Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Still scratching my head.
Guessing Singapore's taxi fare is a total art form. This morning's fare from hotel to the airport costed S$40.00; extra surcharges this time..... "Early morning booking". Three weeks ago, I left pretty much the same time from another hotel, Le Meridien, at Orchard Rd to the airport; total cost S$25.00. This time, was a bit less distance but costed more! And from the airport to the hotel on Sunday, it was only S$29.00. Umm....... I guess the best way is sticking to the MRT, the subway; at least I know I am only being charged $0.90 one way to anywhere. But wait, I haven't taken it during really rush hour. Might be more. Who knows...
Monday, December 17, 2007
Chinese labourers everywhere
In Singapore that is. They are from mainland China employed in the service sector. Mostly in hotels as cleaning stuff. The so called lower paid. The more well-to-do Singaporeans don't want to do. I use more Mandarin here than in Shanghai! Ha!
You want better English speaking, best head to Orchard Road. Sometimes I got blank stares on the other end when communicating in English. At street corner this afternoon, I overhead an conversation between two men. They started with Hokian, then Manadarin then English and all in one breath, a mix of all three in couple sentences. After a while, I really have no idea what they were talking about; because I just couldn't pick out what language; seems transformed to a new language.
You want better English speaking, best head to Orchard Road. Sometimes I got blank stares on the other end when communicating in English. At street corner this afternoon, I overhead an conversation between two men. They started with Hokian, then Manadarin then English and all in one breath, a mix of all three in couple sentences. After a while, I really have no idea what they were talking about; because I just couldn't pick out what language; seems transformed to a new language.
Taxi in Singapore
Very interesting facts. It is hard catching a taxi on the street anymore; the taxis are waiting at major buildings or running around with advance bookings. Advance bookings because the drivers charge a surcharge of S$3.50. On top of that, there are peak hours surcharge as well. About S$3.00. Surcharge this, surcharge that. You better start walking or take the MRT (subway). Subway, only if you can stand the "sweaty" smell permeates in compartments once you get on. I was quite surprise that there is not enough ventilation for body odour.
Yes, back to the taxi. You can get a variety ranges of models. From Corolla to Benz, same price, same metering.
When we got on a taxi at the Singapore airport, it was a Benz. The driver trashed the interior pretty good though; stapled Xmas decoration dangling through out the ceiling. On the dash and on the back, more Xmas decorations. Didn't need more reminding anymore after exiting that taxi.
Yes, back to the taxi. You can get a variety ranges of models. From Corolla to Benz, same price, same metering.
When we got on a taxi at the Singapore airport, it was a Benz. The driver trashed the interior pretty good though; stapled Xmas decoration dangling through out the ceiling. On the dash and on the back, more Xmas decorations. Didn't need more reminding anymore after exiting that taxi.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
my HSBC experience from HKG Head Office
Dear Mr/Mrs. Lo,
Thank you for your keen inquiry into whether your business account has been setup. As part of our bank's continuing cost saving and efficiency program, we assume that you should telepathically know the account has been setup along with a valid account number for sometime. Our bank has provided a humanoid taking inquiry messages pretending the bank is concerned with your well being and your business needs. Should you contact your Premier account relationship manager for any assistance, please understand that he/she can only provide you further phone numbers to contact in the SMB unit. Our bank has defined very fine and absolute compartmental procedures in inter-department communications. In short, in order to save cost and pass on the saving to you, we only provide our service half ass. Should you deem a full service is needed, we recommend either switching to a more competent bank or opening up a super Premier account; this new type of account will provide you with a plusher waiting area with more buttery cookies and a humanoid providing Nescafe instant coffee with processed cream.
Again thank you for your keen interest into your own business needs. We value your business. Please do not hesitate in contacting our bank again at our convenience. We are busy penetrating the Chinese market as well as plugging holes in the subprime mortgage fiasco due to the greed factor.
Should the telepathic communication is encountering problem between you and the bank, we do levy a small service fee at HK$100 per month for inquiry under 5 times.
Yours truly,
HSBC Banking Service Team
------------------------------------------------
Service excellence begin with US.
------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your keen inquiry into whether your business account has been setup. As part of our bank's continuing cost saving and efficiency program, we assume that you should telepathically know the account has been setup along with a valid account number for sometime. Our bank has provided a humanoid taking inquiry messages pretending the bank is concerned with your well being and your business needs. Should you contact your Premier account relationship manager for any assistance, please understand that he/she can only provide you further phone numbers to contact in the SMB unit. Our bank has defined very fine and absolute compartmental procedures in inter-department communications. In short, in order to save cost and pass on the saving to you, we only provide our service half ass. Should you deem a full service is needed, we recommend either switching to a more competent bank or opening up a super Premier account; this new type of account will provide you with a plusher waiting area with more buttery cookies and a humanoid providing Nescafe instant coffee with processed cream.
Again thank you for your keen interest into your own business needs. We value your business. Please do not hesitate in contacting our bank again at our convenience. We are busy penetrating the Chinese market as well as plugging holes in the subprime mortgage fiasco due to the greed factor.
Should the telepathic communication is encountering problem between you and the bank, we do levy a small service fee at HK$100 per month for inquiry under 5 times.
Yours truly,
HSBC Banking Service Team
------------------------------------------------
Service excellence begin with US.
------------------------------------------------
Singlish
Man, it's getting bad here in Singapore; people's English seem to degrade pretty good. I think it has evolved to a totally different language. I am having a hard time, 1/2 of the time, understanding what people are saying.
Read in the local newspaper three weeks ago. The gov't is sending over 200+ teachers back to English school because their English level was so poor, parents were complaining.
Read in the local newspaper three weeks ago. The gov't is sending over 200+ teachers back to English school because their English level was so poor, parents were complaining.
Wow, AC's Super Elite now
Just got an email from Aeroplan, I am qualified for AC's 2008 Super Elite status. Still cannot figure out how I got there. And after comparing the benefits with current status level, I am scratching my head. What benefits? Just a new set of name tags with different colour and a dedicated contact number. Yuppy! It certainly does not offer me a free round of Biz class anywhere I choose. Just lots of upgrade certificates that are hard to use.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
A Balinese village
The last day we were in Bali, Audrey's friend, Nicky, invited us to his village; to see his new born baby girl. From our resort, his village was about 5 minute highway ride and what seemed eternity rough & broken road to the village - probably about 15 to 20 minutes. Getting bounced up and down in a small Susuki jeep on benches was interesting. That was rougher than the Safari rides in South Africa.
The road from the turn off toward the village was amazingly broken up. Not potholes, but "broken"; repeat "broken". Worse than the secondary highways in Saskatchewan by 500 percent.
Nicky's house was not just a house; but a series of houses. Generations live in the same premise. There were buildings - living quarters, "traditional" bathroom and work shed. There were two trees with fruit similar to Kiwi; when riped, they fell to the ground; the two trees produced over 100Kg of fruit; you then sold to the market. Nicky is in the middle of collecting building materials for his new house on the premise.
We had some fresh coconut juice while visiting; the taste was a bit salty; not the same as we experienced in restaurants; wondered if there were other additives to the coconut when being served in restaurants. Didn't have much as the hygiene factor - his dad, just picked freshed from the tree; dropped to the ground, hacked up the top, made a hole with whatever, then a straw. But the straw was a bit "muddy". They were great hosts but ....
We walked a bit around the village; saw real grove trees and coco trees. Rice fields. And a 70 odd years old woman balancing two long tree barks on her head walking.
One thing you need to get used to was seeing dogs everywhere in a village; then the occasional open drainage; OK, that was the second thing.
I finally saw tempe (or tempeh) in one of the village's stores. It is a staple diet to the Indonesians. Very healthy. You can get some in health food store in Canada or the US I believe.
Every house in a village has a temple. And every village has a community hall that meetings are held; and the population statistic is recorded and displayed. Also, there is a temple for the village.
The road from the turn off toward the village was amazingly broken up. Not potholes, but "broken"; repeat "broken". Worse than the secondary highways in Saskatchewan by 500 percent.
Nicky's house was not just a house; but a series of houses. Generations live in the same premise. There were buildings - living quarters, "traditional" bathroom and work shed. There were two trees with fruit similar to Kiwi; when riped, they fell to the ground; the two trees produced over 100Kg of fruit; you then sold to the market. Nicky is in the middle of collecting building materials for his new house on the premise.
We had some fresh coconut juice while visiting; the taste was a bit salty; not the same as we experienced in restaurants; wondered if there were other additives to the coconut when being served in restaurants. Didn't have much as the hygiene factor - his dad, just picked freshed from the tree; dropped to the ground, hacked up the top, made a hole with whatever, then a straw. But the straw was a bit "muddy". They were great hosts but ....
We walked a bit around the village; saw real grove trees and coco trees. Rice fields. And a 70 odd years old woman balancing two long tree barks on her head walking.
One thing you need to get used to was seeing dogs everywhere in a village; then the occasional open drainage; OK, that was the second thing.
I finally saw tempe (or tempeh) in one of the village's stores. It is a staple diet to the Indonesians. Very healthy. You can get some in health food store in Canada or the US I believe.
Every house in a village has a temple. And every village has a community hall that meetings are held; and the population statistic is recorded and displayed. Also, there is a temple for the village.
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