Poor Helpers

They built our houses, keep the floors clean, repair our roads, and do all those things that Singaporean do not want to do and what do their get for that?

Ride in the back of trucks and lorries, subject to the harsh elements, stay in shacks that even we don't house our pets in, left to die when sick, treated like slaves without pay and treat as unclean in housing estates..........

I really disgusted with the attitude of employers who treat our foreign guest workers like dirt. I don't like to call upon the gahmen to do this or that, I have always believe that we should not cling to the apron string of the gahmen but in these instances, the government should come forward and protect the legions of foreigners working here. Not just the construction workers but the domestic servants, the food stall helpers and the many low skilled workers here.

Don't just ban these employers from employing foreign workers. They can always get around the ban by using sub-contractors. An eye for an eye. A teeth for a teeth. Make the guilty employers stay in the shacks they call dormitory and see how long they can tahan the stink I have been inside one factory unit that was illegally used as a worker quarters squeezing in close to fifty workers staying there in 2 shifts and the place stinks to high heaven. And I am not even going to mention the state of the 1 toilet that was there! Deprive the employers of wages, food and medicine and see how they like it!

New Year Greetings

It's already the 2nd day of the new year and almost over as well. 

What are my wishes for this year?

World Peace? Ha ha that will take a miracle for it to come true and miracle are so scarced nations will probably fight each other to get one:)

Economy rebound? That also appear to be a pipe dream. Economist and financial experts don't see much light at the light of the tunnel yet so I guess this will have to wait until 2010.

Good health for my loved ones, relatives and friends - That would be nice but it need the co-operation of the receipients and if they don't take care of themselves, wishing them tons on good health is not going to help.

Happiness for everybody - There is a Chinese saying that Happiness is to be found by one ownself so people will have to make their own happiness.  How to - in these times of uncertainty, of job insecurity, rising costs, food scandals.

Sound so depressing yah... 

Still no harm wishing - so 

I wish for the World - World Peace, 

for the people of the world - a quick economy rebound and fortune rebuilt

for the people I loved, relatives and friends - Good Health 

and for everybody - Happiness in life and in everything that you undertake

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Once a year, we try to go to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Most time, all we took away was mosquitoes bites although we did saw the otter 1 time and a tame(?) wild boar another time. But this year - blessed with good weather we scored big! We saw:

Birds

Insects

CrustaceansFish

MammalsWeird looking PlantsSmall reptiles
Big reptiles
and
the mother of them all:
An Estuarine Crocodile!

All pictures taken by Alicia. More photos here

3 Days of Holiday

Went for a short break in the land of the fragrance harbour. It has been many years since we last when there. Last time, the airport was still at the old place and we could see all the shanty houses along the sea as the plane fly into the airport. Now the airport has been relocated to a much safer location.

The first stop for the day after check in was a trip up the Peak. First to Mdm Tussauds which turned out to be a big disappointment! It was so small with so few wax exhibits. The night view from the Peak was supposed to be fantastic but there was a perpetual layer of fog or is is haze that prevented a clear view.
The next day, we got conned into accepting the free 1 day city tour offered by the tour agency we booked with and ended up following them for a lousy breakfast and lunch and the obligatory visit to a jewelery and a herbal store wasting half the time. Still we got to go to Repulse Bay,
Aberdeen Harbour and a ride on one of the longest cable car in the world (I think).
And at the top, got to see a giant of a Buddha (shown here half size)After that, pop by Citigate where there are over 60 factory outlets including the Nike, Adidas, Puma and New Balance factory outlets!

Night time was at the Mongkok area and we went gaga over the numerous sports shop there. The range of Adidas and Nike shoes were amazing. See until blur and didn't know what to get!

The next day was spent at Ocean Park
and in the night was back at Mongkok checking out the rest of the shops and Ladies Market.

Too short a trip. M did not get her full day shopping and I did not get to go to Macau. Much has changed in HK since we last went. The people now are so friendly and polite. Everybody now can speak Mandarin making it easier for us to communicate. The MTR is so convenient and afforable. Streets are clean, food is delicious and the things are so reasonably priced. So we were be back to spend more time on shopping!

More photos here