DAODAO:

Hi, may I know how much u got for the sharp plasma cluster and I am looking at honeywell 18200 but is not so cheap

I got mine for $599 at Gain City (Changi City Point) but that's the last piece. Last month they also sell a Honewell True HEPA filter for $589 but it's out of stock till mid-April.

In the end, if you are looking at just HEPA filters, you may want to buy one that's base on area covered. I got mine that covers about 60 meter square. Quite a large area.

I read somewhere that some parents will buy 3-4 personal air purifiers with HEPA filter and put one in the bedroom, one in study room, one in living room, etc. That's really kiasu but pretty effective if you have money to spare.

Actually, to decide which air filter, you just need to know the following facts:


Haze particles are about 2.5 microns or smaller.

N95 masks can effectively filter fine particles that are about 0.1 – 0.3 microns.

A HEPA filter can remove particles up to 0.3 microns. Today, the market sells a HEPA12 and HEPA13. HEPA12 filters up to 99.5% of the pollutants while HEPA13 filters up to 99.97% of pollutants.

A True HEPA filter is the ultimate filter that adheres to the strictest standards. If you are a kiasu parent, True HEPA is the best. That is why Honeywell filter is so popular because it used True HEPA and they are found in almost all hospitals.

So my conclusion is:
1) If your family members have no respiratory problems, get any air filter that has a HEPA filter. HEPA12 is already good enough but if you are a little kiasu go for HEPA13.

2) If you have family members with respiratory issues like asthma, etc. Get an air filter with True HEPA filter and nothing else.

From what I know, Honeywell and Novita offers True HEPA filter and other brands like Sharp, Hitachi and Toshia offers HEPA filter.

How about other features found in the products like UV rays, Ionizer, Plasma Cluster, etc? Heck, if you are looking just to clear the haze, these things are not important.

I got my Sharp Plasma Cluster with HEPA12 last night and it works. I didn’t even turn on the Plasma Cluster thing.

I hope this helps you to decide.

FanFanX:

Has any one renew Myanmar maid passport before?

I called up the embassy and could not reach an answering machine.
Please help.
Thanks!

The easiest way is to go back to the maid agency and ask them to renew for you. Of course, you pay a small fee for their service but sure work well.

doryfish:

Anyone can advise how much is the airticket for a round trip to Yangon? I need to compensate my maid since she did not take her home leave.

Jetstar Asia has the cheapest rates. I think it's $100+- depending on the date.

I think many shops there would sell it. For me I got them at level 2, near the escalator.

Last time I went to Peninsula Plaza and get a Burmese-English dictionary and a English-Burmese dictionary. I got both for less than $10.


I use the English-Burmese dictionary to communicate with her and the maid will use Burmese-English dictionary to tell me what she needs.

vfong1:

Are burmese maids mostly Buddhist or Christian? Should teach them mandarin or English?

Myanmar is a Buddist country but they do have a lot of Christians in some of the states.

And, depending on where they live, they can speak basic English. Even then, they have very limited vocabulary so use simple English where possible.

I have met a maid who can speak perfect mandarin because she came from North-Eastern part of Myanmar, and it's just next to Yunnan.

Just go to any travel agent, pay $10 and they will get a visa for your maid in one week.


Bring along your maid’s work permit and passport.

hquek:

oh, not sure if it's common. with Indo helpers, they (used to) send letters home. My Myanmese helper won't even try - she will only call home. The prepaid envelops I bought for her totally never use.

That's because the postal services in Myanmar sucks... big time. Most of the time your mail will be lost.

There are a few ways to send money to Myanmar. Western Union is not possible at all.


Your maid have to go to Peninsula Plaza and "shop" around the various shops to ask if they can send money back to Myanmar on their behalf. Almost ALL the Myanmar shops in Peninsula Plaza allows your maid to send money back.

However, if you want a more trusted agent, you can ask them to go to level 3, Leo International as they send the money directly to Myanmar bank. My helper sent money via this agent without a single issue.