Nokia challenge

After days of preparation, the day for the Nokia Challenge is finally here.

My dear boyfriend was kind enough to send us down in the morning for complimentary breakfast at Cineleisure. This was followed by an hour of technical briefing for use of the new N95, and explanation of ground rules.

The preview lounge was filled with enthusiastic teams; some looked as if they've trained for a month for physical stamina, some fully geared with huge bagpacks and running shoes, and some, dress to kill in sexy skinny jeans and pretty makeup. It's really hard to tell who can make the cut as the top 3 winners. It could just be, anyone.

Rules of the game were simple; almost similar to Amazing race except in a much smaller scale. We would have to answer 18 trivia questions first and only after we answered all of them correctly, then would we be allowed to leave Cineleisure to begin with the first task. After the trivia questions, there would be 9 stations (destinations) to go to, and there would be clues given to you to guess the correct area where the stations are located. In between, there would also be 3 On-the-go questions to be solved before submitting station answers/tasks and lastly, 2 compulsory tasks to be completed anytime during the challenge. Every team would be given a budget of $40 to spend for any miscellaneous costs, which means you can actually spend all of it on cab fare as well.

We were given 30 minutes break before the start of the race. 30 minutes for lunch, for last minutes prayers, or, just to be mentally prepared. Thereafter, was registration and stripping of all belongings. Yeah, everything. Not even your identification card or own mobile phone. What we are left are ourselves, 40 bucks and a N95. Water and extra batteries are provided as well.

Excitement got the better of both Edwin and me. I couldnt' stop feeling nervous while waiting for the start whistle. Once the game started, Edwin was also very nervous, causing him to press the wrong button on the mobile phone! We had to re-type the url address of trivia questions link at least 4 times!

The trivia questions were relatively easy, except for some tricky ones. You can try them at the end of post. :) I'm just running through based on how much I remember, so the questions may vary from its original.

Station 1
In order to get the 2nd station's clue, the first tasks was to take a picture of one team member with the following and email it to our station I/C :-



This is the hardest part of the challenge. It's just the first station, but it's really tough! When you see every other team frantically running and dashing around town infront of you, you couldn't help but worry if you're lagging far behind. Thus, Edwin and I were like mad people running for our lives, like there's no tomorrow. We were panting really hard, legs were feeling numb and heads getting giddy. Imagine running under the hot sun at about 1.30pm in the afternoon!

At our last picture, we actually met Daniel Ong and Carrie Chong from 98.7fm. We were actually on par with them ;) And they really are nice people, even off-radio.

Answers: Takashimaya Right sculpture, Paragon, Tangs and Wheellock Place

Station 2 - Clue
Level 9
Singapore 560443

Well, we had to use the N95 's mapping functions to look for the exact location, using the postal code. Edwin, a tech-expert was the one navigating our way throughout with the N95 while I had to complete some tasks or help solve the problems.

That bloody place is damn far ok. It's definitely not near the MRT station. I guess we're just too conservative and thrifty to save up the money and not take a cab down to that stupid block! Do you knw how far it is? It's almost like walking from Wisma all the way till Centrepoint and definitely not in a straight path! It's up and down slopes and stairs!

When we arrive, i could feel my legs aching really bad man. Even Edwin feels the same pain! And in order to get to the 9th level, we had to go to 11th storey and go to the extreme ends to take the stairs down. Because the stairs directly outside the lift does not lead to 9th level at all!

Answer: Ang mo kio Blk 443

Station 2 - Task
1) Go around the neighbourhood to collect 1 kg of newpapers and bring it back to the station I/C.
2) Once completed, take a picture with the station I/C and email it back to the Team I/C

That's the exact instructions I copied from our letter. Without much thought, Edwin dashed down to level 8 to hunt for newspapars as there were actually about 4-5teams who have arrived at Station 2 already. We walked down eveyr level to ask for newpapers and some even yelled back rudely as too many people asked for newpapers previously already. We only managed to get newspapers in level 2 and along the shops at level 1.

After taking picture with the station I/C, we jogged all the way back to the far,far away AMK mrt station. Just before we cross the road to the station, we recieved a call from HQ that we actually need to take a picture with the station I/C A N D the newspapers! We were really very fed up and on the verge of giving up. Cos' what happened was, after we've emailed our photo, we actually recieved the clue for station 4 already. Any sane person would have presumed that it means that our picture was accepted right?

SO, we had to run all the way back to far,far away blk 443 again to take a stupid picture again before we can proceed. And that, wasted us a lot of precious time.

On-the-go 1
irs sfmarotd rflafes lndaed in Siragnope on 28th fraebruy 1819. Wtih gineus nad ptiercpoen, he cgenahd an osubcre fhnsing valigle iotn a byus porteas adn meodrn motproelis.

Unscramble the paragraph

We were in the train on the way to AMK when we recieved this. There's this foreign national that actually thought we were Nokia staffs and kept asking us if the wireless function really works for N95 and other related questions. (-,-). We were kinda' busy trying to figure out the answers already so we did not really answer his questions.

Answer: Sir stamford raffles landed in singapore on 28th February 1819. With genius and perception, he changed an obscure fishing village into a busy seaport and modern metropolis.

Station 3 - Clue
Hospital and hotel, both have something in common and yet function so differently. Find the only bridge that links the two together.

Edwin did research the night before, so he knew exactly where this was. We took a cab down and on our way there, we actually tried to record the conversation between a team member and the taxi driver and record the sound of FM radio. This is actually part of the compulsory tasks. I will post it at the end of this entry.

We were actually one of the top 5 teams when we arrived here! (Someone told us) So exciting! We actually had camera crew from mediacorp recording the contest along the way at different stations.

Answer: Raffles hospital and hotel.

Station 3 - Tasks
Go to bugis junction. Find shoppers who have just purchased the following items and take a picture of a team member with 3 different shoppers.

a. A book
b. A pair of jeans
c. A movie ticket


This was easy. :) Chop chop and we're off to Station 4.

Station 4 - Clue
We were given a latitude and using the N95's location map function, we should find a place called Sultan Gate. That's pretty much the answer already because I do not have the coordinates. We also took a cab down to Sultan gate and right into the Mosque or Malay Heritage Centre.

Station 4 - Tasks
Complete the 5 questions. (Answers are to be found inside the Mosque itself.)
I can't remember the questions. But it went something like this :-

1) What is a "P...."? It's actually a malay word that means sailors or the like. I can't remember.
2) Where do Temenggung originate from? (asking for a place)
3) What are klewang (asked about two types of sword I think )
4) What herb is commonly used for thais and chinese in asia?
5) What "Lo.." and "Barok"? (Urgh sorry I'm really bad at this. I can't remember much from here. Edwin please help me!)

We took like forever trying to solve these. It's so difficult! Answers weren't easy to find and we had to ask around and not many people know about them too.

The second task is to do a batik together! This is quite fun; we had to learn to paint a simple batik together. I think it didnt' look very nice but least, we've learnt something :)

On-the-go 2
The only world record holder who had the most number of dominoes topppled in Singapore. Who is this person and how many dominoes?

Find the answer on the web people :)

Answer: Ma Li hua, 303,621

Station 5 - Clue
Strong smell of spices, herbs and jasmine garlands . B _ _ _ _ _ _ Road (Hint: Not a cow or a bull)

So easy right? Got it within few seconds! We took cab down straight to this place and found the station I/C waiting at the playground.

Answer: Buffalo Road

Station 5 - Task
Hunt down 5 different spices and use them to form the work Nokia. Take a picture of your creation and email it to the team I/C.

We spent $ 2 to buy spices and also took us really quick to form the word nokia. It;s a pity we didn't get to keep any of the photos taken on that day :(

Station 6 - Clue
Head down to the southern most point of continential asia.

We took like 10minutes trying to figure where or what on earth are they referring to. It was only till Ed found answers on the web, that this place that we're going next, is actually located at...





S E N T O S A!!

Wah, we were really quite shocked to actually go there. We're too stupid to actually take the train in. Should have taken cab! We wasted a lot of time in the train and while waiting for the internal trams to go to Palawan beach. The tram came only 15minutes later! Once we arrived, we dashed right across the narrow bridge and climbed about 5 storeys high up the terrace.

Station 6 - Task
Complete the card challenge (memory game) and take a picture of a team member with Sentosa Island as your background and send to your team I/C.

Simple. Done. :) As usual, we wasted time waiting for the internal tram to get back into Harbour front station.

The final dash to the taxi stand to rush to the next destination.

Station 7 - clue
The only shopping mall in singapore that is under the war memorial.

This shouldn't be difficult eh? Unfortunately, we had to return back to HQ even though we're already on the way to that location. Because the top 3 winners have already completed the race! So sad ok. :(

Answer: Citylink

On-the-go 3
Find the 7 ingredients of the Singapore sling.

I'm not going to give the answer for this cos it's a waste of time to search for it again. I'm quite tired trying to recall all that happened on that day!

Back at HQ Cine, we had the prize giving ceremony and a tony dinner with waiters and waitresses serving fine finger food. It was really tiring and it kinda wrapped up well. We mingled and chat with other participants, shared funny experiences along the way and laugh at it. EIC was here for performance too, so I get to take a close up picture of Jack :) Lastly, we took a picture with Carrie Chong too! :) She's sooo fun and approachable, attracting a lot of guys coming forward to ask for her contact. All's not lost, cos everyone received a goodie bag from Nokia and channelnewsasia.

The 7 hour run and total of 10 hours of activites totally drained both of us. We could hardly walk nor move too much anymore. The muscles overworked, hemstrings far-stretched and even my toe is hurting really bad !

After everything is over, Lindy and Ben came all the way down from home just to accompany us for dinner. *Hugzz!* Really appreciate it dearies. We had a good chat and went straight home after everything. Really beat....



Trivia questions

Q1. What flower is embossed on one side of the Singapore 50 cent coin?
Rose
Morning Glory
Orchid

Q2. Which is the biggest shopping mall in Singapore?
Marina Square
Parco Bugis Junction
Vivo City

Q3. The famous phrase: "Best in Singapore and JB…and some say Batam" is by?
Phua Chu Kung
Phua Chu Kang
Phuo Chu Kang

Q4. Where is the Sri Mariamman Temple located?
Upper Cross Street
South Bridge Road
New Bridge Road

Q5. Ministry of Sound is a famous dance club housed along?
River Valley Road
Cannery Lane
RiverVale Road

Q6. Who is the first Singapore Idol?
Taufik Batisah
Joakim Gomez
Hardy Miraz

Q7. Where is Singapore's first public housing estate located?
Jurong
Ang Mo Kio
Tiong Bahru

Q8. Which shopping mall houses the largest cinema in Singapore?
Cineleisure
Vivo City
Plaza Singapura

Q9. Famous local author Catherine Lim wrote which of these books?
The Bond Maid
Singapore Ghost Stories
The Way to the Top

Q10. Eyebrow Plucker in yellow trunks is?
Steven Lee
Steven Tan
Steven Lim

Q11. Who is the female keyboardist of a local band with an album titled "So Much More Inside"? Amanda Ting
Amanda Ling
Amanda Lin

Q12. Which movie is directed by Jack Neo?
Money No Enough
12 Storeys
Army Daze

Q13. The most common Chinese surname in Singapore is?
Lee
Tan
Lim

Q14. Which Singapore film was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997?
Money No Enough
12 Storeys
Army Daze

Q15. Which dance club has an annual outdoor dance and music event since year 2000?
Ministry of Sound
The Butter Factory
Zouk

Q16. Which local music artiste sold 2 million copies of her album in just two weeks of its release in April 2006?
JJ Lin
Stephanie Sun
Ah Du

Q17. Which local personality became famous after winning a local blog dating competition? Wendy Cheng
Xie Xue
Dawn Yeo

Q18. Mr. Mustaq Ahmad is the owner of?
Tekka Mall
Baboo Fish Head Curry
Mustafa Centre

COMPULSORY TASKS
1. Tastes of The City : Locate a food stall , record a 20 secs video of a team mate preparing one of the following:

Rojak
Roti Prata
Teh Tarik
Satay
Popiah
Ice Kachang

2. Sounds of The City : Record any 5 of the following sounds during the course of the race

Busking in Orchard Road
MRT announcement for 'Toa Payoh' Station
Bus Bell
Countdown indicator at Traffic Light
FM Radio
Siren of either a fire engine, police car or ambulance
Conversation with a taxi driver
Elevator announcement