The Ugly Side of Singapore's Driving Culture

I started driving again after 2 years. Though excited to get behind the wheels, I find the whole experience of driving in Singapore frustrating. While the ever increasing number of ERP gantries adds to the dis-enchantment of driving, the driving culture here really kills this simple pleasure in life. My observations are:

Singapore Drivers are:
a. Rude - We do not have the habit of giving way. Please do not deny it because if this is entrenched in our driving culture, why do we need a campaign for it? If we have this practice, why don't we know that blinking the hazard light twice means "Thank You"?

b. Unskilful - Have you ever been in the situation where a car cuts into your lane after signalling his intention just split seconds before? And after doing that, instead of accelerating, he slows down? Have you ever experienced drivers who take their time to filter their lanes thus slowing down every single car behind? Better still, ever met those who change lanes without even bothering to signal?

c. Selfish - Ever been tailgated for no reason? The tailgaters think that by sticking the bonnet into the back of your car, it will force everybody else in front to move faster!!!What logic is that? If the road is congested, it's CONGESTED! Maybe by doing that, he can move a split second faster. But it's just that! Many a times, I just feel like jam braking the car to prove a point, THE TAILGATERS ARE A MENACE AND A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND THE REST OF THE ROAD USERS. Imagine, 2 seconds for you to react to a jam break and you are at most 1 metre away from the car in front of you while travelling at 90km/hr? It doesn't take more than a 3yr old to understand the danger.

d. No sense of speed - What do you do if you are coming out from a slip road into the expressway? You accelerate when there's no car to move into the lanes? That's fine. What happens if the left lane is crowded? Ever experienced drivers who still accelerate when filtering into the left lane from a slip road when that lane is crowded? They just literally joist you out of your lane.

e. Bo Liao - Ever seen drivers snaking in and out of the lanes thinking that that's efficient driving and that they can get to their destination faster? Better yet, performing a combination of snaking and tailgating stunts! Sometimes, I find these acts highly comical. Especially after all the "effort" being put in, we still meet each other at the same traffic light! Time saved? I don't think so. Higher level of kick? Maybe! Being a nuisance? Definitely!Kaneshna!

Having stayed in Moscow for 2 years, I have experienced what skillful driving is all about. I have also experienced what it means by being efficient on the roads. Believe you me, it's none of the above. I always stand by this notion, as drivers, we are like soldiers with a weapon, we have the capability to kill. You may not have intended for it but you certainly do not want to bear the consequences of depriving another motorist's life. It is irreversible! Please drive responsibily!

Hello...Ganma :)

Phone rings.....

Me: Hello?
Baobei: Hi Ganma (loud and clear)
Me: Boy! What are you doing?
Baobei: I.....(cannot decipher)...playing toys. Ganma you see...
Baobei's mummy: Ganma cannot see :)
Baobei: Ganma, you see the colours.
Me: Ganma cannot see you :(
Baobei's mummy: What do you want to ask Ganma?
Baobei: Ganma.....(cannot decipher again :() want to come?
Me: You want me to go to your house?
Baobei: Yes
Baobei's mummy: He asked how come you didn't come over just now?
Baobei: How come you didn't come?
Me: Ganma was at Ganma's muumy's house.
Baobei's mummy: Ok bye!
Baobei: Bye Ganma, BYE (loud and clear and so chirpy :))
Me: Bye, Boy :)
Me in thoughts......my baobei just called me :)

Our Restaurant...Revisited

There is nothing fanciful about it. There is nothing atas about it. The food is not something you will die for. But it is a restaurant that has nostalgic moments. A cozy place where you enjoy a quiet dinner. Where waiters are a good mix of old and young. You wonder who are their customers. Are they sailors? Or just your next door neighbours?

Car park is tugged away beneath the building, where the gantry suggests only seasonal parking. You need a friendly buzz to the restaurant at the gantry for chirpy waiter to provide you with the entry. This is the Marina's Corner....

Lethal Combination

If Apple + Coke + Whisky = Irritable Bowels,

Does
=> Apple + Whisky = Irritable Bowels?
=> Apple + Coke = Irritable Bowels?
=> Coke + Whisky = Irritable Bowels?

New Perspective!

Does this sounds familiar? You work harder than your boss, you seem to know more than your boss, you are more stress than your boss, you have lesser time for other personal things as compared to your boss..... Doesn't sound logical right? I used to think that something was wrong with my boss. Note, the word is used to. Recently, I am beginning to see this whole situation of an "ineffective" boss from a new light. Maybe I appear to work harder because I have placed work as top priority. I know more than my boss because I choose not to let go. I have lesser time for other personal things because I choose to place work first. So, the whole feeling of imbalance and "why am I paid less but have to work more" syndrome is self-inflicted. If I rearrange my priorities and still do my best in office, maybe I can achieve more self satisfaction. Rather than deriving satisfaction from work, shouldn't I derive it from things that are important to me? Late enlightenment :)

Sunday Outing

Adrian and I decided to take a Sunday outing to Hort Park. This is one of those rare occasion where he forsakes his routine tennis game with Beng and gang. By the time we had breakfast and arrived at the park, it was already about 10am. We met many families who had picked Hort Park as their Sunday destination too. It was a nice walk round the Park and up Kent Ridge Park. I certainly miss the cool and dry weather back in Moscow. Just 10 minutes into our excursion, we were already hot and sticky. We followed the path up to Kent Ridge Park where there is a short little tree top walk.

When we happily concluded our Sunday escapade, we took a detour to IKEA to return an utensil holder which I had bought earlier and to take advantage of the free drinks in there (for IKEA members). All went well until we were about 5 minutes away from our house. A black Mitsubishi abruptly cut into our lane. Then a loud bang and yes, our new car was hit by a motorcycle following too close behind. She broke my right brake light :(. What a way to end a wonderful Sunday morning.