Singapore Flyer Experience

Okay, I never planned to go, but since the company generously allowed free entry to teachers and discounts for family members, we made it an outing together with my brother's family, he being a teacher too.  A last minute decision, I left work earlier to collect laundry and family to get there before the "crowd" ... special offer to teachers end today.

Anticipated foul-ups that traffic flow not fully restored to normal around Suntec/Marina, and I was right, despite LTA's website announcing all would be back to normal today.

Some of the road closures simply does not make sense.  Never mind, I know enough of ivory tower planners in Singapore who brought us what we have today.

During ticket purchase, we learned we had to book a time slot, and had some time before the next available slot.  Good chance to get some food into the kids first, which was how I tasted Popeye Chicken & Biscuit for the very first time today.  I must say from the chunks we had, they used bigger chickens than the Colonel.  The downside of it is though we missed the sunset and seeing the view while there was daylight.

As for the Flyer experience itself, well, it's ... nice ... but nothing that gets me excited.  Singapore had never seemed so ... flat.  Due to darkness, the Maybank building actually seemed transparent with its bluish outline and the taller buildings behind it.

I could see where the F1 racetracks and the thousand dollars seats were located, and I still think the whole venture is, on the balance, a flop.  The one in Singapore that profits the most from it would probably be the social escort agencies & the contractors.  Others like hotels and shops fared badly on the whole.

My children and niece enjoyed themselves of course.  At their age, wonders had only begun.  Thank goodness Snowylad is still cute enough that the other passengers did not mind his singing, not openly anyway.

As we left the venue, I'd say in its present state, the Flyer will bleed financially.  The retail outlets are simply nothing exciting or worth visiting on their own.  Though the Flyer carried an impressive number of passengers so far, many are not commercial customers.  For example, if you're a teacher or an orang-utan, you get a free ride.

Now, if only they would build a gigantic rollercoaster spanning the waterfront from Shenton Way to Kallang River ...

Foreign labourers' dorms in our midst

Proposals to establish dormitories for foreign labourers in the midst of local residential areas have met with strong reactions from the residents. Most concerns were about safety, cleanliness and hygiene issues.

Yes, it does not help that some foreign labourers were responsible for some violent crimes, including those against the females. And some of them sought girlfriends among the foreign domestic maids working and living in the residences of the locals.

Yet as human beings, foreign labourers deserve humane treatment too. And they have normal needs as human beings.

Some Singaporeans accused employers of bringing the foreigners in to cut costs. Truth though is I don't think any of them would be happy to pay more for a 100% Singaporean made housing. Is it really a matter of cost-management to house them in unused buildings in the midst of existing residential enclaves, i.e., save the employers a few bucks who would not necessarily pass on the cost savings to the customers (esp. in view of rising costs of other factors such as building materials)?

Or is it just a matter of perception?

In all fairness, I would not want to be stained by reputation just because some Singaporean employers abused the foreigner workers and foreign maids.

Hence, I am sure neither would the mostly law abiding foreigners want to be stained by the black sheep among their numbers.

I have a family too, and young children. Previous maids employed by my in-laws had secretly befriended foreign workers as their boyfriends.

These issues, IMO, cannot be resolved by instituting rules or segregations.

The best and most effective approach, first and foremost, Singaporeans must take more responsibility over themselves and their households.

Instead of only worrying about the safety of my children, I believe I have to help them become educated and more aware.

Those with maids in their households too must take responsibility and care - discuss and come to mutual understanding with their maids on certain issues.

Maids are human beings. They are not androids who are there to serve our needs when required, and will keep themselves quietly in the closet out of our way when not required.

Whatever problems Singaporeans have with the presence of foreign workers/maids, they have to appreciate that they too play a role - these foreign workers/maids would not be here unless there was a demand for their labour, a demand that ultimately comes from Singaporeans themselves.