tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73451260074658022212024-03-13T20:51:44.254-07:00Ms Demeanour SingaporeSingapore blogger on current and social affairs, events and entertainment, food and travel, random musings and everything in-betweenMs Demeanourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055843009299113641noreply@blogger.comBlogger11713tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345126007465802221.post-47205046023470549582012-02-18T21:26:00.000-08:002012-02-18T21:26:09.722-08:00Life through a lens: snapshots of SingaporeAs I walk through the streets of Singapore, I feel that I usually see things as if I were looking through a camera. Despite the fact that normally I'm whizzing around in some kind of frenzy, the tiniest details often catch my eye, interesting characters, scenes, moments, faces and places that evoke feelings, and tell stories that I might never know.<br />
<br />
Yet I know that if I tried to capture these, my photographs would never do the moment justice, or I would be too shy to capture it all.<br />
<br />
Thankfully Callan Tham, a professional and portrait photographer but street photographer at heart has captured exactly what I can not in his experimental B&W 100 Project, where he set out to take no less than 100 black and white pictures in a year that would be a collection of both luminance and contrast.<br />
<br />
When I saw his pictures, I was so enthralled by how he had managed to capture exactly those moments almost precisely how I see them in my head. And so I'm delighted to some of those with you here and now.<br />
<br />
<i>What a character on Haji Lane...he looks like he would be more at home in Vietnam with a massive sack of rice strapped to his vehicle...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhETe1Y7F5_vjnMjfirkJdJiLhgefLN4p_oxr3m7E_nkuDpzrQuVMZA4cV42sGaa1DWpIpPeBTYZff51QOSq1Rna2V9rhHSecx5oaEE40BvSi16POveFactld7Ud-VFwUS9e5gLH3yG-Z/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhETe1Y7F5_vjnMjfirkJdJiLhgefLN4p_oxr3m7E_nkuDpzrQuVMZA4cV42sGaa1DWpIpPeBTYZff51QOSq1Rna2V9rhHSecx5oaEE40BvSi16POveFactld7Ud-VFwUS9e5gLH3yG-Z/s400/01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>I love walking through the the Sungei Road Thieves Market en route to the Action for AIDS offices, looking at the wares on display for sale, stealing a peek at people trying to make a buck in the boiling heat...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8XSBLOxOISTBtMdKn5wOqFttGVeHr7znDlJlbQU2iyBpzA9fCvjKQdUWEItL0gQcJIPVdK1GtY-5_qM363gA-BJxcTrxZChTyK_vcNx7C-2N2HZAr_N_cLGGkbOlqYA5HT6pjWi5zZMY/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8XSBLOxOISTBtMdKn5wOqFttGVeHr7znDlJlbQU2iyBpzA9fCvjKQdUWEItL0gQcJIPVdK1GtY-5_qM363gA-BJxcTrxZChTyK_vcNx7C-2N2HZAr_N_cLGGkbOlqYA5HT6pjWi5zZMY/s400/02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>This lonely figure was caught on camera whilst sat on the streets near the Sultan Mosque, Kampong Glam...there are so many times I see old characters like this, their faces drawing me in, and I always wonder what their stories are...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVp1rfWWHt8lFWQSk4aQlk9xRnfP5a6bc3HigzF-V_M_tQxTWzGmSDb5Yq5oHI9_8_U2byQGBbWk4LOTNHJTsBam2sQcrd7TQB_B2pfn_UeyuPIrPYe0Bz40ub2IWI558QXY9Vl__D1mf/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVp1rfWWHt8lFWQSk4aQlk9xRnfP5a6bc3HigzF-V_M_tQxTWzGmSDb5Yq5oHI9_8_U2byQGBbWk4LOTNHJTsBam2sQcrd7TQB_B2pfn_UeyuPIrPYe0Bz40ub2IWI558QXY9Vl__D1mf/s400/03.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>It took me a long time to get used to the helper culture in Singapore and I'm not sure that I'm 100% there anyway. While on many an occasion I've seen scenes not as positive as this, it's nice to see when there seems to be a true bond between helper and child...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEqbhhshZq3pSgQ8zUG-ze7RR4gTGx6ikaOQNfIoGiEwkmR84FZyE8ksVxj-Qtbi3_PsRaZ_2oMKdMOe2ghvbxkSAzLONoz7LCyX50OODFIgxbXNmaXuI22GKOK6BbdZXdPnUtMALORWx/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEqbhhshZq3pSgQ8zUG-ze7RR4gTGx6ikaOQNfIoGiEwkmR84FZyE8ksVxj-Qtbi3_PsRaZ_2oMKdMOe2ghvbxkSAzLONoz7LCyX50OODFIgxbXNmaXuI22GKOK6BbdZXdPnUtMALORWx/s400/04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>They say that dogs always tend to look like their owners, or visa versa. Being a dog owner I know this is not always the case and I love how this picture of this man and his dog in MacPherson is a true affirmation of that fact...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfPiGeg8mpL5c979TTSk4gL0J5j3w_LJ_5sKHlp-ryO2JKDRqqq20pfbyj6Kd3w8A1WgQsCN5g3kjz7TNaHSOcvZ2x7MvQIlyra77LkcJS7yFH7GMrWiKtZ3mwZZgLUo-fjUR9tRZ7YtN/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfPiGeg8mpL5c979TTSk4gL0J5j3w_LJ_5sKHlp-ryO2JKDRqqq20pfbyj6Kd3w8A1WgQsCN5g3kjz7TNaHSOcvZ2x7MvQIlyra77LkcJS7yFH7GMrWiKtZ3mwZZgLUo-fjUR9tRZ7YtN/s400/05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>I often marvel at the balancing skills of the ladies who I see pulling this off. I'm sure if it was me I'd fall right off...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cd_NWRBn33u3Zu_ypGI4nNlV98H0HHaMsgXzvWiJAf0A3KFzzd3AtaiUmKB_m4ppGrbVM5QLwk6QDQF3XOhf6f_CeW6ENYRGQRCjVBa__0lYmlH6e2P4fXrmg08F7FTQ5lykHChX9p2c/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Cd_NWRBn33u3Zu_ypGI4nNlV98H0HHaMsgXzvWiJAf0A3KFzzd3AtaiUmKB_m4ppGrbVM5QLwk6QDQF3XOhf6f_CeW6ENYRGQRCjVBa__0lYmlH6e2P4fXrmg08F7FTQ5lykHChX9p2c/s400/06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>They say the eyes are the window to our souls and that every line has a story to tell. For me this picture of this elderly gentleman in Waterloo Street could not portray that notion any better and I wonder what he is thinking about the fast pace of change in Singapore....</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSYnxE1KczKn1rIrydpO1QcilreA1YOBJCX8HCG6h1gEbflWOul_Akmtuoq5fy4EoIUeAU1fQZUNXa8O_sLQLqaOoJls9pFCeZ-YME8GASpZEATcv0QbqIq8ubU6tWFKUSJm_Fe6O0GFU/s1600/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSYnxE1KczKn1rIrydpO1QcilreA1YOBJCX8HCG6h1gEbflWOul_Akmtuoq5fy4EoIUeAU1fQZUNXa8O_sLQLqaOoJls9pFCeZ-YME8GASpZEATcv0QbqIq8ubU6tWFKUSJm_Fe6O0GFU/s400/07.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>When you're a smoker, which I have been at various stages in my life, you know that in most cases neither time nor place gets in the way of a nicotine fix. This man pays testament to that as he lights up by a temple...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kFMvnv5Vv7HIh8AwuCyYF0ETbhR_qa7c9xhNfFZ3PTI1zNrlumo_4VW6pl3Xufj2BW3R_ZOPkHLensPSq5mMwNIOEs9eJRbg8YwN4wg0bT1YXAnE8zpPbOnL0Sz-oNvEeIqzmXNAFjIh/s1600/08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kFMvnv5Vv7HIh8AwuCyYF0ETbhR_qa7c9xhNfFZ3PTI1zNrlumo_4VW6pl3Xufj2BW3R_ZOPkHLensPSq5mMwNIOEs9eJRbg8YwN4wg0bT1YXAnE8zpPbOnL0Sz-oNvEeIqzmXNAFjIh/s400/08.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>I'm a sucker for time capsules, and will never get tired of mooching around odds and ends from times gone by. Being on Telok Ayer Street, I'm pretty sure this must be Odds 'n' Collectibles. In a country obsessed with the new, these are perfect places to play tribute to the old....</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhiGLYvhtVC-8aueBFcvc0NvYbpKx4h_o4df9oO0xWvSjlzXKcmREnNquq7g8yGvyvxZpwnUBxnBlcqUi-LF1x2om-3O6Xwgw-a1j5gy9ZF_4ZeFapw4abu0bfGKSNA34AFuU29ajeLz1/s1600/09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhiGLYvhtVC-8aueBFcvc0NvYbpKx4h_o4df9oO0xWvSjlzXKcmREnNquq7g8yGvyvxZpwnUBxnBlcqUi-LF1x2om-3O6Xwgw-a1j5gy9ZF_4ZeFapw4abu0bfGKSNA34AFuU29ajeLz1/s400/09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Coming from London, when I first go to Singapore, I thought it was so wonderful (and still do) that people could fall asleep practically anywhere without having to worry for their safety or freezing to death. Just like this guy who is catching some zzzzs at Speakers' Corner.... </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOaIXlh8B7Uyz6QWflri33G5K3vAswjvmoBjUjVSyp4h0Gwvru0D7rOo55IsFBMVPVAfNouCWyS4rTHAqHAcPeSTSIdd5EVeubeBacm7rV1QKQvCMQ8OYKxE6F2k39-tDFXTb5j8uYPKo/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOaIXlh8B7Uyz6QWflri33G5K3vAswjvmoBjUjVSyp4h0Gwvru0D7rOo55IsFBMVPVAfNouCWyS4rTHAqHAcPeSTSIdd5EVeubeBacm7rV1QKQvCMQ8OYKxE6F2k39-tDFXTb5j8uYPKo/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>There is a saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure and this man on North Bridge Road who perhaps is turning that trash into his meal for the day reminds us that there are people operating and surviving on far more basic levels that us...and making the very most of it....</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCbjBVBIuV9NymmVhn19kDCdFQ9imTJ63rAjB0iEgItbSkFpkEBGuYiAhNqK0sIVzcRdfkbmJduyi3CPJnqERVsKbjf4OyI_vZW7IaOx1zcflz_owYlsL6-2xcW4KO6QF-1Ppn6CHMta-/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCbjBVBIuV9NymmVhn19kDCdFQ9imTJ63rAjB0iEgItbSkFpkEBGuYiAhNqK0sIVzcRdfkbmJduyi3CPJnqERVsKbjf4OyI_vZW7IaOx1zcflz_owYlsL6-2xcW4KO6QF-1Ppn6CHMta-/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>I love to see how people interact with the spaces and exhibits at art galleries, and these three show that some are totally immersed while others tune out...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua16kZUEtRiAtJTBlRo3AbtSyd7NP8bm91PkYnIkzbyT0_-8gXJ3RjP8VvvMxnBeGfe8wazlCoLXPlqVfln-aTP1G_kBzwK07zg0m6fHLKIavnG7AATwX-FaARMviP8xWu0dN7UocACvS/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua16kZUEtRiAtJTBlRo3AbtSyd7NP8bm91PkYnIkzbyT0_-8gXJ3RjP8VvvMxnBeGfe8wazlCoLXPlqVfln-aTP1G_kBzwK07zg0m6fHLKIavnG7AATwX-FaARMviP8xWu0dN7UocACvS/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Back on the theme of sleep, I've never managed to be tired enough to pass out on the bus but with the hot hot sun it seems that round every corner someone is trying to grab a bit of shut eye, and where better place to do it than on the long journey home...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMmOyMakWfcTvFOf6fkjBYW4poau2RbOy6Sskl-CriyPb3BN3h_oyr3XgOFMocFrGzhl9XWxw8A3zlTkYj4gxIhhUZnQmasAlouseL3sdcX9iFjvfG4jl5byahw6GI7LBiF03dPCNda61/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMmOyMakWfcTvFOf6fkjBYW4poau2RbOy6Sskl-CriyPb3BN3h_oyr3XgOFMocFrGzhl9XWxw8A3zlTkYj4gxIhhUZnQmasAlouseL3sdcX9iFjvfG4jl5byahw6GI7LBiF03dPCNda61/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Photos by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Callan</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Tham</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">, a professional commercial and portrait photographer at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">CaKe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Images </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">LLP</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> but a street photographer at heart. For more information see:</span></i></div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Facebook</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">: </span></i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ctham" target="_blank"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">http://www.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">facebook</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.<wbr></wbr>com/</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">ctham</span></i></a></div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Twitter: </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/ctham/" target="_blank"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">https://twitter.com/<wbr></wbr></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">ctham</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">/</span></i></a></div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">CaKe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Images: </span></i><a href="http://mycake.sg/" target="_blank"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">http://</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">mycake</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">sg</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">/</span></i></a></div>
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Blog (very few updates): </span></i><a href="http://callantham.org/blog" target="_blank"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">http://</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">callantham</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.org/blog</span></i></a></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Flickr</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">: </span></i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/callan_tham/" target="_blank"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">http://www.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">flickr</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.com/<wbr></wbr>photos/</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">callan</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">_</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">tham</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">/</span></i></a></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">500px: </span></i><a href="http://500px.com/ctham" target="_blank"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">http://500px.com/</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">ctham</span></i></a></div>
</div>Ms Demeanourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055843009299113641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345126007465802221.post-47683123229572412552012-02-11T01:26:00.000-08:002012-02-11T01:26:54.706-08:00Aiyah! So Kiasu!I've been meaning to do a post on Kiasuism for a long time now, but a while ago when I was at a fashion sale (and not my Le Flea Boutique I hasten to add!) my goodness it was a good reminder about how Kiasu people can be.<br />
<br />
For anyone out there who who doesn't know what Kiasu is, it can be essentially defined as "fear of losing" and it's a common behaviour in this lovely land.<br />
<br />
Anyway at this fashion sale was one lady who to me epitomised Kiasuism. She was first in line in the queue to get in and then raced in, barging past everyone with eagle eyes to make sure she got the best of what was available. Her thing was designer bags and in her Kiasu ways she had managed to already pick up 3 in the space of 5 minutes, clutching them closely to her chest wildly as if it was the end of the world and the bags were the only food left to eat whereas I was just drifting around in a Saturday morning hazy mood.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<center><embed align="middle" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="320" name="loader" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://www.wishafriend.com/pf/graffiti/show.swf?baseURL=http://www.wishafriend.com/pf/graffiti/&clickURL=http://www.wishafriend.com/pf/graffiti/&clickLABEL=Get Your Own Graffiti Wall At WishAFriend.com&flashLABEL=Get Your Own Graffiti Wall At WishAFriend.com&str=SO%0DKIASU&bevel=0&shadow=1&glow=1&blur=0&glb=10&beb=2&shb=25&blb=7&gla=1&sha=0.9&ing=0&ins=0&glc=0&bec=0&shc=16776960&font=1&size=85&color=16711680&x=1&y=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" wmode="transparent"></embed><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></center>
<br />
Very soon after my arrival in Singapore I became aware of the Kiasu mentality and it's a great way to explain away a lot of things here.<br />
<br />
Most of us probably face Kiasuism everyday whether it's the Kiasu auntie who elbows you out the way to make sure she is first in line in the juice queue in Chinatown (or wherever) or the person that always tries to barge past you on the MRT to get out the doors first - even though you are both getting out at the same stop. <br />
<br />
Actually the latter is pretty familiar to me from the London underground, just the difference is that there if someone tries this on someone they either a) get some serious verbal abuse or b) get a big shove and I've seen this deteriorate into a full on fight in some instances. Another Kiasu sighting of filling up one's plate at a buffet also seems strangely familiar to me.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes even boorish driving habits and the lack of signalling on the roads is down to Kiasuism because quite frankly nobody wants anyone to get ahead of them on the roads either.<br />
<br />
And if somethings being given out free, or exclusively or on a limited basis guess what - Kiasuism strikes with queues to be first, take what you can and run even though you may have absolutely no use for it, just like in this video...</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cchCkX7PC9g" width="560"></iframe></div>
<br />
And when you hear parents talking about how they put their kids on the wait list for the branded schools light years in advance, this too is thanks to....Kiasuism!<br />
<br />
But it's not just about getting ahead, it's about getting the most out of something that you can and to really make sure you are getting every cents worth, or every freebie out there possible. This man shaking his car up and down whilst filling up at the gas station across the Straits in Malaysia (in Johor Bahru) trying to get as much bang for his buck when it comes to his petrol exemplifies this just beautifully! Perhaps he is afraid of losing out on an extra mile or two...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lCxUeo57iVM" width="420"></iframe></div>
<br />
And I'm certain the whole getting ahead thing is why I always feel like the only idiot who steps to one side when it looks like my path will collide with another's when I'm walking somewhere. For the longest time I had no idea why this was and then I realised it was none other than - Kiasuism!<br />
<br />
I've definitely been noticing sneaky signs that some of the Kiasu mentality is rubbing off on me - and when you're surrounded by it on a daily basis it's like that age old saying....if you can't beat em, join em!Ms Demeanourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055843009299113641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345126007465802221.post-84047710810361488012012-01-22T01:28:00.000-08:002012-01-22T01:28:08.372-08:00How to help a homeless person?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">People across Singapore are gearing up towards
celebrating Chinese New Year, the year of the Dragon. Yesterday my local
supermarket was rammed with people buying up produce like it was the end of the
world. And people are busy bestowing red packets, oranges and cookies to
friends and loved ones, wishing that they will have a prosperous year ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But there is definitely at least one person who I
am almost certain will not be having a prosperous year this year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Who is he? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let me tell you. The other day I went to meet a
good friend for coffee, she was talking to a gentleman who I vaguely recognized
as someone that worked at her condo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Except the one major thing I was missing is that he
didn't work at her condo anymore, and indeed she hadn't seen him there for a
good few months.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It turns out that his wife had passed away and he
had not been able to cope - he had turned to drinking, lost his job, been
unable to make the payments for his HDB apartment and now he was sleeping on
the streets. With only two changes of clothes to call his own he was struggling to
understand how he would be able to get a job with no home address and no decent
clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now a homeless person is Singapore is a rare sight, I have seen perhaps two in my time here. But to actually have
someone you know turn out to to be homeless?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I often wondered what happened when people fall
through the gaps in Singapore, when they have no family or friends to catch
them in the net when everything falls apart. I guess this is it then. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YzPDN_BM1Cb7XmhGuqyRK71Crc5OGy9rdxGTK-m1mUAL90fN0bJo6h4sqFPQvlin5J4t8lW0wIjak0h9_XB7xyXddldihp1LIaXuWXvFUoaBXrUXUcdrAhcnZcKHKuxkrIDh-b6kb-jg/s1600/helping-hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YzPDN_BM1Cb7XmhGuqyRK71Crc5OGy9rdxGTK-m1mUAL90fN0bJo6h4sqFPQvlin5J4t8lW0wIjak0h9_XB7xyXddldihp1LIaXuWXvFUoaBXrUXUcdrAhcnZcKHKuxkrIDh-b6kb-jg/s320/helping-hand.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My friend had already bought him some food and
drink and so we arranged to meet him later with supplies and a plan. We
immediately went to action stations. We had no idea what the protocol here
was. In London, there are shelters where you can just walk into as a homeless
person. Here, it seemed from our frenzied looking on the internet, calling
around and asking friends who might be in the know, you had to be referred to a shelter by an agency. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So we found out where the local family services
centre who would be able to refer him was, put together a bag of men's
clothes that were going unused, and various items to help him stay fresh and
then my friend went to go and meet him at the pre-arranged time and spot that
we had discussed earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Time passed, he didn't show, she scoured the
neighbourhood to looking form him. We analyzed all the possible reasons why he didn't turn up...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- Maybe his dignity had got in the way and had
caused him to shy away from accepting help from people who might have well been
strangers, and strangers who might have just seemed like silly expat do-gooders<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- Maybe he had spent the two hours in between
topping up his alcohol levels and then had passed out somewhere<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- Maybe some or not all of the story was true and
so he had not wanted to follow up on it. But even if this was indeed the case, times must have been exceedingly tough to even get to that point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And the list goes on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Whatever it was, we beat ourselves up over not
keeping him with us over that time, to let him have some time to doubt and
waiver, and slip a little bit further down the slope he had begun to descend. If we'd kept
him with us perhaps we could have gone with him to the family services centre, but
really there's so many levels of complexities that could have stopped that
happening too. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlGF-UJJm2hUsd1mX5ZQywwd9hLhL4foEvVgQ2SPDvY11a8NL9m6QDRTJHjwPblRhlG2g345-8RLuJdi4ZQdlrKDF2b2Zlb7JqZFcinzScVzN9py_ykQoGokdf_2OrK3FO5B5HnEiiPCZ/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlGF-UJJm2hUsd1mX5ZQywwd9hLhL4foEvVgQ2SPDvY11a8NL9m6QDRTJHjwPblRhlG2g345-8RLuJdi4ZQdlrKDF2b2Zlb7JqZFcinzScVzN9py_ykQoGokdf_2OrK3FO5B5HnEiiPCZ/s1600/images.jpeg" /></span></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Whenever we're out and about, our eyes scan the neighbourhood like
lasers, trying to see if he might be sitting or sleeping somewhere under
shelter nearby. But we haven't seen him since. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes you only get one shot at these things and
nobody tells you what to do in these situations. I tend not to regret things in
life, but this is a firm exception. If only there weren't so many complex
factors involved, if only we had devised a perfectly executed plan then and
there and not let him slip away.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Ms Demeanourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055843009299113641noreply@blogger.com2