No sign of Dutch (except windmill) in Holland V

Took a ride to a place I last visited more than 10 years or so.


If my memory don't failed me, Holland Village is actually named after a Caucasian with the other name of the Netherlands.

Just that the misperception that folks used to think this part of the island used to reside by the Dutch because of that name.



Probably, the only sign of Dutch-ness in this lively place is the windmill (pictured above).

The recent opening of the "Circle Line" (CCL) train service has helped to draw many heartlanders here, which till the recent past were largely patronized by those who drive and willing to take a few buses before arriving.



So for a period, this place was long misunderstood as an "atas" domain dotted with some fine dine and wine restaurants that an uproar was caused sometime ago with a local resident urge the "stop of influx of heartlanders" as it threaten the "unique ambience of the community".



Yet little do she know with the commencement of the CCL has actually bring the place closer to the rest of Singapore with lunch crowds being swayed here to fill their hunger.

Eat your words...

The hottest (unlikely) celebrity...

Who would have thought the just concluded GE's Returning Officer (RO), Yam Ah Mee is currently the hottest (unlikely) celebrity in town who shot to fame overnight for appearing on our TV screens to announce the results.





I first came to know this man when I was serving my National Service donkey years back while he was someone among the top of the army hierarchy before he left the service to serve as the head of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) before switching over the People Association (PA) somewhere last year.

Here's the link to his FACBOOK FAN PAGE too!!!

Take it easy...

This news on the Chinese tabloid suggested that because of the strive for perfection that eventually led to this bespectacled guy murdered his mother in Australia.

Sad indeed, but on the other hand if the demand imposed on this guy ain't that unbearable why would such a thing happened in the first place.

Think about it and know where is your limit, if not you wouldn't want to see someone you know end up in this manner..

Peace!!

Constraint 压迫感

I guess everyone just feel the same way nowadays that we are all feeling the constraint of whatever we encounter.

At home, at school, at work and virtually everywhere, so just what had happened to this world?

I must make thing clear that I am not whining, but just a mere expression of opinions that it seems like we aren't longer the master of our destiny.

And our very fate and destiny are being dictated by external factors, which are not likely to be within our control.

So how has the world become like this?

Tweet ur way to trouble

We heard news reports on how misuse of "Twitter" can land someone into trouble (ask Ryan Babel).

I would thought our government agencies would always take extra precaution on using this micro-blogging tool, until I saw a tweet message what offer anyone $100 for revealing who was the naughty one for sending a naughty message that caused such an embarrassment for Health Promotion Board.

And out of curious I traced back and can't help but had a good laugh at the original tweet (which was indeed the PR nightmare!) that the person who managing the statutory board's twitter account had a frantic time trying to appease its followers (as pictured above).

However, with the damage is done and last heard someone will be using this blooper as case-study.

The resident cat

Nobody really knows when was this cat born?

It just appeared out of nowhere and has been loitering around our block ever since one took notice of its existence.

So much so, this black-white furred cat has become the "resident" cat of the block where we live in.

It is so accustomed of its surrounding that it would never ran away in fear whenever any human being walk near to it, unless under certain kind threat it perceived.

I think it would be weird one day for the residents, if suddenly it's disappear for no unknown reason

It is how we look at it...

Sometimes, I just wonder if our mind "deliberately" choose to ignore some information simply because they "aren't music to our ears"?


Picked up these copies of free dailies at the train stations while on my way to work.

The front most is published by what the netizens labelled as by those "pro-gahmen" publishers.

While the broadsheet behind is somehow being defined as the "alternative-opined" (which I would rather labelled that as).

For those who read both publications may shared the same sentiment that one's content tend to be on the moderate side, while the other would see itself as the "auditor" of the establishment or sort.

There's no doubt that in the present time when information are spread and share in matter of seconds through the means of cyberspace, it's pretty hard to deny some stark facts from filtered out (i.e.: Wikileaks).

However, what holds the key is when how each individual and eventually a sizable group's reception to a piece of information that present to them that how they decipher the content of it will determine how a popular opinion is formed in the end.

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处处都是美景

说实在地，大家是否是过于忙碌而忽略周围的一些事与物？


好比上面这张照片是刚才乘搭地铁途经三巴旺用手机所照的。

难怪有人会说那么一句 “辰光无线好”，也许就是这道理吧？

于是，也在闲暇时写了这短篇小品。

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

“自食其力”或“被遗弃的阿嬷”

看看这张照片。。。


这位阿嬷是我无意中在一个“五脚基”发现地。

想必她已在摆摊已久了或是类似“跑地牛”的那类摊贩。

但，我也不经地想这阿嬷是否是“自食其力”或“被遗弃的”的一群呢？

Reluctant Millionaires

The papers just lauded the "cooling" effort implemented in last year by the authorities to curb the housing price, despite hitting another record high.

However, in its best bid to pacify the public anger, the papers stressed the hike came at "a slower pace".

But we can't deny the fact that with record housing prices going at this rate, would we one day become "reluctant" millionaires, if those measures fail to curb the unrealistic valuation of those houses, especially those in the public housing?

social reality

If this picture is what it's perceived as, I just wonder if this is the social reality we are facing everywhere?

Pictured on the left could seen as a sign of affluence for this couple with their modern outlook.

Whereas facing them are two less-privileged folks hoping for some sympathy from anyone cross their path.

And lastly, take note of the middle-aged lady in the middle of these two groups who attired in a simple way.

Now, if we look at the proportional composition of these people in this picture, does it reflect the social reality we facing at this moment?

The richest group are topping their coffers every now and then, with the poorest growing bigger in size and the middle-class are feeling shrinking effect as time goes by, right?

it all begin in a day in commuting

Just wonder what is going through the mind of these commuters?

It seems like a dread daily routine in and out for most of us, and honestly speaking the mood of the day could make or break while you begin you commuting to work, school or play.

Isn't it the case? Just like one joker cut into your queue, accidentally step onto your toes, blocked your way when about to alight or board the train or bus, beat to the seat you eyeing for long?

And once you got into those 'defeated' mood, how would you feel and find it hard to lift yourself out it?

Good afternoon to you...

who hasn't thought about that?

But what if there's jam in front of this particular ambulance?

It will serve no purpose and still stuck in the throttle eh?

"秀琴，你一定要原谅爸爸！”

I'm not sure what is so captivating about these long-winded Taiwanese drama series that captivated the soul of those "aunties".

I still remember years back that "意難忘” was long enough that had Ma glued to the TV set for more than TWO years!

While "愛” may not be her cup of tea initially, but as the intertwined story changes with infusion of new plot and characters, it has become one of the main themes during the conversation while at the market!

"ah pek, can u pay my medical bill?"

Just wonder if those lifts installed at almost all MRT stations had allowed this elderly scavenger to push his load into the train?

Let's not talk about taking pity on him like saying his livelihood depend on those stuff he gathered, but rather what happened if those stuff tumbled, fall and caused unnecessary hurt or injury to his fellow commuters?

Furthermore, it was not packed inside the train, but what if it was?

Who is going to be responsible?

They killed the trees, not us

So many trees were killed because of these fliers slotted into our letterbox.

Surely, these marketeers know some other ways to bring their message across the consumers than these pile of junk papers, right?

At your OWN risk...

I think all of us were always taught of this say, "DO ANYTHING YOU WANT, BUT DON'T GET CAUGHT!!"

How true it is of this saying, as I was at a lake this afternoon in Meizhou, where I saw this sign (picture above).

It says "Swimming is PROHIBITED, at your own risk".

Despite the warning and the freezing temperature, we saw a few of the bravadoes remained undeterred and swam in the lake!

Just like on the roads in China, despite the mandatory use of helmets you will still see motorcyclists defy the ruling and ride on their bikes without the head protecting gear.

Maybe it's true after all that so long you don't get caught, you are fine!

Not your ordinary bottle of water...

This bottle of water cost RMB1, but it's not your ordinary kind of bottled water.

Inside this bottle is well water from a 800-year-old well that was dug in 1276 during the South Song dynasty found on the island of Nan-ao (南奥岛).

Was told this water is also known as "water of miracle" for its medical wonders like its ability to cure sore eyes, sore throat.

Because of its miraculous effect, it was also known to be able to ward off any evil spirit after a sip of it.

Any taker??

溃烂

每天路过这棵果树，难免为它感到难过。

本是健康茁壮成长的它因在也得不到大家的关怀，而慢慢地溃烂。

就因为谁也不知谁是它的可呼者，所以就让周遭的因素使它被遗弃渐渐的被遗忘

Full Alert

That guy on the left in the picture look kind of stiff, don't he (check out how straight his arms are)?

As compared the lady on his left, who looks more natural and relax in front of her monitor.

Wonder if it was because at the time when the picture was taken that it was the "Dear Leader" - Kim Jong Il, who stood behind him that he need to be in "full alert" mode.