houses on feet

what I did before I started the new job :-)

starting afresh

Three days into the new job and it's been a breath of fresh air--just great! I can already feel the energy, the challenge, the excitement. It's wonderful. Having been holed in a high-walled cubicle for 2.5 years, I wondered if I would be able to adjust to an open concept office where I wouldn't have the privacy to sneak a few winks of sleep or check the mirror for eye dirt :P I actually don't mind the open concept as there's lots of buzz and the laughter from my colleagues infects the whole office. I suppose the noise helps to keep me awake too. But maybe I won't say the same when I have to concentrate on some important task! Akan datang.

What's great about this place? I'm free to be myself, I have the licence to be wacky wild funky creative, I can approach my really cool and easygoing boss for guidance whenever and whatever, and everyone smiles and laughs alot. There is PASSION, PURPOSE, HUMILITY and SINCERITY. And because of all this, there is buzz and more importantly, meaning. It's not about the money, but being happy doing what I'm doing and getting a gentle rush in my veins on the way to work. As the big boss says as she passes my desk and smiles, "Cool". Yes, COOL indeed. I can't wait.

on food courts

Have you ever wondered how we have allowed the contemptuous species of air-conditioned food courts to flourish, despite Singapore's glaring status as a food paradise? It is no big secret that our people would travel from one end of the island to another in hot pursuit of the best hawker food, or even teh tarik! Given this, how could we allow the existence of such junk and expensive fare from our (I hate to say it but I must) sterile food courts? And not only that, how is it that these places are always packed during meal times? Surely it is not the frozen seafood in the claypot noodles or the MSG-laden yong tau foo soup that has mesmerised the crowd? I think it is the lure of air-conditioned comfort (another stark global warming reminder) and sheer convenience that's drawing the masses.

For one thing, the food served at these places is tolerable, even good at times. Someone pointed out to me that the hokkien mee from the VivoCity food court is really something. But I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling that $4+ for a bowl of measly portioned beef noodles is unjustified. And have you noticed that much of the soup coming from these places is just MSG water? Of course food from the good old hawker centre has MSG as well but the soup doesn't scream AJINOMOTO as much. I will not go on about the instant noodles the Korean and Japanese stalls pass off as ramen!

My main gripe about food courts is how most of the stalls serve up sub-standard fare in measly portions and charge at least $0.50 more (yes I know we must pay for air-conditioning but can you spare a few more stalks of vegetables?) than hawker centres. The horrible thing is that our people tolerate this and even perpetuate the life of these stinking stalls. Though of course if you are a really stinky stall (read BAD food) you might eventually die out. I'm not saying we should avoid food courts altogether (Food Republic at Wisma Atria is one shining success example as it actually offers decent food though at higher prices), but we shouldn't allow lousy food at lousy prices to have its place, that's if we still want to be a food paradise. In other words, can we have more gourmands and can we stop eating food that just doesn't make the mark? Are you willing to forgo air-conditioned comfort for a cheaper, tastier bowl of wanton mee? That remains to be seen, but if we really want to live up to our food rep, the war against bad food must start and Singaporeans just have to start sharpening their taste buds. After all, if there's one thing we should be number one at, it should be food--so basic, so simple, something even the poorest bloke can enjoy.

Tourists and non-Singaporeans: I hope you know by now that the best hawker food is not to be found in our food courts, but in REAL hawker centres. NOT Newton Hawker Centre where they overcharge you! If you really must go to a food court, go to the better ones (there aren't many but Wisma's Food Republic might satisfy) or risk the same crappy experience many Singaporeans have gone through but are too bochap (translated literally as don't care) to complain about.

It is my sincere hope that great hawker food (and at great prices) will not become extinct a few decades from now. And if food courts continue to thrive (of course they will; global warming only gets worse, sadly!), I hope the stinky stalls actually do something to pull up their socks. And fellow Singaporeans, can you please not be cannot-make-it by eating cannot-make-it food? Only then can we be TRUE BLUE MAKAN PARADISE, best in the region. PLEASE hor.

5 May

Four years ago, Boy and I got together on this day and got attached. It was beautiful and simple and lasted much longer than we thought--3 years, 1 month and 25 days. Even though it had to end, we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Four years on, we remember this day with fondness and I, with little sadness. Because we have moved on and remain the best buddies ever. We call each other whenever, hang out and talk with no awkwardness but a great understanding. There is frankness, sincerity, affection and concern all in the right doses.

Thank you Boy for everything. You really rock as my irreplaceable burger buddy! And you know what really rocks? That we are going to celebrate our buddy-hood on the day we broke up last year. Now, that is WAY COOL man.