your buck.

Get more help from Zenfolio
Zenfolio can help you with a lot of these marketing efforts with its built-in tools. The recent Photographer’s Corner article on marketing is a gold mine of ideas and inspiration. Even trying out just one or two of the strategies discussed in this article can help you.

Step 6: Take Action

As stated at the beginning of this article, the most important thing you are doing by creating a business plan is setting achievable goals for yourself and your business. Over the course of the year it is very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day madness of keeping everything going. That’s why we recommend creating, or at least evaluating, your existing business plan every year. By taking the time to carefully plan where you are going and how you will effectively get there you’ll be able to avoid bumps in the road and track the progress that you’ve made. Now you just need to take the first step.

Working Checklist:

• Brainstorm what you love to shoot best and choose some specific applications to specialize in.
• Research your competition to see if there are other professionals in your area occupying the same space.
• Think about how you will be able to expand your services over time in your chosen specialty.
• Brainstorm who your potential clients are and think about their age, interests, and the frequency that they will need your services.
• Research your target audience and create a database of email addresses and info for anyone you want to reach out to in the future or who has contacted you in the past or who you want to reach out to in the future.
• Look at your overhead expenses and determine how many jobs you will need to execute on a monthly basis to stay afloat.
• Polish your website so that it is up to date and reflective of your services and chosen niche.
• Think about creating a blog as a way to regularly communicate what is new with your work and business. If you already do this, think about different ways to post blog articles that you have not tried before.
• Add text elements to your website pages as much as possible with relevant keywords, titles and captions. Think about other ways you can add text in creative ways.
• Link, link, link! Find as many places that you can insert a link to your website as possible. Create a list of other companies that may be willing to cross-link to your site.
• Create a list of marketing categories that you will work within. Inside each category list a few ways that you will reach clients.
• Look for events in your area that you can be a part of.
• Check out this recent blog on how to use your Zenfolio account in combination with your marketing plan.
• Look into the services offered by Zenfolio to spruce up your site and keep it current.

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Jail For Holding Hand Phone While Driving

TRAFFIC POLICE USING MOBILE DATA SENSORS TO CATCH DRIVERS USING WHATSAPP?

In your article, you mention that they use cameras mounted in the van to take evidence of you using mobile device. 

What u dun know is, they have this thing called 'DATA SENSORS' mounted to the sides of their vehicle which can presumably see if your mobile phone got use data while the driver is driving. 

So just reminder, do not use your handphone when these vehicles are near you, even if they cannot take picture of you, they can monitor your phone data usage to convict you of using handphone. 

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TRAFFIC POLICE USING HIDDEN CAMERA SYSTEM TO CATCH ERRANT DRIVERS

For those who are driving, please take note: Traffic Police will dispatch 3 (Vans) and 1 (Car). All unmarked vehicles. They are equipped with the latest hidden camera technology to nap drivers who do not put seat belts and use mobile phones while driving.

1. PA 9772 B - White Van Nissan
2. PA 7836 D - Dark Blue Toyota
3. PA 9976 K - Black Nissan
4. QX 80 M - Silver Toyota Altis

From today onwards for a period of 60 days (2 months), using HD camera designed to capture the front occupants without seat belts and driving using mobile phones. They operate from Time: 1200 - 1400 & 1900 - 2100 hrs.

Please spread to the relatives and friends in order to avoid penalty. As the duration of operation will cover the upcoming Chinese New Year public holidays, all drivers please beware or you may end up having a sad sad CNY holiday.

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NEW ROAD RULES TO START FROM FEB: JAIL FOR HOLDING HAND PHONE WHILE DRIVING

New amendments to the Road Traffic Act were proposed in August last year suggesting to make road rules stricter on the use of a hand phone while driving.

The new amendments have just been passed in parliament and will come in to effect on Feb 1st.

Some of the new provision include making it completely illegal to hold a mobile phone or tablet or similar electronic device while driving.

Previously, the act only covered making phone calls and texting but now all other functions such as checking social media, watching videos, emailing, or even checking maps on your hand phone while driving will be illegal.

The act will cover all hand-held mobile devices including tablets and laptops.

Drivers don’t even need to actually use it, they are not allowed to even hold one in their hand while driving, and driving also includes being stopped at red lights.

There are however, some concessions in the new laws to allow for the hands-free use of such devices. This means that they can be mounted to the car so that you don’t need to hold it. This will be particularly useful if you intend to use your phone’s map software.

Under the new laws, the penalties for such offences will also be increased with a jail term possible.

First-offenders can be fined up to $1,000 and jailed 6 months while repeat offenders will see up to double this penalty.

The new laws will be monitored by authorities and changes will be made as necessary. In particular if new devices come out which are deemed to also pose a safety risk while driving, they may be included into the new act.

Separately, the amendments also cover other issues including the introduction of a new road safety course which may allow drivers to deduct up to three demerit points.

Drivers will also be obliged to leave their details and contact information should they cause an accident even if no one is around. While this is common courtesy, it will be a legal requirement under the new amendments and you could now be fined for failing to leave your particulars.

Foreigners will now need to take a driving test here in order to convert their foreign license to drive here within 6 months of getting a work pass here. 

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50 NEW DIGITAL CAMERAS SET UP TO CATCH S’POREANS SPEEDING AND RUNNING RED LIGHTS

The Land Transport Authority and traffic police are ramping up enforcement efforts to catch more motorists speeding and beating red lights.

20 new digital speed cameras are being installed by the end of the year as well as another 30 digital red light cameras.

The speeding cameras are being put up in 11 different locations including Loyang Avenue towards Tampines Avenue 7, PIE towards East Coast Parkway and Upper Thomson Road towards Lornie Road.

8 of the cameras have already been put up and will be turned on from March 1st, the rest will slowly be put up by the end of the year.

The existing mobile and fixed laser speed cameras will continue to operate 24/7 but the traffic police also explained that they are easily spotted as they are colourfully painted.

The extra enforcement actions are being taken as there has been a 6.5% increase I the number of speeding tickets given in 2014 compared to 2013. There were also 42 fatalities associated with speeding last year, up from 39 the year before.

There were also 4 fatalities associated with motorists who ran the red light which is less than the 8 in 2013.

The total number of fatal road accidents remained almost the same with 149 in 2014 compared to 150 in 2013.

Despite the slight drops in fatal accidents, in total, the rise in speeding offences has worried the traffic police enough to spend more building more cameras to catch motorists.

With the stepped up enforcements, it is also expected that there will be more speeding offences recorded as a larger portion of motorists doing the wrong thing are caught.

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Vandalism cases in Singapore

From the Straits Times archives

One of two German nationals, Elton Hinz, covering his face while he is transported in a police vehicle after being charged with trespassing and vandalising a transit train in Singapore. -- PHOTO: EPA

Two young German men were sentenced on Thursday to nine months in jail and three strokes of the cane for vandalising an MRT train.

Andreas Von Knorre, 22, and Elton Hinz, 21, had entered the Bishan train depot on Nov 7 last year through a drainage system and by scaling a wall. They surveyed the area before leaving, and returned the next day, where they spray painted graffiti measuring 1.8m in height and 10m in length on a train carriage.

The judge said that the offences were "committed after thorough, meticulous, deliberate and elaborate planning," adding that a "self-timed" photograph that the two men had taken in front of the train before vandalising it "was meant to serve as a trophy to gain notoriety.

This is not the first time which Singapore's vandalism case has made global news. We look at other cases of vandalism in Singapore.

1. Five Singaporean teenagers spray-paint graffiti on Toa Payoh rooftops

The spray-painted red graffiti across the walls of a rooftop of Block 85A, Lorong 4 Toa Payoh on 7 May 2014. Five teenagers were involved in the spray-painting, and three of them have been sentenced to probation. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

In May last year, a group of five teenagers stole four cans of spray paint from a parked lorry, and used their spoils to spray-paint red graffiti with expletives directed at the People's Action Party on the rooftop of Block 85A in Toa Payoh Lorong 4.

The youths - Chay Nam Shen, Reagan Tan Chang Zhi, David William Graaskov, Boaz Koh Wen Jie and Goh Rong Liang - are all 18 years old and Singaporean. The group of boys, who called themselves Mikecool, were also involved in other offences, including trespassing on the Marina Bay Suites condominium, and climbing into a construction site in Jalan Rajah to get onto a crane.

So far, only three of the teens have been sentenced. Graaskov, who did not participate in the rooftop graffiti, was given 15 months' probation for theft and trespass, while Chay and Tan were ordered to undergo 24 months of probation. Under the probation order, they have to perform 180 hours of community service, remain indoors between 10pm and 6am and be electronically tagged for six months. The other two have not been sentenced yet.

2. Vandals inspired by hacker's group Anonymous

The vandalism found outside Sunshine Plaza at Prinsep Link, which have been spray-painted with the words “WE ARE ONE WE ARE LEGION EXPECT US!!”, followed by a logo-styled “TSK". -- PHOTO: ST FILE

Muhammad Qamarul Arifin Sa’adon was one of five charged for spray-painting slogans on the pavement outside Sunshine Plaza at 91 Prinsep Link and on a nearby pillar in November 2013. The slogan sprayed was apparently associated with the global hacktivist group Anonymous. -- ST FILE

Five men, including a full-time national serviceman and a former firefighter, spray-painted "WE ARE ONE WE ARE LEGION EXPECT US!!" on the pavement outside Sunshine Plaza along Prinsep Link at around 4am in November 2013. The words were styled in a similar way to messages from "hactivist" group Anonymous.

The same graffiti was sprayed on a pillar nearby, and a section of pavement along Waterloo Street was also vandalised. Two of the men, national serviceman Mohamad Fadzly Aziz, 21, and former firefighter Muhammad Qamarul Arifin Sa'adon, 23, were sentenced to two months in jail and three strokes of the cane.

Among those involved included freelance deejay Danial Ryan Salleh, 25. He apparently told Fadzly and three others that he had received a call from someone in Switzerland claiming to be a member of Anonymous. He said he was told to spray-paint a message backing its fight against the Singapore Government.

3. Vandal scribbles CPF graffiti

The CPF-related graffiti found at a bus stop in River Valley Road. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

It's not just young men who are committing acts of vandalism. In May last year, a 71-year-old man went on a defacement spree, writing "We support CPF Blogger, Return our CPF Money" on advertisement boards at more than a dozen bus stops.

He scribbed the words on bus stops in Clemenceau Avenue, River Valley Road, and at Hill Street outside and opposite the Ministry of Communications and Information Building, among others. A day before he committed the acts of mischief, Loh Thiam Hock had read a newspaper article relating to the Central Provident Fund (CPF), in which blogger Roy Ngerng had removed a blog post accusing the Government of misappropriating CPF funds.

Speaking in Hokkien through an interpreter, Loh said that he had been picking up cans as a rag-and-bone man after his release from prison in 2003 for causing grievous hurt. He was sentenced to four weeks in jail.

4. The Cenotaph war memorial vandal

The Cenotaph, a war memorial at Esplanade Park was vandalised on 23 April 2013. The Cenotaph is a national monument and is a tribute to those who lost their lives during both World Wars. -- PHOTO: STOMP

Security guard Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop spray-painted "democracy" and an "X" in red on the national monument in Connaught Drive in April 2013. The Cenotaph was built in 1922 and is dedicated to Singaporeans who died in the two world wars.

Khalid argued that his graffiti was art and a revolution when confronted by eyewitnesses.

He was sentenced to three months' jail and the minimum three strokes of the cane.

4. Train depot vandals

Swiss national Oliver Fricker trying to avoid the media as he arrived at the Subordinate Courts in 2010. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

A vandalised SMRT train at Bishan Depot. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

In May 2010, Swiss national Oliver Fricker, 32, and Briton Dane Alexander Llyod, 29, managed to cut a hole and entered SMRT's Changi depot. They apparently spray-painted the train with the words "McKoy Banos" - the signature tag of two graffiti artists believed to have spray-painted trains around the world.

Fricker, an IT consultant, was sentenced to seven months in jail and three strokes of the cane while his accomplice remains at large.

There were two other reported cases of defaced trains here. In 2011, a hole was cut in the Bishan depot fence and the words “Jet Setter’s” were spray-painted on a train. In 2010, two vandals cut through SMRT’s Changi depot fence and spray-painted graffiti on a train. SMRT was fined $50,000 for the 2010 incident and $200,000 for the 2011 breach.

5. American teenager Michael Fay

Michael Fay (with cap) surrounded by reporters and cameramen outside Queenstown prison in June 1994. -- PHOTO: ST FILE 

In 1994, Michael Fay made global headlines when he was caned for damaging cars and public property despite an appeal for clemency by then-President Bill Clinton. Born in the United States in 1975, Fay moved to Singapore in 1992 to be with his mother and stepfather, who were working here. While in Singapore, Michael studied at the Singapore American School (SAS).

In 1993, the American teen and his friends, some of whom were from the SAS, carried out acts of theft and vandalism on several occasions. These included spray-painting cars, pelting cars with eggs and stealing signboards. Fay and his friends were arrested in late 1993. On March 3, 1994, he was sentenced to four months in jail, slapped with a $3,500 fine and given six strokes of the cane.

His friends received different sentences based on how serious their offences were – one was given 12 strokes of the cane, while another was fined $800. After President Clinton’s appeal to then-Singapore President Ong Teng Cheong for clemency, the Singapore Government reduced Fay’s punishment from six strokes to four.

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Vandalism and the Act of Rebellion

There is something interesting to be said about the recent act of vandalism on the roof of a HDB block, sprayed with profanity prominently mentioning a political party. Though it may be that the culprits could be either naïve or immature, the bold and blatant act caught some people by surprise.

Consider the precariousness in which the graffiti was sprayed. Near the ledge of the roof where the perpetrators could fall off easily, not only were it risky for them to spray the words visibly, there was a certain guarantee, intended or not, that any attempt to erase it will be difficult. (We now know it is not cause a foreign worker cleaned it off shortly after.)

Consider the fact that the message was displayed on a HDB block, a hallmark of government housing and a mark of provision for all.

related:

SMRT train Vandalised Again

Profanities On Rooftop Of A Toa Payoh HDB

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