What makes Feecha different from other similar concept apps?
The local, neighborly aspect is what makes Feecha unique. A post about an amazing curry dish or a sales promotion around the corner is more relevant than something similar posted from halfway across the world on Facebook or Twitter. On Feecha, the people you talk to and the things you talk about literally share common ground.

How do you see it growing over time?
Feecha will grow one neighborhood at a time, from Tiong Bahru to Menlo Park, and then to Harlem and Mongkok. Currently, we have made Feecha available only in Singapore. Once we have achieved that and completed the Android version, we will begin to roll out Feecha globally.

Why did you choose to start it up here?
Singapore is an ideal location because for many of us, Singapore is home. It also has an excellent infrastructure and business environment though we wish it had better mobile internet. Is there any reason really for Singapore to lag so much behind Korea and Japan? Other than that, it’s an ideal test market—Singaporeans are English-speaking, smartphone-savvy, geographically isolated and quite frankly, fickle consumers. If we can win in Singapore, we can win anywhere.

What do you think of the startup scene in Singapore?
It’s young and it’s growing. I’ve been impressed with all the energy, variety, government support and media interest. We attended both Echelon and Startup Asia, which are two excellent startup events. The foundation is there for a Google to emerge from Singapore. There are still some elements missing, though. Singapore lacks mentors who have been a part of building a world class venture—everyone seems to be figuring things out for the first time. The mentorship model is what makes tech scenes like those in Silicon Valley, New York and Israel successful. Also, a lot of Singapore’s best go into finance, medicine and law, and even those with engineering backgrounds prefer to work for large corporations. Starting may be easy in Singapore but finding enough talent to scale may be a challenge. We’ve also been told that Singaporeans are not too supportive of local companies—their apps are often seen as inferior.

What have been some of the challenges involved in getting Feecha off the ground?
New users’ first instinct is to use Feecha like they do Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and Instagram. When they do, they miss out on Feecha’s unique potential to help the user learn about a location and interact with the people in it. Our challenge has been to show users what new things are possible with Feecha. Fortunately, many have responded to our efforts with unbelievable engagement.

Is it already being used in ways you hadn’t foreseen?
We initially set out thinking Feecha was going to be a geographic directory of interesting things with social elements to it; something people check for a couple of minutes a day. What has surprised us is the unprecedented amount of social interaction and time that have gone into its usage—people love that they are interacting with others near them. They love Feecha’s “neighborhood feel”. We had two musicians who lived in the same area interacting for the first time over their common passion. It is those kinds of interactions that we have been floored to see. Feecha has become like a watering hole where animals from all walks of life in the same savannah can come together and hang out.
 

JiBiru Japanese Craft Beer Bar

This appealing spot on the 313 approach brings in seasonal specials and limited edition brews from Japan, as well as Shiga kogen, kinshachi and Yona yona.

Kinki Restaurant + Bar

Decked out in street art and specializing in signature cocktails with Japanese ingredients like wasabi, the menu here reads like something out of a smoky den in Shibuya.

Orihara Shoten

Specializing in sake, shochu and all things Japanese and boozy, this Singaporean offshoot of the well-known Japanese liquor store is a place to discover a still relatively underappreciated drink. We suggest doing a tasting flight here.

80s outfit, Roxette is returning to the stage for the Roxette Live in Singapore concert, armed with new album Charm School.

For those of you who can never get enough of indie pop, the Melbourne band Architecture in Helsinki has opened for Belle & Sebastian and toured with Death Cab for Cutie (see above)—they're one to watch.

Look, Duran Duran is not all about the deeply sorrowful "Ordinary World" and equally melancholic "Come Undone", OK? They've got some new music and the Duran Duran Live in Singapore concert will be proof of it.

And the 80s wave just keeps coming! O.M.D will be performing at this year's Mosaic Music Festival. March 10—Google Cal it.

Round up your fellow Transformers otakus and geek out at the Transformers Cybertron Con.

Interesting way of taking in a bit of history, this—Ghosts whisper their stories into your ear via an MP3 player which you take with you as you tour the Baba House in #157—An Intimate Audio Encounter.

The world's most famous pop artist's works will be on show at Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal, an exhibition of over 260 paintings, drawings, sculptures and videos.

Grease set the tone for a lot of our teenage years and we've got Olivia Newton-John (and her incredible leather-clad body) to thank for it. We're not betting on the same outfit for her Singapore concert but we're pretty sure her voice is still golden.

Sample dishes by 15 of the world's leading chefs and restaurants, attend a cocktail-making workshop and shop in a 5,000 square-meter gourmet market at Savour 2012.

Trombone Shawty & Orleans Avenue, hot favorites from last year, will return to perform at the Timbre Rock & Roots Festival 2012, headlined by Earth, Wind & Fire, as well as Buddy Guy.

Are you a big fan of the Dunvant Male Voice Choir?
Peter Phillips, our deputy President, originally came up with the idea of bringing the Dunvant Choir to Singapore. Peter hails from Dunvant, which is a small village about five miles from Swansea and both himself and his father were choir members of old. He just "happened" to have a CD of the Choir in his back pocket and played it to the committee, whilst we were enjoying a glass or two of beer. The CD was played, our eyes misted over and the show was on!

What can the public expect from the Choir's performances?
They are an extremely versatile Choir, with a repertoire encompassing hymns, extracts from musicals, opera and contemporary tunes, as well as Welsh Choral favorites.You will hear them sing tunes like, "The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" by Verdi, "Bring him Home" from les Miserables and fun songs like "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". There will also be a few Welsh Choral numbers, including my personal favorite, 'Myfanwy' which means 'Beloved', a beautiful love song sung in Welsh with harmonies that will take your soul to heaven!

Why is the choral tradition so important in Wales?
Wales is still known as the "Land of Song' and the Choral tradition still has very strong roots in the cities, towns and villages. Choirs were generally spawned in the church or chapel but the Eisteddfod (a Welsh Cultural celebration of song and poems), has done much to keep singing very much to the fore. Most Welsh schools had an annual Eisteddfod, which all participated in, in a competitive manner. We were thus taught to sing at an early stage of our lives and rugby and song have become synonymous with Wales.

It used to be said that when the crowd started singing at an International Rugby match in Cardiff, the Welsh singing gave the home side a six-point advantage! There is also a belief that we sing because "television came late to Wales' or "the coal dust in the air effected our vocal chords!"

What sort of activities do the St David’s Society get up to here?
The St David’s Society tries to keep people in contact with their "Welshness". Tim Openshaw, our Sports convenor has put together a Welsh football team and the results have been pretty encouraging so far. We also have a Golf section and will have a challenge match shortly against the Singapore Scots.Other activities we have had are Casino Nights, Picnics, Barbeques, wake boarding and, believe it or not, we used to have a Welsh Choir here, which we would love to get going again.

What's your role in all these?
I am the resident of the Society this year, but thank god, I have a fantastic committee, who have worked morning, noon and night to knit the Choir's visit to Singapore together. Apart from the golf challenge against the Scots, our next gathering will hopefully be a "Night at the Races", which has proven to be very popular in the past. I envisage we will have an 'outlandish hat' theme for the ladies, a la Ascot style and perhaps a prize for the best 'tipster' of the evening!

How many Welsh people are there in Singapore?
We have about 50 paid up members plus family members thus far. During the last Rugby World Cup, Tim Openshaw developed an email hit called 'Tag a Taff'(Taffy being a nickname for a Welshman). It worked wonders and so many new names came to the fore to help 'swell the ranks'. You don’t have to be Welsh to join the Society by the way. We have several Singaporean members, including yours truly! Our annual Ball will take place at Tanglin Club on March 3 and we are very close to selling out at 180 plus guests, which is very encouraging.

Are there any similarities between Singaporeans and the Welsh?
The Welsh and the Singaporeans I think share a passion and pride of their country. The Welsh people also enjoy their food, just like Singaporeans do. Welsh fare however is nothing comparable to the range of food available in our Lion City and comprises dishes relating to lamb, cheese, leeks or even seaweed! Both the British Club and the Exchange Bar in Asia Square are running some Welsh cuisine, week commencing March 5, so give it a try!

How important is the Welsh language to maintaining the sense of community back home?
Welsh was a compulsory language in schools throughout Wales until the late 50's/early 60's. It is a very 'sing song' ancient Celtic language but not easy to learn unless spoken at home. The language began to decline as a result and with more and more industry coming into Wales from outside, action had to be taken to keep the language alive. As a result of activities by a movement called the Free Wales Army, Westminster has agreed to have all major road signs in Wales bilingual and started encouraging the development of dedicated Welsh TV and radio channels and thus the decline in the language was staved off.

I was back in Wales in December 2011 to see my new granddaughters and watch Wales lose narrowly to Australia in rugby. My sons and I took a bus into the city and it was full of rugby supporters, both young and old, speaking in Welsh, delightful to hear.

Any thoughts on Welsh independence?
I feel the Welsh are happy as they are. The Queen gave Wales her son to be the Prince of Wales; a gesture which I believe made the Welsh very proud indeed. Any battles between the Welsh and the English are now satisfactorily settled on the rugby field.

What's something people don't commonly know about Wales?
The Welsh language (Cymraeg) is the oldest of the European languages. This form of Celtic language is also found in parts of Cornwall and in Brittany (Breton language) in northern France. Also, the famous Captain Scott of the Antarctic set sail from Cardiff in 1910 on his last ill fated voyage to Antarctica.

Catch the Dunvant Male Voice Choir at St George's Church and The Exchange on March 5 and 9.
 

This post is part of our coverage for Social Media Week 2012 in Singapore. Click Event Coverage: Social Media Week for full coverage.

11.20am: “In any active consumption, there are two key moments “discover” and “decide”. (Henry Mason)

11.32am: “Consumption is now collaborative. Your participation is helping people find relevant products at the right time.”(Henry Mason)

11.33am: “Perform or perish. Social media is not about you. It’s about the people.” (Henry Mason)

11.35am: "Even unknown people can help you make a big decision." Skull Candy's website acknowledges this with their live product chat. (Henry Mason)

11.36am: Web in Travel host discussing social media fatigue with Mason and the audience. Mason says, “social media is not a marketing medium, it’s a communication medium. Communication is very powerful.” Something to think about everytime you get annoyed by celeb endorsements on Twitter.

11.39am: Welcoming Alan Soon from Yahoo Southeast Asia to the Social Media Week Singapore Keynote Address.

11.40am: Alan Soon addresses two concepts: “news as a product” and “news as a process”. Funny presentation on good ways to present news (as a product): Get a guy who has a symmetrical or really intent face and put him on the screen to make a headline exciting. Or you create a subscription model around one product and make a lot of money out of it.

11.44am: "What about 'news as a process'? This is where we are now. 1. The story never dies. We call these 'living stories'. Everytime we put a story out there in the world of internet now (and this is what we do at Yahoo), we come back to update it. We go to Twitter and Facebook, and see what people are saying about that story. Then we go back and change headlines, flip it around… 2. News as collaboration. The story is now not just about the journalist but about the community" (Alan Soon)
 

11.47am: “News is in permanent beta.” “If the news is important, it will find me.” Last week Yahoo installed a new social share feature which tells you what your friends are reading, with the basic assumption that you always want to read what your friends have read. Today, “you read what you are”, not “you are what you read”. (Alan Soon)



11.50am: We send out the question, "How do we overcome information overload, both as consumers and and as a brand?" to @alansoon and #smwsg. Let's see if it gets picked up. (Q&A)

11.53am: “You read what you are”, is it a worrying trend that we only share with people who share the same thoughts as us? So no social or cultural diversity?(Q&A)

11.56am: Kien Lee from Senatus demands to understand Mason’s concept of not having to use a social media marketing strategy. Mason answers, “When you develop a product and provide a service to always respond promptly to your customers, you quickly develop a communication process with them, which is what is key in social media.” [Q&A]

11:59am: “Online, all the magic of touching different bits of paper at the magazine stand, is gone. I hate to sound really negative but we’re all slaves to the information that we know we like. The element of discovery is missing in what we do online.” (Alan Soon)

12.01pm: Back to social media marketing strategy not being essential/important. “When does social media become too commercial until people lose interest in it as a social model?”(Q&A)

12.04pm: Alan and Henry continue to debate about this issue. Henry says Facebook is an example of brands that don’t use social media to make money. They make money to improve their social media service. Alan Soon is impressed by Gush Cloud and addresses it a few times throughout the session.

12.09pm: Privacy and censorship now being addressed. “Twitter has begun censoring its tweets. How do our guests see these curtailing social media?" Alan Soon: Because social media is so influential and capable the government is taking all sorts of interest in it… and sometimes for the wrong reasons." “I think people know now more than ever what they’ve signed up for, i.e. the privacy issue.” Henry Mason: “It’s going to be almost impossible to truly censor stuff because it’ll go somewhere else in the world, people will read about it." Alan Soon: "Privacy is often about control and people just want to feel like they have control. It’s only when you don’t know how much control you have that you get upset." (Q&A)

12.16pm: "When can Asia move from imitation to innovation?" Alan: Asia has come up with some fantastic products, and thye just need marketing. And the US is really good at that. A lot of has to do with hype, and not enough marketing.(Q&A)

12.19pm: "How do you get consumers to pay for your content?" Alan Soon: There are only three things online consumers are willing to pay for: Porn, Financial Information (stock quotes), Sports." Henry Mason divulges a little bit on how Trendwatching makes money: "Consumers pay for information on trends (B2B), things that will make them money, and tools and resources to work with that.

12.22pm: “We may bring in a Pulitzer winning writer, but if that person does not know SEO (Key theme here being discoverability.), you’re not going to get your content seen.” (Alan Soon)

12.23pm: We ask for the mic so we can get our question through. Alan Soon: You need to follow what traditional media have been doing for years... curation. You need to regain a voice of authority, that’s the kind of stuff that you need to do well online. For example, for today's session, we have a mediator. Henry Mason: "It’s not information overload, it’s 'filter failure'. There are tools and resources that help you work in that process.. authority filter and feedback from friends."

Read our interviews with the "stars" of Social Media Week, including one with Henry Mason, and other forms of coverage we have from the week-long event on our Event Coverage: Social Media Week Singapore page.

This post is part of our coverage for Social Media Week 2012 in Singapore. Click Event Coverage: Social Media Week for full coverage.

3.04pm: "Ultimately it's what I feel, whether it's good or bad, I have to back it up."(Hsueh Yun, Straits Times)

3.06pm: "Why should bloggers be any less legitimate than food journalists?" (Leslie Tay, @ieatishootipost)

3.22pm: "There is no such thing as a grace period for food bloggers. This is the internet age. If you're not ready, don't open." (LT)

3.23pm: "Singaporeans are suckers for two things: Really good deals and new things." - Wong Hoong An, @HungryGoWhere

3.24pm: "The reality is that the more popular bloggers are the ones that get it out first." (WHA)

3.26pm: "If you don't want to waste money and calories, research helps. But it's still up to consumers to make the decision." (LT)

3.34pm: "I never read other people's reviews." (HY)

3.39pm: "I don't expect bloggers or journalists to write about a place when I invite them for a tasting." (Geraldine Kan, Linea Communication)

3.40pm: "Whether or not I write about something is at my own discretion." (WHA)

3.56pm: "You should write simply, not simplistically." (HY)

3.57pm: "Most people are not looking for an essay. They just want to know which dishes to try." (WHA)

4.02pm: "We need to tell people what it's really like." (HY on negative reviews)

4.03pm: "It's very risky to write a negative review in our environment, people will sue you. I personally don't usually write negative reviews unless I have something positive to say." (LT)

4.10pm: "Some people think there should be a code of ethics that bloggers should adhere to, but it's the wild wild west." (LT)

4.12pm: "I might become broke but at least I can say whatever I want." (HY)

Social Media Week is a global conference that celebrates digital media with creative experiments, exciting (and sometimes heated) panel discussions and great case studies. In the past three years, it has expanded to 21 cities like Milan, New York, Paris, Rome, Tokyo and now, Singapore.

Here are the events we'll be attending and the coverage you can expect from us: 

February 13

11am: Keynote Address featuring Henry Mason of Trendwatching.com (Read our interview with him.) and Alan Soon of Yahoo Southeast Asia. If you've missed both the physical event and the live streaming, check out our live blog post for key moments.  

6pm: How to be a Trendspotter with Trendwatching.com hosted by Henry Mason revealed some of the best trendhunting sources in the world. Follow @IS_magazine for highlights and explore the #smwsg hashtag for more. 

February 14

6pm: Urgent Genius was a hilarious sharing session of some of the world's quirkiest brainwaves, most of which revolved around romantic notions in honor of Valentine's Day. Check out #urgentgenius and our tweets for highlights, as well as resources and updates shared by Iris Worldwide.

February 15

3pm: The Great Food Debate will see a Straits Times food writer and a food blogger fight it out over whose opinions are more credible. We'll be live-blogging this event.

5pm: The Women in Tech Panel Discussion will feature Girls in Tech founder Adriana Gascoigne, who we've interviewed. (Live tweets from @IS_magazine)

We will also be tweeting from various afternoon speakeasies. For details on all the events happening in conjunction with Social Media Week, log on to their official website.

Bophut Boutiques

Hansar Samui
A beachfront boutique gem at the end of Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village centered around a 30m saltwater infinity pool. Rooms follow open floor plans, with nothing blocking your view from the door to the terrace (even from the toilet). It’s probably your best bet on the island if you don’t want to be marooned at a resort.
Rooms: 74 rooms and all of them impressively spacious. Six of them are  beachfront, but we found the SeaView (toward the back) to be better value.
F&B: Chef Stephen Jean Dion serves both Thai and French Mediterranean tasting menus at the beachside H Bistro.
Rates: Starting at 9,000 baht ($360) per night for a SeaView Room, including breakfast for 2, through end April. Beachfront goes for 14,500 baht ($585).

Suralai
If Entourage’s Vinnie Chase came to Samui, this is where he’d stay. It’s an exclusive private villa set high in the hills above Bophut Bay, sleeping up to 12 and with on-site manager, housekeepers and private chef. It boasts a 20m infinity pool and incredible views across to Koh Pha Ngan. It’s pretty remote and only worth it with three or more couples, but it’s slick. Real slick.
Rooms: Two master suites, three king bed rooms, one twin bed room. The open-plan living area, complete with 50-inch plasma and wrap-around glass veranda, is where the magic really happens.
F&B: Breakfast is either continental or full international style—the only downer being that you have to commit to timing the night before. For other meals, the house chef can tailor Thai and Western cuisine to your preference.
Rates: From US$1,400-2,500 ($1,795-3,205) per night, depending on the season.

W Retreat Koh Samui
“Cute!” and “Fun!”, W is the hip kid of the Starwood family. Free ice cream and soft drinks, cool as phunk music everywhere piped out of rock speakers, purple tennis court. Not the best beach for swimming, but you have your own pool.
Rooms: 75 pool villas; basic is 233sqm, steps away from the beach, with 11m pool in a walled garden plus all mod cons (46” TV, wireless dock for your iPhone, Bliss hair/skin products).
F&B: The Kitchen Table (where you get breakfast), does all-day dining with a view, but the venue that gets all the hype is Namu, the cozy dinner-only eatery. For our money, we like the awesome beach bar Sip, for its cool design and expertly mixed cocktails.
Rates: Starting at 17,000 baht ($688) per night for their Retreat and Surrender package, which includes airport transfers; through March 31.

Lamai Resorts

Banyan Tree Samui
Just coming up the driveway of this gorgeous resort, tucked away at the south-eastern coast of the island, is an impressive sight, but it’s the property’s stunning views of Lamai Bay, a “private” beach cove (where you can laze or do water sports) and cheerful staff that’ll win you over. All in all, ideal for those who want to spoil themselves thoroughly.
Rooms: 88 luxe and spacious hilltop villas (including a very exclusive 316sqm Presidential Pool Villa which is really two villas joined by a sala), each with a living room, a large patio complete with sunbeds and its own private infinity pool (which your plush king-size bed looks out on).
F&B: All-day dining and international buffet breakfasts at The Edge, fresh char-grilled seafood at Sands by the beach and the real star: their signature restaurant, Saffron, perched on the very top of the property, featuring contemporary Thai cuisine (complete with spectacular views).
Rates: From 34,780 baht ($1,397) per night for a Deluxe Pool Villa, including daily breakfast for two through March 31.

Koh Samui Resort & Spa
This Sino-Thai gem is truly unique in its design, art and architecture, with the owner’s slightly eccentric concept (tycoon builds museum-like replica of his childhood fishing village) matching perfectly with Le Meridien’s every-pebble-has-astory- for-you-to-discover spin. It’s arguably four-star (food and service were nothing to write home about when we visited), but we love it. Another plus is the location, on a quiet beach (Lamai) but within walking distance of the real world.
Rooms: 14 villas, 63 suites, from the 50sqm Plunge Pool (basically a huge tub in your bathroom) Suite to 145sqm Ocean Front Pool Suite.
Check out: The grounds, the “Hub” (courtyard lobby) and the cavern-like spa. You won’t find a more photogenic resort of this size anywhere.
Rates: Unbeatable Thailand offer starts at 5,625 baht ($226) per night for Verandah Suite; through March 31. Villa Special offer starts at 9,999 baht ($403) for Pavilion Pool Villa; through December 20.

Remote Retreats

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Thailand
After checking in at the “holy (cow)!” reception area that overlooks the entire 17,000sqm resort located on the island’s extreme Northwest tip, you take a rollercoaster buggy ride to your villa that’ll make you feel like you might be trapped here. Not that you’d want to leave. An all-inclusive escape for people who “deserve” and appreciate five really big stars, with exemplary service and facilities. Staff to guest ratio feels like 20 to 1; even the gardeners greet you.
Rooms: 60 luxurious hillside villas (plus 13 private residence rentals), each with a huge patio, infinity pool, the biggest “minibar” setup we’ve ever seen (with digital temp fridge, wine cooler, Lavazza pod machine) and sea views (some less obstructed by trees than others).
F&B: Amazing breakfasts (see Where to Dine, previous page). Head to the casual beachside restaurant Pla Pla for simple grilled seafood, then Lan Tania at night for romantic views.
Rates: Starting at 26,550 baht ($1,071) per night for a One-Bedroom Villa with daily breakfast for two.

Six Senses Hideaway Samui - A Sala Getaway
Sprawled across the island’s northernmost peninsula, discretion is the name of the game at this celebrity favorite. The beach is nothing to shout about and the private pool decks can be a little buggy, but you’re treated like royalty (makes sense: the couple at the next table probably are royalty) and the location is truly stunning. Wait till you see the view from the Spa treatment rooms.
Rooms: 66 villas, 55 of them with private pools; and all adhering to the rustic chic look—think thatched roofs and outdoor showers—so beloved of the jetset. There’s also The Retreat—600sqm of exclusive bragging rights.
F&B: There are fewer more dramatic dinner spots (anywhere, not simply Samui) than Dining on the Rocks. And their breakfast buffet is up there with the Four Seasons.
Rates: Starting at 15,000 baht ($605) per night for a Hideaway Villa. The “Rediscover the Romance” package includes two nights’ accommodation and lots of private couple-y stuff; 67,804 baht ($2,735) for a Pool Villa over a weekend in March.

New Arrivals

Conrad Koh Samui
Opened late last year (and, based on our stay, still several months away from being truly ready), this extraordinary creation sees 80 freestanding villas perched on a sheer cliff; every one of them with its own infinity plunge pool. On-site restaurant Jahn promises much once it gets a bit busier. Nightly rates run from US$700 ($890) for an Oceanview Villa to US$2,000 ($2,545) for the two-bedroom Royal Ocean, including breakfast.

Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort
The hottest new property on the island finally opened on February 1 having taken over and renovated the old Meredien spot. Hidden away on a West Coast clifftop (like Conrad; both boast great sunsets), there are 79 rooms, suites and beachfront villas, and no less than seven swimming pools. Introductory rates start at 17,195 baht ($795) per night until end March, including breakfast and welcome cocktails.

Why Koh Samui is the hot new holiday option