SINGAPORE SHORT STORIES

Singapore 2010 CAN stands for Create Action Now! So what are you waiting for? Create Action Now for Singapore 2010 Youth Olympics ! More details here.

If you are like millions around the world counting down to a brand new year tomorrow night with “3,2,1…Happy New Year!”, you would most probably be entering the new year a second ahead ! This is due to the existence of a leap second. I believe most of us are all too familiar with a leap year. But a leap second? I believe many would not have even heard about it. There is some complicated theory behind, which you may want to read more about if you are interested. Thus do pause for an extra second after shouting hoarse your voice the ‘1’ tomorrow, you will then enter the New Year on the precise timing! Let us watch whether those hosts of the local countdown shows know of this fact….else if unaware of the fact, they will be misleading the whole of Singapore and we would be in fact celebrating and ushering the last second of year 2008: 23:59:59! The leap second is a second into the leap of a brand new year!

It is just 20 odd hours and counting (down) to a brand new year 2009! At the end of every year, I am flooded with mixed feelings. Somehow I do feel sad that another year is going to pass … it is like the end of a race, an anticlimax: celebrating all the festive seasons, the bulk of them falling in the latter half of the year, particularly the recent two months; then the year just comes to an abrupt end while we are still caught in a binge of celebration, joyfulness and merry-making! I do find it indeed shocking to wake up two days later only to find myself in the realm and domain of a brand new year. Such a realization takes some hours to sink in my head as I get to acknowledge all the fun, joys, mistakes, good and bad experiences in the preceding year are all over; it is time to charge and gear up for the brand new year! Associated with this newfound attitude which must also have inundated many is the buzzword, ‘resolution’, a term, which comes up the most frequently on our lips and m

The Rubix’s Cube was a decades-old toy. It was a toy I encountered and played with since young; but nevertheless a toy I could never master till now! I always find it amazing how some young kids could easily twist, turn and flip the cube till they got the 6 uniformly coloured faces ‘correct’ .. and all within minutes. The ease with which they carried out the ‘feat’ put me to shame as I have played with Rubix’s cube no lesser than 50 times in my life but have never for once mastered the feat (or trick?). Is there a trick behind the Rubix’s Cube? Or is the game a ‘mind’ game, a game which test how flexible or inflexible your mind is? Or are the skills to solving the Rubix Cube already hard-wired in us: either you have it or you don’t? The internet is abound with the secrets to decoding the Rubix’s Cube, with pictures and videos depicting each and every step to ‘getting it right’. Prior to this source, books on cracking the Rubix’s cube were aplenty. But I have never ‘consult’ these ‘secr

It has been 6 days since one of the most embarrasing incidents in Singapore happened: the grounding to a halt of the world's largest observation flyer for 6 hours. Besides finding themselves with a full bladder to be relieved, a super dry throat to be quenched, hunger to be satiated, fear to be quelled and the belief of the high reliability of the Singapore Flyer to be dispelled, some of the passengers stuck in the capsule, suffering and reeling from the nasty ordeal felt a fear that never surfaced in their lives till that very incident: claustrophia, which is simply to be explained, fear of enclosed spaces. I am luckily not of one those unfortunated passengers stuck in those miserable capsules but I always imagine what it is like to be stuck there. Hungry, alarmed, panic, thirsty, feeling the urge to answer the calls of nature are all feelings I have experienced before. Claustrophobia, this feeling seems alien to me.. what is there to be scared of confined spaces? especially when

This Christmas, my Dear and I took a stroll leisurely in the city and we ended up in Chinatown. We were surprised to be greeted by new years stalls out in full force, selling goodies and trinklets. In fact, the Chinese New Year action at Chinatown began a week ago! With the first two days of Chinese New Year falling on 26 and 27 early next January and the economic recession continuing to beset many Singaporeans, the Chinese New Year stalls were out even earlier this year to maximise their revenue window. However, it was reported that there was a 20% drop in the number of these make-shift stalls in Chinatown, with a corresponding reduction in the number of Chinese New Year goodies and items sold. This year, these Chinese New Year stall owners will be hit by the economic recession as Singaporeans exercise recession prudence and minimise their Chinese New Year expenses. Expect a smaller Ang Pao this year too for those still eligible to get ! Some people, expecting a smaller Ang Pao

This was the dashing outfit worn by heart-throb Tony Leung in Red Cliff 2. The outfit is so smart looking that I think you need not look like a Tony Leung to be smart upon wearing it! Lots of people stopped in their tracks to pose for photos with this and other outfits from the movie 'Red Cliff 2'. Want to take a good look at this swooning outfit? Then head down to Plaza Singapura... while the exhibition still lasts.

The sights and cacophony of colorful street artists plying their trade greet me the moment I step onto the bustling street. The aroma of delectable hawker fare immediately follows, wafting across the street, melding with the pungent incense and the roasted fragrance of chestnut to form a uniquely characteristic scent. This is Waterloo Street, a street pulsating with the rhythm of life, a street where I feel like home. My parents introduced me to Waterloo street in Bugis when I was just six years of age to pay homage to the Chinese deities residing in the Kwan Imm Temple and pray for peace. Thereafter, I have made a myriad revisits to the temple as a student yearning for good results, as an executive wishing for career advancement and always as a Buddhist praying for peace and prosperity. Since the preliminary visits to the temple, Bugis, resonating with its buzzing scores of interesting fixtures and activities has beckoned me on. I have developed an affinity for Bugis, grown accustomed

Introduction: After the 3rd trip to Maxwell Food Centre, (the 2nd trip with my Dear), Singapore Short Stories feels so inspired by the hum jin pangs he has partaken at the stall that he blogs what is believed to be the longest blog post till far in his Singapore Short Stories blog ! Singapore Short Stories dedicates this blog post to the old maestro of Maxwell Food Centre Hum Jin Pang stall, my Dear who is a fanatic of Hum Jin Pang (only from Maxwell Food Centre Hum Jin Pang stall !) as well as all lovers of Hum Jin Pang! Enjoy reading, folks! Wishing you a Happy New Year! Maxwell Food Centre Hum Jin Pang Day after day, night after night, year after year, the relentless firm kneads of perfectly elastic and flawless dough, the adroit pulling and twisting of the dough into fine balls of a thousand shapes and sizes, the smooth rolling of these with an ancient roller, the sprinkling of rich tau sar into each dough ball, the deft re-kneading of these dough balls and finally the dishing of e

Yesterday was Christmas eve, and yes there was light rain throughout the island, drenching Singapore and her people. Singaporeans did not mind as the rain gave a respite to all of us suffering from the unbearable heat and humility throughout the year and of cos, the rain lent the most appropriate touch and mood to Singapore Christmas. However it was not only raining yesterday, it was snowing in Singapore as well in Tanglin Mall. The snow fell more and more intensely, eventually engulfing everyone:

The local fashion of the year award goes to the new Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) 'Number 4' camouflaged uniform! The uniform is a refreshing break from its predecessors and I first saw this new 'Number 4' uniform worn by a recruit booking out for Christmas on a MRT platform. The recruit was carrying such a heavy 'Ali Baba' bag and he looked very tired, however he was alerted to find himself as the centre of focus among the crowd of passengers waiting to board the train. Comments ranged from 'So ugly' to 'Cool' though the former opinion was in the majority. Asked for my opinion, I was really shocked to see such a uniform worn by our Singapore soliders! The uniform is really ugly as it is very green and it is just not suitable to be worn by our soldiers aethestically, though I must praise the relevant authorities for coming out with such a fine-pixelled design as the uniforms really make our soldiers hard to detect in the jungles! and that is the m

Dear All readers, My Dear and I have just gone to Orchard Road and walked the whole of Orchard Road from 3pm right up to 11 pm from noon till night! We did not really walk the whole of these hours but a significant portion of time was spent walking. We walked all the way from Tanglin Mall to Plaza Singapura. In fact it was not just one direction we went. We walked quite a bit from one place to another and then back to the same place and to the next. The reason is to while away the time slowly as we have the whole afternoon to ourselves. It was quite fun as we practically caught all the sights and sound of Orchard Road and soaked in the festive fun on a wet raining Christmas eve. The rain came at a right time, on a night just before Christmas. It lent a feeling of splendor and rather 'justified' the feeling of Christmas in hot and humid Singapore where it does not snow, rain should make up for snow. Stay tuned for the sights and sound of Orchard Road during Christmas eve!

Singapore Short Stories has released its own Singapore list of awards for people, events and things who and which are the movers and shakers for this year: People 1) Singaporean of the year award: Tan Kin Lian 2) Most glamorous New Citizen of the year award: Gong Li 3) Sportsman of the year award: Feng Tian Wei / Tao Li 4) Most missed Singaporean of the year award: Lo Hwei Yen 5) Most wanted Singaporean of the year award: Mas Selamat 6) TCS artiste of the year: Chew Chor Meng 7) PAP politician of the year: Mr K. Shanmugam (from backbencher to full-fledged minister), Ms Lee Bee Wah (Table Tennis Saga) 8) Opposition politician of the year: Mr Tan Lead Shake (whose wife murdered his sister-in-law) Events 1) Most glamorous event of the year award: F1 Singapore 2) Most unglamorous event of the year award: Singapore Recession 3) Most shocking event of the year award: White Tiger’s mauling of a cleaner to death 4) Most embarrassing event of the year: Escape of Mas Selamat 5) Most family-ori

With the close of a tumultuous and somewhat eventful year 2008 for the world, the world has come to a deliberation for the persons, events, things and even animals, which are the most popular and representative of their countries in a year which will close in a week’s time. Earlier on, I have shared with readers about the top 50 most beautiful persons in China released by the Chinese authorities, the top 10 Singapore searches this year, etc.. there are always never-ending lists of such accolades dished out every year end from different sources. Today, China has released its animal of the year award. This accolade goes to Zhu Jian Qiang (a name which means ‘Strong Pig’) given to a pig, which has survived for 36 days beneath the deep rubble during the Sichuan earthquake. The pig is now a model of strength, courage and inspiration for entrepreneurs in this troubled time. Singapore Short Stories has also come out with the award for ‘Singapore’s Animal of the year’, the accolade goes to ‘A

The Singapore Flyer experienced technical glitches around 4pm this afternoon, leaving 170 odd passengers stranded up on the world's largest observation flyer for about 6 hours when eventually the power was restored at 11.11pm. (see story) , Since the Flyer became operational in February this year, this is the third time it has encountered problems. This is what I call the Curse of the Golden Flyer (not flower as in the movie)! Being stuck in the world's largest observation flyer is no joke. What will happen if the passengers have a full bladder or a liquid bladder? Are they expected to relieve in front of the other 10 to 20 people in the cabin? or else what else can they do or can they 'tahan' for so long? Parents who were stuck with little children have not to contend with their own fears and inconveniences but also to pacify their children's incessant crying if any. Singapore is a safe country, but when the MRT and now the Singapore Flyer is down, we face a long r

Today, Yahoo released the top Singapore searches in its search engine for this year, 2008 : 1. Mas Selamat Kastari 2. Lo Hwei Yen 3. Edison Chen 4. F1 Singapore 5. Beijing Olympics 6. SGX 7. Dawn Yang 8. Xiaxue 9. COE 10. Beach Bal Babes Topping the list of the Singapore’s top searches for year 2008 is none other than the most wanted man of Singapore and one of the most wanted in the world: Mas Selamat Kastari! I can say that Mas Selamat really deserves the accolade of Singapore’s most searchable person as Singaporeans are searching for him both in the cyberworld and in the real world! The Interpol and the Singapore police as well as many Singaporeans are searching for him both in and outside cyberspace at any time of the time. The search for Mas Selamat is relentless! Coming in 2nd is Lo Hwei Yen. This 2nd place accolade is definitely not something that her loved ones and her will want for Lo Hwei Yen has obtained the unenviable title of being the first Singaporean to be killed by ter

Chew chor meng has been diagnosed with a rare form of incurable muscular atrophy, the popular local actor himself has announced just three days ago. Sympathies flew fast and furious and I just watched the news that several facebook groups have emerged, with followers in the leagues of the dozens just hours after setting up. These facebook groups, while wishing Chew Chor Meng well, have also stipulated prayers times for the followers of such group to 'mass pray' for Chew Chor Meng in the hope that through such mass efforts, Chew Chor Meng could recover. Chew Chor Meng is pitiful and I wish him all the Best in his health. But let us not forget our many average Singaporean folks who are suffering untold illness, sometimes of even greater suffering than Chew Chor Meng, their plights are never known to many simply because they are not just ordinary Singaporeans. Singaporeans have sensationalise the illness of Chew Chor Meng, at this time, we should just give Chew Chor Meng and his

Our weather these days have returned to normalcy.. hot and humid, a far cry from the past few days when the weather was cool and windy. These afternoons have become hot and humid again! Not befitting the Christmas session which is usually or should be marked by days of cool and wet rainy weather. That should be how Christmas is like in Singapore: rainy, sunless and cool, this is at least how Christmas shoud be like here, as Singaporeans are deprived of the four seasions. Singaporeans have missed one of the joys of living on this planet earth: the joy and fun of experiencing the four sessions, of experiencing snow and other seasonal natural changes. While Singaporeans have missed the intrisnic joys of experiencing the four seasons, we are lucky not to have experienced the wrath of nature: earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons, etc. A recent report put up by the Meteorological Services have also put the probability of Singapore being hit by a tsunamis as zero. But who is to validate this

The top scholar for this year 'N' Levels examinations is Ao Chengkai, a Chinese national student from Yio Chu Kang secondary school, who came to Singapore only two years ago. When he first came to Singapore two years ago, Ao Chengkai's command of English was far from average. It was due to his sheer hard work that he managed to ace both his English as well as this year's 'N' levels examinations. Whle it is no longer surprising to find a non-Singaporean acing our national examinations, I find it really amazing how the hunger to succeed can drive Ao ChengKai to score an ace in English though being slightly disadvantaged as compared with his Singaporean counterparts who have been schooled in English since a young tender age. A number of Singaporean students, who came to contact with English and use the langugae since young could not be able to score an ace, but Ao Chengkai with just two years, was able to master the language to a high level. This feat must be attri

Is Beauty skin deep? China has released its list of the 50 most beautiful people in China. Without any surprise, most of them are popular artistes that we know of. In this list, men and women are concurrently ranked in a list.. validating the use of the word 'people' for the title of this list. Female, the fairer sex tops this list with Zhang Zi Yi leading the pack. Whether or not, these are the really top 50 most beautiful people in China is objectionable as different people have different perceptions. To me, the definition of beauty is not just skin-deep, it is in the heart... the beauty of the heart. Skin -deep beauty will not last...soon skin will sag, hair will recede, wrinkles form and aliments come. But inner beauty is everlasting! Here is the list of the most beautiful people in China: 1. Zhang Zi Yi 2. Tony Leung 3. Zhou Xun 4. Zhang Han Yu 5. Guo Jing Jing 6. Li Bing Bing 7. Zhang Guo Li 8. Zhao Wei 9. Sun Hong Lei 10. Zhang Yu Qi 11. Tong Da Wei 12. Fan Bing Bing 13.

In work, we will bound to have some loud hailer colleagues, colleagues whose normal voice volume is so loud (though they do not realise it themselves). Sometimes, you need to speak to them about some confidential issues in their cubicles and when they start to reply to you and make known to the world some of the things you have told them by repeating some of your questions, you will nearly faint! I encountered this before and so I know better. Recently, another loud hailer colleague came to my office to collect the donations we have bided to charity. "Clift, you have donated $100, I have come to collect from you." This loud hailer colleague told Clift. 'Sean, you have donated $2 to charity, I have come to collect from you', the loud hailer told Sean when he went to his cubicle. I almost fainted on hearing the loud-hailer's words to Sean. Imagine the whole world knowing Sean donating $2 for charity! I know Sean is just doing a part, what matters is the heart f

Christmas is just less than a week. The shopping malls in Singapore are now having Christmas-themed events to draw in the shopping crowds and more ringing of the coffers. It is very common for each shopping mall to have a theme for the special season. For The Central, a shopping centre by the Singapore River, its theme for Christmas this year is 'A Zirkus Christmas Fanatasy at Central By the River' . A Zirkus is the German word for a Circus and I was in luck to catch a live skating performance by renowned Russian skaters and with my camera by my side, caught some of the live action there! I have also uploaded the video clip of what I have shot of the skating performance: These nights, it is amazing for it is real cool, breezy and not humid. Everytime I go out at night, I will be drenched in perspiration because it is so humid, now it feels like being in another country! Enjoy your Christmas, readers!

Everything in life is impermanent. When it is time to let go or go, just let go... for everything in life is impermanent. There can also be no second chance in life... one mistake or one silly act and that is it!

In the 1900s, the Wright Brothers gave human one of the greatest inventions ever: the plane, making air travel possible. As technology advances, there is a fear of intrusion of privacy by technology via the ‘Big Brother’. One of the Chinese folktales I like is ‘The Ten Brothers’ where ten brothers possess super-human attributes. In the Army, some of the detestable commanders are definitely not my ‘Blood Brothers’ as they claimed. I call some friends brothers to strike up a rapport. This year, the Lehman Brothers spelt the start of a serious economic crisis which many nations are currently embroiled in. And only recently, did I learn of a Taiwanese brand of printer called ‘brother’ So much on the topic of Brothers today.

Like animals, in the realm of the workplace, the rule of the jungle prevails. I am disillusioned somehow, in organizations, it is not necessary the ones who are the most capable, who have the most potential who will be promoted; rather I see some of those who are promoted are those who have cultivated a special chemistry with the directors via 'special plotting', being lunch buddies with the directors and indulge in curry-favouring with the directors. Others get promoted fast and furious simply because they are the organizations' babies. Life is never fair.

I was shocked when I read that the Nanyang MBA will cost $38,000 to $40,0o0 come next year. Wasn't the price of the Nanyang MBA just around $24,000 a year ago? (if I am not wrong) Why the steep increase of price? especially in this economic downturn?

I watched the Channel U news just now and was shocked to learn of a woman cyclist being killed by a SBS bus! This accident once again attests to what I have pointed out in my earlier blog that the motorists of today in Singapore are becoming more and more reckless. As a cyclist, everytime I dismount the bicycle to cross the junction and pedestrian crossing and give ample signals for the ongoing traffic to stop, some cars or others would just zoom by still, without any inkling of care for me. Even as a pedestrian, just some weeks ago, I was so shocked when other passerbys and I were crossing the traffic junction with the 'Green Man' on when a car refused to stop and accelerated past us, just tens of centimetres away from us. Many of the pedestrians were soon cursing at this reckless motorist. Those motorists who killed the innocent due to their reckless driving should not be only jailed, they should be caned and put away in jail for a long long time. They are akin to murdere

Businesses are cashing in on Christmas, which is just next Thursday! The breads above are made to resemble snowmen but I thought these buns could pass off as cows (without the ears and two horns) too ! Anyway, time really passes so fast! Year 2009 will come in the twinkling of an eye. At the close of the year, one would always ask "What have I achieved for the year". I too asked this question and contemplated for a while. This year, there are some good achievements that I have made in certain aspects of life while in other aspects of life, I am disappointed that my laborious efforts come to a naught! Let us hope next year would be a Better Year for all though retrenchments may be in the offing....

My Dear and I visited the Singapore River on this cool and windy Sunday afternoon. What greeted me on the Singapore River was mind-boggling and intriguing: "What is this?" I thought to myself. Have I been transported back to the yester-years of 1950s or 1960s when Singapore River was still polluted? Even then, the refuse or debris was not something that seemed so strange: giant white balls? Even the waters towards the up and coming Integrated Resorts were not spared! Anyway, I am exaggerating things a bit as I have known all along that these giant balls were actually wishing spheres: take a closer look at them and you could see the wishes of Singapore for the coming new year 2009 inked on them: I have inked my wishes on one of these wishing spheres a month ago for an organization but little did I know that they were really giving these wishing spheres free for the public to ink their most fervent wishes for the coming new year. My Dear and I went to a booth set up near

Liang Court The Central Suntec City Changi Airport

It has been many months since I rode my bicycle to Bedok Reservoir Park for a gruelling run. I have been busy with things here and there and hence a quick run is what I have these days. Besides, cycling is dangerous and I have a near brush with death on Chinese New Year day this year (see post ). As I rode my bicycle towards Bedok Reservoir Park, to my indignation and fury, the lacklustre, nonchalant attitudes of the motorists towards cyclists have not changed. There were so many drivers who simply zoomed and inched past me as I pushed my bicycle across the pedestrian crossings (those without traffic lightings) though I had given clear signals to cross well in advance. Many motorists of Singapore today simply drive their car in any manner they like, with blatant disregard to other road users such as pedestrians. The road situation in Singapore these days is really messy! Singaporeans’ driving habits are getting worse and worse and I hope the traffic police can do more to inculcate bett

Tonight (12 Dec 08), my Dear and I went to the Fountain of Wealth, situated right at the heart of Suntec City. We were suprised to see groups of people walking around the fountain of gushing water: this is the Fountain of Wealth! We went to the entry of the fountain and the following sign greeted us: Everything looked interesting and so we had a go at it and had a very good time walking around the fountain, hands embracing the fountain of wealth! The fountain architecture was mesmerizing with the stunning everchanging wizardy of light display and technology: Once again, another dazzling city skyline which parrallels that of Clarke Quay!

Manager General Manager Head Director Dean Doctorate, PhD Professor Managing Director Director-General Chief Executive Officer Group Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Director Chief Presidential Director Secretary-General Vice-President President Chairman We often hear the above appellations in our daily lives. These appellations are either something the average employees crave and work hard for in their career or something bestowed by entrepreneurs on themselves upon their pioneering of a business. Prefix the titles of the above appellations and other designations with these: Chief, Assistant, Deputy, Vice, Executive, Senior, Higher, Prime, Lead, Associate, Acting, Honorary, International, Global, Country and we end up with even more nice sounding titles! A higher status and salary are something many employees strive for in their career. Many want higher salaries to enjoy a better quality of life (in terms of material comfort) and a higher status (hence higher appellations) to g

In this oft-described 'dog eat dog' society, it is touching to witness a real dog saving his counterpart: Sometimes, friends may leave when one is in the lurch, perhaps we could learn a lesson or two from the brave doggie!

Staycation has been on my mind lately, I have also written a post on this subject some days ago, now this idea has returned to my mind and refused to budge. I just want a get-away from the mundane and humdrum work routine made worse by the current economic gloom and exacerbated by the senseless killing of the innocent in the Mumbai incident. Traveling overseas should be better and if one were to visit neighboring countries, it would also be economical. Nearby places like Malaysia and Indonesia would seem decent choices, however I have personal reservations for visiting a neighboring country for I have read and heard stories (from real-life accounts of friends and news) of the hosts of crimes being perpetuated by the local criminals on Singaporeans and even on the locals, sometimes right in the eyes of the local law-enforcers. The relatively high number of traffic accidents involving travel coaches deters me too. Our local media has been ramping up the idea of staycation recently, with

I ‘google’ myself regularly (meaning to say, searching for my name in Google). I also ‘yahoo’ myself regularly. The search engines turn out interesting information on me (provided you are really you yourself in the search results as it is common to share the same names with others). For example, when I google myself today, I was surprised to find a new search result of myself: my name and comments being quoted on a magazine; something unknown to me till now, thus it was a pleasant surprise. It is beneficial to ‘google’ yourself regularly, to see what have been written of you unknowingly; who knows you would also be able to pick up blogs of friends who have mentioned your names in their online diaries, it would be interesting to note what they have written of you: either good or bad comments. I also ‘google’ and ‘yahoo’ my blog regularly and was also surprised to find my blog being picked up by some online news and articles repositories here and there. I still feel surprised that my blo

Clarke Quay at night, is transformed into mini-Europe, with Eurporean pubs and restaurants contained within the magnificient Eurporean architecture. Ten year back, Clarke Quay was quite boring and remote, fast forward to today, this little vicinity around the Singapore river has become indeed quite happening. I love the unique architecture of the giant structures covering most of the Clarke Quay's pubbing area. Shot from below, they resemble colourful octopuses: