For 120 years it’s been the preferred lodging for film stars, writers, loyalty and politicians but Raffles Hotel Singapore began life as a 10-bedroom bungalow.

When Tigran Sarkies migrated to Malaysia from Armenia in the early 1880s, he hoped to prosper from the business opportunities the Orient had to offer. The 23-year-old bought a large home in Georgetown, Penang, in north-west Malaysia and by 1884, he had turned it into the Eastern Hotel.

Tags: Hotel,Raffles,Singapore
Categories: Odds And Ends
No Comments »

A Darwin Award is a tongue-in-cheek honor named after evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin. “Awards” have been given for people who “do a service to Humanity by removing themselves from the Gene pool”, i.e., lose the ability to reproduce, as early as 1863. It is for people who kill, or in rare cases, sterilize themselves accidentally by attempting to do stupid feats.

Here is the glorious winner:

1. When his 38-caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach, California, Would-be Robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.

Tags: Award,Darwin,Hotel,Robber
Categories: Humour
No Comments »