The Journey III

Events unfolded quickly over the next 2 days.

Long learnt from Mr Chow that there would be another day of interview the next day, and a decision would be made at the end of the second day. If he was selected, he would need to attend a 5 day training course here in the city.

Should his performance be unsatisfactory during the training, he would not qualify for employment, and would need to go back to his village.

Lodging was provided for the length of his stay at a dormitory nearby, but the cost of the return ticket would be borne by him if he was not selected for the job.

"So what is your decision?" asked Mr Chow.

Long thought about the week that he would need to spend alone in the city. He had never been out in the city for so many days. How are his parents to cope in the field for the week that he is away? The potatoes and yam were ready for harvesting, which meant that a lot of back-breaking digging work. The ox was needed to till the rice field, and the pumpkin seeds were ready for planting.....

Thoughts raced through Long's mind.

Never had he encountered any company that would spend time training him either. Either way, it was an opportunity for learning, and Long decided that nothing bad would come out of it. "At some point in time, my family would have to cope without me." Long gritted with determination.

***************************************

Long made it amongst 20 selected candidates for employment in Singapore. He later learnt that there were 150 applicants for the positions, and remembered to say a prayer to thank his ancestors for his good fortune.

Over the next 5 days, Long attended lessons from 830am-430pm. For the first time in 3 years he left high school, he was required to converse in the english language with fellow compatriots.

He felt that a lucky star sent by his ancestors had fallen on him to be given such an opportunity to learn english for free. Long knew the advantages of so many doors that would open for him if he could get his english on track.

China was changing, so rapidly that personal fortunes could be amassed overnight, if only one met the right contacts, at the right time, with the right skills, and right attitude.

Long knew he possessed only the last of the quartet, but skills he would work hard to learn, and NOW was the right time, and the the demi-god was his lifeline contact. Of the 13 billion people in this country, this demi-god had chosen to give me a chance; Long knew he had to hold on.

After all, his father had endowed upon him the power and determination of the most powerful mystical creature in history - the Dragon. "I am the descendant of the Dragon!"

********************************************

Long re-learnt his ABCs and 123s from the lady demi-god. In class, Long met 19 other individuals from provinces all over China who had, like him, travelled to this strange, enchanting city in search of that ONE life-changing opportunity.

Xing came from a well-to-do family in the city. He wanted to travel out of China to meet new people and experience living in a cosmopolitan city like Singapore. "He'd do well, his English is good. He's trendy, and he's outgoing." Long thought as he looked again at Xing's Nike Air Max and Dri-fit attire.

Jiang, like him came from a village. Her parents were apple farmers, as their village was located near a scenic coastal city famed for Fuji Apples. Shy and unassuming, she was not unattractive. And she worked hard at learning English from the lady demi-god. At lunch breaks, she practises with other girls just so she'd get it right when the demi-goddess came back from lunch.

Dong had similar working experience working in the same industry. He knew what to expect, but had problems with the english language. His skill set was excellent, but struggled with the language. Dong kept defaulting into pu tong hua as he was at least a good 5-6 years older than the rest of the group. He'd been out of school for almost 10 years, and relearning the language was proving more difficult for him as compared to the rest.

The Demi-goddess made them converse in English daily, simulating everyday encounters they would meet at the workplace. She corrected pronunciation, drilled into them phrases they would need to use at work, and while living in Singapore.

She taught them skills: how to tell the time, how to ask for directions, how to order food at a hawker centre etc. Scenarios were created where the class had to role play a customer and a staff and the class critiqued one another.

While she was fierce, the Demi-goddess also made sure she adjusted Long's expectation on the cost of living in Singapore.

Each day she came into class and asked if anyone wanted to leave. Each day she made the class tell her the cost of renting a room, the cost of a bus / MRT ride, and the cost of a McDonald's meal in Singapore. And she asked them to calculate how much each person could expect to save from a SGD 1000 salary per month. And she would ask again if anyone wanted to leave.

Over 5 days, the class of 20 learnt to tell one another what they ate or did the day before. Leant to tell the correct date and time. Learnt to ask and give directions. Rehearsed workplace scenarios in role plays, correcting themselves in the process.

Long could not understand or explain it. He felt a sense of belonging at the end of the 5 days with this group of total strangers. It was beyond what he had ever imagined or experienced in his lifetime within the village.

The Demi-goddess chose all but one of them at the end. That one person not selected was sent home. Bad attitude, she said.

****************************************************

The last day of class approached before the Demi-goddess was to depart for Singapore.

She told them about the climate in Singapore, showed them the currency, the map and bus/train guides so they could be prepared for living in Singapore.

"I expect no less then total preparation from you when you arrive in Singapore." she said in her crisp accented pu tong hua.

It was amazing, Long thought, how the demi-goddess could speak like that, switching between languages effortlessly. And she told them that this is common in Singapore. "But don't take for granted that all Chinese speak mandarin, and not all mandarin is spoken by Chinese. Singapore is NOT like China, not everyone speaks mandarin. Everyone speaks English. English! If you don't make yourself understood or understand others, you will never succeed on the job or in Singapore. I will send you back to China! Do you understand this?"

Singapore, the land of the abundant and talented, Long thought to himself, and secretly told himself he would have this effect rub off on him after 2 years on Singaporean soil.

Towards the end of the day, the Demi-goddess reminded them on subtle cultural differences between Chinese and Singaporeans. "don't stand so close to others! never touch anyone with any part of your body or else the police can be called in for molest!"

She told them to queue up for public transport, not to block doorways of buses and trains, allow other users to alight before boarding etc. "How strange that she has this power to instil upon us in 5 days what the government has been trying to do for the past 20 years!" Long thought.

Long later learnt from Jiang that she also reminded the girls to shave their underarms - something that drew giggles and amazement. "What's the purpose of that?" Long wondered, but didn't spend much time pondering as he thought about his new life ahead.

The one thing that disturbed Long was that he was told to change his clothing frequently. "Never wear the same outfit again for consecutive days without washing! Please!" the Demi-goddess pleaded.

This was something which took everyone by surprise. It was common practice and widely understood that one only has limited sets of clothing for outings. In Long's case, he had been wearing his white shirt, pants and polished leather shoes for the past week now. It was all the 'outing' clothes he had to his name. How was he to find a new set of clothes to wear for each day of the week?!

Demi-goddess launced into a lecture about personal hygiene, bactorial growth, body odour and the humid climate of Singapore. She went further about clean socks, smelly feet, and where to purchase anti-odour foot spray and deodourant.

While Long found this information extremely useful, he wondered if all Singaporeans ladies were as candid as this Demi-goddess about body hair, odour, feet and all amongst other things. Was there anything taboo to this lady at all?

"Don't have unprotected sex." she said. "Ladies, you are not to get pregnant or I will send you back to here. You will lose your work permit and you have to bear the cost of the air ticket."

*********************************

As Long was ushered from place to place over the next few days for health checks, passport application, and work permit application, he wondered how long he would need to repay the rmb 40000 loan he would have to take to buy this opportunity to the Land of Plenty, Singapore.

He also wondered where he was to get money to buy more clothes (a frivolous luxury according to Long) as instructed by the Demi-goddess.

When all was done and ready, he finally bought a train ticket to his village. It would be his last train ride on the hard seat compartment, until his return 2 years later. Long bought steamed corn to accompany him on his return journey and settled into the hard seat. Thoughts swirled around his mind as he gnawed on the corn.

Long thought to himself, he has proven himself worthy of his name, and brought glory to his village and family to be the Chosen One to work overseas.

He now had only one path ahead, to work and send money back to his village. To build a better house for his family and fellow villagers, to repay the loan taken from the village head and villagers, to save money so his little sister could marry into a better family.

The hopes of his family, his clan, his village, now rested on the dragon's descendant who will journey far to pursue the dream of those who placed their hopes on his shoulders.

The Journey II

Long endured a long night on the train with little sleep on the hard seat.

Buying a ticket on a soft seat would have been a frivolous luxury he could ill afford now. Buying a ticket on an express train to shorten his journey to 9 hours was likewise. Long is a frugal man, like his father.

Finishing his last bit of steamed corn for breakfast, he heard the train pull into the city's station. He got out and adjusted his eyes and ears to the humming of the city life. It was a different world from his village 15 hours away.

Long waited at the main gate of the train station, along with possibly several thousand others. All travellers, like him. Why were they here, where were they going to? Each had his own tale to tell, but Long's focus at present was to find Mr Chow.

Soon he heard a man calling "Mr Chow! Mr Chow!" and realised that this man was gathering a group of possibly 50-60 others who had arrived at the station. He seemed to be in charge.

"Those looking for Mr Chow from XX agency, meet here!" the man bellowed.

"Now listen carefully. .... " The man gave instructions for them and they were herded into a bus to be transported to a hotel where the interview was held.

Long waited for 5 hours for his turn at the hotel. There were 75 applicants for the job, and each had waited for his/her turn to enter the interview room.

Long was told that this was a large company based in Singapore. They were willing to pay 5000 rmb per month. That's more than 5 times what he would earn in the city each month! No wonder there were so many applicants. However they needed applicants who were able to converse in English.

Long prayed to his ancestors as each applicant came out from the interview room that he would be amongst the chosen ones. Some came out hopeful, others just shook their heads.

4 hours had passed since he arrived, and he had been seated in line, waiting for his interview.

At 1pm, Mr Chow announced that the interviewers had decided to break for lunch, and the interview would resume at 2pm. Late comers would be banned from the interview immediately as it is a sign of utmost disrespect to the potential employer.

Long caught sight of the demi-gods - the interviewers who would decide upon his fate - as they walked out of the interview room. His heart skipped a beat as he saw a full head of blonde hair walk past him.

"Lao wai?!" (a foreigner?!) Long had been hoping that he could still convince the interviewer of his physical abilities and hardworking qualities in pu tong hua if his command of the English language failed him. He knew that there were many Chinese in Singapore, and communication would not be a major barrier for him.

But, a lao wai interviewer threw Long totally off course. As he paid his 2rmb for a quick lunch of rice, mince meat and cabbage at a xiao dian near the train station, he was in no mood to eat. Long was worried, and checked the large clock face of the train station frequently to make sure he would make it back to the hotel in time.

*********************************

Long knocked on the door, and readied himself to meet the demi-gods.

As he walked in he noticed the lao wai, and a young chinese lady seated next to him. The lady smiled and spoke to him in pu tong hua. "Ni Hao, we will be conducting the interview in English shortly. We will ask you questions and you are to perform the tasks asked of you. If you do not understand, just say so. If you do, go ahead and perform the tasks. Are you ready?"

That voice was melody to Long's ears as it steadied his beating heart. Eager and ready to please, Long cried out "Yes!"

Long performed the tasks to the best he could, like "pick up 2 red boxes", "put your hand on the table", "Put the small cup into the big box". At times he thought long and hard, and tried his luck. On tasks he could understand, he did them quickly, and stood upright with his hands behind his back, ready for the next command.

The lady seemed pleased, he thought, as he noticed the lao wai busy looking through his resume.

The lady asked Long about his family which he tried his best to converse in English - a speech he had rehearsed a million times in his head. Never mind if this didn't answer her question, just say something to show that you can speak English!

As his ended his rehearsed speech, Long heaved a silent sigh of relief and looked at the lady interviewer and her lao wai companion. The lao wai had finally spoken and Long could not understand a single word.

"I'm sorry. Please say it again." Long said.

Lao wai tried again, and Long stared at his own sweaty hands. The Lao Wai repeated himself, at a slower pace and looked at Long. The silence was compressing Long's head as each second passed.

Long was desperate. How is it that I cannot understand a single word? Panic set in.

Long's lips tremoured as he said "I'm sorry. Please say it again." the second time. Long wiped his brow with the back of his hand, and rubbed it on his black pants.

He dared not look at the interviewers for he felt he had failed. It was deeply embarrassing. Then Long heard the lady demi-god say something to the lao wai and they both seemed relax.

The lady finally spoke in pu tong hua "Thank you. Can you let me know what do you know about this job you are applying for? Why do you want to work overseas and what do you know about working in Singapore?"

Long tried his best in imagining what job tasks would be expected of him and explained to the lady, each time nervously watching her expression as he mentioned each task. She simply nodded, and at times smiled, which Long took as a positive sign of encouragement. The lao wai remained expressionless, which was a nagging worry.

And then Long spoke about his family in his village, and why he wanted to work overseas to earn more money to lift his family from poverty.

The lady then launched into detail about living costs in Singapore. Never had Long imagined that a meal in Singapore would cost 30-40rmb! And that taking a bus would cost some 10rmb one way! This was many many times what he would have to pay back here at home!

"So don't think that 5000rmb per month is a lot of money. You have to see things in perspective. 5000rmb in Singapore gets you as much stuff as 1000rmb back here, and possibly less as you have to factor in the cost of housing as well." Suddenly the lady's tone turned sombre.

"I will work hard, I am not afraid of hard work. I have worked in the farm all my life, and I am not afraid of hard work. I really hope you can give me a chance, please. I will work very hard."

Long pleaded, desperate to hold on to this long thin thread of hope he had been clinging on to. "It would be very honourable for my family if I can go overseas. Please give me a chance, I want to provide a better life for my little sister."

The lady looked bemused, a look that Long could not understand if it was something she had heard far too many times that day, or that she had really heard his cry of desperation. She ended the interview saying that she will inform the agent Mr Chow of her decision.

Long left the interview room, not knowing when he would be notified. From his experience, some employers decided on the spot, others waited for a day or two. Which meant he would need to stay at a dormitory while the results were being processed.

"Little sister, my fate is not in my hands."

The Journey I

It was a going to be a tiring day for Long. He had woken up at 5am, prepared his only white shirt, pants, and leather shoes, and before changing into his usual garb of blue cotton sleeveless shirt and shorts to tend the fields 5km from his house.

The fields that belong to his father were allocated by the provincial government. The crops which they rotated on this farm were sold to the local authorities in exchange for food rationing coupons. This was fast changing in recent years as farmers such as Long's family were allowed to sell to merchants in exchange for cash.

Long knew the crops would in turn, be traded at thousands of times the value which the merchants had paid for. But what could the farmers do? They had the shorter end of the stick as the local authorities dictated who farmers were allowed to sell their crops to. It was to sell, or risk having the crops go bad. Such was the way in the village.

Breakfast was thin gruel with beancurd sticks and salted egg. Long ate quickly as he knew he had much to accomplish for the day. He left for the fields hesitating for a moment to draw a long breath. "It might just be my last morning today" he thought with a tinge of sadness and a glimmer of hope in his heart.

By noon, his little sister brought his lunch, and sat alongside as Long ate. Rice, vegetables from the farm, and a salted egg.

"Will you travel again today?" she asked. "Yes" Long answered.

"When will you be back?"

"I don't know."

"Why not?"

"It's not up to me to decide." Long knew in his heart, his fate laid not in his hands. But in the hands of others, more powerful, more educated, more well to do.

He accepted that, like millions around him, he was born into a farmer's family, and is destined to take this path. He also accepted that his heart would yearn for his family if he were to leave them behind, his aging parents and young sister whom he adored.

But he must never show his emotions. A man must be brave, go forth into the world to earn big money and glorify the village and the family.

********************************

At 3pm, he was home, packed the few belongings he had into a plastic carrier, and changed into his thin white shirt. His mother tried her best to straighten the shirt with her hands, hoping her only son would be accepted at the interview.

Long carried with him his passport, his high school certificate, some undergarments and his only other set of home garments.

He bade his family farewell. He hoped he will return, as his heart missed them so. Yet he hoped also that he would be amongst the chosen ones this time, unlike the numerous times he made the 15hour journey to the city, only to be rejected and travel back.

************************************

Long left home at 4pm, taking the 1 hour ride on the village bus to the train station where he will spend the next 15 hours on a 'hard seat' the cheapest ticket possible to the city. He bought steamed corn from the platform before boarding the train.

Long's journey had begun.

Would he travel further this time? Or would he make the return journey back to his village?

The cost of the train ticket each time he travelled was proving to be a drain on his family's resources. It was their investment in him, in hope that he would bring glory, wealth and fame to his village and his family.

All Long knew at this point, was to meet a man called Mr Chow upon arrival at the city's train station. He must remember to stay awake which was proving too easy with the crowded train bustling with people smoking, playing cards and children crying.

He rehearsed endlessly the few lines he knew when greeting potential employers. Long wanted to succeed this time.

The country that is not prepared

I noticed a cleaner, sans uniform, going about her duties at one of my favourite hawker centres tonight. She stood out from the rest as she was :-

1. not in her company uniform

2. had make up ( no no, it was not excessive, nor suggestive )

3. young (less than 30 years old)

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against young people engaging in the cleaning vocation. But that's not what this post is about.


It appeared clearer to me that she was not local, and likely Chinese.

And I recalled an article I read somewhere about the influx of foreign workers in Singapore, and how they are heating up the competition for low wage jobs.


Then I realised that this was probably this girl's first day at work. She looked


- tired (probably just landed in Singapore today )

- flustered (probably from the heat spell we've been having)

- uncomfortable (she was dressed in jeans and a long sleeved top)


but went about her duties diligently.


There wasn't anyone with her to guide her on the job. As she emptied the contents of a mug into a waste container on her cleaning cart, some spilled out. The same piece of cloth used to wipe the table of leftover bones, used tissue paper and coffee spills, was also used to wipe the chairs, and dunked repeatedly into the same murky pail of water to clean the cloth.


I wondered if she was prepared for the job.


a) Did she know that she was expected to work immediately upon arrival in Singapore, hence her attire?

b) Did the cleaning company arrange for any formal training for this new employee?


c) Did she know how to get back to her dormitory after work? ie what bus / MRT to take


d) Did the company arrange for a mentor for her to induct her to the local culture and look after her well being at least for the first month in this foreign land?


I am inclined to think not. And I wondered about the condition of her dormitory - probably 7-8 people to a room, with a thin used mattress and a dirty pillow with any luck.


I spoke to a friend whose vocation dealt with the recruitment of many foreign workers. Many of them are left to their own devices as the employer was responsible only for flying them to Singapore, packing them into a dormitory, and that was about that. And yes, they start work the moment they arrive in Singapore, and no there isn't any formal training. "Just clear the cups and plates, and wipe the table. Water point - over there!"


Many workers are left to their own devices, to explore this country that they have heard so much about, to try and understand the people they deal with, and let this country understand them. Many often give up, for lack of time and energy (often from the long working hours) and just stick to their own kind. Familarity and comfort.


And locals write to the public media about how rowdy the foreign workers can get, how they speak so loudly, mix only amongst their own groups, unwilling to blend into the local culture.

Is this the fault of

• the worker - for not being more educated about Singapore
  
• the employer - for not training and orientating the worker


• the local community - for not reaching out to the foreigners


• the government - for not doing anything to enforce local companies to put foreign workers through compulsory induction courses ?

As this country moves up the ladder of progress, citizens are expected to undergo more training to improve their skills and employability, thus engaging themselves in more value-added jobs, raising their minimum pay, allowing them to stay employed in the workforce for longer.

Lower wage jobs are farmed out to foreign workers (think cleaners, gardeners, construction workers) as these jobs are labourious, require long working hours, working on weekends, and are, well, just not well-looked upon in this culture and climate.

Look, there's no escape on our dependence on foreign labour, yet the local citizens are ill-equiped to embrace diversity. Are we a country that posesses First World infrastructure, struggling with Third World mentality? Are the local residents ready to accept that foreign workers bring with them foreign habits and we can do out part to help them assimilate into the community?

Complaining and whining about the workers just isn't going to make it go away!

Unless we are prepared to properly train and induct foreign workers upon arrival into Singapore, we'll have to live with the standards that they bring with them from their country. In this case, let's not complain that the cleaners can't do a good job since their employers are not prepared to train them nor house them properly.

If their housing conditions are bad, what are the chances that the worker will be well rested for work? What are the chances that the worker will understand the need for better hygiene in eating establishments?

So who's willing to train and induct these workers? And who's willing to pay?

Food on the go

A random entry on my 15 minute dinner last night.

Cut carrots, baby corn, and string snow peas. Caramelise some onions on low heat in a pan. Chuck in the corn, snow peas and carrot in that order. Throw in Japanese Dashi sauce and voila!



The potatoes?

Saute with cumin, fennel seeds, salt and pepper and broil slowly until soft. Yum! Forgot about taking a shot of the poor potatoes, next time!

I avoid cooking and eating meat at home. (That's not to say I binge on it when dining out either!)
Cos it's healthier, and I cook and clean faster, freeing me to spend time on other things!

Once I started weaning myself off meat, I feel lighter, less 'loaded' and simply feel good about not contributing to the death of another animal. Maybe it's just me!

Miele Guide

Chubby Hubby and S were recently featured in the Straits Times (28 April 2008). They will be launching a guide to Asia's best restaurants in Oct 08.

Sponsored by the German manufacturer of premium kitchen appliances, Miele, you can read more about it here.

On my last trip to Bangkok, I tried China House at the Oriental as recommended, and it was worth the trip. Excellent food, service and ambience. I shan't blog about it as there weren't any photos. Boo hoo.

But if you do visit one day, try the spiced cumin lamb. The best I've had! And that's on my list of must visit restaurants for Bangkok now.

On management

I've be struggling with my perception on someone I've known for quite a while.

One should not allow personal relationships to impair professional judgements.

One should allow, however, personal relationships to enhance one's ability in making a professional judgement.

What if the relationship is reversed in the case below :-
Should one allow professional judgements to impair personal relationships?
(I am not referring to clear cut right/wrong decisions here)

(realise that the question is not CAN one allow...) I am asking SHOULD one allow... cos this involves making an informed choice about another individual both at the professional and personal level. This becomes a conscious choice bound by one's moral ethics.

I suppose the answer to
a) CAN one allow professional judgements to impair personal relationships?

would be YES. One simply allows. Yes or No question. One CAN allow it, but this individual can ask at a more conscious level "SHOULD I allow it?"

b) SHOULD one allow professional judgements to impair personal relationships?

would depend entirely on the individual. This individual (assuming is not of an impaired state of mind ) is capable of independent thought processes, and would base his/her decision on their perception of the matter, gathering of facts and sieve these through his/her own web of moral and professional ethics before coming to a decision.


Can one really separate work and private matters if these matters all affect one individual?

If scenario (b) is allowed to happen, this decision would have been put through a complex, conscious thought process. And if the outcome is a YES (ie I allow my position in an organisation to impair my personal relationship with a work friend ) then the affected individual at the receiving end gets to review the decision maker's ethical web and decide if this friend's ethical and moral standing can be of the same platform as oneself. Those who fall below the same platform, simply fall away.

I think only a handful succeed in becoming real Managers of People. Others just go along being called one.

Peep Peep! Look here!

Let me see what's behind this window.....



Oh I must look gorgeous!


Mmmmmm I just LOVE it when you smile at me....

I am godmum to this little angel, who is at a place far far away now.

"Don't worry godmum, I think mummy is taking me on the plane again soon yeah! Cos I am a really good baby on board."
"Ooh and mummy takes good photos of me!"

On blogging

I spoke to a friend about my blog, and was discussing about content, and the normal issues about privacy came into the discussion.

Some people blog for others, (promotion and awareness) while others blog for themselves. ( journal ) And some for a variety of reasons in between.

What about me?

I just want to do spend some time to reflect on the everyday happenings of my life, capture it in cyberspace, and review these moments again when time has passed. I also consiously make an effort to capture these moments on camera so I may see again what my eyes have seen at a time which has passed.

The need to sustain a blog also challenges me to seek out content, and sharpens my perception on issues. And then it's all a matter of organising my thoughts and arguments and posting it all in the blog. Woa, actually, its hard work, and therefore cannot be lazy.

And let's imagine when my readership increases to a point that brings advertisers knocking on my cyberdoor, would I still be able to maintain the same integrity on this blog, (write about what I want to read) or would I blog about what others want to read? Silly question I said. Readership would increase, ONLY because people are interested in what I wanted to read/write about in the first place. Otherwise readers go to other blogs which interest them.

"And don't go to the realm of responsible blogging / influence on readers." I said. If one can go online to search for information, one should also be able to find convincing arguments for and against a cause. In short, there are 2 sides to a coin, and one has a mind to make of his own. Parents, educate your kids, and teach them to have an inquisitive mind, and always, ASK.

Asking questions challenges one to think. Would you be able to answer your own, would the other party give new insights, would you be able to predict the other party's answers? Can you be convinced?

My friend asked if I would post photos of myself and open myself to the risk of identity theft. I thought about it for a moment and said "well, so far I've only exposed my dogs to the risk of that, and no, they don't own a facebook account nor a credit card."

Random mall visits

Was too lazy to do any cooking after a busy weekend, we went to a Hong Kong cafe for dinner at at Bt Panjang Plaza.

Was my first time there at that nick of the woods. Like all malls in Singapore, it has the usual tenants - McDees Giordano, Breadtalk, Kopitiam et al.

Interestingly, this mall obviously has high traffic volume to sustain 3 pharmacy outlets (Unity, Guardian, Watsons), 5 bakeries ( Breadtalk, Bengawan Solo, Fourleaves, Angies Cakeshop, and another privately owned bakery ) and 2 coffee joints all located within the same stretch of the mall!

It also has a nice big revamped NTUC which I didn't manage to trawl though. Looks like I have an alternative to NTUC finest at Bt Timah now.

But anyway, that's dinner below.

Prawn with beancurd rolls


Braised Beef noodles



Claypot rice with chicken, salted fish and chinese sausage. This was good as they cooked the rice inside the claypot and you get the burnt bits at the bottom. Actually this photo was taken before the soysauce was added, so it looks rather naked.

TehC after dinner.

Would I go to the mall again? Yea probably. CapitaLand's done a decent job tenanting another cookie cutter style mall with the usual suspects.

With the big players dominating the mall space in Singapore, where do the SMEs go? Push cart sales? HDB heartland shops?

Morning Walk

Brought Trooper for his morning walk. Great sunny morning.

He just doesn't like to be photographed :)

Friday Lunch

Met some friends for lunch at Harry's. The menu's changed to include lots more choices.

The Vongole's excellent! After waiting for an hour I ravaged the plate before I remembered to take any photos.

Managed some other shots though.

Whats your favourite brew? :)

Recycling Bins

The National Environment Agency removed recycling bins in neighbourhood estates. Reason given, according to Glenn and FD, was "they are a fire hazard".

I've seen these bins around for a long time in my old estate. Found at the void decks of HDB estates, they are big, bright (red / green / blue / yellow ) and beautiful (when new). When I came back to Singapore back in 97, I secretly applauded the government's recycling effort and thought the design of the bins were great!

Until I noticed that people were not using the bins correctly. Specific bins meant for paper / glass / plastics had other rubbish mixed in. Organic trash was also thrown into the bins which attracted strays to feed and rummage through the bins. Karang Guni went through the bins to collect the drink cans and often made a mess of the place.

Some users of the bins treated them like any other rubbish bins, not bothering to sort out the trash and often dump household organic trash into them.

As there were no notices on how often the recycling truck came and when, I could not be bothered to contribute the greening of Earth as I simply did not want to add to the problem of the bulging , smelly bins.

What went wrong?

Are Singaporean residents too ignorant on the use of recyling bins? Or cannot be bothered with being green?

I am inclined towards the former. Good intentions, in this case recycling and saving the planet, started by the NEA often do not gather enough public attention. Possibly for the lack of campaign funds or a successful marketing publicity.

Like any other 'movements' (think Speak English, Courtesy campaign) Singapore residents need to be educated on :

1. WHAT is this bin for - sort out the trash, only certain types of recyclable materials please

2. WHY is it there - why recycling is needed to save the planet, how individuals can help, and how this is linked to the rising price of commodities like rice

3. HOW do we use it - pack the recyclables properly, frequency of collection etc.

When you generate a successful campaign, awareness in the general population increases and there is peer pressure amongst the local groups that will self regulate the use of these bins.


Education is key. Action is reinforcement.

Teach the kids in school and let them action their learning in the environment. In this case, it's a case of pure academic theory of recycling and no possible action (for lack of bins or credibility of local authorities).

And make the impact hit where it hurts ( like on how their efforts can affect the rising cost of a plate of chicken rice )

Check out the UK site on recycling (http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/) ( http://www.recyclenow.com ) and compare that with NEA's. (http://app.nea.gov.sg/) World of difference!

Back in 97, save for a small percentage of the population who are exposed to recycling efforts in other countries, how many local residents really know about the use of these bins?

My mum's great in recycling, she collects tonnes loads of plastic bags and glass jars. (for reasons I cannot fathom even today) When she's out of the house I'd clear the loot and bring them to these often dirty bins. When I saw the state of the bins, I had serious doubts about the commitment by agencies on their recycling efforts and often brought the loot back to my house again. At times I simply disposed them down the chute if I didn't have a chance to pass them to the karang guni. Disappointed greenie here.

The agencies must also work with town councils to maintain the cleanliness of the bins. Have you ever noticed that rubbish bins almost never ever get a proper wipe-down? If the bin is dirty, chances are you and I will avoid using the bin altogether. And people also start to doubt the credibility of the agency in charge of recycling efforts if the bins are not maintained, and collection is not prompt.

This begets the issue of educating and training the cleaners performing the task, their wages, foreign workers vs local employment bla bla bla. This is another can of worms. For another day.

The Little Rascal

Trooper's been with me for over a month now. Having adopted him at 1.5YO, he's the only dog that's not been with me from young. We both had to get used to each other, and he with Bruno and Murray as well.

Apart from the pee and poo all over the apartment when he first arrived, he got into bad fights with Bruno, both suffering injury to various parts of their bodies. My heart went all out to Bruno who was asking me why was this happening and why didn't Trooper like him. Bruno had never been violent or been subjected to dog fights before and could not understand why another dog could be hostile to him. Such is the temperament of my loving Lab.

Then came further damage to my marble floor, my antique table, my hi-fi, my coffee table, leather couch and more. The fights between them continued, and it was horrific seeing how Trooper obsessed over his food. He would growl and attack during meal times.

More than a month has passed. Fear and agression in Trooper has morphed into playful banter between him and Bruno. And now the otherwise reclusive Murray starts to play with him as well.

Trooper has also learnt to sit and watch as I put the food down, and wait for my signal before he tucks in. He has also learnt that Bruno and Murray get their food before his, and that he is to sit and wait for them to finish before he can get up from his 'sit' position.

When I'm working at the PC he comes by and snuggles next to me, like Bruno. But not before he starts chewing on my chair or the at the plant behind me. Sometimes Bruno gets upset and leaves the room. Poor thing!

He's comfortably settled into this arrangement, do I have the heart to part with him?