I came across this amusing message window (see screenshot below) when I tried to visit the Singapore Nike Plus website from it’s AU counterpart.
“Unless you speak the local language it might be difficult to register for Singapore’s race.”
Singapore English isn’t that hard and you only require some simple pattern matching to realise that “en-au” and “en-sg” belongs to the “en” language family.
In Singapore, we also apply a comma between two parts of a sentence. For example, “Unless you speak the local language, it might be difficult to register for Singapore’s race“. The comma helps to improve the sentence’s readability.
Yesterday, I took part in the 15km 2008 Passion Run (8 June 2008 ) held at the East Coast Parkway. My time was 1hr 31mins 44secs and my final position was #712 out of 2048. The event was well organised. However, the running route was along the standard East Coast Park jogging route, which actually makes it quite boring. My fav run is still the Melbourne Marathon (the sea, the suburbs, the city and the MCG!)
My gratitude goes out to the volunteers who cheered on the runners across the route.
Wishing all my China based colleagues in MS Research Asia, an enjoyable and restful Duan Wu Jie long weekend. Hope you have lots of tasty zongzi (rice dumplings) to eat.
Over here in Singapore, neigbours or family members would either make or buy rice dumplings and give them as gifts among friends and family. The picture above are precooked rice dumplings, which would have to be boiled to cook the glutinous rice (see picture below).
“To complain about things in my experience is always lowering. Who wants to draw attention to the fact you have been slighted? Isn’t that in itself a form of failure?” - Susie Boyt
Susie Boyt from the FT Weekend (”The Art of Complaining“) shared an observation of a young child’s gracious manner to present a simple complain. She distilled that observation a simple and effective manner to put forward any complain. She later went on too long in her column about her experience being overcharged in a restaurant. I thought to myself, why do we even bother to complain?
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This afternoon, I was attracted into a bak kwa (local pork jerky) store (near Centerpoint) because of the massive promtional posters. I decided to get some as a personal treat after a hard day’s work. I was charged at the regular price because I bought 2 pieces by the Sales Auntie (local context knowledge required).
She said that the promo pricing is only applicable for 1-jin (local weight unit) and above. Due to a lack of promotional disclaimers, should I demand for the poster pricing reinstated or take it up with the management (in some remote office) via email? I decided it was a pointless exercise to deal with Auntie since she is just doing her job. Nevertheless, I took photos of the posters which clearly shows not include any sales disclaimer or promotion terms and condition.
Singapore Press Holding (SPH) doesn’t understand, respect, or demostrate proper care for reader’s personal information and privacy. Click on the above image for enlarged version.
I encourage everyone in Singapore to get serious about protecting their personal particulars and privacy. The image above is an example of the common unawareness and lack of personal privacy protection around Singapore. Such examples can also be found in many registration forms and marketing peripherals.
As members of the public, we should ask the organisers:
- why organisations are collecting information about us
- who else these organisation might give it to; and
- what recourse on does the public have within these organisations after their information has given away
During the recent years, Asian universities (especially from Singapore, Japan and Korea) received unprecedented level of government support to educate and develop the next generation of engineering and technology talent. But only few institutions can really make the grade to eminent research institutions. One of such institution is KAIST (formerly known as Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology).
During the recent Singapore Management University Distinguished Presidential Lecture (Apr 08), Dr Suh Nam Pyo (President, KAIST) outlined his university’s effort excel as a 21st century research university. Read about his vision for the future of Asias’ research universities.
Last evening, my sister and I took our Mum and Dad out for a buffet dinner treat at the Marina Oriental - one of my fav hotel in Singapor (the other favs are the Shangrila and the Ritz Carlton. I admit I have quite cina taste)
The Melt: the World Cafe is a beautiful and spacious dining venue. The staff members are very attentive and friendly. The layout of the various food station is quite attractive. The offering includes cooked to order BBQ, Thai, India, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese mains, assorted variety of cheese, nice range of tasty salads and a decent range of desserts. However, when it comes to the taste, it’s only mediocre, at best average. I guess that is what happens when you opted for the buffet. The focus is on variety and quantity and less on quality.
Don’t get me wrong. The food is fresh but it’s not really special. The chilled seafood is a yawn. I wonder where have all the flavours gone? Maybe the restaurant used them to make seafood broth in their ala carte menu. There isn’t a particular station that truly stands out.
My Shangrila buffet remains the gold standard. I guess what’s important is the memory of having a family dinner together to celebrate Mother’s Day together. More Pictures
Following the 2007 Singapore Day in NYC success, the Overseas Singaporean Unit is organising this year’s Singapore Day in Melbourne (Sidney Myer Music Bowl) on 4 Oct 08.
Based on last year’s news article and this personal blog post narration (Part 1 and 2), it looks like a fun free day all of all Singaporean food, news, Gah-men people, fun and quirks. Check out http://www.singaporeday.sg/ for more information and to register for updates.
I wonder if the Melbourne event would have getai singing too? I bet the ang moh will love it
Last week, Project GAPc, an initiative by the South West Community Development Council (a Singapore grassroot group) delivered a hundred brand new PCs to low-income familiars at the cost of S$80 (USD $5 and three years of broadband connection for free.
The aim of the project is to help low-income families with school-going children bridge the digital divide. It also involved the local technical college to give training to these families. Besides helping participants learn the different parts and functions of a PC, organisers also hope the experience will help them break through the psychological barriers associated with information technology.
- Melbourne Flying Pig (by 
and three years of broadband connection for free.
