places where you have travelled to and their influence on you politically

[erection2015]

Didn't really left actually. I logged in almost every other day.

ah ok . Happy CNY anyway.

 

[Fook Seng]

I did not know that there are Cantonese food in Mauritius until I met people from that island.

Never tasted Chinese food in Mauritius but took that in Nairobi - no big deal - meats are chopped up into small pieces. In such countries, Indian food, particularly North Indian food seems to be of a higher quality.

 

[neddy]

Never tasted Chinese food in Mauritius but took that in Nairobi - no big deal - meats are chopped up into small pieces. In such countries, Indian food, particularly North Indian food seems to be of a higher quality.

they chopped the meats up Something for Africans to get used to. I still like mine in huge chunks out of the skewer.

The Zimbabwe basket case is in an economic boom
9% growth last year and 5% inflation.

I expect their GDP to recover after the bad old days of 89,700,000,000,000,000,000,000% inflation.

Heard from a friend of the Zimbabwe PM daughter (studying in Perth)

It is worth investing in the country.




Singaporean woman who migrated from Harare with her White Zimbabwe hubby.

 

[scroobal]

Bro, you are probably the most travelled based on your past postings.

It is not surprising that Africa is often missed out. Besides South Africa and Egypt, many countries in that continent are "less developed", in conflicts or civil war at one time or another.Other than Marrakesh, the taxi drivers do not cheat, but I have difficulties getting into one of those petite taxis (Fiat Umo). But we can get a chauffeur with a Dacia (Renault) car.It will be a nice change for Singaporeans. For people who live on US$2 a day, it is a refreshing change from the decadence lifestyle of how we live. I wonder how long this decadence era will last, the decline is already evident but politicians heads are still stuck in the sand.

---I did not know that there are Cantonese food in Mauritius until I met people from that island.

 

[scroobal]

Its certainly off the beaten path for Simgaporeans. You right on connectivity. Can be a hassle. By the way, Botswana was a pleasant surprise. Good government. Kids send to unis of 1st world on state expense. Nice people, affluent and speak well. Okavango Delta is wonderful piece of the world.

I have to agree with you. I've yet to meet many pple who travel outside those 2 countries. Kenya and Tanzania(for Mt Kilimanjaro) may be the other 2 exception. IMO connectivity to those countries as well as arrangements to get around within those countries is a problem. Getting info to travel around in most African nations is hard to come by. I've been to Egypt but that's only because it's are tourist centric and information getting around and communication doesn't post any issue. I easily got information of the places I plan to visit before I went there. It's not half as easy if you want to travel to Botswana for example when compared to Egypt of South AfricaThe other continent which i feel is pretty much off most Singaporean's travel radar is South America. It's only recently that SQ have a direct flight to Brazil. Previously you'll need to switch switch flights in other countries which basically push flight cost up significantly.Didn't really left actually. I logged in almost every other day.

 

[scroobal]

Do agree with you. Chinese food was not that great but North Indian was good. Went to the Chinese quarter in Port Louis, reminded me of old Chinese shophouses along north Bridge road in Singapore.

Never tasted Chinese food in Mauritius but took that in Nairobi - no big deal - meats are chopped up into small pieces. In such countries, Indian food, particularly North Indian food seems to be of a higher quality.

 

[IreneYeoh]

I think Japanese politicians are best and most gentlemen. When things go wrong, they step up to take responsibility, bow down to apologise and resign. Singapore politicians are greedy and irresponsible. When things go wrong, they blame everybody else except themselves and say more pay to attract more talent.

 

[Leongsam]

I think Japanese politicians are best and most gentlemen. When things go wrong, they step up to take responsibility, bow down to apologise and resign. Singapore politicians are greedy and irresponsible. When things go wrong, they blame everybody else except themselves and say more pay to attract more talent.

Singaporeans are like that too so you can't expect your politicians to be any different. Take the workplace for example... have you ever come across someone in the office accepting blame for a mistake regardless of where they are in the hierarchy?

Whatever criticism is leveled at the PAP applies to 99% of sinkies. People get the government they deserve.

 

[kukubird58]

Singaporeans are like that too so you can't expect your politicians to be any different. Take the workplace for example... have you ever come across someone in the office accepting blame for a mistake regardless of where they are in the hierarchy?

hahaha....no wonder i am called kukubird.....i always get the blame for other pple's cock-up.

 

[rusty]

Singaporeans are like that too so you can't expect your politicians to be any different. Take the workplace for example... have you ever come across someone in the office accepting blame for a mistake regardless of where they are in the hierarchy?

Whatever criticism is leveled at the PAP applies to 99% of sinkies. People get the government they deserve.

Singapore's culture is not evolving on its own natural course. The government tries to engineer one with tons of rules and regulations.

I illustrate,
Go to Thailand, besides restaurants and high end eateries, go to the foodcourts or even the roadside stalls.. you find tissues and toothpicks provided on the tables. Try doing this in Singapore and you will find all the tissues and toothpicks including the containers pilfered in less than a day.
Even in the outskirt places where people are very poor, pilferage of such lowly priced items doesn't exist and what more, forks, spoons and chopsticks are always provided dry in any part of Thailand but you won't find them in the same conditions if you visit Singapore's branded and aircond foodcourts.
Rather, travels make one wonders how such basic table etiquette eludes us.

 

[Leongsam]

Singapore's culture is not evoving on its own natural course. The government tries to engineer one with tons of rules and regulations.

You're putting the cart before the horse. The reason why there are so many rules and regulations in Singapore is because the population are dishonest by nature. Governments and businesses are therefore forced to adapt to the characteristics of the population and not the other way round.

When McDonald's first opened it's doors in Singapore, serviettes, chili and tomato sauce were self service. McDonald's management simply organised the system the way they did in the rest of the world.

Within months, the system had to be changed. The degree of pilferage was so bad that allowing Sinkies to help themselves to condiments would spell financial disaster. Till today, you have to beg for one packet at a time from the counter.

In Auckland, I can still help myself to tomato sauce sachets next to the utensils. This may soon change as more and more Chinese abuse the system on a daily basis.

 

[neddy]

In Auckland, I can still help myself to tomato sauce sachets next to the utensils. This may soon change as more and more Chinese abuse the system on a daily basis.

There are just some people who will spoil the system.

1. When the Germans/Japs comes in, prices go up. It used to reasonable priced in Prague.

2. Where Brits spend their summers, can forget about the place. Everything will be cheap for the poor Brits. Fethiye in the Turkish riveria comes immediately to mind.

3. Russians and their mistresses. Bad Bad Bad. They are the first to get out of the sinking cruise ships. They are reckless drivers. Should have kept them behind the Iron Curtain. Skimpy clothings at the most imappropriate places.

4. Same for those from the Bamboo Curtain. Let them loose and the rest of the civilised world suffer. Run out of hot water at breakfast? Blame the Chinese tourists.

 

[Char_Azn]

You're putting the cart before the horse. The reason why there are so many rules and regulations in Singapore is because the population are dishonest by nature. Governments and businesses are therefore forced to adapt to the characteristics of the population and not the other way round.

When McDonald's first opened it's doors in Singapore, serviettes, chili and tomato sauce were self service. McDonald's management simply organised the system the way they did in the rest of the world.

Within months, the system had to be changed. The degree of pilferage was so bad that allowing Sinkies to help themselves to condiments would spell financial disaster. Till today, you have to beg for one packet at a time from the counter.

In Auckland, I can still help myself to tomato sauce sachets next to the utensils. This may soon change as more and more Chinese abuse the system on a daily basis.

FYI McDs in Singapore is starting to adopt the self service system again.

 

[Leongsam]

FYI McDs in Singapore is starting to adopt the self service system again.

I wish them the very best. Keep me up to date.

 

[neddy]

Its certainly off the beaten path for Simgaporeans. You right on connectivity. Can be a hassle. By the way, Botswana was a pleasant surprise. Good government. Kids send to unis of 1st world on state expense. Nice people, affluent and speak well. Okavango Delta is wonderful piece of the world.

I am not sure if that Aussie bloke, Peter Allison, still conduct safari tours in the Okavango Delta, he is one of the best safari guide round.

Do agree with you. Chinese food was not that great but North Indian was good. Went to the Chinese quarter in Port Louis, reminded me of old Chinese shophouses along north Bridge road in Singapore.

Have to put that on my place to visit.
One thing I noticed is that the Indo-Mauritians do not actually see themselves as Indians but still very much keep the culture. Consider that they are originally from UP state in India, it is good to know that I can find good Northern crusine.
Not sure if it is still the case. One cheap way to get to Paris from Perth is via Air Mauritius with a stopover.

 

[Nice-Gook]

Have traveled very extensively,so noting some of the the well known cities in Europe,US and Asia does not pretty much matter.Since 1 five or four star hotel to another is not that different in these places.And interaction and fraternization with locals rather limited to boardroom meetings and night time entertainments.......but traveling to far flung areas where staying in the best local of accommodations available which is actually someone's house and travel limited to four wheel drive,motorized boats and even camel stays in memory.

In that respect,Papua New Guinea,Burma,Indonesia,Laos,Cambodia,India ,Sri Lanka in Asia and Afghanistan,Iran and the old Europe of Czechoslovakia ,Romania are quite remarkable.Even Russia when it was just breaking apart from USSR was an interesting place to be.I have stayed in the best of it's hotel in Petersburg for mere USD1/-And believe it or not the richest at that time were Banglas who came as exchange students who seize the opportunity a whole nation transforming from communism to capitalism.The other were the Russian mafias.

The whole gist is to absorb and understand the local essence of living.That is why a small band of British,colonized and ruled the world.Whereas the ugly Americans has diffculties even to hold just 1 pathetically poor country with the might of their armed forces and all that trillions of dollars spent.

That's also why when Char_Azn wrote about his experience in India,it reminded of me.I practically preached to some of their elite Administrative officers,who usually heads state owned corporations.Years later I realized these are chaps with IQ not less than 230.People who heads fortune 500 MNC ,if given the opportunities.Who are more likely to gain entry to MIT and Harvard than any one of us Sinkies.....and yet we think we are fit to lecture them to work smartly?.....I came to the same conclusion while interacting with Burmese villagers.....or even in border towns between Russia and China;where the Russians trade their high tec items for Chinese Vodka.They are not doing all these foolish things because they are foolish.They are simply victims of circumstances and situations.

 

[rusty]

You're putting the cart before the horse. The reason why there are so many rules and regulations in Singapore is because the population are dishonest by nature.

Dishonest by nature...including the government?

 

[scroobal]

I think you have expanded on the very point that Rusty was making. There are so many rules and regulations that Singaporeans go crazy at the sight of free things. Everything in Singapore has a price.

You're putting the cart before the horse. The reason why there are so many rules and regulations in Singapore is because the population are dishonest by nature. Governments and businesses are therefore forced to adapt to the characteristics of the population and not the other way round.When McDonald's first opened it's doors in Singapore, serviettes, chili and tomato sauce were self service. McDonald's management simply organised the system the way they did in the rest of the world. Within months, the system had to be changed. The degree of pilferage was so bad that allowing Sinkies to help themselves to condiments would spell financial disaster. Till today, you have to beg for one packet at a time from the counter. In Auckland, I can still help myself to tomato sauce sachets next to the utensils. This may soon change as more and more Chinese abuse the system on a daily basis.

 

[freedalas]

I wish them the very best. Keep me up to date.

The behavior of a country's people is pretty much shaped by the govt's own behavior. It's just like a family. The children will unconsciously pick up the habits (both good and bad) of their parents and these get hardened into their own psyche. So let's just take one trait of S'poreans - kiasuism. It's because the govt had exhibited the core of kiasuism in its policies, particularly in taxing every cent from its people and with laws that will catch all, the people will naturally evolve to have such a mentality as well which are manifested in every aspect of their lives, just as it is manifested in every PAP's policy. So there again, the PAP is to be blamed.

 

[scroobal]

Good write-up. I half suspected that Singaporeans have travelled extensively.

Have traveled very extensively,so noting some of the the well known cities in Europe,US and Asia does not pretty much matter.Since 1 five or four star hotel to another is not that different in these places.And interaction and fraternization with locals rather limited to boardroom meetings and night time entertainments.......but traveling to far flung areas where staying in the best local of accommodations available which is actually someone's house and travel limited to four wheel drive,motorized boats and even camel stays in memory.That's also why when Char_Azn wrote about his experience in India,it reminded of me.I practically preached to some of their elite Administrative officers,who usually heads state owned corporations.Years later I realized these are chaps with IQ not less than 230.People who heads fortune 500 MNC ,if given the opportunities.Who are more likely to gain entry to MIT and Harvard than any one of us Sinkies.....and yet we think we are fit to lecture them to work smartly?.....I came to the same conclusion while interacting with Burmese villagers.....or even in border towns between Russia and China;where the Russians trade their high tec items for Chinese Vodka.They are not doing all these foolish things because they are foolish.They are simply victims of circumstances and situations.