What Singapore?

Buskers along orchard road are "bad for Singapore's image", so says the Chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association, as reported in today's (okay now yesterday's) Straits Times. And if she had her way, she'd do away with them.

Well, what is this "image" that is being referred to here - that which depicts the culture of Singapore? Hardly, if you ask me. Probably just the facade that we want to showcase - something along the lines of, marketing/branding Orchard Road as the 5th Avenue of Singapore. In almost every single session of UMS3205C thus far, we'd inevitably launch into a discussion about this "culture" that is being marketed versus the authentic, vernacular culture adopted by our locals. I guess we've all come to a consensus, unsurprisingly, that there exists a gulf between the two - and a rather wide one at that.

What makes you and me true blue Singaporeans? Topnotch civic mindedness and hospitality akin to that of a 'land of thousand smiles'? C'mon, not even in a thousand years. What makes the sights and sounds in Singapore burst with local flavour? Cosmopolitan streets like Orchard Road where every passer by evokes an air like that of your average New Yorker? Hurhur, who are you trying to kid. Why is it that the authorities shun those endearing practices and elements that truly spell Singapore, and instead try so desperately to highlight what's, to us locals, so evidently manufactured and a departure of true Singaporean culture? So you think by tucking the buskers into the suburban areas (if there even are any to speak of in the first place), they will poof and disappear? Why, think again.

A Mother's Love

A mother's love is something that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain.
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away.
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems.
It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation
And it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation.
A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence of God's tender guiding hand.
Helen Steiner Rice

Last Sunday was momma's day and here's where we went!



Honestly though, I still don't see where the hype came from. Kevin and I both agreed we wouldn't have gone to see the cranes tearing our sunny (but not so anymore) island apart, if not because ma mentioned on several occasions that she wanted a ride.

Oh well. But everybody happy! (:




Oh look what ma did to "thank" us, which left me amused and touched at the same time.


Hahaha she teaches Chinese and not English for a reason! But then I think she realized.

Ditto the previous.

This is so sad :(
Blogger isn't allowing me to upload the jpeg

It's a night before the Law paper and I'm online reading comics and watching Mad TV. AND I haven't tagged my textbook (it's an open book). Saturday papers are unfriendly. But still, KELLY WHY SO SLACK

Studied with Uncle James today. Thankfully he came and DROVE (woot) so I wasn't starved. Yeah muggers don't keep track of the calendar and we forgot today's May Day = canteens closed = Macs/Subway uber crowded = go out and eat or starve.

On another note, the alert's been raised to five now. AHH
Humans, please stop underestimating pigs. This is their way of getting back at us. Show us they can be powerful too. Attacking the world with stealth, not clumsy creatures you think they are.
Above theory coined by yours truly. Licui said it's very cute and grand and I should proclaim it to the world.

But I hope the pigs don't go overboard cos I still want to go to Canada and Copenhagen this summer :(