My new EZ-Link Card

Look at the new EZLink card.

They changed my old one with respectable efficiency.

Typical of Singapore.

Suppose to be able to store far more credit than the old one. and I will soon be able to use the card for many other purposes.

Although they said the wait would take 45 minutes, but actually took only about 20 minutes.

Can't wait to discover new ways to spend my hard earned money.

My commute everyday a video snippet.

Here is a short video blog that I am attempting. Actually its really boring, bear with me because it is the start of things.

Since I am doing things on my own, i need the practice and that will come by doing things over and over again. By the way the narrative is in Myanmar Language. English versions coming soon.

When in a Hurry, Don't take a Untested Route

Yeah, I know it sometimes pays off to take a drastic new measure, a new path, when you feel the crunch coming onto you.
The time is too short, and the deed will take to long.
What do you do?
What you don't do is try out some unknown, route to reach your destination.
Everybody told me to take the bus, and against my better judgement, i followed their advice.
And was a solid hour late for my appointment. Luckily that my appointment got lost too and was late, but that is beside the point.
I should of taken the MRT and waited with worry for my appointment.
So here's my advice for you in Singapore, if you are in a hurry, take a cab (and that is not new advice, at all) [the advice givers told me that the cab would get stuck in the traffic].
But something good comes out of everything.
And here it the real prize was that I got to see how small and well organized Singapore was. And how close everything is to each other. Really, really close indeed!

Another unique observation of the Singapore MRT

Merry Christmas to You.

Yesterday morning, on my way to work (yes, I know on Christmas eve), I took my regular walk down to the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). Pretty regular except for the pouring raining.
The temperature was nice and cool.
And I got on, while keeping a close eye for unusual situations to write about for my blog.
Then it happened, the subject matter for this blog presented itself.

A young lady, standing about 3 feet away from me, looked at her wrist watch, then look up behind and above me. There is a digital information panel lo0cated there, which is a new feature on some of the trains. She look at it and then look at her watch again. A puzzled look on her face. Then later another young man nearby did the same. Looking at his watch and then to the place behind and above me.
So I decided to take a look, the digital clock there said 8:14. Wait a minute, I glanced at my own watch; 8:30. I glanced at someone else's watch, and it showed the same time as mine.
The clock in the MRT is 16 mintues late.

In my own country I would have thought nothing of it.
But in Singapore, That is a unique situation!

IRON CROSS UNPLUGGED & SOLID SHOW -DEC 7, 2008

I simply had to go. It was the first evening that I am going to really relax. The rain that fell about 90 minutes before the start didn’t dampen anyone’s sprits.
I got to meet Ko Chit San Maung outside the hall. He looked the same as ever. With his quick shy smile, his kindly obliged to a fast picture. Always have your camera ready. Never know when opportunities like these pop up.
After a bit of confusion, I found myself to the upper floor. And looking down I felt lucky that I didn’t get a 50$ ticket. Almost all of those in the 50$ portion would soon be standing on their chairs to get a better look.
And those annoying lights, six of them did not impress me at all. Couldn’t see anything! And the stage was pitifully small. No room for at all for singers to get into their rock-an-roll and heavy-metal mood acts. Except Ah Nge, and looks like he nearly banged his head on the speakers from where I was looking.

· Everybody knows the songs and sings along
· The entire hall jumping and it was so much fun!
· The opportunity to well at the top of your lungs and to jump in unison with the entire crowd must have been therapeutic for so many. It was for me, except to have my knees and ankles hurt later that night.
· The show did not hold any surprises; maybe it was better that way, the same presentational format, that they have come up with a few years ago and most of their shows sticking to the same plan, short breaks, by the IC members showing their talents be going solo.
· How come the show doesn’t start on time?
· When the lights when out and there was darkness, little sparkles of LCD screens like stars at night. Literally dozens and dozens of them. Look at all those phone cameras and digital cameras finally being used. I bet there is going to hundreds of uploads to the YouTube in these coming days.
· Looks like everybody’s camera was better than mine.
· The camera and video simply spoils the experience at bit when we are trying to video it, and might not watch it again that much.
· The spots lights were so annoying! Had no idea what was happening on the stage.
· The stage too small for the show. It looked crammed. Just like the rooms of so many of the audience, I bet!
· The organization was too poor, no signage showing where each ticket type holder had to go.
· Ah Nge talks too much! Come on!,you think you are homesick?? 90% of the entire audience is homesick 20% of the time, even more I guess.
· On the way back, people on the MRT were so surprise to see so many people from a single country.
But all in all a delightful evening, surrounded by thousands of fellow jumping, yelling, singing, waving, sweating, thrilled countryman and women.
Great to be a Shwe Myanmar tonight!
In any case, I am going to the show next year.

Lunch in Singapore, by popular request

Well, as of today, i have been in Singapore for 41 days (65 days at the job but I had to spend 14 days in Yangon doing some marketing).

Here is what I had for lunch today, it cost me three Singapore dollars, three type of dishes with a scoop of rice. Quite enough for a lunch.

The dishes are all set out in these steel trays and the shop keepers asks you " White rice!, Boss?" and you say "Yes" or nod, and then you simply point at the stuff that you would like. She then asks " any gravy", which means if you would like any of the particular sauces of any dish available. the you put the spoon and fork from the side place, and the question "How Much Aunty?", to which see studying the dishes that you have taken (Pork ribs, and egg, and some vegetables) and then says "3 Dollars".

I gave her two, 2 dollars notes for which a dollar change came back.

James, my Filipino friend had already found a place, at a table and we sat down and ate.

There are no tissues at places like these so eat without a single splash of oil on your lips or bring your own tissue. Or borrow a piece from your friend, what are friends for? to bum for tissues, eh! just kidding!

The price of lunches in places like these go from as low as 1.5 $ to 10$, with the average being around 3.5$. Everybody eventually discovers what they like and the Aunty's and Uncle's at the store's remember us too.