On a sad note, the co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs passed away last night after a long battle with cancer. What would the world be without his vision and ground breaking and innovative products. May he rest in peace.
I agreed with Stephanie from Expat Arrivals yesterday on my new assignment and it is right up my ally and include one of my favourite pastimes, Food. The article will be about How To for the Hawker Food Courts and will obviously require "Serious Investigation" This will be interesting and I get to explore the food as well. We have not agreed a deadline yet but who cares. Here is an interesting fact. I have been wondering where Stephanie is based so I asked her yesterday. She is American based in Cape Town for the past five years and absolutely love South Africa. Now I know why she sometimes takes long to respond to my mails.
The COE or Certificate of Entitlement basically controls the ownership of cars in Singapore. The COE's are issued in a bidding process and is also limited by a Quota which is determined by the Minister of Transport. The Minister announced last week that the quota increase would be reduced to 1.5% which in effect means less new car COE's. The reason Singapore does this is to control the amount of cars on the road and to ensure that the growth stay in tune with the road infrastructure. A COE is also only valid for ten years after which the owner must scrap or export the vehicle. Good system to control traffic but the downside is that car prices is not fixed and can vary from one bidding cycle to another. The latest quota reduction announcement had a immediate increase effect on all categories of car prices. Does make car ownership quite a challenge.
If you intend owning a car in Singapore best you read up and get the facts.
Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_of_Entitlement
Zoak is one of Asia's famous dance and music clubs and have been part of a discussion in the news for the past two weeks. The issue is not the club itself but the noise and alcohol abuse outside the club and the Robertson Quay. A Member of Parliament has put forward a proposal to introduce Banned Alcohol areas and this has stirred a lot of discussion. The residents have a point as they have to put up with the drunken loud patrons and the mess including puke the next morning. They continued the debate on BlogTV last night and the issue is not resolved. The club is not to blame as the vendors around the club like 7-Eleven sell alcohol at reduced prices resulting in patrons getting slammed before they actually get to the club. A non alcohol ban will not work and the debate continues. In the Member of Parliaments defense, she is trying to find a suitable solution other than the ban, but we are talking about teenagers and I do not think they will be responsible enough on their own.
On to the Beep Beep. Since moving to the suburbs I have been seeing and hearing these little trucks driving around the neighberhood and past my house with a continued Beep Beep of their distinctive hooters. Sort of like a motor cycle hooter sound. I have been wondering what the hell this is all about and yesterday when my gardener/landscape guy, Victor was here I remembered to ask. To put it in simple terms for the people back home it is like a Cash Converters on wheels. If you have anything you do not want anymore, flag the guy down and negotiate a price and they will take it of your hands. Nifty and they also collect any paper products for free.
On to business cards. Always hand it out with two hands and receive the same way. Do not just put it away. Read it first with interest and never put in a back pocket. That is considered an insult.
Going to enhance the garden and met with Victor yesterday to discuss. Will have to do it on a project basis from a cost perspective but will post the upgrade pictures when done.
My new South African connection, Genie managed to find us a Pub Style venue, called Picotin where we can enjoy the Rugby with fellow South Africans, Aussies, Souties and Kiwis. That should be interesting (Sure Springboks play Australia this weekend) and hope to meet some more friends. Checked out the menu and they even serve an English Breakfast. Aiming to go there this weekend and I will wear my new Springbok shirt my friend Gatoe gave me as a go away present. Live dangerously I say.
Me and Zelma ended up being the on;y Springbok supporters in a pub in London and on that occasion the Springboks won. Still felt quite intimidating to be the only South Africans in a pub full of rugby mad and slightly pissed Englishman.
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