Lifestyle

Photographers capture S’pore culture spots for Chinese New Year

Shot on the iPhone 13 Pro Max

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Some of Singapore’s finest photographers whip out their iPhone 13 Pro Max to capture the country’s nostalgic spaces and traditions.

Like with any tradition, they are at risk of fading with time. But as Chinese New Year approaches, these photographers visit these places to capture and immortalize them digitally. Hopefully, this does not only help you look at Singapore culture fondly, but also encourage you to keep making memories and capture them beautifully.

Jason Lim — @jsnjnr

Taking a nostalgic walks through Haw Par Villa, photographer Jason Lim shares how a Buddha greets visitors halfway though the journey and notes “I remembered looking at my parents inquisitively when I was much younger, wonder how the Buddha managed to land on top of the pagoda”. Jason shot the image with the Wide Angle lens, using the surrounding leaves to frame and create a focus on the main subject, the Buddha. Found in the 10 Courts of Hell exhibit of the Hell’s Museum.

Jason share’s his “mom once told me that spirits would cross this bridge in the afterlife and their memories in earth would be erased, coming back again, I loved how Portrait mode captured the details of it”.

A familiar face found within the garden in Haw Par Villa is the Goddess of Mercy aka Guan Yin Ma.

“I made use of both the Wide Angle lens and macro function to capture it,” he said.

Jason shares it has been more than 30 years since he last visited Haw Par Villa’s Hell’s Museum exhibit. He says, “my parents would often remind me as a kid that if I misbehaved, I would land here and be punished by the Gods. It’s amazing coming back how detailed the exhibit is, especially when using Night mode”.

Taking a photo of The Pagoda, Jason notes using the Wide Angle lens while having an object nearer than the subject can create a great contrast or “bokeh” effect.

The macro photography on iPhone 13 Pro Max really captures all the details of the embroidery found on an altar.

Lauryn Ishak — @laurynishak

Commercial and editorial photographer Lauryn focused on places that brought personal nostalgia such as Beauty World Plaza at dusk, shot on Ultra Wide Angle. She shares “Beauty World is an iconic place in Singapore — most know it as a place that houses tuition centers and helper’s agencies. It’s not a place frequented by most Singaporeans unless looking for a specific store although the area is currently and slowly going through a little bit of a renaissance”

 

Snacks from our childhood seen at Nelly’s Retro Snacks – the assorment seen here is something I haven’t seen in many many years. It brought me back to my childhood when I used to buy some of these and I am surprised to still find then decades later.

 

Taking a walk through nature, an empty black and white bungalow on Malta Crescent in Sembawang shot using 3x Optical Zoom captures another era as “these iconic black and whites in this estate are currently empty.”

A close up of flora near Yishun and shot on Macro captures the ever changing greenery in Singapore.

Darren Soh — @darrensohphoto

Thomson Nature Park was formerly a Hainan Village vacated in the 1980s and then overgrown by secondary forest, so in a way, Singapore did forget about its existence until recently when it was turned into a Nature Park. Many Singaporeans are still unaware of its location or even its existence, so there is much to (re)discover there. Treks through the park early in the mornings will yield morning mist and dew which I have photographed with the iPhone 13 Pro Max”.

On the other hand, visitors to the Night Safari are almost always there for the animals, but since its opening, Darren shares the Night Safari has had an area right next to Upper Seletar Reservoir where the landscape is amazingly beautiful. “I have made three images in this area – here’s a tip, go right when the Night Safari opens at 6.30pm because you will need to trek by foot to the spot I’ve photographed near the Indian Rhino enclosure where you’d be greeted by the last light of day”. 

CR Tan — @xlbcr

 

Having moved to the Katong/Joo Chiat area a year ago, Food Photographer and Stylist CR has found the neighbourhood is filled with heritage, art and culture hence retaining it’s charm among this ever changing city. He shares “there aren’t many high rise buildings around, mostly shophouses with interesting histories like the Peranakan Shop Houses which I am currently staying in.”
Some of the shots include wall murals done recently on shop houses around the hood which CR feels “give a pretty good refresh to the hood, adding more colours and charm to it. He used the Ultra Wide Angle to capture the murals in different perspectives.
CR shares he also happened to take a shot at nigh at Blair road after attending a ART x Wine Exhibition housed in one of the shophouses around the area.
The shot was taken at the back street of the shophouse around 10pm using Night mode, with the street light shining directly on to the subjects with an art piece leaned against the wall. The unique door design further accentuates the story in this photo.

Nicole Quek — @nicolequek

Photographer Nicole also focuses on Katong, a place that has had “significant meaning to me since I was child. This place brings back memories especially during the New Year when my grandmother was still around. It still amuses me until this day that this was a kampong where I used to run around barefooted”. Nicole share she “remembes vividly accompanying my late grandmother for walks along the shops. I wasn’t fluent in Malay as that was the only language she spoke. So I spoke gibberish hoping that she would understand me but all I remember was that warm smile on her face. It’s a happy memory for me whenever I walk around this area and coincidently I hanced upon this cute husky sitting across Roxy Square and her name is Roxy too! Portrait mode really helped capture her expression and the details of her fur”.
“When I was young, this door was like a portal of emotions and seeing it is really nostalgic for me. I remember running out to the door from the kitchen while playing catch around the alley and sometimes even getting punished here for being a naughty child.
But my most fond memory was folding paper boats with my family and watching it stream down the drain in this alley.
Nicole points out the Wide and Ultra Wide Angle is perfect for capturing the details of Katong’s intriguing alleyways or even the Unfinished beads on the Manik Kasut.
Nicole also shares an overview of the street she is very fond of using Night mode and adds “I shot this by using the bridge railing as a tripod. However with the advanced night mode, I still can shoot amazing and sharp pictures at night without worrying if it’ll turn out underexposed or blurry. I wanted to try creating some light streaks which I’ve never done before. This was shot by adjusting my shutter speed to 1 second”.

Ivan Kuek — @phonenomenon

While many have heard of the Green Corridor, photographer Ivan notes “what many don’t know is that it has a lesser-known sibling, the Jurong Railway Line. Leading westwards from the Bukit Timah Railway Station, the Jurong Railway Line was a 19KM-long railroad that connected Malaysia, then known as Malaya, to the Jurong industrial area’s docks, and National Iron and Steel Mills. Owned by the KTM Railway, the line, which opened way back in early 1966, was projected to generate a revenue of S$3-4 million annually. But with Singapore’s independence, its use was limited and it eventually closed down in the 1990s”.
Ivan focuses on the old Bukit Timah Railway Station and Clementi Forest taken through Macro photography and Ultra Wide Angle. 

Smartphones

When TECNO-logy meets Tonino Lamborghini legacy

Meet the TECNO POVA 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition

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Tonino Lamborghini has built an identity around Italian design, craftsmanship, and a bold sense of individuality. Now, that identity is being translated into a smartphone through its collaboration with TECNO.

The result is the TECNO POVA 8 Pro 5G Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition.

Rather than simply placing a recognizable logo on a phone, the two brands worked to bring Tonino Lamborghini’s distinctive design language into the POVA experience. And there’s more to it than its black-and-red color scheme.

A design built around bold expression

The POVA 8 Pro 5G Limited Edition takes inspiration from Tonino Lamborghini’s visual language, incorporating elements such as geometric patterns, structured lines, and layered textures.

The rear panel uses black as its dominant color, accented by red details.

At the center is the Pulse Line, representing energy and movement. Meanwhile, the Signature Shield draws from Tonino Lamborghini’s distinctive shield identity.

Then, a metallic Tonino Lamborghini logo completes the composition. Together, these elements give the phone a recognizable personality without relying solely on the branding.

The rear panel reveals more as you move it

One of the more interesting aspects of the design is how TECNO created depth on the rear panel.

The company developed a dual-layer stacking process that combines different treatments and material layers. Internal mirror structures allow hidden red elements to appear differently depending on how light hits the phone.

There is also a physical difference in height between the layers, creating a three-dimensional effect rather than a completely flat surface.

It’s a subtle detail, but one that makes the design feel more dynamic in the hand.

The experience continues beyond the hardware

TECNO also carried the Tonino Lamborghini identity into the software.

The customized interface uses the same black-and-red palette, while icons feature sharper, more geometric shapes inspired by the brand’s visual identity.

TECNO says it spent nearly four months developing the customized experience, including dynamic wallpapers, ringtones, and an Alive Matrix Display featuring a Tonino Lamborghini “L” effect.

The accessories follow the same design direction, with a black-and-red braided cable, customized charger, and protective case. The case combines TPU and PC with a precision-carved, Kevlar-inspired carbon-fiber texture.

More than just a co-branded smartphone

What makes this collaboration interesting is that Tonino Lamborghini’s identity isn’t limited to a logo or a special colorway.

The Pulse Line, Signature Shield, layered rear panel, customized interface, and accessories all contribute to one cohesive visual language.

For TECNO, it brings a distinct design identity to the POVA 8 Pro 5G. For Tonino Lamborghini, it offers another way to express its approach to Italian design, craftsmanship, and individuality.

The result is a smartphone designed to stand out on its own terms — all while showing how two distinct design philosophies can come together in a single product.

SEE ALSO: TECNO POVA 8 Pro Tonino Lamborghini Limited Edition review

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Enterprise

Chimelong’s newest attraction might be the robots themselves

The future of travel is here, and it knows tai chi!

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Imagine checking into a theme park and greeting a humanoid robot. A few hours later, you watch one perform tai chi. Another challenges you to table tennis. Yet another helps you navigate to the next attraction. By nightfall at your hotel, robots enhance the experience again.

This vision drives the latest collaboration between AGIBOT and Chimelong Group. Together, they brought over 300 robots to Chimelong Spaceship Park in Zhuhai, China.

This launch represents a massive real-world application of embodied AI in tourism. AGIBOT and Chimelong integrated these robots across entertainment, education, visitor services, retail, and hospitality. They act as active participants rather than remaining confined to a single demonstration area.

The timing celebrates a notable milestone, too. During the launch, Chimelong received the 20,000th robot to roll off AGIBOT’s production line.

Your next theme park companion could be a robot

At Chimelong Spaceship Park, robots act as part of the total visitor experience. Guests don’t just stop to watch them from afar.

Some take on entertainment roles by performing martial arts, gymnastics, and tai chi. Others interact directly with guests through table tennis and hands-on manipulation challenges.

Designers also created robots for the quieter moments of a park day. They answer questions, introduce exhibits, and guide visitors through designated areas.

In retail settings, robots assist shoppers with their purchases. Meanwhile, hotel deployments place them in guest-facing roles to welcome visitors and hold multi-turn conversations.

Consequently, your trip involves encountering robots in several different contexts. The journey stretches seamlessly from your park arrival to your hotel return.

When the robots become part of the show

Theatrical applications are perhaps the easiest to picture. AGIBOT and Chimelong incorporate robots into live performances alongside human actors, music, and lighting.

Rather than treating a humanoid robot as a mere technological curiosity onstage, creators coordinate multiple robots into fluid routines.

Elsewhere, visitors engage with robots through games and educational activities. This creates a highly interactive, hands-on introduction to embodied AI.

Theme parks offer a perfectly fitting setting for this technology. Parks historically excel at making technology disappear into the magic. Engineers design animatronics, immersive environments, special effects, and automated rides to serve the story.

Humanoid robots push this idea into new territory. They communicate, navigate physical spaces, respond to people, and adapt to different settings with ease.

A robot-filled day does not stop at the park gates

The collaboration naturally extends into Chimelong’s hospitality operations.

Robots welcome hotel guests, hold complex conversations, and offer highly personalized interactions. This introduces an interesting possibility for resorts. Technology can now follow visitors beyond the main attraction and enhance the broader destination.

Travelers will soon experience trips where the boundaries between attraction, service, and technology blur entirely.

A robot might serve as your tour guide. Next, you could watch a robotic entertainment performance. Finally, a mechanical host could wait downstairs in your hotel lobby.

Potentially, the robot you meet in one area connects directly to the wider system operating backstage.

Making hundreds of robots work together

Deploying over 300 robots into a busy tourism destination requires massive coordination.

AGIBOT, Chimelong, and China Mobile established a dedicated 5G network. This ensures stable connectivity across high-traffic areas. The team uses centralized coordination to manage robots moving through various park and hotel environments.

Comprehensive operational systems also handle network security, privacy protection, charging, and fire safety.

Guests easily overlook this infrastructure while watching a robot perform tai chi. Yet, this backend framework remains one of the most fascinating aspects of the project. A theme park represents a highly complicated environment. Thousands of people constantly move through spaces shifting rapidly from one experience to another.

Making robots useful here means teaching them to embody the destination itself.

The beginning of a bigger experiment

AGIBOT and Chimelong are establishing a joint research institute for embodied AI in tourism.

This institute will explore new applications, operating models, and technologies. Researchers will draw directly from the experience of this massive deployment. The first project phase lays the groundwork to expand robot usage across all Chimelong properties.

For now, the appeal remains fairly simple. Creators build theme parks on the promise of making ordinary life feel extraordinary.

Chimelong bets that humanoid robots will increasingly spark that exact magic.

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Automotive

The Kia EV3 brings gallery-worthy design in a compact electric form

The 2025 World Car of the Year turns daily driving into functional art.

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The all-new Kia EV3 officially debuted against the architectural backdrop of the Ayala Museum.

Named the 2025 World Car of the Year, the compact electric SUV redefines daily driving as functional art. It also holds prestigious Red Dot “Best of the Best” and iF Design awards.

Sculpted like a modern piece of design

The EV3 shares the forward-thinking design philosophy of the acclaimed EV5 and EV9.

Its exterior features an evolved Digital Tiger Face paired with signature LED lighting. Sculpted geometric surfaces and flush door handles maintain a smooth silhouette.

A tailored rear spoiler, roof rails, and 17-inch alloy wheels complete the profile. The result looks composed and elegant, especially when parked outside a contemporary gallery.

Beneath its sculpted skin lies instant, whisper-quiet electric power. A front-mounted motor generates 204 PS and 283 Nm of torque.

A 58.3 kWh battery delivers up to 511 kilometers of range on a single charge (NEDC). Replenishing energy fits seamlessly into a busy lifestyle.

Standard 11 kW AC charging goes from 10 to 80 percent in roughly 5 hours and 20 minutes. Meanwhile, 350 kW DC Fast Charging restores the same charge in just 29 minutes.

A digital sanctuary, literally

Inside, the cabin opens into a clean, modern sanctuary.

A striking 30-inch Triple Panoramic Display centers the dashboard. It unifies the instrument cluster, climate settings, and infotainment beneath one sweeping glass surface.

Leather upholstery and an eight-way power driver’s seat prioritize comfort, and the power lumbar support ensures relaxed driving on longer journeys.

There’s also a sliding central console tray that creates an adaptable workspace on the go. On another note, connectivity remains effortless throughout the interior space. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Additionally, dual wireless charging pads, five USB-C ports, and six speakers keep devices powered and entertained. For weekend getaways, 60:40 split-folding rear seats easily expand cargo capacity.

Intuitive safety

Intelligent peace of mind comes standard through the Kia DriveWise suite.

Active features include Advanced Smart Cruise Control and Forward Collision Avoidance with Autonomous Emergency Braking.

Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blindspot Safety Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Safety assist at every turn.

Seven airbags protect the front, side, and curtain areas. Electronic Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist, parking sensors, and a rear-view camera complete the protective core.

Price, availability

The Kia EV3 starts at PhP 1,898,000, inclusive of a home wall charger. An introductory offer reduces the price to PhP 1,868,000, saving early buyers PhP 30,000. Reservations also include five years of free Preventive Maintenance Service.

Kia provides a five-year or 160,000-kilometer vehicle warranty. The high-voltage battery carries an eight-year or 160,000-kilometer warranty.

The EV3 comes in seven curated exterior colors. Options include Aventurine Green, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black, Terra Cotta, Frost Blue, Shale Grey, and Ivory Silver.

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