On top of the world .......

 

With my niece-in-law, Jacelyn at the Singapore Flyer

 

The newly-wed couple, Daniel, my nephew with his lovely and demure wife, Jacelyn

 

Friendly and loveable school children in the car next to ours!

 

The temporary Stadium at Marina, viewed from above!

My niece, Christmin and her husband, James had bought a ticket to the Singapore Flyer for Kam Ning, during her one month teaching stint, but Ning had been so busy that she could not use the ticket. Hence, I was blessed with the ticket which had 3 more days to the expiry date. Frankly, I am one lazy person who dislike going out of the flat when I am in Singapore. However, when I am travelling in othe countries, I will enjoy every moment of sightseeing. For it is when I really let my hair down.

Since my nephew, Daniel and his wife, Jacelyn were visiting me from Johore, I decided to take them along with me to the Singapore Flyer on the last day of expiry date. It was the first experience for all three of us. It rained quite heavily as we were gradually on our way up. Yet it looked beautiful, giving that feeling of "being in heaven" with the mist and haze!

We saw some schoolchildren in the next car. One of them was particularly cute and friendly and kept waving to us. Kids are always the most natural and spontaneous.
They always seem to enjoy themselves, come rain or shine.

If I want to have a night view of the city, I will not want to take the Flyer again because it costs $29.90! I will go to my client's 17th floor apartment at Rocca Balestier for it has 340 degree view of the city!

Going up the Singapore Flyer is indeed a terrific way to have a bird's eye view of lovely Singapore island!

If my local and overseas readers have not tried it before, do make it a point to go
up the Flyer at least once. You will definitely enjoy the ride!

Gan Cao

Excuse Me, Are You A Property Agent? (21)

I received an sms from a cobroking agent of my client's rental apartment.

"Choo, what is the meaning of "Next week, I will touch base with you?"

As I was somewhat busy on the move, I replied when I had the chance to sit down for my early dinner, or you might call it late lunch.

Later, when I met up with John to view my client's apartment, he looked somewhat relieved. "Choo, you took a while to reply my sms. I was so worried. I thought "touch base with me" means "touch my bottom!" I could not resist laughing aloud. John, a tall and handsome agent, certainly had grounds for his paranoia because his client is an effiminate fashion designer.!

I explained to John about some of the complexities of the English Language with its many idiomatic expressions. For example when we say "raining dogs and cats" it means raining heavily.

"Aiya, why can't my client just say to meet up with me than to use such "cheem" (Hokkien for profound) language as "touch base". I asked my colleagues and nobody seemed to know the meaning. I encouraged John that at least that day, he learnt a new phrase in English.

Though John may not be linguistically equipped, nevertheless, he works with diligence and integrity. However, it would be good if he and many other agents would continue to improve in their English Language as it is an equally important tool to help them close deals.

Gan Cao

Amazing What Computers Can Do !

 

Singapore's new casino at Sentosa


I am still learning new things on the computer. This evening I was in the mood to play around with searches on the computer, and decided to google for my ex-classmates from secondary school as well as the University of Alberta.

Then I thought, "Why not type my name and see what comes out?" I was surprised to see so many things being featured. I did not know that articles published in the New Paper will also be published in the Electric New Paper in the computer, as seen by the picture above and article below.


COLUMNISTS


TNP Web


On levy to enter casino
Give one-time passes to curious locals
March 19, 2010



A FORMER university mate wrote to me from Canada: 'Have you seen your new casino that was reported in the news? How is it?'


FREE ENTRY? Why not allow visitors a walk around? PICTURE: AP
I wrote back: 'No, I have not seen it and I guess I will never see it as long as there is still the $100 levy to be paid. You know what a stingy poker I am, or for want of a better word, an exceedingly frugal lady.'

I guess we must be the first country in the world to have such a levy.

Of course, the authorities have the good intention of discouraging locals from gambling.

But I have been to casinos in Monaco, Melbourne and Genting Highlands, and did not gamble at all, as I find gambling boring. I was there more as a tourist.

Perhaps the authorities could consider issuing a one-time pass to Singaporeans.

This will enable curious people like me to have a look at the casinos inside out, so that when our friends from overseas ask, we can at least say that we have seen the places.

The pass can be limited to two hours, just for a look around. Even an hour will suffice if the authorities are worried that some people will try to gamble in that time.

I belong to an older generation who were trained to be frugal. I think that $100 can feed an orphan in Nepal for 21/2 months.

I do not mind paying more than $100 to watch a good opera, but it will make my heart bleed to fork out $100 just to see bright lights and gambling machines .

FROM READER KAM CHOO CHOO