Stadium MRT Singapore

I had a surprise when I went into the new Stadium MRT station at Kallang. The modern, sleek and futuristic design was quite unlike most other MRT stations in Singapore.

Perth

I made a quick trip to Perth, ostensibly to attend the AGM of Woodside Petroleum but also to meet up with friends and contacts. Outside the venue of the Woodside AGM, a group of protestors were complaining about the impact of an LNG development on the wildlife. When I ventured nearer to find out more on the issue, a reporter interviewed me and had this photo taken next to a friendly looking whale. In hindsight, I wondered if the reporter thought I was a Japanese person inspecting the object of the next meal.


It was good to catch up with former classmates Arthur and Geok Hwee, now residents of WA in the Perth area. After a Cook's tour of Perth arcades and malls, we ended up at "Newton Circle", which we reasonably assumed to be a very close approximation to the one with a rather similar name in Singapore. We were happy with our find, even though the stall very honestly explained that the one in Singapore was not Newton Circle but Newton Circus. This one has made Perth famous.


More photos at Arthur's blog http://i82muchblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/kin-mun-whirlwind-visit-to-perth_01.html

Lunar New Year 2010

New Year means FOOD !

But of course New Year is not just about food. It also means reunion.

Beo Lan and new domestic helper Wai Zing.

The cousins got together.

Women of the previous generation.

Christmas 2009 at Singapore's Orchard Road

Orchard Road is a sea of lights again. This year there is a new building - ION - above Orchard MRT station.

Email #9 - Singapore and a summary

My last travel email comes from the comfort of the SIA airport lounge of Changi Airport where we are staying before flying back early tomorrow morning. We have been here over the past few days and attended Dad's 90th birthday lunch earlier today.

There is not much that need to be said about Singapore, mainly because we have been here often. The achievements of this island state are well known and undeniable but not much need to be added to that. I have come to the conclusion that Singapore is actually quite unremarkable, not because it does things badly but because it never tries to do anything more than being better than competition even though it does that well indeed. The World Economic forum ranks it third in the world in competitiveness, after Switzerland and USA. But the drive to excel seems to be only above competition but not excel for excellence' sake.

It is interesting to compare Singapore against Denmark which we just visited. Denmark ranked a close fourth behind Singapore in the WE forum study and is a quite a different country. Singapore should study closely why a country such as Denmark, a high cost and high tax country can be competitive, quite contrary to the alarming warnings given by Singapore leaders about the dire consequences not following the policies being pursued.

Even the casual visitor will not fail to notice that Singapore competitiveness seems to come out of its drive to reduce costs through wages. The 5 million people in the city today has 1 million guest workers many serving in the low-wage service and building industries. The reason always given is that Singaporeans do not want to perform those jobs. Of course not, at those wages !

In the prominent example of the metro, Singapore MRT is efficient, well staffed and trains come often, about once every 3-7 minutes. It seems they come only often enough to clear the platforms, and it would be better if they come a bit more frequently to reduce the wait and the congestions in the carriages. In Copenhagen, trains come a bit more often; they are consequently less crowded. There were no ticket sellers, no ticket collectors, no ticket scanners and not even train drivers. That must be how efficiency is driven in that country. And of course they collect very high taxes in order to pay well, provide free education, medical services, good pensions and unemployment benefits. All of which made a more relaxed society; and interestingly the taxi drivers don't complain about their government for the high taxes.

And where does all that leave Australia ?

cheers,
Kin Mun

Queenslanders reunion

A small reunion. Met up with Roy, Fong Keng and Seck Hoe at Raffles City and chatted for hours. All were at Queensland Uni in late 1960s, forty years ago !

Beo Lan at SGH

Beo Lan had to have an operation at the Singapore General Hospital. An occasion to enjoy one of the benefits of government service.

She was impressed with the room . . . .

Wah, a TV too !
The view was quite good.

And the medical treatment too!

Recovering after the operation. . . .

Well wishers arrived . . .

Beo Lan is feeling good!

And then it's time to say thank you!

Whisker's Illness

Whisker had to spend a few nights at the Vet after an infected sore made him quite sick. On his return from the clinic, he was given special care including infusion to overcome dehydration.

A skinny Whisker . . .

A daily infusion of saline solution.

Whisker came back from the Vet with new tricks !

Year of the Ox 2009

Chinese New Year eve dinner with family members and friends. I was fortunate to be there to join in the celebration.

New Singapore Hort Park

Anthony introduced me to the new Horticultural Park near TelokBlangah recently. Here are some phot0s taken.

Changi Beach - An unusual encounter

On my walk along Changi Beach, I had an unusual encounter - with a monkey.

It wandered along the beach and scavenged for food among the litter.

I wanted to move closer for a better look but its fangs deterred me !

Dad is 89!

Pity we were not there. But we sent an electronic birthday card with the birthday song !

(http://www.4shared.com/file/72478777/f4cf394d/BIRTHDAY.html)

Mum's 83rd Birthday

Another year another birthday !

A get together with Chin Siong and Family

In our most recent trip to Singapore, we took the opportunity to meet up once again with cousin Chin Siong and his family -

Beo Lan, Chin Siong and Sharon in a serious discussion !

Kian Wei entertained us with his repertoire !

Dad, Mum, Ah Kor and Beo Lan looked serious too.

Mum was in a happy mood.

and was even quite playful !

Meeting up with Koh Eng Tat

It has been exactly 50 years since Eng Tat and I last saw each other at the end of primary school at Haig Road Boys' School. Anthony met up with him not long ago and organised this reunion at Katong. We are all older and perhaps wiser !

A & B at C

Anne and Brenton met up with Beo Lan during their three-day stopover in Singapore on the way back from Vietnam. Photo taken at the Changi Museum.

Changi Terminal 3

For those who are yet to have the chance to visit or go through the new Terminal 3 at Changi, below are some photos I took recently with my mobile phone. (click for thumbnails for larger image)

Who chose the carpet ?

A clever mosaic/montage but no one seemed to notice it.
Waiting for the passengers - the terminal is still underutilised.
Behind the screen of creepers - the men's toilet !

Impressive ceiling to let in light and save energy.
Below 3 photos -main departure hall.