Singapore appears to wanna build its image as the "Monaco of the East" huh?
Monaco has the Monte Carlo casinos, we have our IRs. Monaco has beautiful beachfront property, we're coming right along with Sentosa Cove. Now F1 comes to Singapore to rival the only other F1 Street GP in the world in Monaco again.
Big money, a totally different sporting experience. Looks like a dream come true huh?
Although from the economic side, this appears to be a boon as more big money and exposure comes to Singapore. Big time racers like Alonso, Hamilton, Raikkonen comes into the races the normal route, the ultra rich and famous socialites will come too, generating media glitz. Fans of the F1 races will come by too to sit and watch.
This event doesn't necessarily generate tourists, in fact some European tourists will shun Singapore during this period. Nobody likes to work, shop, hold hands and kiss their partners by the Esplanade when the entire area sounds as though it's like the airport runway. The sound of the F1 cars running at top speed will sound very much like a typical fighter jet taking off (I am sure you heard those sounds over the skies during NDP right? and I mean from the skies...) Now try listening to those sounds more up close and personal for an entire week (It's not just 1 race, surely there'll be practice laps and qualifying laps). Add the heat generated by those engines that'll probably warm up the already warm Singapore. You got a perfect turn-off for tourists. Doesn't sound really right for Singapore who is very keen on tourism huh?
My friend/colleague who lives in Monaco told me that the Monaco citizens actually leave Monaco during the F1 races. I mean, how can somebody is on a relaxation tour bear with these nonsense? Perhaps Singapore officials really should make a trip to Monaco themselves and get a taste of how life will be like there during the Monaco F1 Grand Prix.
Fortunately, I don't work in the Marina area, or I may wanna get away for that week. In fact, maybe it's time I plan a short getaway during that week. I don't think I wanna hear those insane noise; I think I heard enough for my ICT (I'm was at an air base where jet fighters take off and land daily, the noise won't be far off)
What next up now for Singapore? Singapore going into monarchy again Monaco style? Or abolish taxes like Monaco? Well, Singapore appears to be like a monarchy anyway, minus the Princes and Princesses (I stress the word "appear", we know we are a meritocratic society) , but I'll surely love the latter which is the abolishment of taxes, and that means to hell with the 7% GST and our Income Tax and blah blah blah....
Even if they do that, Singapore is never gonna become a place for the "rich and famous" the way Monaco does.
It's been ages since I posted something in this blog. As you all may know, this blog only comes into life when I am down in the dumps, and this time is no exception too.
I'm at present doing my reservist duty. As you all know, camera-phones are banned in all SAF camps so I hadda switch my important contact details from my O2 Mini to my old Nokia 8850. As I looked through the list, I wondered how many people in those list do I really know well and are close. Some were ex-classmates from Beatty, OI and SIM, some were my friend's friends, some were online friends, some were my colleagues.
My friends from Beatty NPCC (Azman, Yongquan, Ronny, Meiru, Boon Heng, Ismadi [Madi's not ex-Beattyain]), I do keep in contact with them, but it's been few and rare. Other than the occasional gatherings at Ronny's house, Azman's house and the once-in-a-while rollerblading with Boon Heng, I have virtually not kept in touch with many of them. Is it my fault, or do I not feel close to them as I was before now.
My ex-classmates in OI, I would probably count no more than 5 (James, Kelvin, Rudi), the rest? Either I lost contact with them, or I rather not have anything to do with them again. I was an unpopular character back in school then. The gatherings with James, Kelvin and Rudi are very rare, probably once a year or something... and since they stay close to me... it is appalling. But guess everybody has their own busy lives to tend to.
My Banking Friends in SIM, (Samuel, Ziming, Joel, KP, Edmund, Eugene, Lisheng, Joalin, Deborah, Xuanyi, etc)... ever since I quit SIM, I haven't been in touch with them. They have since graduated and are probably busy with their jobs. No messages to them, they do drop occasional messages but I have been busy to respond.
My #NPCC friends (Alan, Yimei, Eric, Kelly, Cheryl, Shuhui, Weicong, Melissa), they seemed to have faded too, maybe apart from Yimei and Alan.
At present, about the only group that I do keep in touch and outings with are my F4 buddies and their partners (JR & Jo, Wilson [w/o Sufen in tow], Marcus [w/o Sunshine] ), the presence of friends like Angel, Albert seem to have faded from my circle.
In the end, the numbers that went into my phone to be used for my 3 weeks in the military are those whom I keep in constant touch with.
If you're thinking I have a new life, I do... but all's not rosy. It's only work. I have friends from FREE, Prevalence (all whom I do keep in touch occasionally, online...) and my colleagues at Petredec. But in the end, only my manager's number entered my phonebook for this phone. All others (I know there is a surprising absentee in a certain Miss "V" my closest pals will know who, but yes... she included...) are excluded in my phonebook to the army.
So that about very much sums up my friends condition. It's very unhealthy and given that I am becoming increasing withdrawn towards meeting new people (call it phobia...) I suppose that's the way it goes...
