Date: 29 Jun 2007
Time: 2136 hrs
Place: Orchard Road bus stop
(both) We were at the bus stop in front of the Thai Embassy. The bus 106 came, and sorf ran up, but I was stuck behind because I was trying to help a forty-something year old man, wearing blue t-shirt and bermudas, at the bus guide panel, trying to figure out which bus he could take to Centrepoint. When I realised sorf had disappeared, I quickly apologised to the man that I had to leave. Turns out that 106 was just the bus he needed, so he got on right after me.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Suddenly, a maid
Date: 19 Jun 2007
Time: 1951 hrs
Place: Some carpark in Yishun
It's dark as hell, I'm walking home and a maid appeared in front of me out of thin air. Well I think she's a maid. She was wearing grey bermudas and slippers. She asked me where the 7-Eleven was. I pointed her to the nearest 7-Eleven (I think) which was near the bus interchange, giving her directions to cross the road.
Time: 1951 hrs
Place: Some carpark in Yishun
It's dark as hell, I'm walking home and a maid appeared in front of me out of thin air. Well I think she's a maid. She was wearing grey bermudas and slippers. She asked me where the 7-Eleven was. I pointed her to the nearest 7-Eleven (I think) which was near the bus interchange, giving her directions to cross the road.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Girl from China needs change now!
Date: 11 Jun 2007
Time: 1638 hrs
Place: On a bus near Paragon
(sorf) Some China girl just asked to break a $10 note on the bus.
Time: 1638 hrs
Place: On a bus near Paragon
(sorf) Some China girl just asked to break a $10 note on the bus.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
All this waiting makes one crave coffee
Date: 29 May 2007
Time: 1010 hrs
Place: Bus stop outside Hotel Rendezvous
I am reading the bus services guide to figure out which bus I could take when this short man wearing a batik shirt and grey pants, and a briefcase, sitting on the bench with a young man (his son?) decked out in hip-hop gear (sports jersey and backwards cap), spins around and asks me whether he could pay for the bus using cash because he didn't have an Ez-Link card. I told him that yes, the busses still took cash, and pointed to the box on one of the busses that just stopped where he is supposed to put in the cash, instead of handing it to the driver which he thought was the procedure. I then helped him figure out that it cost $1.70 for him to get to the airport. After a while, bus 36 came, I pointed to it but he had gotten up to walk off with his son, saying that they were going to a cafe to get coffee first.
Time: 1010 hrs
Place: Bus stop outside Hotel Rendezvous
I am reading the bus services guide to figure out which bus I could take when this short man wearing a batik shirt and grey pants, and a briefcase, sitting on the bench with a young man (his son?) decked out in hip-hop gear (sports jersey and backwards cap), spins around and asks me whether he could pay for the bus using cash because he didn't have an Ez-Link card. I told him that yes, the busses still took cash, and pointed to the box on one of the busses that just stopped where he is supposed to put in the cash, instead of handing it to the driver which he thought was the procedure. I then helped him figure out that it cost $1.70 for him to get to the airport. After a while, bus 36 came, I pointed to it but he had gotten up to walk off with his son, saying that they were going to a cafe to get coffee first.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Ten years
Date: 18 May 2007
Time: 1554 hrs
Place: Tanjong Pagar MRT Station Platform
There I was standing with my head pointed up, neck craned, watching the video they keep playing on a loop, teaching people how to look out for terrorists. I call it the "excuse me sir you've forgotten your bag" video. Without prior warning, this petite auntie, wearing a black sweater and and jeans, just came up to me and asked how to get to Toa Payoh MRT. Well, actually, she already knew, she was just confirming that she needed to transfer trains at Raffles Place to take the train up north. Then she proceeded to confess to me that she had not lived in Singapore for about ten years and that she found it very confusing now. I told her that she was right, and told her it was seven stops to Toa Payoh, then she went back to who I suppose is her daughter, wearing a pink tank top and pink Crocs, maybe 8 or 9, and probably her older sister, an auntie with big hair and a green dress (inappropriately short for her age) and heels, looking about fifty something years old, with a smirk of arrogance on her face.
Time: 1554 hrs
Place: Tanjong Pagar MRT Station Platform
There I was standing with my head pointed up, neck craned, watching the video they keep playing on a loop, teaching people how to look out for terrorists. I call it the "excuse me sir you've forgotten your bag" video. Without prior warning, this petite auntie, wearing a black sweater and and jeans, just came up to me and asked how to get to Toa Payoh MRT. Well, actually, she already knew, she was just confirming that she needed to transfer trains at Raffles Place to take the train up north. Then she proceeded to confess to me that she had not lived in Singapore for about ten years and that she found it very confusing now. I told her that she was right, and told her it was seven stops to Toa Payoh, then she went back to who I suppose is her daughter, wearing a pink tank top and pink Crocs, maybe 8 or 9, and probably her older sister, an auntie with big hair and a green dress (inappropriately short for her age) and heels, looking about fifty something years old, with a smirk of arrogance on her face.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Most of our Murtabak must have the mosque at the Mustafa
Date: 5 May 2007
Time: 1823 hrs
Place: Just outside TCC at NAFA
(both) We were rushing over to Bras Basah Complex to the Vintage Framemakers shop to collect the freshly framed Japanese lady cross-stitch (which, by the way, turned out really nice). They were closing at 6.30 so we were walking with much purpose. That did not stop an Indian man, wearing a strange combination of a small white hat that looked like a songkok, a blue Catholic Junior College t-shirt and pants and slippers, rapidly approached us and starting saying "moustaba moustaba, planet moustaba". At first I thought he wanted to get to a mosque, so I pointed him down Bencoolen Street towards the mosque, but it didn't seem right to him. I then realised he might be saying Mustafa Plaza, asked him "Mustafa?" and he said "yes, moustaba", so then I pointed him somewhat diagonally towards Selegie Road, though now on hindsight that's a long distance to walk.
At least this time he approached us from the front.
Time: 1823 hrs
Place: Just outside TCC at NAFA
(both) We were rushing over to Bras Basah Complex to the Vintage Framemakers shop to collect the freshly framed Japanese lady cross-stitch (which, by the way, turned out really nice). They were closing at 6.30 so we were walking with much purpose. That did not stop an Indian man, wearing a strange combination of a small white hat that looked like a songkok, a blue Catholic Junior College t-shirt and pants and slippers, rapidly approached us and starting saying "moustaba moustaba, planet moustaba". At first I thought he wanted to get to a mosque, so I pointed him down Bencoolen Street towards the mosque, but it didn't seem right to him. I then realised he might be saying Mustafa Plaza, asked him "Mustafa?" and he said "yes, moustaba", so then I pointed him somewhat diagonally towards Selegie Road, though now on hindsight that's a long distance to walk.
At least this time he approached us from the front.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Locally rude
Date: 3 May 2007
Time: 0945 hrs
Place: Sunshine Plaza
(sorf) Just got asked directions in the mall. Indian dude in jeans and red t-shirt looking very harassed just abruptly said to me "Where's the lift ah?" I asked him where he wanted to go and he said "6th floor", then I asked, "office or condo?" Directed him to office lobby and he stalked off with younger Indian man in tow. Didn't even thank me... Think the foreigners are right. Singaporeans are quite rude.
Time: 0945 hrs
Place: Sunshine Plaza
(sorf) Just got asked directions in the mall. Indian dude in jeans and red t-shirt looking very harassed just abruptly said to me "Where's the lift ah?" I asked him where he wanted to go and he said "6th floor", then I asked, "office or condo?" Directed him to office lobby and he stalked off with younger Indian man in tow. Didn't even thank me... Think the foreigners are right. Singaporeans are quite rude.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Walking with Barons
Date: 07 Apr 2007
Time: 1604 hrs
Place: Outside Sunshine Plaza
I'm looking away, down the road towards the prata shops, and almost twenty people were waiting to cross the street with me. An Asian dude, wearing three-quarter camouflage pants and a backpack, asked me which way Orchard Road was, with what I think was an Australian accent. Maybe he was a little drunk to be wanting to talk to the back of my head. But I turned around and told him which way to go. He then asked me if it was illegal to walk around with an open can of beer in his hand. I told him no, there's no law against it in Singapore (I think so). And he went off on his way.
Time: 1604 hrs
Place: Outside Sunshine Plaza
I'm looking away, down the road towards the prata shops, and almost twenty people were waiting to cross the street with me. An Asian dude, wearing three-quarter camouflage pants and a backpack, asked me which way Orchard Road was, with what I think was an Australian accent. Maybe he was a little drunk to be wanting to talk to the back of my head. But I turned around and told him which way to go. He then asked me if it was illegal to walk around with an open can of beer in his hand. I told him no, there's no law against it in Singapore (I think so). And he went off on his way.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
But it's a nice place with lots of books...
Date: 15 Mar 2007
Time: 0930 hrs
Place: Outside Sunshine Plaza
She approached me around the corner, almost ambushed me, with young daughter in tow. She was wearing t-shirt and jeans and she asked me where Bugis MRT was. I told her to head towards the library. She said she didn't know where the library was, that she was a foreigner. So I set her off in the general direction.
Time: 0930 hrs
Place: Outside Sunshine Plaza
She approached me around the corner, almost ambushed me, with young daughter in tow. She was wearing t-shirt and jeans and she asked me where Bugis MRT was. I told her to head towards the library. She said she didn't know where the library was, that she was a foreigner. So I set her off in the general direction.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Centre for Handling Stuff
Date: 13 Mar 2007
Time: 0922 hrs
Place: International Plaza
I had just gotten off a taxi when this Chinese man, looking much like a labourer immigrant, asks me where "Gao Wu Zhong Xin" was. I had no idea what place he was referring to, and even asking him to describe what he needed to be there for was somewhat futile. It seemed that he was late. I pointed him down the general direction towards where I thought the Ministry of Manpower was and he walked away with a frown.
Time: 0922 hrs
Place: International Plaza
I had just gotten off a taxi when this Chinese man, looking much like a labourer immigrant, asks me where "Gao Wu Zhong Xin" was. I had no idea what place he was referring to, and even asking him to describe what he needed to be there for was somewhat futile. It seemed that he was late. I pointed him down the general direction towards where I thought the Ministry of Manpower was and he walked away with a frown.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
It's all pork to me
Date: 07 Mar 2007
Time: 1125 hrs
Place: Carrefour Plaza Singapura
(sorf) At the meat counter, an auntie asked me which one is "ba tao". I didn't know. Asked her which part of the pig and she said she didn't know. She said she didn't want fat so I pointed out the lean hind to her and she was very happy.
Time: 1125 hrs
Place: Carrefour Plaza Singapura
(sorf) At the meat counter, an auntie asked me which one is "ba tao". I didn't know. Asked her which part of the pig and she said she didn't know. She said she didn't want fat so I pointed out the lean hind to her and she was very happy.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Polite but lost
Date: 02 Mar 2007
Time: 1651 hrs
Place: Near Tanjong Pagar MRT
A guy wearing t-shirt and jeans asked me, "Sir, where is the MRT?"
Time: 1651 hrs
Place: Near Tanjong Pagar MRT
A guy wearing t-shirt and jeans asked me, "Sir, where is the MRT?"
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Looking for the mechanical cai shen
Date: 25 Feb 2007
Time: 1939 hrs
Place: Upper Boon Keng
(sorf) Just outside the 7-Eleven, a young guy in glasses and black t-shirt and jeans, with his girlfriend, asked in Mandarin whether there was a POSB or DBS ATM nearby. Told him it was at the end of the block and to the left.
Time: 1939 hrs
Place: Upper Boon Keng
(sorf) Just outside the 7-Eleven, a young guy in glasses and black t-shirt and jeans, with his girlfriend, asked in Mandarin whether there was a POSB or DBS ATM nearby. Told him it was at the end of the block and to the left.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Spa-stic
Date: 07 Feb 2007
Time:1140 hrs
Place: Cricket Club
(sorf) I was standing at the traffic light waiting to cross over to the Cricket Club when a lady (long hair, glasses, spoke with a China accent) approached me from behind and she showed me a print out of Spacademy's address: 2 Stamford Road. So I said I wasn't sure but we were standing on Stamford Road so I pointed her down towards the Capitol Building. Midway through our conversation this kaypoh senior citizen male interrupted and asked "Are you looking for some place?". He didn't know where it was either.
Time:1140 hrs
Place: Cricket Club
(sorf) I was standing at the traffic light waiting to cross over to the Cricket Club when a lady (long hair, glasses, spoke with a China accent) approached me from behind and she showed me a print out of Spacademy's address: 2 Stamford Road. So I said I wasn't sure but we were standing on Stamford Road so I pointed her down towards the Capitol Building. Midway through our conversation this kaypoh senior citizen male interrupted and asked "Are you looking for some place?". He didn't know where it was either.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Test results
Date: 24 Jan 2007
Time: 1100 hrs
Place: IOI Plaza
I had just crossed Middle Road to IOI Plaza when a middle aged balding man asked me in Mandarin, where is 30 Kelantan Road? He was showing me the address on a piece of paper that looked like it was some kind of test results slip for a medical checkup. I gave him the rough directions (he seemed to know the place as "dan shui jie" or ordinary water street?) and he went off.
Time: 1100 hrs
Place: IOI Plaza
I had just crossed Middle Road to IOI Plaza when a middle aged balding man asked me in Mandarin, where is 30 Kelantan Road? He was showing me the address on a piece of paper that looked like it was some kind of test results slip for a medical checkup. I gave him the rough directions (he seemed to know the place as "dan shui jie" or ordinary water street?) and he went off.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Nobody loves you when you're down and out
Date: 23 Jan 2007
Time: 1123 hrs
Place: Lift lobby at home
(sorf) Two guys in the lift lobby just asked me which way is out.
Time: 1123 hrs
Place: Lift lobby at home
(sorf) Two guys in the lift lobby just asked me which way is out.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Boo-jees
Date: 13 Jan 2007
Time: 1546 hrs
Place: corner of Bencoolen Street and Middle Road
(both) This tall Caucasian was gazing befuddledly at his map and he asked us where Queen Street was. We asked him where he wanted to go, and he said Bugis except he thought it was pronounced "Boo-jees". We pointed him the right way (towards the Library) and sent him on his way.
Time: 1546 hrs
Place: corner of Bencoolen Street and Middle Road
(both) This tall Caucasian was gazing befuddledly at his map and he asked us where Queen Street was. We asked him where he wanted to go, and he said Bugis except he thought it was pronounced "Boo-jees". We pointed him the right way (towards the Library) and sent him on his way.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Sim Lim Forest
Date: 10 Jan 2007
Time: 1408 hrs
Place: SMU, outside School of Economics
(sorf) Two Asian guys (don't know where they are from because they have a funny accent) stopped me outside the School of Economics to ask where Sim Lim is. One dude was in a white shirt and black pants and the other dude was in a black shirt and blue pants. I sort of waved in the general direction of the electronics heaven and told them that it was quite far, about a ten to fifteen minute walk. And they thanked me and walked away in the direction of Hotel Rendezvous.
Time: 1408 hrs
Place: SMU, outside School of Economics
(sorf) Two Asian guys (don't know where they are from because they have a funny accent) stopped me outside the School of Economics to ask where Sim Lim is. One dude was in a white shirt and black pants and the other dude was in a black shirt and blue pants. I sort of waved in the general direction of the electronics heaven and told them that it was quite far, about a ten to fifteen minute walk. And they thanked me and walked away in the direction of Hotel Rendezvous.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Do you speak Ikea?
Date: 28 Dec 2006
Time: 1730 hrs
Place: Ikea Tampines
This new Ikea is turning out to be really popular and the queues at the restaurant are just amazing. I just stepped in to get some coffee and cake when a little girl wearing pink and a tartan skirt and pink Crocs asked if she could speak Chinese. It took me a while to understand that she meant if I could understand Chinese. I said I could and she then asked me, in Chinese, to help her reach for the cup that was on the rack. And as I reached for it the young Malay Ikea employee tipped it out and I passed it to her.
She should stay away from toe-eating escalators while wearing those pirated Crocs.
Time: 1730 hrs
Place: Ikea Tampines
This new Ikea is turning out to be really popular and the queues at the restaurant are just amazing. I just stepped in to get some coffee and cake when a little girl wearing pink and a tartan skirt and pink Crocs asked if she could speak Chinese. It took me a while to understand that she meant if I could understand Chinese. I said I could and she then asked me, in Chinese, to help her reach for the cup that was on the rack. And as I reached for it the young Malay Ikea employee tipped it out and I passed it to her.
She should stay away from toe-eating escalators while wearing those pirated Crocs.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Nursing the media industry
Date: 18 Dec 2006
Time: 1827 hrs
Place: Novena Square
(sorf) Lady in office gear asked me which side of the road she should take the bus from if she's going to Mediacorp and nurseries. There was an insane cab queue.
Time: 1827 hrs
Place: Novena Square
(sorf) Lady in office gear asked me which side of the road she should take the bus from if she's going to Mediacorp and nurseries. There was an insane cab queue.
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