Update: Thursday 20.6.& Friday 21.6.2013

Besuch aus Fritzens in Tirol

Year of the snake in Singapore

Happy Chinese New Year to all of Erich's customers and friends! 

World's biggest Dome in Singapore

Is Singapore's government living the Olympic motto: "Citius, Altius, Fortius", which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger"?

Appears everything built in Singapore has to bigger and better. Flyer, F1 Night Race, Gardens by the Bay which its gigantic artificial super trees and I'm sure Singapore also holds the world record in the most malls per square meters of land.

And now, building the world's BIGGEST Dome (310m wide) sounds fantastic too. Bragging that it'll be 35m wider than the Dallas Cowboy Stadium is impressive! However the Cowboys Stadium can seat 80,000, with a maximum capacity including standing room of 110.000. What is that compared to the meager 55.000 the Sports Hub (what a horrible name) can hold.  Well, the Dallas Stadium does not have a (of course LARGE) integrated Mall.

Not to forget the he Dallas Dome houses a world class NFL football team!
What makes me very curious now which world class National Singapore team will be home to this  Sports-hub? Well right, if you add a couple of bucks to the 1.33 billion that Stadium costs you can buy the best soccer players, rugby players, cricket players or whatsoever bring them in as foreign talents and make them Citizens.
There you go, that answers our question who's gonna use and fill that stadium not only for the National Day Parade which I assume will move back form the Bay area otherwise the Sports Hub will become a big white elephant with an extraordinary appetite for food (= electricity) and believe me that animal has a very long life expectation!
Guys, if you continue like that you're running out of space soon and yet you want/need to increase the population by a few millions?

Having said that the architecture seems to be very impressive not only with its retractable roof but also with "under seat cooling" where cooled air will be supplied under the seats of the spectators.
The Sports Hub will consist of two indoor arenas, an aquatics centre and a large shopping mall with a completion date end of 2013.

The Mid- Autumn Festival close.

Don't forget to visit Chinatown to experience Chinese culture, fun events, great food and wonderful photo opportunities during the Mooncake Festival. Check out www.chinatownfestivals.sg for detailed information on all the events.

 

Austrian Celebrity Chef meets Austrian Celebrity Chef

Austrian celebrity chef Johann Lafer meets Erich at his Wuerstelstand in Chinatown!

You probably can imagine  how surprised and honored  Erich was when Johann Lafer and his family suddenly appeared at the Wuerstelstand.

Johann Lafer is a well renown chef in Europe. He became famous through his his televised cooking shows and numerous  cookbooks. He also made appliances in Europes biggest prime time TV shows with millions of viewers.

Johann Lafer was born in Graz, Austria, the same town as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Already as a kid he was very clear what he wants to persue in life: 

> Learn how to cook

> Become a famous soccer player

> Live like knights in a fortress and of course

> Become a helicopter pilot

Well, as we know today it didn’t really work out with soccer! However he became a big star among the world’s chefs and his other dreams came true as well.

Additionally he found his personal fortune as a husband and dad.

His professional life has been recognized by many awards from communities, countries, states and international organizations.

After graduating from the chef college in Graz he got hired from Hotels in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Paris and many more.

In 1994 he and his wife Silvia (since 1994) fulfilled castle dream with the 1000 year old Stromburg and opened the Relais & Châteaux-Hotel “Lafers” Stromburg” including Restaurant “Le Val d’Or” and Gasthaus “Turmstube” (nowadays: Bistro d’Or). 

He later opened a culinary school, started his TV studio for televised cooking, wrote books, etc. etc.
It’s an almost never ending list of achievements.

Click here to explore his world (unfortunately in German only): Johann Lafer

Another famous autograph for Erich’s guestbook.

   

Erich's latest TV interview

Once again Erich made it into the news. This time Singapore's Razor TV. Check it out:

How Singapore has changed!

Here’s a film shot by Kees Renard with a 8mm camera in 1962. It shows the Post headquarters now “The Fullerton Hotel”, an already very busy Boat Quay, with merchants though and not tourists! 

Fun and excitement on a Singapore Flyer ride!

Since February 14, 2008 the Singapore Flyer spins it’s giant wheel.

It is not only the world’s tallest ferries wheel but it also allows the most spectacular views over the Marina Bay Area all the way to Changi Airport, Sentosa Island and to the South many of the Indonesian Islands. No where else in the world your are able to experience this combination of city and nature views within a radius of about 45km (28 miles) depending on the .

If you can’t imagine the hight of 165 meters (542 ft) just think of a 42 story building.

You will be flying in one of the 28 capsules which are the size of a city bus and can carry 28 passengers each.

The Singapore Flyer rotates smoothly nonstop. To board the capsule you’ll use the “step on platform” and walk straight into it.

Your ride (one rotation) is about 32 minutes. 

It is really an amazing experience. But it doesn’t have to stop here. To make this ride an even better experience the guys from the Singapore Flyer have added some really fantastic variations to it which they call “The journey of Dreams”

You could enjoy “The World’s First Full Butler Sky Dining” (click the head lines for the links)

or the “VIP Signature Cocktail Flight”

or a “Moët & Chandon Champagne Flight”

or as Erich and Helen did on Austria’s National Day, the

“1 for 1 Singapore Sling Flight” 

Don’t miss out on this ‘sweet’ deal. Purchase your tickets directly from any of the Singapore Flyer ticketing booths and enjoy that 1 for 1 promotion which ends December 31!

You can celebrate a birthday, propose or even get married on the Flyer or organize corporate events there.

Management and staff will be able to fulfill most of your desires.

More photos from Erich’s flight.

Come Christmas time you have to see Singapore’s tallest Christmas tree and the fantasy Toy-land with toy soldiers, teddy bears, gingerbread man, Christmas jingles, bubbles and fairy lights, built around the Flyer’s award winning rain forest.

   As you can see this ride is not just a ride or flight, this is a totally exciting and amazing experience you can enjoy with affordable prices.

Once you completed your flight it doesn’t have to stop here. Enjoy the many fun-filled activities around the Flyer terminal such as the Flight Experience, Kenko Reflexology & Fish Spa a relaxing experience. Or visit the retail shops and restaurants which round up your flyer experience.