December 19, 2003
Third Day
My third day in Singapore and I'm getting used again to life in Singapore.
1) The low cost of food and transport here compared to Sydney. Suddenly, S$3 (approximate A$2.30) gets me an entire meal and the bus/train fares are below S$1!
2) Singlish being spoken all around me.
3) Chinese TV programmes blaring from my TV
4) The bored and expressionless faces of the sales assistants in the shops
5) The humidity
6) The big hoo-ha over silly things like bar-top dancing. Some of the ministers in the goverment can be such stick-in-the-muds!
Anyway, I'm sure there'll be more silly things to come and it'll make for some good writing fodder. Meanwhile, I still have my luggage stacked high in my room. Gotta go unpack!
Posted by DSD at December 19, 2003 2:32 PM
Regarding numbers 4 and 6, you will be greatly relieved when you visit HK. Lately there has been a real push for retail and hospitality workers to be a lot more friendly, particularly to tourists. The most noticable difference is in McDonalds where someone now opens the door for you and the counter staff greet you while you are still metres away.
And I swear that retail staff are trained to see a pink flashing dollar sign on my forehead! Even in the most crowded stores, someone is offering a basket for the couple of items I am holding or even offering to carry them to the counter for me!
Tell me about it! Next they'll ban public speaking!
Tell me about it! Next they'll ban public speaking!