Alex - Here have what I know

Would a rose by any other name not still smell just as sweet? To-may-to, tom-ah-to. Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon. Does it really matter? HCMC locals don’t seem to be too fussed. Some say Ho Chi Minh, some Saigon and some only acknowledge the name of their immediate location.

This sprawling and densely populated commercial hub is divided into 22 districts, five of which are rural and not always considered part of the city proper. Five have specific names and the rest are numbered one to 12.The districts most visitors will need to be acquainted with are 1, 3 and 5 as the are the main tourist and business areas.

This relatively young former fishing village mixes the charm of its French occupation with the richness of Vietnamese culture and other local influences, creating a truly unique vibe that can only experience, by walking the streets and meeting the people. Now all you have to do is decide what to call it…

AIRPORT

HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport isn’t going to win any awards for aesthetics or performance but it gets the job done. The most common problems are flight delays and last-minute alterations, which are being addressed by the construction of Long Thanh International Airport, due for completion in 2011.

Tan Son Nhat is around 7km from the city centre, and, traffic depending, is around a 15-minute drive in a taxi. Taxis are pretty much the only way to do the trip; avoid the over-priced Taxi Booking Desk an just negotiate a flat rate with one of the official drivers waiting Outside (you shouldn’t pay any more that US$10 to US$15 - by the metre it would be around US$5 but good luck getting a driver to agree to that). For a bit of an adventure you could also catch a cyclo (a bicycle-driven rickshaw, or tuk-tuk-like vehicle), or xe om (motorcycle taxi).
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So for the last few weeks I have been toying around with the idea of doing a holiday gift suggestion post, but until now I couldn’t get motivated to do it. Why? Who knows, maybe because most of these so-called “gift guides” are nothing more than paid advertisements and big wastes of time. Well, everything I’m going to list are things you should get for yourself, and if you have a few bucks left over, buy your friends something. I’ll keep it short, sweet and cheap. List after the jump.

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CopyToDVD is very user friendly. No more time wasted on fussy, complicated interfaces. CopyToDVD supports all CD and DVD formats (CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL). Registered users can contact the support team for assistance on problems or advices.

For developers, CopyToDVD DVD backup software can be integrated in any application. CopyToDVD is the unique way to add burning and save-to-media features.
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A new Firefox extension aptly named “Flash Game Maximizer” is a must-have for any Flash game enthusiast. It does one thing, and does it well: letting you toggle between standard- and full-screen modes on any game–regardless of whether it has been coded with such an option.

Considering that Flash games are hosted all over the place, and rarely with a ubiquitous user interface, you’re likely to run into a good number of them that must be played in whatever space they’ve been given on a Web page. With Flash Game Maximizer, however, you don’t have to worry about this at all.
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Sweet Salty Spicy
Chris Millar was chef at Poppi at Fort Canning, which was one of Expat’s favorite restaurants and has closed temporarily. In the meantime he’s keeping busy with this new venture, an Asian food market meets trendy Thai canteen. He’s having no problem pulling in the crowds even though it’s not a conventional location, and we’d advise reservations. The food is fresh and very tasty and, yes, there are Thai chefs in the kitchen.
392/394 Upper Bukit Timah Road, The Rail Mall, Tel: 6877 2544.

Sukhothai
While not the best Thai food in town, Sukhothai is still a breath of fresh air by Boat Quay standards. Although, does anyone actually go to Boat Quay unless they have visitors in town? All the old favourites are on the menu, the straightforward Thai decor is pleasing, and the tables right by the river - book these in advance - will make those visitors happy, though you’ll have to run the gauntlet of touts to get there.
47 Boat Quay, Tel: +65 6538-2422.
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Al-Hamra
Low-key and relaxed, this is a prime place in Holland V for tasty, al fresco dining. If you go for a weekend meal, you get the added entertainment of some serious people watching along Lorong Mambong. The Lebanese and Middle Eastern food is simple but well prepared, as witnessed by a super smooth hummus that was balanced, not dominated by tahini, warn, fresh pitta and a pile of flavourful falafel intensified by a spritz of lemon. We also rate their juicy lamb and seafood kebabs.
23 Lorong Mambing, Holland Village, tel: +65 6464-8488.

KHA
Yenn Wong of Graze fame has finally given us what we have been crying out for - a classy Thai experience. KHA is set within the beautifully landscaped grounds of HortPark so like Graze over at Rochester, it’s already well ahead in the location stakes. Decor is an artful blend of rustic meeting contemporary, there’s an alfresco cocktail lounge and dining section, and the food is a lip-smacking, modern take on Thai but wholly faithful to authentic tastes, so all in all it’s got all the boxes ticked.
33 Hyderabad Road, #02-02 HortPark, Tel: 6476 9000

Lemongrass
Want a successful restaurant? Here’s a smart premise: Thai food at very reasonable prices. Lemongrass has been around for well over a decade and there’s the reason. The Heeren outlet packs the crowds in - and churns them out again pretty quickly, which is great if you’re in a hurry (perfect before heading to the cinema over the road), but not overly conducive to a leisurely meal. Everything is good.
The Heeren Shops, #05-02A, 260 Orchard Road, Tel: +65 6736-1998; 899 East Coast Road, Tel: +65 6443-1995; The Village Centre, #03-03, 3 South Bouna Vista Road, Tel: +65 6873-2112; NUTUC Lifestyle world-Downtown East, #01-41, 1 Pasir Ris Close, Tel: +65 6583-2112.
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Dolce Vita
If you haven’t been here since the old Pronto days, you won’t recognise the place. We urge you to go there post haste; it will not disappoint. The space is very modern Med, with a minimally decorated, airy, resort-style interior. The top tables, naturally, are on the terrace by the landscaped pool, but there are only a few so make sure you reserve one. From certain angles you can see the high rises of the business district and the Singapore Flyer, a view which is particularly seductive by night. The menu presents diners with a contemporary and elegant take on Mediterranean cuisine and you know you’re in for a culinary treat when the freshly baked bread arrives with five different spreads and dips. Bouillabaisse, turbot with clams and fresh herbs in a beurre blanc, and suckling pig confit are all highlights on the current menu.
Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Level 5, 5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square, tel: +65 6885-3551.

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Think vans are nothing but rickety metal clunkers driven by uncles in wife-beaters? Now Fiat’s refreshing take on carmaking will have you really thinking otherwise. The Fiorino: a commercial, diesel-powered buggy with ultra-modern suspension, handling balance and an automatic gearbox that truly sets it apart from the rest of the field. Stylish and economical, this cool cruiser breaks new ground. Without forgetting its original purpose - carrying, loading and unloading cargo is no hassle with the generous interior space.
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Downing a daily eight glasses of H20 can be quite the chore for some, especially when it also does well to elicit memories of nagging parents. Here’s a terrific way to kick that foible - the HydraCoach, the world’s first intelligent water bottle. It computes your personal hydration requirements and tracks liquid consumption, pacing you through the day and motivating you to achieve optimal hydration as recommended by the doc. This amazing aqua-apparatus is the only product of its kind and a revolution in personal hydration monitoring- certainly helpful in this abominably desiccating climate.
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