Toyota Corolla Altis Car Servicing (After warranty)

Got my 2nd hand Toyota Corolla Altis version 2007 (before facelift version) about one month ago, so the next important things to do are tyre change and car service for the new old car that I bought.

After much considerations, I decided to change all four tyres and check the brake pad as the safety is important to me and my wife. I decided to use Michelin XM1 which they claim to be fuel-efficient and long lasting. Change 2 wheels in Singapore and another 2 in JB. Singapore costs me $118 per piece (all-in) and JB costs me RM 220 per piece.

Next, I went to searched online for the best out of warranty Toyota service that is trustworthy and professional. Searched many days, decided to go back to BM Toyota Singapore to service and the price is not cheap for 60,000 servicing, it costs almost $400 for the major servicing as mentioned in the car manual.

Not giving up with this only choice, I found this service centre - Autosaver that is specialized on servicing major brands, Toyota, Honda and Nissan. The price is reasonable, $210 and they followed the car manual servicing guides. So I sent my car to the Toh Guan branch and got it service. All is well and no major parts replacement, phew~~

So, all essential service and replacement done, it is time to hit the long drive up north! woo hoo!

Cell Phone Radiation linked to brain cancer?

Tuesday's news reads this, WHO reported that the cell phone is a "possible carcinogen" to the brain.
How true is that? Nobody has a solid measurement or findings to prove that.

But I am not taking any chance then. I am using as much handsfree kit and putting the cell phone away from me as much as I can.

If you are interested to know how much your phone's emitting radiation?
Check here : http://www.ewg.org/cellphone-radiation *It is their own study, not mine, definitely.

Hmm... just too bad that Iphone 3GS that I am using now is not on the 10 LEAST radiating phone.



*Taken from Environmental Working Group Website.

1. LG Quantum [AT&T]


2. Casio EXILIM [Verizon Wireless]


3. Sanyo Katana II [Kajeet]


4. Pantech Breeze II (P2000) [AT&T, AT&T GoPhone]


5. Samsung Mesmerize (Galaxy S) [CellularONE, U.S. Cellular]


6. Samsung Fascinate [Verizon Wireless]


7. Samsung SGH-a197 [AT&T GoPhone]


8. Samsung Contour (SCH-R250) [MetroPCS]


9. Samsung Gravity T (SGH-T669) [T-Mobile]


10. Samsung SGH-T249 [T-Mobile]






* Updated December 2010.

Found a good and cheap hotel in Taipei for family size of 4 to stay.

Reasonable price, cost me NT$3200 per night for 4 pax.
Stayed there for 5 nights.

The hotel website : www.nonganhotel.com.tw 儂安時尚會舘
You may also book the hotel via www.asiarooms.com 

If you are worried about privacy, the hotel actually is separated into 2 sections, low floor rooms and high floor rooms. High floor rooms are for long stay, full service stay.

Their bathroom is European style with a bathtub and shower, no separate bathing area. The design of the hotel is modern and clean.

They include breakfast, western breakfast in the hotel rate, so if you don't want to eat at the hotel, you can ask them to reduce the hotel room rate.

You can walk to the hotel from the nearest ZhongShan Elementary School MRT station (LuZhou line, completed not long, you might not find it on Google map) for about 500m.
Unfortunately, non of the major airport public bus pass by this area, so either you get to Taipei Main Railway station and then change to MRT to get there.

Overall, I find it is convenient to stay at the hotel, nearby there are 7-11, supermarkets and food street. Nice area but it was an ex red light district, it is ex, now it is clean. =D

Problem with Starhub Voice Enabled Cable Modem (Motorola SBV5121)

Yes. I had problem with the modem connecting to my wireless router - DIR-300.
Was using the normal digital modem and then butt itchy, went to subscribe to the fixed phone line service. It is free, so what not right? But I spent alot time trouble-shooting the problem.

I am able to connect to the wireless router but not able to surf internet. The internet connection was fine for the first website pages, read that, pages only, then the connection starts to drop. Got to switch on and off the modem and the router, then managed to surf for few pages, the connection drop again.

At first I thought it is due to the router's firmware, upgraded to version 1.4 from Dlink website. Unfortunately, after upgrading the modem, the connection did not improve at all.

So, I called Starhub few times and finally managed to speak to a more knowledgeable Starhub CSO and he suggested me that he can separate the voice connection and the internet connection using different modem. Ureka! So luckily, I kept my old modem, did not sell to Karang Guni, the CSO asked for MAC address to separate my connection. He was quick and know what is going on and fixed the issue.

So now, I got both modem working, one for voice, one for internet.

Lesson learn, separate them if it doesn't work. I almost wanted to purchase a new wireless router which I am not sure that it will resolve the issue that I had encountered.
But well, if you are lucky and speak to the right party, things will be resolved.

GOOD LUCK.