V1NCAR

 About V1NCAR

In 1989, a very industrious and young entrepreneur started Vincar Pte Ltd in the very competitive used car market.  His name is Vincent Tan.  With his wife, Marisa, who meticulously ran the administrative operations and a dedicated group of associates,  Vincent grew a humble business to the multi-brand New Car and Pre-owned Business Group that V1NCAR is known as today.

1989

2018 24 Leng Kee Road

2019 Listed

The AION Y plus is proof that you can have the cake and eat it.

Protect the mothership.  Invest in the EV business.

The problem with the IONIQ 5

 IONIQ 5 

Now that the IONIQ 5 has become available in Singapore, I think it is time to answer a few questions that buyers may ask.

DC Charging curve 58,2kWh

Peleng Trip Plan

Peleng Island - Sula Pitta Tour

Day 1 : 20th June 2023

1645 : Arrive at Terminal 3, GA837, SIN - JKT

1845 : Flight to Jakarta

1945 : Arrive in Jakarta

Free Time until Departure for Makassar

21.50 : Check in, GA654, JKT - Makassar (UPG)

22.50 : Flight to Makassar

Day 2 : 21st June, Makassar

02.20 : Arrive in Makassar International Airport

03.00 : Pick up by Hendra, Makassar Bird Guide, Breakfast, 

05.30 : onwards

Birding whole day, targets are black headed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Red Backed Thrush, Black ringed White eye, piping crow, pale bellied myna, Sulawesi Dwarf KF

1800 Dinner, Check in Hotel

Hotel - Ibis Budget, Makassar Airport

Day 3 : 22nd June 2023

0630 : Check out hotel

0700 : Transfer to Airport

10.00 : ID 6294, flight to Luwuk

11.15 : Arrive at Luwuk

11.45 Transfer to Ferry Terminal - Luwuk People's Port, by airport taxi

14.00 Ferry to Tabata, Peleng Island

17.00 Arrive at Tabata

17.30 Meet up with Alpian. Move to Alpian Homestay at Kotolomboy

Night activity - Owling

Day 4 : 23rd June 2023

Birding in Peleng Island

Day 5 : 24th Jun 2023

Birding in Peleng Island

Day 6 : 25th Jun 2023

09:00 :  Ferry to Luwuk

12.00 :  Arrive at Luwuk

12:15 : Taxi to Airport, lunch at airport ?

14:30 : ID 6293 , Luwuk to Makassar

15:45 : Arrive in Makassar

16.30 : Check-in hotel ?

Day 7 : 26th Jun 2023

15.45 : Pickup by Hendra, breakfast, few hours birding

12.20 : Arrive at Makassar airport (UPG)

14.20 : GA0655, UPG to CGK

16.00 : Arrive in CGK

18.40 : GA0822 Flight to SIN

21.25 : Arrive in SIN

Updated 2023.04.23 17.16

Reference:

Wong Lee Hong's account

Sula Pitta @ Peleng Island, Indonesia

A long but satisfying story. My earlier intention was to try for this together with Mahroji Akejawe in July/August this year. I was, however, getting restless while waiting out this period. Coincidentally, Boas Emmanuel and Khaleb were both in Singapore and Boas asked if he could accompany me for this trip. I said sure and a few weeks later, the itch was scratched.

Getting to his Pitta was not a simple walk. The shooting locations located at about 570m elevation just slightly beyond Kokolomboi village. We went up pillioned on motorbike but there were more than 5 occasions when I had to disembark and walk the steepest/slippery sections. Gosh, did I need the exercise.

The hardworking local guide Jo Ibo Lausala set up this new site in readiness for my trip a couple of weeks back. The hide was constructed out of twigs and shrubs. A cosy hideout barely enough for 2 lens to poke out.

Fortunately, this Pitta was relatively fearless and very comfortable with this environment. In the end, I spend 4 hours in the hide and 1k pix to show for my effort. This was an immaculate male. Perhaps the higher elevation had helped to maintain its plumage and grooming?

This was also a fun and relax 3 day trip. We ate groundnuts freshly pulled from the earth where it grew, foraging nuts dropped from a big tree, water melons/cucumber from the driver's (Ali) farm up in the mountain, stole some wild tomatoes from Alpian's relative fields, saw 38yo Alpain climbed the coconut tree like someone half his age, rode pillion and traversed the mountain range on a motorbike.

I would recommend this trip to anyone who seek this Pitta and any of the individuals mentioned above would be able to help organize and advise the way to get there. Getting there is easy. Fly from Makassar or Mandado to Luwuk, catch a daily 2.5hr ferry departing 2pm at Luwuk Ferry to Tataba. Good luck my fellow Pitta lovers

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 and how it is dying a slow death in the Singapore market.

While I was still roaring like a lion, I was involved in some discussion on how to an EV can avoid high OMV by offering Battery as a Service.

It might be possible but the context has to be complete re-evaluated from the key area - who owns the battery ?

To escape taxes, let's imagine that the IONIQ 5 that is manufactured in Singapore is equipped with an ultra small battery, to reduce the overall OMV of the vehicles and hence reduced ARF.  It may seem pointless as the gahmen is currently giving $25,000 rebate for top tier VES and another $20,000 for EV Early Adopter's incentives.

It may also seem pointless during high COE premiums days such as now.

Various Hooded Pitta

 

Distribution of Pitta Sordida and its subspecies

Pitta Sordida palawanesis

Palawan, Philippines

Pitta Sordida sordida

La Mesa eco park, Quezon, Philippines

Pitta Sordida mulleri

Sabah/Sarawak/

Eastern Hooded Pitta

Pitta Sordida novaeguineae

Photo by Philip Ng on FB

BIAK HOODED PITTA

Anawat's photo in FB

Pitta Sordida rosenbergii

Minahasa Pitta

Irawan Halir photo in FB

Pitta Sordida Forsteni

Electrification in Public Transport

Taxi and PHV companies bosses always have to deal with their down line telling them that it is very hard to rent out the EVs in their fleet. I absolutely agree that first movers to EVs should not be just enthusiastic people like us, but public transport operators who actually contribute more CO2 from their fleet due to the mileage that they are racking up every other day. The public buses are owned by LTA and slowly but surely, it will move towards electrification - BEVs and hybrids. The charging infrastructure for our entire bus network however, is still work in progress.

Getting to Peleng Island from Luwuk, Sulawesi

From Singapore, to Makassar.  

SCOOT

07.45 ---} 10.35

From Makassar to Luwuk.

BATIK AIR

10.00 ---} 11.15

12.35 ---} 13.50

From Luwuk to Peleng Island by ferry.

??

Getting to Sumba Island from Singapore

 Scoot sin to dps

07.15 -> 09.55 

Wings air dps to tmc

14.15 -> 15.45

Wings air tmc to dps

12.35 -> 13.55

Scoot dps to sin

19.10 -> 21.30

Let's KIV this trip... so tiring ! 

Birding Trip to Mt Mahawu & Tangkoko 2023-02-18 to 2023-02-25

 

Birdhouse Homestay Tangkoko

Jalan Rata, Kelurahan Batuputih Bawah, Kecamatan Ranowulu Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia 95535

Phone +62 852-5593-4785

Email : irawanhalir@gmail.com

Tour Itinerary

Prepared for : Ng Yeow Ming Vincent

                       Steven Heng

                        Wong Weng Fai

Start Date : 18th February 2023, End Date : 25th February 2023

This is the itinerary and the budget for the tour in Tangkoko, Tomohon an Tambun nesting ground for 8D/7N.

Itinerary:

Day 1: 2023-02-18

Airport-Tomohon (1 hour drive) we will photograph Sulawesi Pitta.

Accomodations

Mountain View Resort & Spa, Tomohon

Jalan Kali - Qnilow, Lingkungan VI, Kinilow, Tomohon Utara, Tomohon City, North Sulawesi 95362, Indonesia

Tel :  +62 431 3158666

Day 2: 

Tomohon for Scaly-breasted kingfisher and Sulawesi Pitta.

Lunch

Gardenia Country Inn 

Jl. Kawiley, Kakaskasen Dua, Kec. Tomohon Utara, Kota Tomohon, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia

Tel : +62 823-9524-0659

Accommodations: 

Mountain View Resort & Spa, Tomohon

Jalan Kali - Qnilow, Lingkungan VI, Kinilow, Tomohon Utara, Tomohon City, North Sulawesi 95362, Indonesia

Tel :  +62 431 3158666

Day 3:

We will use Half day Birding for another species such as: Sulawesi blue  flycatcher, black crown white eye, Sulawesi woodpecker, Yellow-sided flowerpecker, grey saided flowerpecker,etc and then Go directly to Kotamobagu (4-5  hours drive)

Stay at the Hotel - 

Hotel Sutanraja Kotamobagu

Jl. Siliwangi, Kobo Besar, Kec. Kotamobagu Tim., Kota Kotamobagu, Sulawesi Utara 95716, Indonesia•+62 434 2621888

Day 4:

We will weak up early around 4am and From the hotel in Kotamobagu drive for 1,5 hours to Tambun (Maleo site). When we finish with Maleo, we will have lunch and Go directly to Tangkoko (6-7  hours drive) stay at Birdhouse Homestay Tangkoko.

Day 5 and Day 6:

In Tangkoko, we will have breakfast at 5, after breakfast, we will go to the jungle to photograph such as: Green backed kingfisher,   Lilac cheek kingfisher, Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher, Ashy woodpecker, Purple winged roller, yellow billed malkoha, pale blue Monarch, Ruddy kingfisher, etc.

Accommodations:

Birdhouse Homestay Tangkoko.

Day 7:

In the morning, we will go to the over fiew of Tangkoko to photograph some canopy bird such as: Sulawesi hawk eagle, Sulawesi triller, White neck myna, finch billed myna, Sulawesi crested myna, Azure rump perrot, Yellow breasted rackettail,etc.

Around 2pm, we will go by boat in search Great-billed Kingfisher.

Accommodations:

Birdhouse Homestay Tangkoko.

Day 8:

If we still have enough time, we will check again at the view point or try to spotted the bird where we miss it on the day 5 an Day 6.

After that, drop you to the Airport.

Price:

USD 1375/person 

Price include:

-accomodation with single room each.

-Meals (B,L,D)

-Transport

-1 time boat trip in Tangkoko

-entrance fee 

-guide fee

Not include:

-personal expenses 

-laundry 

-alcoholic

Feb 14th 2023 - a new tiered ARF system.

 The account below is pure fiction.

From all the easy money that I made from the crypto fiasco, I have chosen to stay put in my 5-rm HDB flat and have put a deposit down for my dream car instead - a Ferrari F8 Spyder. I was a little upset last year when the taxman in Singapore decided to revise the tiered ARF in Budget 2022. I took it in my stride as the increase was just a bit more. Then I took a hit in Crypto and because I was smart, I was able to cut my losses early and did not really suffer big losses. My budget for my spanking new Ferrari F8 Spyder is still there and is earning good interest in government bonds. My F8 Spyder finally got allocated and will arrive in March, with delivery in 2023 April. To play a little prank on myself, I was planning to register the car on 1st of April 2023 and I have successful secure the number plate SXX14X as well ! After I secure my hopeful $105k COE next round, I will be all SET !

My dear future DPM gave me the best Valentine's Day present today. When I heard his speech, the first thing I did was to check what was the average OMV of my spanking new F8 Spyder. LTA's website told me $321,631. I punched into my excel sheet and almost fainted. The increase in ARF is going to be $267,631 !!

And to make matters worse, he has also decided to limit PARF of my car at the end of 10 years to $60,000. It was previously 50% of ARF paid.

2023-02-12 4 species of Tailorbird in 1 destination

 

It is a Sunday morning, it was supposed to be beautiful, but the weather chose let the sky pour instead.  While everyone were still in bed, I was up and about, raring to go.  So I went about my usual morning routine - sip my coffee and eat my breakfast.

A Dove that is threatening to drive us KuKu - Oriental Turtle Dove

 I was quite astonished when the Oriental Turtle Dove was added to the Singapore List.  It was a single record from Sister's Island. 

An adult of the nominate subspecies orientalis recorded on Sisters’ Island during an island survey by Camphora Pte Ltd on 28 Nov 2018 for SDC. This was the first record for Singapore.

Then in 11th Jan 2023, at Rower's Bay, somebody shot one with his Handphone.  Arsehole said he shot Sunday 8th Jan 2023.

He said he shot near the toilet while waiting for the Osprey to appear.

The news came on 4th Feb 2023, 1 bird spotted at Lim Chu Kang Lane 3.  A twitch by a fairly large group on 5th Feb 2023 yielded nothing but a confiding Rusty Breasted Cuckoo.  I went again in the evening.  Met the guy who got the shot - he said it was raining when he spotted the bird.  Bird stayed for more than half and hour before flying off in the direction of Lim Chu Kang Lane 2.  It was a northerly direction towards Johor, Malaysia.  Was this the same bird that was spotted at Rower's Bay in January.

It is another lifer that has eluded many.

Comments - COE Quota and Trends 2023

You can say anything you want, but if you want to be saying anything near relevant, you need to have facts to back up what you are saying.

As a background reference, it is always interesting to note the history of PQP paids cars on the road.

In 2022, 2017 cars with 5-year PQP paid will need to be de-registered.

Cat A - 13643, Cat B - 8104, Total = 21,747

In 2023, 2018 cars with 5 year PQP paid will need to be de-registered.

Cat A - 14781, Cat B - 6893, Total = 21674

To note - in the couse of its 5 years PQP life, the cars could have already been de-registered due to damage or some other reasons.

POTENTIAL DE-REGISTRATIONS INDICATES QUOTA SIZE

Then it is fundamentally necessary to look at the car population by age on the last day of 2022 and 2021.

At the end of 2020, there were 18677 vehicle reaching the end of its 1st COE life.

At the end of 2021, market size was Cat A 19,357, Cat B 25,879, total 45236

At the end of 2021, there were 13290 vehicles reaching the end of it 1st COE life, 10991 vehicles could have renewed its COE in 2021 to start its 2nd COE life.

COE renewal ratio was 10991/18677 = 58%, 7686 vehicles were de-registered because it reached the end of its 10-year COE lifespan.

As noted, in 2022, 2017 cars with 5-year PQP paid will need to be de-registered. Cat A - 13643, Cat B - 8104, Total = 21,747

7686 plus 21747 = 29433

At the end of 2022, market size (based on registrations) was Cat A 13,811, Cat B 16,661, total 30472

Wow wow wow !

At the end of 2022, there are 10969 vehicles reaching the end of its 1st COE life, 6196 vehicles could have renewed its COE in 2022 to start its 2nd COE life.

COE renewal ratio was 6196/10989 = 56%

So what do we think the market size for 2023 could be ?

If we take a conservative 50% of 10969 vehicles renewing COE in 2023, we will have 5435 vehicles going to the scrap yard.  Adding 21674 vehicles (5 year PQP renewal in 2018), we have a potential market size of 27109.

The LTA disrupted the market by changing average of 3 months to average of 6 months and then to average of 12 months now.  This will slow down the slowing down, but as de-registrations are going to be lower in the entire calendar year of 2023, the slow down will set in second half of 2023 and beyond.  Even when de-registrations start to expand in the 1st half of 2024, the market will be set back by this method that will even out the expansion of the market in 2024.

That is a double whammy to me.  Good for government revenue, bad for car buyers !

My conclusion for 2023 are as follows.

1. Market size will definitely be smaller than 2022, market size (based on registration at the end of 2023) will be about 28,000.

2. The expansion due to LTA adopting a 12 month average will cease from 3rd Quota period of 2023.

3. The LTA may expand 12-month average to 18-months in the second half of 2023, reducing fluctuations in the COEs available in each quarters.

4.  Premiums are set to hover closer to the 90k mark for Cat A and 120k mark for Cat B.  The gap is expected to widen as there will be noticeably lesser COEs at each bidding.

30th October 2022 - Singapore's 1st Brown Breasted Flycatcher

Norvin Ng was on a mission that day to find another flycatcher - the Chinese Blue Flycatcher.  According to a friendly account of the incident which led to the record of Singapore's 1st Brown Breasted Flycatcher - they were playing back the tape of the Chinese Blue Flycatcher and this "Asian Brown Flycatcher" responded.  Nobody was interested in this bird and he grudgingly obliged by taking a few shots.

The few shots made him of two who has ticked the Brown Breasted Flycatcher in Singapore.  It is not unlike striking 4D, just that no money to collect.

Longer-billed than all other Muscicapa species in Singapore, but bill not as strong and bulky as in Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher. Lower mandible almost completely pale yellowish, unlike Asian Brown Flycatcher and Dark-sided Flycatcher, which have mostly dark lower mandibles. Warm rufous fringes to wing coverts recall Brown-streaked Flycatcher, but that species lacks the sharply contrasting white patch on lores. Ferruginous Flycatcher has a richer orange wash on breast and flanks, which are a drabber buffish colour for Brown-breasted. Legs are also paler than other Muscicapa species.

*added by Vincent Ng on 5th February 2023.

Grey Streaked Flycatcher vs Dark Sided

 Observations by Dave Bakewell.

The different structure of this bird is apparent – it’s a larger, bigger-billed bird with a different head shape. There’s a great comparison of the structure of both species here. The bill of Grey-streaked is mostly dark (often looking all black). The breast streaks are distinct, long, pencil-like marks against a whitish background, quite different from either Dark-sided or Brown-streaked.

https://digdeep1962.wordpress.com/tag/flycatcher/

USB Stuff for Pioneer

 

one set of this

one set of this

Original height about 34mm by 60mm

CITRINE WAGTAIL ID

 Last Sighting in Singapore 2018-11-18

Differentiated by the prominent supercilium that goes around the rear ear-coverts; the dark brow above the supercilium/side of crown; brownish forehead; darkish lower mandible. 

Temminck's Stint ID

 Another drab looking wader about the size of Red Neck Stints and Little Stints, (13.5–15 cm Length).

Has shorter, greenish yellow legs compared to Little Stints that have dark/black legs.

Legs are also shorter compared to Little Stints.

 In flight, sides of tail flash bright white, unlike grayish of Little Stint.

photo taken in johor rice fields.

photo taken in Ibraraki, Japan

photo taken in India

photo taken in Thailand

taken in Penang, Malaysia

taken in Cyprus

taken in Israel

* photos are downloaded from Facebook.  Copyrights may apply.