These 2 weeks due to time constraint and tight schedule, taxi is my primary public transport. Once these 2 weeks is over, it will be back to bus and MRT for me else it is really burning a big hole in my pocket.
Anyway taking the taxis these two weeks have been a very pleasant experience. The taxi drivers are often very friendly in striking conversations with me. For example, the taxi driver yesterday was a university graduate. He shared with me that he often studied together outside with his friends during his poly years. After his graduation, he worked at Tuas while living in Pasir Ris (opposite end of the island) and took distance learning for his degree course. It got very tough later on when he had a family and had to balance all the commitments. I can imagine.
Another day, the son of the taxi driver was a doctor. I could tell that the taxi driver was very proud of his son, which is rightly so. I think his son should also be very proud of his father for bringing him up all the way to university.
From newspaper reports, I know taxi driving in Singapore is not a well paid profession. For sitting behind the wheels for 10 hours a day, the taxi driver will probably earn $2000-$3000 a month after deducting the vehicle rental and diesel cost. If they fall sick or for other reasons they are unable to work for some days, then the take home pay will be much less. Considering the cost of housing in Singapore and the cost involved in raising a family, I can understand when they told me that with the housing price spikes, even though they needed to get a bigger house for the growing family, it is very difficult for them as the prices are beyond their reach so they will have to squeeze in the present house.
However despite all these, often they undercharge me. For eg when the fare is $8.20, they would charge me $8. Even though is only 20cents, but all these do add up to significant reduced earnings for them if they do this on a daily basis to all the commuters.
And today, the taxi uncle really undercharged me signifcantly. The taxi driver was probably in his late 60s to early 70s, definitely over the normal retirement age. First he was very kind to ask me whether the car is too cold for me. On reaching my home, the fare was $7.20. I told him I have 20cents, so that he can just give me back $3 while I gave him $10.20. But he said no need to give him the 20 cents. Then later he shoved $4 back to me. I took out $1 to gave him back. But he insisted that I keep it. Even though I told him he would make a loss, but he keep insisting and said is ok, since he is on way home. In the end I could only thank him. Hmm.. so I paid $6 for a $7.20 journey. Thank you Uncle for your generosity! Even though I don't know I deserve it.
Generosity and kindness is found plentiful in people, often from people who may not be as well endowed in society. I know millionaire who pinch their pennies, maybe that is why they can get so rich because they are very conscious of managing their money. Hmmm....kindness probably work in cycles. The uncle has started the kindness cycle, and I hope I will continue in his spirit of giving and pass it along to someone else. :)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Fourth time lucky?
Third time lucky? It is not meant to be. I am trying to get a 22 inch TV for my mum. Got a 32 inch TV over the weekend as both the TVs at home broke down.
There have been some special promotions going on for electronices including this 22/26 inch TV over the past few weeks. Usually the store will say for the "First 5 customers" for each of the electronic item. My bro-in-law advised me to go queue up for this as he queued only 10 mins before the store opening and got it. He said it is very good deal.
The thing is today is my third time queuing and I still come back empty handed. First 2 times, I am both the 6th person in line, just one person difference. The 5 people in front of me all want the same product as me, even though there are many different items on promotion.
I reached progressively earlier. Today I was there at least an hour before the store opening. I was very happy that there was no one in queue at the usual spot where people queue. Happily I stood there and read the notes I brought along until I heard voices behind me some mins after. Apparently there was a group of people queuing in another spot, hidden by the posters and pillars... How did i miss them?? If only I saw there earlier and join their queue, I am the 6th or 7th person again after I join them. And the result was as expected.
This is really disappointing. For the same item and at the same shop, my bro in law just needed to queue 10 mins and went one time for the item. And I went to queue for three times and much earlier and yet...
Maybe it is meant to be. For example, when I recently bought my laptop. My colleague just went 1 day after me at the same fair. He got a better deal as the shops slashed prices by $100 for all the products that day. Not only is my price higher but not long after, the model that I bought have a model recall for faulty items. The manufacturer recalled my laptop for repair.
Another incident this year, I took a taxi to rush home after feeling sick and my taxi was following all the traffic rules. Out of nowhere, another car ignoring the red light rammed into my taxi and hit the side when I was sitting. Missed me luckily else I would not be here writing. Also this year, when I crossed a small road, I clearly saw there was no traffic before I crossed. But midway, suddenly a motorbike zipped past me in high speed, just inches from me.
When I went backpacking with my friend in India, I encountered a few times of bird shit dropping from the sky onto me. I really did not know what happened and my friend was surprised too because we are often standing around the same spot. I doubt it is because there are more birds there. Even in Singapore, walking along Orchard Road, the bird shit had missed me by inches a few times, literally dropping beside me when I am walking. I never heard of my friends experiencing this so often.
Somehow I often meet with such incidents with high frequency until I guess they no longer fazed me so much. To me, it is like "ok, it happen again". It is a tad tiring at times as I often have to go through more efforts for the same thing. Maybe a lot of people also experienced such things and never complain. I should count my blessings instead. Life has still been kind to me compared to many others that are struggling every day for their survival. What are these stories that I have? Insignificant indeed.
Ok, I guess I should not make any wishes, I just need to continue my effort. Maybe the shop will have the promotion again next weekend and I will be fourth time lucky. :)
There have been some special promotions going on for electronices including this 22/26 inch TV over the past few weeks. Usually the store will say for the "First 5 customers" for each of the electronic item. My bro-in-law advised me to go queue up for this as he queued only 10 mins before the store opening and got it. He said it is very good deal.
The thing is today is my third time queuing and I still come back empty handed. First 2 times, I am both the 6th person in line, just one person difference. The 5 people in front of me all want the same product as me, even though there are many different items on promotion.
I reached progressively earlier. Today I was there at least an hour before the store opening. I was very happy that there was no one in queue at the usual spot where people queue. Happily I stood there and read the notes I brought along until I heard voices behind me some mins after. Apparently there was a group of people queuing in another spot, hidden by the posters and pillars... How did i miss them?? If only I saw there earlier and join their queue, I am the 6th or 7th person again after I join them. And the result was as expected.
This is really disappointing. For the same item and at the same shop, my bro in law just needed to queue 10 mins and went one time for the item. And I went to queue for three times and much earlier and yet...
Maybe it is meant to be. For example, when I recently bought my laptop. My colleague just went 1 day after me at the same fair. He got a better deal as the shops slashed prices by $100 for all the products that day. Not only is my price higher but not long after, the model that I bought have a model recall for faulty items. The manufacturer recalled my laptop for repair.
Another incident this year, I took a taxi to rush home after feeling sick and my taxi was following all the traffic rules. Out of nowhere, another car ignoring the red light rammed into my taxi and hit the side when I was sitting. Missed me luckily else I would not be here writing. Also this year, when I crossed a small road, I clearly saw there was no traffic before I crossed. But midway, suddenly a motorbike zipped past me in high speed, just inches from me.
When I went backpacking with my friend in India, I encountered a few times of bird shit dropping from the sky onto me. I really did not know what happened and my friend was surprised too because we are often standing around the same spot. I doubt it is because there are more birds there. Even in Singapore, walking along Orchard Road, the bird shit had missed me by inches a few times, literally dropping beside me when I am walking. I never heard of my friends experiencing this so often.
Somehow I often meet with such incidents with high frequency until I guess they no longer fazed me so much. To me, it is like "ok, it happen again". It is a tad tiring at times as I often have to go through more efforts for the same thing. Maybe a lot of people also experienced such things and never complain. I should count my blessings instead. Life has still been kind to me compared to many others that are struggling every day for their survival. What are these stories that I have? Insignificant indeed.
Ok, I guess I should not make any wishes, I just need to continue my effort. Maybe the shop will have the promotion again next weekend and I will be fourth time lucky. :)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
2nd Chance
Today I was walking along the road where I noticed some art drawings at the side. A number of the drawings featured the sea as a symbol of hope and some of them showed people locked in the jails. These drawings look melancholy and were drew by girls from the Singapore Girls' Home. This is a sort of a rehabilitation centre for girls that may have run mildly foul of the law as well as girls who may have been put there by their parents who deemed them uncontrollable.
There were also some writings accompanying the drawings. The common message conveyed is clear. The girls hope that they will be given a second chance in life.
2nd chance -- Indeed many people hope to be given a 2nd chance for varied kinds of things, in opportunities we seek but lose out, in our life and even in forgivness for things that we may have done. No one is truly perfect. Maybe we lose sight of this at times. I guess most people, me included, tend to judgemental. Are things that we see what they clearly are? In an increasingly complex world, what we see may increasingly not be the whole picture.
Hopefully those who deserve will be given 2nd chance in life.
There were also some writings accompanying the drawings. The common message conveyed is clear. The girls hope that they will be given a second chance in life.
2nd chance -- Indeed many people hope to be given a 2nd chance for varied kinds of things, in opportunities we seek but lose out, in our life and even in forgivness for things that we may have done. No one is truly perfect. Maybe we lose sight of this at times. I guess most people, me included, tend to judgemental. Are things that we see what they clearly are? In an increasingly complex world, what we see may increasingly not be the whole picture.
Hopefully those who deserve will be given 2nd chance in life.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Doctor
I went to see my usual doctor today for flu symptoms. His clinic is just a few blocks from my home. Seeing the H1N1 vaccine information pasted on the wall, I took the opportunity to ask him whether I should go for the jab since he recommended the seasonal flu vaccine for me last time.
Amazingly, he told me that though he recommend this H1N1 vaccine for me, he would strongly suggest to his patients like me to take the vaccine from the clinic a few street away. Apparently that clinic belongs to a healthcare chain that currently has promotion for the H1N1 vaccine such that it costs only $26 while the price at his clinic is $40. Simply put, he said his price is not competitive at the much. He asked me to go outside and checked with his nurse later for the number for that clinic. Unless that clinic ends the promotion such that the prices are not much different, then should I go to him for the H1N1 jab.
Wow what an honest doctor that really cares about his patients! He is a general practitioner that though not a specialist (those doctors probably command higher status in society) but to patients like us that always go to GPs whenever we have any illness, he is definitely our first line of defense. He really commands my respect. He kept his consultation affordable, nomally about $20-40 with medicine each time. Work unbelievably long hours, even working on Sundays last time. A few times I had saw him rush out to help when old folks (I live in an old estate) fainted at the food centre in front of his clinic. He would stay until the paramedics arrive which is usually very fast fortunately.
I used to take for granted that all doctors are like that especially since those medical-themed TV dramas always seem to show doctors as really selfless people. That was until I checked with my friends who are nurses. My good friend who used to work in the operating theatres in the hospital told me that in her daily contact with doctors, there are actually many with big egos that treat nurses badly and without much respect. There are people in the profession because of the status and remuneration.
Really glad that my GP is such a great doctor, though he may not win any contest for most charming doctor or gather much prestige in the medical community as he only treats general ailments BUT really, most importantly, to us, patients who go to him as our first line of defense for illness, he is our unstated Hero! :) Thank you Doctor!
Amazingly, he told me that though he recommend this H1N1 vaccine for me, he would strongly suggest to his patients like me to take the vaccine from the clinic a few street away. Apparently that clinic belongs to a healthcare chain that currently has promotion for the H1N1 vaccine such that it costs only $26 while the price at his clinic is $40. Simply put, he said his price is not competitive at the much. He asked me to go outside and checked with his nurse later for the number for that clinic. Unless that clinic ends the promotion such that the prices are not much different, then should I go to him for the H1N1 jab.
Wow what an honest doctor that really cares about his patients! He is a general practitioner that though not a specialist (those doctors probably command higher status in society) but to patients like us that always go to GPs whenever we have any illness, he is definitely our first line of defense. He really commands my respect. He kept his consultation affordable, nomally about $20-40 with medicine each time. Work unbelievably long hours, even working on Sundays last time. A few times I had saw him rush out to help when old folks (I live in an old estate) fainted at the food centre in front of his clinic. He would stay until the paramedics arrive which is usually very fast fortunately.
I used to take for granted that all doctors are like that especially since those medical-themed TV dramas always seem to show doctors as really selfless people. That was until I checked with my friends who are nurses. My good friend who used to work in the operating theatres in the hospital told me that in her daily contact with doctors, there are actually many with big egos that treat nurses badly and without much respect. There are people in the profession because of the status and remuneration.
Really glad that my GP is such a great doctor, though he may not win any contest for most charming doctor or gather much prestige in the medical community as he only treats general ailments BUT really, most importantly, to us, patients who go to him as our first line of defense for illness, he is our unstated Hero! :) Thank you Doctor!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Orchid
I am pleasantly surprised when I came out of my office building lift to see that they had placed pots of orhids at the lift area. It brighten the place immediately. I was not the only one surprised, I saw some people even touching the orchids etc. It seemed that many people are nicely surprised by it.
Talking about Orchids, I think I have no green fingers. Actually I quite like orchids and sitting outside the corridor of my unit are 4 pots of orchids I have over different times. The thing is, there are no flowers, only leaves ever since I bought them blooming with flowers at the time of purchase. I bought fertilizers and cut their stems etc (someone told me it would work) but still could not convince the plants to flower. I often heard that orchids are easy to manage. But hmmm, my plants are tough and disobedient indeed. :)
Talking about Orchids, I think I have no green fingers. Actually I quite like orchids and sitting outside the corridor of my unit are 4 pots of orchids I have over different times. The thing is, there are no flowers, only leaves ever since I bought them blooming with flowers at the time of purchase. I bought fertilizers and cut their stems etc (someone told me it would work) but still could not convince the plants to flower. I often heard that orchids are easy to manage. But hmmm, my plants are tough and disobedient indeed. :)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Natural Disasters
Today's news -- Earthquake in Java Island. Recently there seems to be an onslaught of natural disasters happening in Asia. Typhoon, Earthquake, Tsuanmi, Floods ...
Indeed, there have been quite a few earthquakes in Indonesia in the past few weeks. Really emphathize with the people living in Sumatra. It seems that they have more than their fair share of disasters and life seems so uncertain for them in the past couple of years. It must be stressful to live under such uncertainty especially worrying about the safety. Hopefully those homes destroyed will be rebuild soon.
It is often say that the reconstruction process usually takes a number of years though donors and outsiders tend to concentrate their effort in the short aftermath of the disasters. Lets hope that these people will not be forgotten and they can rebuild their lives with courage and hope.
Indeed, there have been quite a few earthquakes in Indonesia in the past few weeks. Really emphathize with the people living in Sumatra. It seems that they have more than their fair share of disasters and life seems so uncertain for them in the past couple of years. It must be stressful to live under such uncertainty especially worrying about the safety. Hopefully those homes destroyed will be rebuild soon.
It is often say that the reconstruction process usually takes a number of years though donors and outsiders tend to concentrate their effort in the short aftermath of the disasters. Lets hope that these people will not be forgotten and they can rebuild their lives with courage and hope.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Bazaar
The Pasar Malam (temporary night bazaar) has come to my neighbourhood! I was surprised to come back at night to see so many shops along the walkways.
I like night bazaars! Though I seldom buy from the shops there, mostly only buy food items like snacks etc from them, but I like the color and vibrancy that the night bazaar brings to the neighbourhood. Many people will be walking around and browsing through the shops.
When I was walking past last night, one store particularly stand out. Is a store crowded by mosty guys. At first I thought it was a store that probably sell guys stuff until I looked closely. Is actually a store that sell face cream. All of its sale promoters are guys and they managed to pull a number of guys to test out the face cream on their faces in public! Wow cool! Is good to break the stereotypes of the gender.
I like night bazaars! Though I seldom buy from the shops there, mostly only buy food items like snacks etc from them, but I like the color and vibrancy that the night bazaar brings to the neighbourhood. Many people will be walking around and browsing through the shops.
When I was walking past last night, one store particularly stand out. Is a store crowded by mosty guys. At first I thought it was a store that probably sell guys stuff until I looked closely. Is actually a store that sell face cream. All of its sale promoters are guys and they managed to pull a number of guys to test out the face cream on their faces in public! Wow cool! Is good to break the stereotypes of the gender.
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