Date: 20 Nov 2012
Time: 1157 hrs
Place: Tras Street
I'm standing at the steps outside the 7-Eleven at Icon when a girl in office attire (black blouse and skirt) carrying a large bag comes up to me from behind and asks me where is "Tower 15", showing me a photo she took of a laptop screen showing the address of Hoe Chiang Road and a map. I gave her two options of walking around Amara Hotel and she thanked me and went off toward Tanjong Pagar Road.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Lucky ol' lady
Date: 20 Nov 2012
Time: 0935 hrs
Place: junction outside Cathay cinema
I was plugged into my headphones waiting to cross the road when an old man with his dentures a bit out of place wearing a short sleeved shirt and pants asked me for directions to the "lottery place" which I figured he meant Pomo where the Singapore Pools is. I told him to go past the school and turn left at the hotel and that it's the building behind with the letters P O M O and he took out a pen because he didn't quite get it and wanted me to write on his hand. Instead I repeated the directions and he seemed to get it this time and he thanked me and started walking the other way! That's when I saw that there was an old lady using a shopping trolley as a crutch slowly walking with what might be her daughter or in law (she was old herself) and when they got to the junction with us they were discussing in Cantonese whether he knew where it was and he said he had only been there once before but he went by taxi so he doesn't know exactly how. Turns out it was the older lady who won the lottery and she was energetic for her age and went off onwards without really stopping for breath.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Fragrance is far away
Date: 15 Nov 2012
Time: 2248 hrs
Place: Middle Road
(sorf) I was plugged into my headphones and walking along near the Bank of China building when someone touched my shirtsleeve and asked me where the Fragrance Hotel is. It was a mother and daughter duo - long haired daughter in shorts and t shirt and mum in casual wear. They said Fragrance Hotel on Middle Road but I didn't know where that was. Then they said it is near Hotel 81 and Ibis so I told them its on Bencoolen Street actually and told them to walk with me. I directed them to walk past Space and further down the road. The mum thanked me and asked if I was heading home after work. I said I just watched a show at Drama Centre and she said they were lucky they ran into me.
Time: 2248 hrs
Place: Middle Road
(sorf) I was plugged into my headphones and walking along near the Bank of China building when someone touched my shirtsleeve and asked me where the Fragrance Hotel is. It was a mother and daughter duo - long haired daughter in shorts and t shirt and mum in casual wear. They said Fragrance Hotel on Middle Road but I didn't know where that was. Then they said it is near Hotel 81 and Ibis so I told them its on Bencoolen Street actually and told them to walk with me. I directed them to walk past Space and further down the road. The mum thanked me and asked if I was heading home after work. I said I just watched a show at Drama Centre and she said they were lucky they ran into me.
Monday, October 22, 2012
replacement rate 2.1
Date: 22 Oct 2012
Time: 1230 hrs
Place: saltmines
(sorf) I got asked for directions while I'm sitting at my desk. Some long haired woman, fellow staffer, looking for P2.1 meeting room. Told her to go to the door behind the spiral staircase, go left and through another door and she says "OK, I'll try the door." No thank you!
Time: 1230 hrs
Place: saltmines
(sorf) I got asked for directions while I'm sitting at my desk. Some long haired woman, fellow staffer, looking for P2.1 meeting room. Told her to go to the door behind the spiral staircase, go left and through another door and she says "OK, I'll try the door." No thank you!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Along the lorong
Date: 21 Oct 2012
Time: 1820 hrs
Place: Braddell MRT
(sorf) I was plugged into my iPhone and digging in my bag for my ezlink card when a little gap toothed auntie in black pants and brown printed top waved at me to get my attention inside the MRT station along the corridor. She wanted to know which way to Lorong 3 but I told her "sorry, I don't know which way."
Time: 1820 hrs
Place: Braddell MRT
(sorf) I was plugged into my iPhone and digging in my bag for my ezlink card when a little gap toothed auntie in black pants and brown printed top waved at me to get my attention inside the MRT station along the corridor. She wanted to know which way to Lorong 3 but I told her "sorry, I don't know which way."
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Zara salah
Date: 16 Sep 2012
Time: 1900 hrs
Place: Bugis+
(sorf) Coming out of Uniqlo on the 2nd floor, and plugged into earphones, when this manga looking girl with long hair, big eyes and shiny butterfly hair clip came up to me and started yammering in Chinese. I couldn't understand what she was asking and her friend came up. Finally figured out they wanted to find Zara. I said that there's no Zara here, I think the closest one is at Raffles City. Of course these girls were rude and didn't even say "thank you". *scowl*
Time: 1900 hrs
Place: Bugis+
(sorf) Coming out of Uniqlo on the 2nd floor, and plugged into earphones, when this manga looking girl with long hair, big eyes and shiny butterfly hair clip came up to me and started yammering in Chinese. I couldn't understand what she was asking and her friend came up. Finally figured out they wanted to find Zara. I said that there's no Zara here, I think the closest one is at Raffles City. Of course these girls were rude and didn't even say "thank you". *scowl*
Friday, September 14, 2012
Driver's block
Date: 14 Sep 2012
Time: 1100 hrs
Place: Gombak camp taxi stand
I wasn't the only person waiting for a taxi at the taxi stand - there were two young boys in front of me in jeans and both dragging large duffel bags, and a guy dressed in office wear and carrying a laptop behind me. But the lorry drove right up to me, the driver got off, and asked me where is Gombak Block 308. He seemed foreign, maybe from the subcontinent. I initially assumed he was royally lost and trying to find Bukit Gombak HDB block 308, but no, he said he had changed pass and that his boss was waiting for him (what a terrible boss to allow his staff to be left behind like that). I had no idea where this block was, but he mentioned that his boss told him to turn right, so I directed him to drive through the security check and take a right down into the smaller camp. He thanked me and sped off.
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Temple vs fitness
Date: 02 Sep 2012
Time: 0910 hrs
Place: between National Library and Bras Basah Complex
Here I was, jogging. Looking sweaty. Looking forward. To my right, I sensed a couple. A man wearing bermudas and t-shirt and his female companion, similarly dressed, eating from a pack of dried mango. He came up to me and asked me, in Mandarin, where the Kuan Im temple was. I was actually taken aback, so I paused, jogged on the spot, and wondered for a few seconds what would possess this man to ask someone directions in mid-jog. But I was kind and told him to just go down the street, turn left at junction (Middle Road) and walk down about 200 metres, and the temple is on the right. He thanked me and I jogged off.
Time: 0910 hrs
Place: between National Library and Bras Basah Complex
Here I was, jogging. Looking sweaty. Looking forward. To my right, I sensed a couple. A man wearing bermudas and t-shirt and his female companion, similarly dressed, eating from a pack of dried mango. He came up to me and asked me, in Mandarin, where the Kuan Im temple was. I was actually taken aback, so I paused, jogged on the spot, and wondered for a few seconds what would possess this man to ask someone directions in mid-jog. But I was kind and told him to just go down the street, turn left at junction (Middle Road) and walk down about 200 metres, and the temple is on the right. He thanked me and I jogged off.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Kowloon, Kowloon Hong Kong...
Date: 26 Jul 2012
Time: 0945 hrs
Place: inside Tsim Tsa Shui MTR station
(sorf) We were just inside the fare gates when one of a bunch of ladies approached me and asked in Mandarin where the Central Line to Hong Kong was. Someone mentioned a duty free shopping mall. We said we were not sure and told them we were tourists from Singapore.
Time: 0945 hrs
Place: inside Tsim Tsa Shui MTR station
(sorf) We were just inside the fare gates when one of a bunch of ladies approached me and asked in Mandarin where the Central Line to Hong Kong was. Someone mentioned a duty free shopping mall. We said we were not sure and told them we were tourists from Singapore.
Friday, July 20, 2012
From behind pt 2 language 2
Date: 20 July 2012
Time: 0910 hrs
Place: Orchard Boulevard outside Ion
(sorf) I was plugged into my iPod when, from behind, a young Chinese woman with hubby and toddler approached at bus stop. She asked me in Mandarin how to get to Lucky Plaza - told her to cross the road, go through the blue building and cross the road again. And Lucky Plaza is on the right. Then her husband said something in another language and she asked me where's Mount E hospital. So I told her it's behind Tangs. And she asked which one she will get to first Lucky Plaza or Mount E. I told her Lucky Plaza. And that there's a small road next to Lucky Plaza that will lead her to Mount E.
Time: 0910 hrs
Place: Orchard Boulevard outside Ion
(sorf) I was plugged into my iPod when, from behind, a young Chinese woman with hubby and toddler approached at bus stop. She asked me in Mandarin how to get to Lucky Plaza - told her to cross the road, go through the blue building and cross the road again. And Lucky Plaza is on the right. Then her husband said something in another language and she asked me where's Mount E hospital. So I told her it's behind Tangs. And she asked which one she will get to first Lucky Plaza or Mount E. I told her Lucky Plaza. And that there's a small road next to Lucky Plaza that will lead her to Mount E.
From behind pt 1 language 1
Date: 20 July 2012
Time: 0900 hrs
Place: Orchard Boulevard outside Ion
(sorf) I was plugged into my iPod when, from behind, a slightly chubby middle-aged Indian lady in jeans and a sparkly top who came up to me after I got off bus 65 at the bus stop at Orchard Boulevard. She had quite a strong accent and was looking for Toys'R'Us. It took me a couple of seconds to figure out how to get her to Forum Galleria. Told her to cross the road and keep walking to the end.
Time: 0900 hrs
Place: Orchard Boulevard outside Ion
(sorf) I was plugged into my iPod when, from behind, a slightly chubby middle-aged Indian lady in jeans and a sparkly top who came up to me after I got off bus 65 at the bus stop at Orchard Boulevard. She had quite a strong accent and was looking for Toys'R'Us. It took me a couple of seconds to figure out how to get her to Forum Galleria. Told her to cross the road and keep walking to the end.
Friday, April 27, 2012
SMU-th sailing
Date: 27 Apr 2012
Time: 2139 hrs
Place: near Bras Basah MRT
(sorf) Was walking to long escalator at Bras Basah station when a young girl came from behind and touched my sleeve. She was wearing jeans, a baseball shirt, cap and backpack. She said "excuse me is this the exit to SMU?" I said yes and she said thank you.
Time: 2139 hrs
Place: near Bras Basah MRT
(sorf) Was walking to long escalator at Bras Basah station when a young girl came from behind and touched my sleeve. She was wearing jeans, a baseball shirt, cap and backpack. She said "excuse me is this the exit to SMU?" I said yes and she said thank you.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Hubba hubba
Date: 24 Apr 2012
Time: 1500 hrs
Place: Macdonald's Anson Road
I was walking around avoiding the drizzle when I saw a brown-skinned man in shirt and pants asking an old uncle squatting on the roadside directions. The old man tried to be helpful but had never heard of the place. Just as I thought I was walking out of reach, he came to me and asked me where Anson House is. I saw that he had a map (a Google Maps printout) so I asked him to show me where he was trying to get to on the map. I had to re-orient the map 180 degrees and then I pointed to him down the road the building with the work "HUB" written on its side, showed him where that building was on the map, then told him it was the next building. He thanked me and walked off quickly.
Time: 1500 hrs
Place: Macdonald's Anson Road
I was walking around avoiding the drizzle when I saw a brown-skinned man in shirt and pants asking an old uncle squatting on the roadside directions. The old man tried to be helpful but had never heard of the place. Just as I thought I was walking out of reach, he came to me and asked me where Anson House is. I saw that he had a map (a Google Maps printout) so I asked him to show me where he was trying to get to on the map. I had to re-orient the map 180 degrees and then I pointed to him down the road the building with the work "HUB" written on its side, showed him where that building was on the map, then told him it was the next building. He thanked me and walked off quickly.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Just going to the casino to take a look...
Date: 23 Mar 2012
Time: 1005 hrs
Place: Bras Basah MRT
I was plugged into my headphones waiting for the train when an old man walked up to me and started yakking. I took off my headphones and realised he was asking directions. He was in an orange shirt and pants and sandals, probably 70 years old, and was accompanied by a lady in her fifties, who looked a bit lost and didn't speak a word. He was walking with the aid of a cane. He asked me in Mandarin (couldn't place the accent. Was he from Thailand? He looked Chinese, she looked Thai) how to get to the casino in Sentosa. I explained to him that he needed to take the train one stop to Dhoby Ghaut and change to the North East Line, otherwise it'll take really long if he went via the Circle Line. I got on the train with them and got off and walked him all the way to the North East Line platform and had to explain to him several times that he needed to get on the Sentosa Express at Harbourfront and to ask for directions there. He said he was just going to the casino to take a look and not to gamble because he had no money. He also asked a few times how to get to Chinatown and I told him he could get off two stops down if he wanted. After he seemed more assured he thanked me several times and I left them at the platform to go on my way.
Time: 1005 hrs
Place: Bras Basah MRT
I was plugged into my headphones waiting for the train when an old man walked up to me and started yakking. I took off my headphones and realised he was asking directions. He was in an orange shirt and pants and sandals, probably 70 years old, and was accompanied by a lady in her fifties, who looked a bit lost and didn't speak a word. He was walking with the aid of a cane. He asked me in Mandarin (couldn't place the accent. Was he from Thailand? He looked Chinese, she looked Thai) how to get to the casino in Sentosa. I explained to him that he needed to take the train one stop to Dhoby Ghaut and change to the North East Line, otherwise it'll take really long if he went via the Circle Line. I got on the train with them and got off and walked him all the way to the North East Line platform and had to explain to him several times that he needed to get on the Sentosa Express at Harbourfront and to ask for directions there. He said he was just going to the casino to take a look and not to gamble because he had no money. He also asked a few times how to get to Chinatown and I told him he could get off two stops down if he wanted. After he seemed more assured he thanked me several times and I left them at the platform to go on my way.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Womanpower
Date: 07 Feb 2012
Time: 1410 hrs
Place: Opposite M Hotel
I was waiting to cross the road when a short Filipino lady wearing t-shirt and shorts came up from behind me and asked me how to get to Ministry of Manpower. She showed me a letter from a stack of paper inside a clear plastic bag with the address "7 Keppel Road". I had no idea exactly where (as the only office I knew was at Havelock Road) so I looked it up on my iPhone and then directed her to walk down the road towards the viaduct, turn right, and walk another ten minutes or so, and expect the building to be on the left. She thanked me and walked off quickly.
Time: 1410 hrs
Place: Opposite M Hotel
I was waiting to cross the road when a short Filipino lady wearing t-shirt and shorts came up from behind me and asked me how to get to Ministry of Manpower. She showed me a letter from a stack of paper inside a clear plastic bag with the address "7 Keppel Road". I had no idea exactly where (as the only office I knew was at Havelock Road) so I looked it up on my iPhone and then directed her to walk down the road towards the viaduct, turn right, and walk another ten minutes or so, and expect the building to be on the left. She thanked me and walked off quickly.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Morning come fragrance
Date: 05 Feb 2012
Time: 0940 hrs
Place: Junction of Rochor Road and Victoria Street
I was drenched in sweat in the middle of my morning run, waiting to cross the road and plugged in to my earphones when a short Filipina walked straight towards me and started talking to me. I took off my earphones and she told me she needed to meet her friend who was staying at Fragrance Hotel at Bugis and asked if I knew where it was. It took me a while to think about it until she mentioned that her friend told her that it was on Middle Road, at which I directed her to walk down Victoria Street to the junction and turn left at Middle Road and that the hotel is on the right side of the road. She thanked me and walked off, still looking confused.
Time: 0940 hrs
Place: Junction of Rochor Road and Victoria Street
I was drenched in sweat in the middle of my morning run, waiting to cross the road and plugged in to my earphones when a short Filipina walked straight towards me and started talking to me. I took off my earphones and she told me she needed to meet her friend who was staying at Fragrance Hotel at Bugis and asked if I knew where it was. It took me a while to think about it until she mentioned that her friend told her that it was on Middle Road, at which I directed her to walk down Victoria Street to the junction and turn left at Middle Road and that the hotel is on the right side of the road. She thanked me and walked off, still looking confused.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Lost at home
Date: 23 Jan 2012
Time: 1100 hrs
Place: home
(sorf) I got asked things twice today. I was walking to the pool when a girl called out after me from the gym door, wanting to know how to turn on the aircon. I told her to bring her own remote control with her. Then, at 2pm, some Spanish guy asked me the time.
Time: 1100 hrs
Place: home
(sorf) I got asked things twice today. I was walking to the pool when a girl called out after me from the gym door, wanting to know how to turn on the aircon. I told her to bring her own remote control with her. Then, at 2pm, some Spanish guy asked me the time.
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