Singapore: Sign of the Times Part 3

This is an ongoing series of photos i took on last trip to Singapore. The first two parts can be seen via the following links:

Singapore: Sign of the Times Part 1
Singapore: Sign of the Times Part 2

The theme is as usual ‘signs‘. Sidenote, I thinking of buying a new digital camera. At the moment I’m looking at a few models, but still not entirely convinced to buy yet. Anyone want to recommend a good one at about RM1200?

Anyways, on with the photos…

Below: Here’s a good one. I wonder if they’ve ever been threatened with a lawsuit by any UK TV companies?

Or better yet, put this image on their shop sign:

(Picture gotten off my friend Mike’s camera…hope you dun mind ah?)

Below: It’s should not be any secret which footie team this tailor supports… (clue: It won’t be Sunderland)

Below: This is from an earlier set. 8 pigs = 1 woman? wow, I learn new things everyday.

Below: Now this is very debatable. How do they know this for sure? EVERY white tiger? Did they do a census and check all the tigers’ birth certificate? What about that white tiger from the TV series Thundercats (Bengali?)? Or the one that attacked Siegfried and Roy?

Below: Eww. The thought of them cutting up a cute pink dolphin (even a post-mortem) is mortifying. Some things are better off not meant to be shown to kids.

Below: This one is good. Check out the bird flu virus man. Got shaped like worms and aliens one, man…

If AirAsia’s Low-Cost-No-Frills Is Applied Elsewhere

AirAsia has really changed the way Malaysians fly. Before them, everyone flew MAS (and a few on Pelangi Air. Are they still around?) MAS was (and still) is not so cheap. Now, with Tony Fernandez company (their tagline being ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’), people have a cheaper alternative, with their emphazsis of low cost, no frills. That would make MAS not-low-cost, full of frills.

Not low cost, full-of-frills – MAS
Low cost, no-frills – Airasia.

So what if we applied this analogy to other businesses?

Not low cost, full-of-frills – The NST
Low cost, no-frills – The Sun
Heck, The Sun isn’t low cost, it’s FREE. Too bad there are more ads than articles, and there isn’t much to read that you can’t find online. Also too bad only certain people get to read the Sun, since they deliver it to specified locations in the city only. After 9am dun hope to find a copy.
The Sun’s tagline should be – Now Everyone Can Read Newspapers And Leave Them Lying Around Everybody Because It’s Free.

Not low cost, full-of-frills – Those IMAX digital cineplexes at your local shopping centre.
Low cost, no-frills – DVD ciplak (pirated).
Cost of parking in shopping centre – RM3.
Cost of 2 movie tickets – RM20.
Cost of popcorn and soft drink in commemorative cup – RM8.
Cost of gelato ice-cream for your girlfriend to eat during movie because she doesn’t like cheap Cineplex popcorn – RM12.99++
Cost of withdrawing money from the ATM after the movie because you’re broke from too many movies (and gelato) – Priceless.
(Buying pirated DVD is illegal and wrong and bad. Please wait 6 months and pay RM79.90 for the original DVD)
Pirated DVD hawkers’ tagline should be – “This one the REAL Da Vinci Code la, very clear one…”

Not low cost, full-of-frills – Kinokuniya / MPH
Low cost, no-frills – Poh-pu-lah Bookshop
Well, OK, bad analogy, the books cost pretty much the same. But Poh-pu-lah is like DEFINITELY no frills. It’s the kind of bookshop where you find those Mandarin ‘learn to play guitar’ books (with accompanying cassette tape) and eternal offers on ‘Greatest Criminals Minds of the Century’ at the front of the shop. Some branches you can actually buy kapok guitars. And don’t bother asking the sales girl where to find anything.
Poh-pu-lah’s tagline should be – We bring you book shopping the way it was 30 years ago…

Not low cost, full-of-frills – High class coffee at Starbucks as you surf Wifi on the comfortable armchair, with air-conditioning…
Low cost, no-frills – Kedai Kopi Thuan Seng.
I like Kopi Thuan Seng. They’re low cost, and also no-frills. No Wifi, but hey, they have those nice aluminium spittoons with the red dragon motifs on it. And posters of scantily dressed women standing next to giant bottles of beer. Plus, the kick ass coffee cost RM1.00 or less.
Kedai Kopi’s tagline should be – Now Everyone Can Sit Down Here The Whole Day Discussing Politics and Your’s Neighbours Affairs…

Top Ten Things Going Through Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Mind While Selecting the World Cup Squad

Sven, Sven, Sven… He’s finally named his squad, and there’s quite a few surprises in it. Like the inclusion of the teenagers Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon. But of course he’s sticking with Owen and Rooney, although one hasn’t played much and the other is, like, injured.

Enough about that. Either he’s a visionary who’ll bring England to World Cup glory, or a reckless gambler who can’t wait to leave his job. Everything will be clear come Germany ‘06.

Picture taken from theFA.com

Top Ten Things Going Through Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Mind While Selecting the World Cup Squad

The thing is that Sven the man always looks serious, like he’s contemplating the deeper mysteries of the universe. Well, i think he’s an everyday dude, only with a bloated salary… most of the time, he’s thinking usual stuff, probably a little more trivial than most people…

• “Wow, Beckham is such a great player, and an awesome captain… Must remember to emphasize that in my next press interview… I wonder if I’ve mention that before… Beckham must play… such a great player… I’ll even let him play goalie if he wants… I’m so lucky to have him as a captain… Beckham is awesome!”

• Oh, man… Steve McClaren is SO screwed, man…!”

• “What on earth is a ‘metatarsal‘? Isn’t some kind of Greek lamb dish? And why did Rooney go and play with it and break it?”

• “Screw the World Cup, that new FA secretary is one hot chick!”

• “Damn, that Mourinho has got hot looking stubble! I wonder if he uses double blade shavers. Speaking of which, did I shave this morning…?

• “Shaun who? Wright-Phillips? Right winger? Where have I heard this name before? Is he one of the England U-17 players? Got to ask Tord Grip about this… La-di-da…”

• “Ok, I’ve got to remind myself everyday… ‘4-4-2′ is good… ‘4-4-2′ is good… and don’t forget to pick a goalie, too… ‘4-4-2′ is good…”

• “OK, one more time… JOE Cole is a midfielder… CARLTON Cole is not on my list… wait, wait… there’s another player named Cole… playing leftback…. ummm… damn, I know this… Andy Cole? Nat King Cole?”

• “Oh my, that Thierry Henry is really good, I should really pick him for the World Cup! I wonder if he’s English? Can I pick him? Oh wait, I think he’s probably Welsh… damn. Just like that Giggs kid… Damn this farcical ‘passport‘ rule…!”

• “What the heck, whichever player I choose, England will still probably lose at the semis or quarters… Might as well close my eyes and pick the 23 players i see on Match of the Day…”

Technorati Tags: Steve McClaren, Rooney, Football, england, Sven-Goran Eriksson, World Cup

Random Baton from Germany

My favourite German blogger Jay has tagged me to do a ‘baton’ (meme), it turned out to be quite fun, actually…

Take the book next to you, go to page 18 and quote line 4:
“Just Click OK to close it”. (It’s a software handbook, no prizes for guessing correctly.)

Reach out as far as you can with you’re right arm – what can you grab?
My phone. It’s a pretty small desk.

What was the last TV-Show you watched?
On real TV, i happened to catch the first episode of the new season on this show called ‘The Bachelor’. I’ve never heard of it, and I don’t know which season it is, and as cheesy as it was, i watched through it.
On my notebook, I think it was the latest episode of the Amazing Race 9. That Mojo team is so bitchy.

With the exception of you’re computer, to what are you listening at the moment?
Let me see, in desk drawer, I currently have 5 discs - Aerosmith, Enya, Metallica, Pet Shop Boys and Manowar. I’m concerned as to how the Enya disc appeared here!

When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
This morning. To get breakfast.

What did you do before answering this questionnaire?
I was in the toilet. Well, you asked.

What are you wearing at the moment?
Yellow (ex-)company polo T and me favourite pair of jeans. The shirt is old, fraying thread appear after each wash. Won’t last much longer, I reckon.

Did you dream last night?
Nope. I hardly dream at night these days. Only in the day time during working hours.

When was the last time you had to laugh?
Probably last night. I was together with the gang. We always laugh. I remember I had to sing the old 70’s Coca Cola ad song sang to the tune to the Hillside Singers’ ‘Like to Teach the World to Sing ‘.

What occupies the walls of the room, in which you are currently sitting?
Nothing. Pure white emptiness.

Did you see something strange lately?
This morning. At the McDonald’s this strange family left their tray of fast food rubbish on the chair of the restaurant. Weird.

What do you think about this questionnaire?
It’s OK, could be better.

What was the last movie you watched?
40-Year Old Virgin. Far too much swearing for my liking.

What would you buy if you’d be rolling in money?
A maroon Ford Escape 3.0. First thing on my list.

Tell something about yourself, which I don’t know yet.
When I was young, I loved to eat cheese. Not anymore.

If you could change one thing at our world, what would that be?
No racism.

Do you like dancing?
Nope. Never liked it.

George Bush
He’s funny. Not intentionally, though.

If you’re first child was a girl, how would you call it?
My first child IS a girl. I had wanted to call her Ariel, the name prophet Isaiah gave Holy City… but Disney ruined it for me.

And if it was a boy?
Calvin. After John Calvin the Reformist.

Would you see it as a possibility for you to emigrate?
Maybe. I dunno. The diaspora never ended, I suppose.

What would you tell god reaching the heaven’s gate?
I made it, thanks for everything.

Five people you want to answer this questionnaire:
Everyone reading this.
Hey, maybe ponytales can try it! (after she comes back from Bangkok, of course.)

Technorati Tags: German, meme

Singapore: Sign of the Times Part 2

Continuing from yesterday. I’m posting signs I’ve taken from my recent trip to Singapore.

(Yes, go read that post. It’s not long, won’t take you 3 minutes. Depending on whether you have broadband or narrowband.)

Below: Another sign you probably won’t see in Malaysia. That’s quite interesting to learn, though… Unfortunately they don’t tell you the really important stuff, like how much the price of pork have risen in recent months, which part of the animal do you get ham and bacon from… etc.

Below: Reading this, guess what it reminded me of? Those ‘mud baths’ those rich ‘tai tai‘ housewives go to in exotic spas across the city. You know, where they charge you RM299++ per session to basically dip you in mud. Same thing here. Except here the animals do it for free. Without any complimentary scented candles and bath oils, though.

Below: Shaky pic due to my crummy camera and flash turned off. There’s a huge green alien standing there and the alien detection device is NOT going off. Something is wrong here. Either the alien is just a polystyrene fake, or the alien detection device is a hoax. I filled out the complaint form and dropped it in the box on the way out. Maybe they should try this.

Below: I learn new things everyday. Like kanggaroos don’t really wear boxing gloves in real life.

Below: There’s an ‘Ah Pek Char Koay Teow’ near my house here in Malaysia. I wonder if they are related…?

Below: Right, another suicide deterrent sign. But i reckon jumping 300mm off the tram going at 10km/h isn’t likely to kill me.

Next: Even weirder signs….

Technorati Tags: Singapore

Singapore: Sign of the Times Part 1

For those of you who noticed I was away for a few days last month, (yes, all two of you) i actually took a break in Singapore to take in the sights and sounds of the island city.

I had a tight schedule on the short trip, didn’t have an opportunity to meet up with some of my relatives and long-lost friends, and some bloggers too (apologies to Ghost! Next trip, i promise…)

Anyways, I went to lots of places, without saying where, i think most of you can tell from the photos. Here’s the thing about me and photos. Besides the pics of your family and friends standing together with a face ‘Cheese‘ grin and flashing the ‘Peace‘ sign, i take a lot of pics of the scenery and oddities - signs, cars, shops, passers-by, etc.

You won’t see many humans in the following collection of photos - you can get lots of those in other blogs. Its all about the signs…

Below: This is taken as i just arrived near the city. Definitely one road sign you WON’T see in Malaysia…

Below: From my hotel room window. It was like 2 o’clock in the afternoon, so yes, you need to turn on your lights in case of a total eclipse of the sun…

(ok, yes I know, driving on the highway with your headlights at all times is good practice.)

Below: And the all-powerful ERP gantry that’s the bane of Singaporean drivers.

Below: This is not intentionally funny, but I have to post it. I bet these guys get a ribbing from the Emperor Penguin brothers… “Hey, we’ve got a movie now, and what do YOU guys have, Jackass?!”

Below: Now you’ll probably find this as a name of a Mamak somewhere in Pandan Indah or Puchong Jaya. Sort of like a local version of Rum Jungle.

Below: Now this, very disappointing, for those contemplating suicide, or a swim with the alligators. Now they have to think of another way.

Next: More Signs… from Sing-ah-pore.

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Penguin, Rum Jungle

Fridge Magnets

My family is one of those that put lots of magnets on the refridgerator. I dunno, we don’t specifically collect them, but we always end up getting freebie ones together when we buy stuff from the pharmacy or supermarket.

Rather than throw them away, we use them to stick up shopping lists, important articles, kid’s drawings, threatening letters from our banks demanding repayment of outstanding loans, etc…

Some days i come home and there are new ones on the ‘fridge door.

Today, i decided to take a pic of them.

(bear in mind, this is just after my kid just broke a few of the porcelain ones, so what you see is a lot less than what we usually have…)

Lots of ‘em:

Close up shot (no, we never order from Domino’s, they’re too blardy expensive, we just keep it there to remind ourselves how a pizza looks like)

But, hey, what that on the bottom right corner? It’s what you get when Minishorts uses Wordpress.com…

(sponsored by Pfizer…)

Technorati Tags: Pfizer