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2012 is really a year of ups and lows, really dramatic at parts. On a personal level, it is the year I finally graded with a Masters (with Higher Distinction, yeah!) after years of juggling work, studies and blogging; and also one which I found a new job lecturing. Oh, and I led Prime Minister Lee in a workout at The Gardens by The Bay. Totally surreal experience.
DanielFoodDiary.com has also reached a readership never before, and it spurs me to work harder and better.
A special Thank You to all friends, fellow bloggers, PR personals, restaurant & café owners, hawker, fans and followers for giving me the opportunity, and affecting my life is every positive way.
These are 5 of my favourite and most blog entries of 2012 I would like to share with you.
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The First #CookForFamily Initiative – Kudos to All 111 Bloggers!
The #CookForFamily was an initiative I created because I felt that the Singapore blogging community could do more for the people around us. The inaugural #CookForFamily Bloggers’ Initiative took place on 6th August 2012, with a total of 111 bloggers who took part and cooked for their family. It is created with a simple objective of getting more bloggers, and hopefully their fans and followers, to start cooking and bonding with their families. Yes, every sponsor who came and offered a prize was rejected. Because I felt that bonding is the family is the greatest priceless prize. In fact, from this we know that every blogger who joined truly wanted to take part. Yes, I will definitely continue with #CookForFamily during Year 2013, which I am targeting 200 Bloggers. Would that be possible? Join the #CookForFamily Facebook Group
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And My Valentine’s Day Date Is…
The long-story-short is that I auctioned my Valentine’s Day dinner date on Sold.sg and raised a decent sum of money for The Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore. Some say I am very brave (I think the girls in this auction are braver). When Alvinology from omy.sg invited me for this project, my first question was “Who would bid for me?!!” But since it was for a good cause, and it only cost me a night, I was all game for it in the end. My bid remained at 15 cents for the longest time, slightly embarrassing, with an actual facebook comment of “Who the F is Daniel Ang?” adding a bit of insult. Therefore, I am thankful for my friends and supporters for pushing the bid up all the way to $82.65 from 15 cents. Each auction jump on Sold.sg was 15 cents and cost 75 cents, which means a total of $495.90 was raised for charity. Thank you for the lovely Minhui who bided for me. (And I still owe you a meal.)
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As We Say Goodbye to King Albert Park
If you have not heard, King Albert Park fondly known as K.A.P has been sold to Oxley Holdings for $150 million. That would mean all seven units, including the favourites Cold Storage, Island Creamery and yes, McDonald’s at KAP would be closing and saying goodbye. Online voices are not too happy about it – that an “iconic 20 year place” is going to be turned into another condominium; that they are losing part of their memories; and this is coming right after the closure of East Coast Park. This was the story that got DanielFoodDiary.com featured on Channel 8 news because that particular blogpost got so widely circulated with more than a thousand shares. Somehow many Singaporeans felt the same way as I do. Yes, I am ready to let KAP go. But I do wonder about growing up in a country where I do not recognise the buildings around anymore.
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How On Earth Did A Food Blogger Become A Zumba Instructor?
Imagine this, in the afternoon you are at a food tasting session at a restaurant, savouring the best foods with arms holding a camera, almost burping at the sensational tastes. Right after that, you switch into your workout gear at the gym, dancing to the music with arms holding weights, and start instructing a Zumba class. I lead these two vastly different lives in a single afternoon. So how on earth did a food blogger become a Zumba Instructor? The truth is, I signed up for it 5 years ago without knowing what it was. Yes, I just signed up. I am very fortunate to belong to the very first batch of instructors from Singapore taught by Zumba’s founder himself Beto Perez. Now, I just want to show that it is possible to eat what you want and stay healthy.
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GALAXY Camera Fans’ Exclusive Event at The Line
Even though I write advertorials here and there, this Samsung event was one because I would remember because I got the opportunity to work with one of my favourite brands, choose a place to eat, meet up with my fans and also get paid for it. It reminded me of two things: how far I been through, how grounded I should continue to be. I started blogging for Omy.sg since 5 years back and only recently started DanielFoodDiary.com Every single blog entry was time, effort and passion, but still nobody believed that much in food bloggers then, with the exception of one or two. Thank you to Samsung and friends for believing in me, and I will continue to write with time, effort and passion.
I really think 2013 will be a much more awesome year ahead. And I invite you to take on this exciting food journey ahead along with me.
Daniel’s Food Diary Favourite Blog Entries of 2012
The First #CookForFamily Initiative – Kudos to All 111 Bloggers!
And My Valentine’s Day Date Is…
As We Say Goodbye to King Albert Park
How On Earth Did A Food Blogger Become A Zumba Instructor?
GALAXY Camera Fans’ Exclusive Event at The Line
