A Genshin Impact lover takes on Tower of Fantasy, actually shocked by what she finds
After deleting five apps and around a thousand photos, I finally managed to make enough space on my phone to download the additional 5.5GB worth of data on Tower of Fantasy.
It took around an hour to complete the download (half of it downloaded via mobile data as I was on the train), but before I could immerse myself in the post-apocalyptic dystopia, I was first put in a queue to join the server.
I was a little stunned by the 24-hour waiting time that showed up at first, but in reality, it only took a whole 10 minutes before I was let into the game.
The story opens with a cutscene, of course, filled with vague, out-of-context dialogue. Much like Genshin Impact, which many have used as a comp title for this new open-world RPG, the way we choose our main character (i.e. Boy or Girl) is integrated into the cutscene itself.
While I was queueing to enter the game, in what I had thought would be a funny joke, I designed my main character to resemble Xiao from Genshin, so I could only choose the male character. But before Fake Xiao could come into existence, I had to put up with the default male skin first.
Controlling my character for the first time, I found the animation and mechanics to be very smooth.
Something interesting, though, was the interactive cutscene. The scene of us fighting off a hound was also interspersed by gameplay. We basically just click where prompted to, but still.
After a bit more exploration and eventually fainting, I was finally given (semi) full reign of the game. Here’s what I think about Tower of Fantasy after my first hour of playing it.
(Do be warned, there will be quite a few Genshin Impact comparisons in this piece but not necessarily in a bad way.)
Pretty darn cute characters
If you haven’t seen all the memes about Tower of Fantasy’s character customisation, maybe it’s best that you don’t.
But, our main character aside, I found the other characters to be well-designed, with Shirli stealing my heart when she greeted me as I regained consciousness.
With blonde hair in pigtails and an adorable outfit consisting of denim pinafore, Shirli’s the kind of girl that developers design to be fawned over. And you know what? They really got me there.
I also liked that many of the NPCs have rather unique designs and varying builds. While I’m sure some will find Mi-a, the tiny little robot helper, to be annoying, I found her to be really cute too.
Most eyes, however, will be on the Simulacra. What’s that, you ask? Well, Simulacra are basically the playable characters in Tower of Fantasy.
Simulacra aren’t real people, they’re essentially past heroes that you can call upon and emulate. Put simply, they’re avatars that come with their own set of voice lines and some backstory.
If you’ve ever consumed anything from the Fate franchise, it kind of reminds me of how Masters can call upon past heroes.
On a tangent: Some sources seem to claim that the Simulacrum is actually a marketplace of sorts that sells the Simulacra. But really, “simulacrum” is just the singular of “simulacra”. I know I’m right because the official website calls the characters Simulacrum too.
Instead of wishing or pulling for characters, the gacha system, found under the Special Orders tab, involves the weapons instead. SR or SSR weapons (Super Rare or Specially Super Rare), are capable of unlocking exclusive Simulacra.
I was going to pick out a few of my favourite Simulacra, but after checking them out, I have to say I kind of like them all.
Their designs don’t look that derivative at all, with maybe Echo (who looks slightly like Amber) and King (a rocker version of Diluc, maybe?) as an exception.
Actually, it’s got an interesting premise and worldbuilding
Tower of Fantasy’s dystopian, futuristic world is beautiful in a way that’s different from Genshin Impact. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “gritty”, but it’s got a little cyberpunk-ness to it that I find intriguing visually.
Given the sci-fi genre, a lot of the game mechanics are actually explained by the game. For example, the jet pack certainly makes a lot more sense physics-wise than Genshin Impact’s gliders, and the teleportation devices (spacerifts) are actually explained by science and can be used by everyone.
In short, I do think there is an element of realism in Tower of Fantasy, which I can really appreciate. The storyline is easy to follow as well. There are still a lot of questions in the air for now about our backstory, but that’s more reason to keep playing.
The storyline so far is good, too. I like the dialogue, but the one thing that’s annoying is you have to wait until a character gets to the end of their sentence before you can skip forward to the next line.
No ult, but multi-weapon fighting abilities
Moving on to the combat side of things, characters are given the ability to swap between weapons. I like the concept, though I find switching between weapons can make the gameplay feel choppy.
Each weapon belongs to a certain type, including Ice Shell, Flame, Volt, and Grievous, as far as I can tell. Normal attacks appear to already be capable of creating reactions as per their type.
Players will also have access to an active skill with a cooldown. The Volt skill that comes with the original weapon we’re given looks very much like Keqing’s skill in Genshin Impact.
There’s also a discharge feature that can be activated when you switch between weapons (only when the weapon is fully charged, though).
One combat feature I thought was cool was the way you can activate your jetpack and then charge at an enemy from the air.
I guess the soundtrack is nice (even if it’s not as good as Genshin Impact’s)
Even on the login screen, I noticed the game’s music is quite pleasant. It’s nothing jaw-dropping (like Liyue music, in my humble opinion), but definitely good enough to be enjoyed as BGM.
I’m a big ASMR fan, so I really appreciate good foley sounds, and I’d say this game has done it pretty well. I particularly noticed it in the intro with the cave-like ambience, as well as when it’s raining.
I’ve been playing the game in English, and the voice acting has been good. The main character speaks quite a lot, which I don’t mind, and so far, many of the characters we’ve met have rather distinct voices.
However, my managing editor Sade found the voices to be a bit cringe-inducing (she’s just an English dub hater though).
Admittedly, I do find one of the voice lines of the first Simulacrum we get access to be quite annoying (she keeps repeating, “Where are all the baddies?” while I’m queueing to enter the server as if I can even move to find said baddies).
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Going into the game, I didn’t know much about Tower of Fantasy except for its art style and general sci-fi theme.
I hadn’t read much about it, because it didn’t seem like it could ever dethrone my love for Genshin Impact—a girl can only love so much at a time, you know?
But even after just a short while of playing it, I honestly don’t find it to be a Genshin Impact copycat at all. Sure, there are similarities, but not to a degree that would rub me the wrong way.
In terms of art style, I still prefer Genshin Impact’s, and for now, I also prefer the older game’s playable characters far more than the Simulacrum.
Genshin Impact’s playable characters simply have a better backstory, which helps establish a special little (parasocial) connection between themselves and the player.
I haven’t been able to test out the multiplayer features, though I have run into other players. At only Level 8 currently, I need three more levels before I can start chatting and interacting with others.
I’ll continue to play Tower of Fantasy on my PC too, so stay tuned for a more in-depth review once I start playing the MMORPG in earnest.
The main downside of the game I’ve experienced is definitely the waiting time. But given its popularity, I understand why some queueing system is implemented.
Every time I return to play the game, I’ve had to wait 10 minutes or more. Sometimes by the time I notice I’m already on the server, I get kicked out for inactivity. Hopefully, this issue won’t be as bad later on, because I’m not a very patient person.
In any case, one major leg up Tower of Fantasy has over Genshin Impact, though, is definitely the fact that you can interact with cats. What more could you ask for, really?
Also Read: Here’s a quick guide on how to get a RM50 voucher by subscribing to foodpanda’s pandapro
Grab CEO, DPM Wong recount Grab’s early days – A look at its new S’pore HQ at one-north
It has been around six months since Southeast Asia’s leading superapp Grab moved out of its former office at Guoco Towers, but it’s only today (August 11) that it officially launched its new Singapore headquarters (HQ), in line with its 10th anniversary celebrations.
This is its second HQ in the region, following its other one in Jakarta, Indonesia, which serves as Grab’s regional innovation hub for small businesses.
Located at one-north business park, this new nine-storey facility spans more than 42,000 sqm. The building houses about 3,000 Grabbers, including its newly-formed digibank team. It also features a R&D Centre, as well as its first GrabMerchant Centre.
“It seemed like only yesterday that our early Grab team and I worked out of the driver’s room in a rental car office. At that time, our v1 app did only one thing — book a ride. It didn’t even give an estimated time of arrival or offer cashless payments, which are features we take for granted today,” said Anthony Tan, co-founder and Group CEO of Grab at the opening event today.
“We wouldn’t have imagined that one day, we’d have our own campus in the tech hub of Singapore, housing an R&D team that is developing hyperlocal solutions to solve real problems for Southeast Asia. I am so grateful to our private sector and government partners, as well as our Grabbers, for having worked so hard to make this campus a reality.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, who graced the event, commented that Grab’s journey for the past decade has indeed been an inspiring one. Just like the Singapore story, Grab adopts a similar narrative — an “underdog [that succeeds] against all odds and [make] the impossible possible.”
Grab had humble beginnings and has successfully grown “from virtually nothing” into a tech giant, as it confronts and overcome challenges along the way.
“10 years ago, most of us used our phones to talk, maybe to search the internet, but certainly not to purchase goods and services. [Grab] had to convince both drivers and riders to use a new platform no one had heard of. And [it] had to confront the complex and fragmented Southeast Asian market, which was difficult to penetrate and expand into, as well as face larger competitors,” said DPM Wong.
“But like Singapore, Grab addressed [its] challenges head on — [it] converted vulnerabilities into opportunities. And like Singapore, Grab survived and prospered through the sheer grit, ingenuity and hard work of its people. That is why today, Grab has grown from a small ride-hailing platform to a leading super-app in Southeast Asia.”
An inside look of the Grab office
What’s next for Grab?
Grab started out as a mere ride-hailing company, but it has since expanded its services to cover a wide range of verticals, including deliveries and financial services.
Today, it is present in 480 cities in eight countries across SEA, with millions of users onboard.
Last month on July 4, Grab achieved its 10 billionth journey, making it a “happy convergence of serving 10 billion rides and orders in 10 years”. It was a huge milestone for the company, which Tan feels is only made possible with everyone’s “unwavering trust, partnership and support”.
This latest unveiling of Grab’s Singapore HQ is another milestone that the company is proud of, and it’s a testament of how far they’ve come for the last decade.
As it seeks to foster a strong pipeline of local tech talent, Grab is also actively hiring across the company — this is a continuous effort on its part.
“Together, let’s continue to leverage tech for good and create opportunities for everyone to grow in this digital economy, to shape a better, and more sustainable Southeast Asia,” summed up Tan in his opening speech.
Featured Image Credit: Grab
Also Read: Grab turns 10 – launches GrabMerchant and GrabScholar schemes, targeted at SMEs and students
Grab turns 10 – launches GrabMerchant and GrabScholar schemes, targeted at SMEs and students
Grab, Southeast Asia (SEA)’s leading super app, announced today (August 11) two new initiatives as it marks the celebration of its 10th anniversary and official opening of its Singapore headquarters.
The opening event was led by Anthony Tan, Group CEO and co-founder of Grab, and graced by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong.
According to Grab, the initiatives — GrabMerchant and GrabScholar — serve as actionable steps for a long-term drive towards inclusive growth and innovation in the region, strengthening the digital economy.
Even though we are in unprecedented times where the global economic outlook is severely turbulent due to the supply chain disruptions, DPM Wong posits that we “do not need to feel intimidated or overly overwhelmed by these challenges, because as Singapore and Grab have done all these years, we can continue to convert our challenges into opportunities for growth.”
Signalling an enhancement in partnership and ties, Grab continues to work with Singapore in the pursuit of creating an inclusive growth where every citizen and every worker matters.
GrabMerchant empowers SMEs to thrive online
Anthony shared that over 680,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the region have joined GrabFood and GrabMart, adding that these numbers are expected to increase exponentially considering the delivery industry of food and essentials gaining more traction among consumers.
This is why Grab has decided to deepen and upskill their merchant-partners, in order to help them adapt to changing times of an increasingly digitised space.
At the event, Anthony introduced Grab’s plans on launching its first-ever GrabMerchant Centre that will be located at the Grab HQ. This one-stop hub is aimed at empowering SMEs on their platform in digitising their businesses by leveraging the existing GrabFood, GrabMart, GrabFin and GrabAds initiatives.
We will offer solutions not usually available for SMEs. The centre is designed for business consultations, training and operational support, all to help our SME partners learn how to optimise their online presence.
– Anthony Tan, Group CEO and co-founder, Grab
The personal business consultations allow merchant-partners to consult Grab Account Managers, who can provide specific advice on long-term growth plans and actionable insights. Merchants can also subscribe to the “Merchant Concierge Service”, a prioritised hotline to get this direct assistance, essentially improving reducing downtime and increasing efficiency.
As such, these small businesses can expect to unlock their full potential, since they can also grasp new business opportunities through the various networking sessions and workshops, ultimately helping them thrive in the digital space.
Fostering tech talents with GrabScholar
Another new initiative that Grab is rolling out is the GrabScholar programme, where a commitment of US$1 million from the GrabForGood Fund is used to disburse over 2,000 university scholarships and educational bursaries annually across all markets in which Grab operates in.
It is set to cover fees related to tuition and study-related expenses for underprivileged students to attend primary, secondary or vocational schools as well as universities. On top of that, there will be internship opportunities offered to tertiary students to develop their professional aptitude and future careers.
The idea behind this dates back seven years ago in 2015, when Grab was still far from where it is now.
[W]e were one of the first companies in the “Internet tech” space to invest in an R&D centre in Singapore. It was a decision many questioned — we were told the talent pool was too small — but we did it anyway.
This was because of the strong support provided by the Singapore government, as well as our belief in the longer-term benefits of building hyperlocal tech, and the resolve to develop strong local tech talent along the way.
– Anthony Tan, Group CEO and co-founder, Grab
Observing how Grab has grown to eight R&D centres across SEA, which allows for global collaboration and cross-learning, Tan said that this GrabScholar programme is an extension of their ethos of strengthening education, which is seen as the backbone of the region’s future.
“It is a fundamental right that should be enjoyed by all,” he emphasises. DPM Wong shares similar sentiments, and believes that “investing in and creating equal opportunities for Southeast Asian talent development” is crucial.
With this programme in place, Grab contributes by creating a strong group of local tech talent, nurturing SEA’s future workforce.
Developing hyperlocal tech with GrabMaps
Besides aiding merchant-partners, Grab plans to increase support for its riders through GrabMaps, its in-house map and location-based technology.
Compared to conventional digital maps that may omit the smallest of alleys or side streets that are present in many Southeast Asian cities, GrapMaps offers an accurate, hyperlocal view of Southeast Asia thanks to the usage of crowdsourced data from their fleet of driver-partners.
Since starting GrabMaps five years ago, we’ve helped map over 800,000km of missing roads in SEA, including the little lorongs. GrabMaps helps our driver-partners be more productive, while our consumers get their food or reach their destinations faster.
– Anthony Tan, Group CEO and co-founder, Grab
With its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered camera Kartacam — designed specifically for map-making, that is attached to their driver-partners’ helmets or windshields — street imagery, street names and traffic signs can be captured.
Grab’s machine-learning and AI algorithms then make use of these collected imagery and data for GrabMaps.
In line with the government’s objectives of developing hyperlocal technology to solve problems for SEA, Anthony projects that Grab will continue to untangle complex, societal problems in the region.
As we celebrate Grab’s 10th anniversary this year, we hope that our announcements today will help small businesses and our future workforce upskill and maximise their opportunities, even in this challenging macro environment.
Providing access to digital tools can be a powerful way to ensure all Southeast Asians can equally participate in – and benefit from – the rising digital economy, the same way 10 years ago when our driver-partners learned how to use their smartphones to earn incomes.
– Anthony Tan, group CEO and co-founder, Grab
Featured image credit: Grab
Also read: A cut above the rest: How the Lim siblings grew SK Jewellery into one of S’pore’s leading jewellers
Get to know the 7 M’sian firms who made it to Forbes Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion 2022
Forbes has released its annual Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion 2022 list, highlighting 200 Asia-Pacific public companies with sales under US$1 billion (RM4.46bil), and who have seen consistent top- and bottom-line growth.
Of the 200 global firms listed, seven Malaysian companies made the cut this year. Here’s what they do.
1. Kim Loong Resources
Kim Loong Resources made US$410 million in sales, US$33 net income, and with US$425 market share.
Part of the plantations industry, the firm engages in palm oil cultivation and processing. It was founded in 1967, headquartered in Johor, with operations in Sabah and Sarawak as well.
The Group is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia and has a market cap of RM1.64 billion as of January 31, 2022, according to data on its website.
2. UG Healthcare
UG Healthcare made US$251 revenue, US$88 net income, and has a US$102 market share.
The company manufactures disposable natural latex and nitrile examination gloves. The Group owns and operates distribution companies with a local presence in Europe, the UK, the US, China, Africa, and South America.
Established in 1989 in Seremban, UG Healthcare was listed on the Singapore Exchange in 2014.
3. D&O Green Technologies
D&O Green Technologies found its place on the list recording US$204 million in sales, US$27 million in net income, with a market value of US$1,129 million.
Part of the semiconductor industry, the company makes LEDs for automotive manufacturers. It is also involved in the services of installation, electronic components, electrical equipment for lighting, electronic display screen, and lighting fittings.
Founded in 2000, it’s headquartered in Melaka, with its R&D hubs located in Malaysia, California, and Taiwan. Geographically, D&O Green Technologies exports its products to Asia, Europe, and the US.
4. ViTrox
ViTrox brought in US$164 million in revenue, US$41 net income, with a US$1,677 million market share.
Founded in 2000, ViTrox designs and manufactures automated vision inspection equipment. The firm’s core products include its Machine Vision System (MVS), Automated Board Inspection (ABI), and Electronics Communication System (ECS).
In 2004, ViTrox converted into a public limited company and listed its shares on Bursa Malaysia.
Located in Penang, ViTrox also has global offices in Germany, Thailand, China, and the US.
5. Greatech Technology
Greatech Technology recorded US$97 million in revenue, US$34 million in net income, and has a market value of US$1,097 million.
It manufactures automation equipment for industries including those in solar photovoltaic, automotive, medical, and battery.
The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Bayan Lepas, Penang, making its debut on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia in June 2019.
6. Tashin Holdings
Tashin Holdings made US$94 million in sales, US$15 million in net income, and has a market value of US$43 million.
The firm is an investment holding company with subsidiary companies that are principally involved in the activities of processing steel coils into slit coils, and steel sheets, to name a few.
Starting in 1999, the company went public in 2017, and is headquartered in Penang.
7. CE Technology
CE Technology reportedly brought in total revenue of US$31 million, US$9 million in net income, and US$87 in market value, according to Forbes.
The company makes cleanroom nitrile and latex gloves, designed to protect the wearer from exposure to chemicals. Founded in 2002, CE Technology went public in June 2019 on Bursa Malaysia.
Today, the Taiping, Perak-based firm operates from three sites that are within walking distance from one another for better risk management.
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A hearty congratulations to the Malaysian companies recognised by Forbes for this list, and here’s to hoping we see even more local names on Forbes Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion 2023 list!
- Read other articles on Malaysian companies we’ve written here.
Also Read: We sat down with our parents and asked what their greatest fears as a parent are
Featured Image Credit: Tay Kheng Chiong, Chief Executive Director of D&O Green Technologies / Gooi Seong Heen, Executive Director of Kim Loong Resources / Chu Jenn Weng, CEO of ViTrox
Disney+ eclipses Netflix in streaming customers, announces price hikes for subscribers
Streaming service Disney+ has surpassed Netflix in terms of total streaming customers, with a total of 221 million streaming customers. In addition, the company has announced price hikes across the board for its viewers.
Combined with Hulu and ESPN+, Disney has stated that it has 221.1 million streaming subscribers at the end of the June quarter, compared to the 220.7 million streaming subscribers that Netflix has.
Investing.com Analyst told Channel NewsAsia that “Disney is gaining market share when Netflix is struggling to add more subscribers”
Beginning in December, Disney+ will offer an ad-supported plan for US$7.99 a month, while the ad-free version will be available for US$10.99 a month, an increase of about 38 per cent.
The streaming platform by Disney launched in 2019, and hosts franchises such as Star Wars, Disney, Marvel and many more. The addition of new series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Ms Marvel” have added another 14.4 million customers to Disney+.
This comes as Netflix reports that customers are leaving- Netflix has lost more than 1 million subscribers since the start of the year, following its own price increases and a worrisome economic climate. The most recent price hike was announced at the start of the year, which saw the price of the premium service jump from US$13.99 to 15.99, and saw the first time that the basic subscription price rose in the history of the company.
Netflix has also vowed to crack down on password sharing, which it sees as a major problem. According to the company, more than 100 million households globally do not pay for Netflix. The company has already begun trials for a system that would require users in different households to pay extra for access to the service on the same account.
Featured Image Credit: Disney+
Also Read: Netflix to Spotify: ShareIt.sg lets you share subscription plans with others so you pay lesser
GE15 might be happening this year, here’s a 2022 guide on how to register as a voter online
At this point, there is still a lot of speculation as to when the next general election (GE) will be held. Many politicians have been giving their two cents on when they think the best date for the election is, but an official date is yet to be announced.
According to this article by the Malay Mail, there are a few possibilities. GE could be called by October before the rainy season in November and December, or even happen after Chinese New Year celebrations next year.
In any case, nothing is set in stone yet, but it’s always good to be prepared.
It comes automatically
If you haven’t heard, the voting age in Malaysia is now 18 years old.
Upon turning 18, your voting information will be made available 16 days after the following month of your birthday. You can check your status online, through the MySPR Semak site, through the mobile app, or by calling the SPR hotline.
Did you know: SPR stands for Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia, which is the Election Commission of Malaysia.
On the MySPR Semak portal, fill in your IC and the captcha to check your voting status.
Here, you can find information about your locality, voting location, state legislative assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri), and parliament.
Since I had manually registered as a voter last year, I asked a supposedly non-registered colleague to check if she was automatically enrolled on the MySPR Semak platform, and the answer was yes.
Making a MySPR account
If you want to change your voting location or electoral division, you will need to make a MySPR account.
You can also check your status by making an account on the MySPR Daftar portal. Here, you’ll register for an account by clicking “Permohonan Akaun Baharu”.
First, you’ll be prompted to put in your name, IC number, birthday, phone number, email, password, and set a security question.
New users will also have to upload a picture of their IC as well as a selfie with the IC. Fill in the captcha, agree with the terms and conditions, and there you’ll have it.
You can update your address if the registered address is different from your current residence on the MySPR portal.
My experience with the portal was pretty instantaneous. After submitting my application, I immediately received two emails—one telling me my application was being processed and one saying it was approved.
In the latter email, I was told to click a link to activate my account. I did as told and entered my IC number and password as prompted. I had to request a TAC as well. With that, my account was activated.
On this platform, you can also access the postal ballot application.
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Thanks to the UNDI 18 initiative and the automatic voter registration system, more Malaysians are able to vote in this general election than before.
Though voting isn’t compulsory, if you’d like to have your voice heard and contribute to the future of Malaysia, we hope this guide will be of some use to you when GE15 rolls around.
Also Read: Here’s a quick guide on how to get a RM50 voucher by subscribing to foodpanda’s pandapro
Featured Image Credit: Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Malaysia
We spent money at (almost) every stall in Sunny Side Up Market, here’s our RM1,041 haul
Sunny Side Up Market, a curated community market at Slate at The Row, had their annual Merdeka edition last weekend.
There were a total of about 30 stalls in the 3,300 sq. ft space. It did feel rather packed, with aisles just big enough for two to walk through side by side.
Thankfully, quite a bit of the crowd seemed to have ebbed upon our arrival at 3.30PM, since the market runs from 11AM to only 5PM.
Left with little time on our hands and lots of stalls to go through, we (and by we, I mean mainly Sarah) began her buying spree (to support local and also for the sake of content).
Cheese, please
The duo behind the D’Artisan Cheese counter were busy educating customers and pan-grilling cheese for testers, a mini see-through fridge full of various cheeses to their right.
Parmamia and Kerabu from the hard cheeses category, Asiago aged for two years, Cam Blue and Caerphilly Blue from the blue cheese category, to even a Vegan Parmesan, among many other varieties, were on display, ready for purchase.
None of us there could really call ourselves cheese connoisseurs, but I settled for a Fleur Rose after trying a variety of mild to stronger cheeses.
Purchase: RM40
Post Purchase
Sade: It’s semi-soft as advertised, and mild enough to enjoy on some bread, with a delicious floral undertone almost reminiscent of rose syrup. Overall, a great pick.
Art from the heart
The next stall, Bingka, was much more colourful, draped in tote bags, silk screen-printed scarves, placemats, and more. Each one sported familiar motifs of Malaysian heritage culture, such as Peranakan prints and patterns.
They’re ideal for someone who wants to carry a bit of home wherever they go, or for a tourist who wants something more meaningful than a magnet or mug to remember our country by.
Here, we purchased a pouch that’s shaped like a teacup with a tea bag.
Purchase: RM40
Post Purchase
Sarah: The price seems a little steep for such a small pouch but I love the unique design and it really feels like a high quality product. No regrets on this buy!
Made for a child’s smile
At Oh Beatrice’s store, we spotted her signature work, Dumpling the Tiger, which tells the story of an unexpected adventure and friendship between two very different individuals.
Beyond that, she had other artworks up for sale, drawn in a pastel-forward, sketched style that’s appealing to the eye and fits right in a children’s book.
Though we’re probably only children at heart, we opted to buy a cat pin (the very last one in stock there) from her.
It’s now pinned on the teacup pouch from Bingka (in the picture above).
Purchase: RM25
Snack on
Back into the food zone we went with Moonie Bunch, which calls itself a “snacker’s paradise”.
Laid out on their station was a variety of hand-popped popcorn in flavours like chocolate and caramel, and brownies for the more sweet-toothed.
Purchase: RM12
Post Purchase
Sarah: The caramel popcorn is well coated and crunchy. Some bits may be a little sweet but my sweet tooth didn’t mind at all.
Some bling and booch to go
Working together at a booth were Laithalia Jewellery and Muunchew, with fine handmade jewellery and Johor-made kombucha, respectively.
Sarah bought a delicate necklace with a unique 3D-cut style pendant of a lion from Lathalia, and, not generally a fan of kombucha herself, made me pick a flavour.
Sadly, the first few flavours I gravitated towards (The Pink Potion, with watermelon, strawberry, and mint, and The Classic Quench, with lime and mint) had already sold out.
I ended up choosing The Oriental Blossom, with pear and osmanthus, and this was refreshingly tasty, so much so that Sarah got hooked and ended up finishing it too.
Purchase: RM59 at Laithalia, and RM14 at Muunchew
Dear dairy, today we bought a brownie
Next was another stall that tingled our sweet-toothed senses, as dear dairy had fudge brownies, blondies, and chunky cookies.
Though the bases are prepped beforehand, the final touches such as toppings are done then and there. After perusing their options, we purchased a good ‘ol “Plain But Not Boring” fudge brownie (what can we say, we’re simple people).
Purchase: RM9
Post Purchase
Matt: The brownie struck the right balance when it came to moistness. It was fudgey, not cakey, and had a mild sweetness that let the chocolate shine.
Familiar Malaysian scenes imprinted on paper
Locals cracking open fresh coconuts and taking refreshing sips, a durian feast right at a stall, a Raya open house visit, and more.
Kuen Stephanie’s characters in her art have no faces, but that’s what makes them unique: you could easily be them, doing what they’re portrayed as doing in these scenes.
A self-taught artist, she’s been honing her craft for the past two decades or so, she shared when I asked. From her, we bought a baggage tag, perfect as revenge-travelling decor.
Purchase: RM25
Banoffee thera-pie
“Ready to induce your happy hormones?”, Farisya Bakes AKA The Cake Therapist’s banner asked us.
We definitely were enticed by its banoffee, which called our name louder than the choux, cookie bars, and cheesecake bars.
Purchase: RM18
Post Purchase
Sade: We were recommended the coffee toffee version of the banoffee, it was like a sweet tiramisu with hints of toffee and banana, melting harmoniously in our mouths.
Crockery with personality
Sarah, lover of beautiful and unique crockery, openly admitted that her decision to visit Sunny Side Up Market had largely hinged on her desire to see Cozycave’s creations in person.
From delicate glassware to ceramic tableware sets decorated with glaze, Sarah had a hard time making a decision.
She ended up settling for two different pairs of beautiful bowls, but not before assuring everyone within hearing range that she will, one day, be back for more.
Purchase: RM120
Post Purchase
Sarah: NGL, I regret not also getting their ceramic mugs, and another set of the glass bowls in a different colour.
Bars for the bathroom
Handcrafted, artisanal facial and body cleansing products are at the core of what webarebars does.
They have a small but attractive menu of scented and unscented items, which would make thoughtful gifts for someone who loves self-care.
We left the stall with a small freesia-scented facial bar shaped like a flower as a gift for a fellow colleague.
Purchase: RM29
Tahini in cookies and brownies
That’s what helps The Mr. Bakes stand out in the myriad of home-baked goods in Malaysia. It all started with a friend’s mother’s recipe, as we first learnt in our 2021 feature of the business.
We won’t spoil the rest of how this business’s story came to be, but we will say that we walked away with two mini butter loaves, pineapple express, and gula apong.
Purchase: RM60
Post Purchase
Sarah: The gula apong butter loaf is not too sweet, moist, and makes a perfect afternoon treat. The pineapple butter loaf has a distinct tangy taste that goes so well with tea!
Keeping it Khlean
Khlean is a Malaysian clean beauty brand with only three products for now: lip balms in Original, Rose, and Mint. According to the team, they’re cruelty-free, vegan, and plant-powered.
Sarah and my ears immediately perked up when we heard there was a mint (spearmint, to boot, not the inferior peppermint!) flavour, and she just had to get a tube to try.
Purchase: RM45
Post Purchase
Sarah: The texture of the lip balm is quite thick and viscous, it can be a good night lip mask too. The mint is fragrant and just the right amount of “cool” for the lips.
Globally-loved cookies made locally
Founded in 2015, The Skinny Bakers is a familiar name often seen at bazaars and the like. They remain popular for a reason, it being that they’re good at what they do.
We were spoilt for choice with cookie variety, and they were so kind as to offer us a sample of anything that we’d like to try.
Purchase: RM37.80
Crafted concrete décor
Concrete homeware and décor have been quite the rage these past few years, and Elisavet Bloom is one of the newer makers we’ve seen thus far.
They have handcrafted plates, trays, and more, but like many other concrete-based homeware, they’re not food safe.
Though she has many mug coasters at home already, from wood to resin, Sarah decided that perhaps there was room for one more, this time a concrete cement one.
Purchase: RM30
A scent-sible purchase
Scented hand sanitisers are no new creation either, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic. But the scents at annur’s stall still delighted our olfactory senses.
We struggled to pick between our favourites, sandalwood and cherry blossom, so, naturally, we bought both.
Purchase: RM20
Hatters gonna hat
TopiTin’s story was unexpectedly cute, when we stopped by and struck up conversation with the team, a trio of siblings.
Turns out, this bucket hat business is run by a mother-daughter duo, with the daughter (one of the siblings we met that day) handling marketing and sales, while each reversible bucket hat is lovingly tailored by her mother.
If we weren’t already thinking about making a purchase here, their story would have won us over (probably).
Purchase: RM50
Too cool for us
At Pretty Cool, the words “unique” and “quirky” immediately came to mind. There were scrunchies, pet bibs, pouches, and more in colourful checkered designs.
Admittedly, they didn’t match our usual styles, so we ended up buying a simple scrunchie that we would actually add to our wardrobe.
Purchase: RM5
“Hear” for earrings
Glitterydaisyy‘s handmade clay earrings are well-made and beautiful, with lots of care put into each detail. At Sunny Side Up Market, they were proudly displayed across several vertical boards.
There were various options from chunky to more demure designs, hanging and studded ones.
Sarah chose floral inspired polymer clay earrings, and got a second pair as a gift for a colleague.
Purchase: RM37 (for two pairs)
Threading lightly with a needle & canvas
As you might guess from the name alone, Threads Lightly centres its business around sewn art pieces. There were ready-made ones and sewing kits to make your very own.
Deciding that getting a vibrant piece would make for a nice pop of colour in the pictures and videos we take, but not wanting to do the work ourselves, we purchased a completed Threads Lightly canvas.
Purchase: RM45
A little light in our lives
According to science, the relation that one draws between a specific scent and a memory can be very strong due to the way our olfactory system and brain are wired.
Depending on the scents and our own memories, we can experience anything from nostalgia to happiness and maybe even heartbreak.
Some scents, though, might bring about a certain je ne sais quoi, if you will. While Je Ne Sais Quoi carries some classic scents of handcrafted soy candles, there are also some more unique ones, such as Girls’ Night and Boys’ Night.
Sticking to what our noses liked best, we purchased Mesmerise, which has notes of sea salt, plum, and dark musk. It has a guaranteed 40-hour burn time, like all of their other candles.
Purchase: RM60
Cures for your furbabies
By this point in our chaotic shopping spree, we had finally reached the pets and plants section of the market.
Curobuddy is a really new brand at just two months old, and the products it carries, such as an antibacterial spray, pet deodoriser, and regenerative care spray, are all formulated using mangosteen as a star ingredient.
Our Curo-sity (I had to) piqued, we ended up purchasing the pet deodoriser, since that’s always a handy thing to have around if you’ve got furkids.
Purchase: RM60
Post Purchase
Sarah: The deodoriser smells fresh without being too overpowering. It’s a useful tool to have between showers for your dog.
Spoiling our pets is always justified
When it comes to pet toys and accessories, we’re weak in the knees (and wallet). We’re all massive pet lovers, and are extremely prone to spending rather impulsively just for our furbabies.
So, walking by Petting Everything, how could we have possibly ignored all the colourful items that could make our furbabies happy?
Sarah purchased a grooming brush that could rid itself of fur clumps and a toy ball, while I purchased a wormy cat toy that my own kitten now goes crazy over.
Purchase: RM30
Treating ourselves (again)
We’d seen quite a few familiar names by the time we came around to Spread Cheers, but when I pointed out to my colleagues that we’d featured them before, co-founder Richard suddenly reached out to a small standee that was initially displaying their menu.
He turned the standee around, and there was our Vulcan Post feature on them, the entire article printed out and laminated for passersby to read, if they so wished to.
Immediately we gasped in unison, and whipped out our phones to proudly snap some pictures. Once that was done, we turned our focus back onto the alcoholic jams and bacon jams, finally able to try out a few of them for ourselves.
Tingling maybe a little from trace amounts of alcohol, but mostly from the joy of unexpectedly seeing our own work displayed so proudly, we ended up purchasing the Drunken Bacon Jam and Crushed Pineapple in Whisky infused Marmalade.
Next to Spread Cheers was another unique F&B item in the market that day, Dutch stroopwafels by Verse Stroopwafel.
Founded by Yugin, who trained making Dutch treats in the Netherlands, Verse Stroopwafel offers genuine stroopwafels in various flavours such as chocolate, mocha, and the classic caramel.
Being first-time customers of the brand, we went for the classic caramel with high expectations.
Purchase: RM38 at Spread Cheers, and RM22 at Verse Stroopwafel
Post Purchase
Sade: I haven’t stopped munching on the caramel stroopwafels since I bought them. Boy, they’re good. I restrict myself to one stroopwafel a day, but yesterday I felt a little indulgent and ate one whole, plus nibbled off a bit of another.
Couldn’t leaf without checking out this stall
Many of us in the office don’t have the best rep for keeping plants alive, but we try. And we also don’t know when to give up on buying more plants.
Passing by Unique Maker, we were lost for choice on which leafy beauties to buy, so we settled for something that’s supposed to be easier to care for.
Purchase: RM48
Post Purchase
Sade: Well, it’s only been a few days since we brought it back, but we’ve got high hopes for this one (no, we totally don’t say this every time we get a plant).
Buttering up our wallets
Su began making nutritional salad lunches and healthy nut butters after being diagnosed with cancer in 2019.
At Sunny Side Up Market, her stall called Healthy Su displayed an array of nut butters, from which Sarah chose the coconut cashew butter.
Purchase: RM34
Almost at the end of our shop-pin
Milk & Honey has been creating adorable pins and other trinkets since 2016. There were quite a few selections to choose from here, but as we were in a rush to finish our shopping, we didn’t have time to properly peruse.
Here, we bought a bubble tea enamel pin, also now cutely pinned onto the teacup pouch from Bingka.
Purchase: RM18
A sweet ending
Our last stop of the day was Confettini Creamery, who had actually already begun packing up, their display cleared.
We had decided to visit them last, since we didn’t want our ice creams to melt while we shopped. Fortunately, the founder assured us that she could still let us sample the flavours, if we wanted to.
Not wanting to hold her back though, we went for the Smoked Sea Salt.
Purchase: RM12
Post Purchase
Sade: There was a hint of smokiness here, but the sea salt was overpowered by a flavour I assume is vanilla, added for that creaminess.
-//-
At the end of our trip, we emerged from Slate with countless bags, no memory of the full list of things we bought, and fatigue (which the sweet treats we began to eat helped with).
When we sat down to calculate our total, total damage… Let’s just say, that RM1,041.80 spent in 1.5 hours will be a phantom pain in Sarah’s pockets for quite a while.
Unfortunately, we ran out of time for visiting a few other stores: streetwear brand Malayan Wolfpack, shoe brand helocarmelo, clothing brands LI’s and BeatriceLau Sustainable Living, coffee brand SWTCHBCKCOFFEE, and pet food brand Happy Cat Malaysia. Next bazaar, perhaps?
What we did at this Sunny Side Up Market is definitely not your average consumer behaviour, but to be fair, it’s been a while since our last proper bazaar visit so Sarah figured why not go all out.
Plus it was so fun supporting these local brands who have chosen to spend their weekend showcasing their products that have been made with such care and love.
If you’ve made it to the end of this extremely long article, do spend some time to check out the brands that we shopped at and give them some support too!
Also Read: foodpanda M’sia is celebrating its 10-yr anniversary on Aug 12-14, here’s what fans can get
All image credits: Vulcan Post
Not your keys, not your coins: Hodlnaut’s withdrawal freeze strengthens the case for DeFi
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.
Bitcoin was created to address the weaknesses of a trust-based financial system. It would allow people to store and spend their money without handing it over to a bank or financial institution. This way, their funds couldn’t be lent out, or worse, used for risky trades without their knowledge.
Holding Bitcoin was meant to be as good as keeping cash in your wallet — even safer, actually. Other cryptocurrencies followed suit, and eventually, the concept of decentralised finance (DeFi) was coined. With this, you could not only conduct transactions without the need of a bank, but partake in other financial services too. Lending, borrowing, margin trading — it all became accessible through DeFi.
Since these functions worked using smart contracts, they left no room for human error. Loans were over-collaterised and liquidations happened exactly when they were meant to. In fact, DeFi protocols have, by and large, remained unaffected by the market crash.
As the CEO of Compound Finance — one of the biggest DeFi protocols — tells Axiom, “They’re radically transparent, you can see exactly what’s happening. But more importantly than that, they operate based on open source code that can’t change its mind on a whim.”
History repeats itself
Investing in crypto isn’t synonymous with participating in DeFi — not when the crypto is held and managed by a third party. As companies including Celsius, Vauld, and most recently, Hodlnaut freeze withdrawals, it seems crypto has fallen victim to the problems it set out to solve.
Hodlnaut has come under fire for misrepresenting its risk profile. When the UST stablecoin lost its peg, the company’s CEO denied that they had incurred any losses as a result. These claims came into question as users scanned through Hodlnaut’s blockchain transactions, which seemed to suggest otherwise.
Regardless of who’s telling the truth, what’s apparent is that companies such as Hodlnaut have the ability to lie. They can misrepresent positions, fail to convey risks, and mismanage funds.
All of these firms were operating, essentially, as proprietary hedge funds using customer money, and the reason this was able to occur was because these businesses were opaque. Nobody had any visibility.
– Robert Leshner, Compound Finance CEO, in an interview with Axiom
Anyone using the platform — whether they knew it or not — had placed their trust in Hodlnaut to make good on their promises. Promises of 14 per cent returns on a US-dollar-pegged stablecoin at a time when banks weren’t even giving out three pe rcent. Where would that money have come from?
In hindsight, it seems apparent — much like the 2008 Financial Crisis — that this was all too good to be true.
DeFi doesn’t lie
DeFi protocols are accessible to everyone. If you make use of them directly — with crypto stored in your own wallet — the main risk is potential weaknesses in the smart contract. In case someone finds an exploit, your crypto would be at risk.
Instead, say you invest with a company like Celsius or Hodlnaut, the smart contract risk remains just as valid. These companies use the same DeFi protocols which you could access directly. On the plus side, you don’t need to learn how to navigate the protocols or find the best possible interest rates. However, this also means that you have no idea how your crypto is being used.
While there’s an absence of regulations — and these makeshift crypto hedge funds are free to operate behind the curtains — the only way to be certain of your risk is to manage your crypto yourself.
There are DeFi platforms which offer 2x leverage, 50x leverage, and everything in between. The collateral requirements are clearly laid out, as are the terms of liquidation. These are part of the smart contract and can’t be manipulated, even by the creators of the protocol.
Trust and transparency
DeFi doesn’t require trust, and a look at Hodlnaut’s Telegram group explains how valuable that is.
As it stands, the company plans to make its next announcement — regarding next steps and recovery — on August 19. This has left open a wide window for speculation among community members.
Some claim the team has gone AWOL, since their social media accounts can no longer be found. Others have voiced out that staff members were given advance notice to withdraw their funds from Hodlnaut, prior to the freeze.
Most notably, there’s uncertainty surrounding the return of deposits. The Telegram group admins have reiterated that any further details remain “private and confidential” at this point of time.
In comparison, DeFi offers the gift of certainty. Once a smart contract has been deployed, there’s no more room for human input. Anyone can track the position and movement of all the funds being managed by a protocol.
Withdrawals can’t be frozen out of the blue. Users can still lose their funds — that’s the nature of investing — but at the very least, they’ll know where they ended up.
Featured Image Credit: Daily Fintech
Also Read: Helping hand: Crypto firms like Hodlnaut, Zipmex are in crisis – should central banks step in?
