there's something about ..... burger

Wah... like very delicious hor.

After hearing so much about it... passing by numerous times.

Attempting to find a seat numerous times.

Giving up on attempting numerous times.

I have finally tried CARL'S JR.

I just have to go try seeing how popular it is. I was like a little kid entering a MacDonald.

I felt like a Big SUA KU when I tried ordering. I have heard about the size of the burger and how 1 person cannot finish. So should I order 1 or 2 since most probably my wife will not be able to finish one.

I decided to order 2. Cannot finish TaPao lah. So I order 1 set of Double Bacon Cheese and 1 broiled Chicken sandwich. They give me a number so that they could deliver to me.

So I went back and told my wife that the total bill was about $19. She got a shocked. I go on to calm her that Carl's Jr is famous for Big Burgers of unparrallel proportions and it's juicy platters. This is like Miss Universe 2006. Big.

She told me that she didn't notice anything unusual from other diners. And I told her it's probably because they were finishing their burgers.

And so my orders arrived.

I guess I have raised the expectations too high. My wife looked at me and asked "Is that all?".

I wanted to ask the waiter the same question but he fled even before I could look fierce into his eyes.

You see... the burger is NOT HUGE. It's NOT GIGANTIC. It's NOT HULK. It's NOT KING KONG. It's NOT T-REX.

It's probably about 30% bigger than normal burger. Or about 100% bigger than a Mos Burger. But again... Mos Burger is like Kate Moss of Burgers.

At $9 plus a burger, I felt rip-off where size is concerned.

But I told my wife... it's not about quantity.. it's about quality. You want cheap, you can go masar malam and eat Rambai Burger.

And so I take my first bite.

The taste.....I couldn't believe it. It's Unbelieavable. It's not true. This can't be.

So I took another bite.

I still couldn't believe it.

The burger taste like...................

BURGER KING

I took a bite of my wife's burger... and that too taste like Burger King.

What a total rip-off.

I like Burger King and I know how Burger King taste like. And Carl's Jr taste like Burger King!

What irony. You have a chain that calls themselves Burger King but they sell burger that is of standard size and yet another chain that calls themselves Carl's Junior sells burger that is biggest in the industry.

At almost $20, I rather spend another $5 more and eat at Cafe Cartel.

In fact, Macdonald is having a 1+1 Rice Burger Promotion. You have 2 Rice Burger Value Meal, upsize them and they give you 2 more rice burger for free. Plus you can still order another 6 piece nuggets. All about $20.

What a marketing genious. Sell something similar at a bigger size, price them more and people will flock to it.

Maybe I should start a chain called MOSt Burger. I will sell tepanyagi chicken rice burger at a bigger size and sell it at $15 a piece.

there's something about ..... universe ver.2

just realised my universe post was mentioned in yesterday's Today. (I hope they changed their name... like something interesting like NEW PAPER)

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/112346.asp

there's something about ..... universe

I watched the Miss Singapore Universe 2006 on TV last night.

Yes... I have poor taste for TV production. But when you are at your in-laws, watching Miss Universe on TV is Godsend. Watching Miss Universe is like watching Baywatch, you have a Man and a string of bikini clad women in the show. Sometimes these women speak, even when some of them struggle to talk sense.

There was some publicity about this cohort of Miss Universe. Apparently, it's one of the most "brainy" cohort. Yesterday in NEWPAPER, some were featured to be graduates of some university, among them is also a Scientist with A*star etc.

And so I watched.

It was without a doubt that this year's cohort is one of the brainiest. Like what some people would agree, beauty and intelligent do not always go hand-in-hand for MOST people.

Right from the beginning, I have already decided on who my winner would be. It was a toss up between Carol Cheong or Jade Seah. The others... was just to make up the numbers.


When Carol Cheong won the Body BeautiFULL, it was a case of no-competition at all.

IT IS REALLY FULL. Sorry... it shouldn't be singular. THEY ARE REALLY FULL.

I'm no expert in Cup sizes. But That surely looks like a CUP D at least.

With a body like that, you are at least guarantee a Top 3.

Ironically though not surprisingly, on the very year the organiser declared the cohort as the most brainiest, they give the title to the girl with the biggest CUP in Miss Singapre Universe History.

In fact, her winning the title is so obvious that right after they announced the 2nd runner-up, with both Carol and Jade among the final 4, they announced the winner immediately. This is unusual.

Don't get me wrong, Carol Cheong deserve the title.

I personally felt she is very pretty, her body is double the bonus, and I think she has a brain to boot.

You can't blame them for giving politically correct answers in a grand final like this. Everyone wants to win. But she at least could give a politically correct answers properly.

In fact, she will win every single Miss Singapore Universe from 2001 onwards breast hands down. (I can't seems to recall winners before 2001)

Especially 2001.

The 2001 winner is the biggest joke of all time. Without a knockout look (apparently not the main criteria in Singapore), without the eloquence (apparently not the main criteria in Singapore), the winner went on to sign a TCS contract.

The 2001 winner's biggest achievement was to appear in Amazing Race few years back to utter the words "Welcome to Singapore"... and smile.

In fact, she wasn't even a judge for yesterday's pageant. Not that she should be. But it was interesting to see Joanna Peh as one of the judges eventhough she did not win the title in 2002 (thus not every qualified hor) and yet this 2001 winner was spotted in a video segment for the pre-judged rounds where she is one of the judges.

This world is so cruel. With Carol Cheong winning, I can almost see this 2001 winner down the pecking order. And rightly so.

There's something about ..... shopping

warning: This is a dry post.

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Singapore department stores are struggling to reinvent themselves as they wrestle with steadily declining sales and a trend toward excluding anchor tenants from new shopping developments.

Robinson & Co. (R02.SG) - the owner of Robinson department stores, John Little and Marks & Spencer stores in Singapore and Malaysia - has said it is refocusing the branding of the three stores, and updating interior layout and design.

"We are facing great risk with more people looking for brand experience, as consumers get more discerning and sophisticated," said Shia Yew Peck, general manager for finance and administration at Robinson.
"It is important for a department store to constantly reinvent itself such that it doesn't look tired," he said.
Once retailing powerhouses, providing consumers with a breadth of choice smaller competitors couldn't match, department stores now struggle to cater to niche demands of a new breed of consumers.

In Singapore, the sales and earnings of major department store owners have been lackluster for years. Robinson has posted steadily decreasing earnings since 2000, with the exception of 2004. In an effort to "build a sustainable business," Robinson said in its annual report that it is positioning its flagship Robinson store as Singapore's premier retailer with a merchandise mix that will appeal to women in their 30s and above.

John Little will be branded as a discount store for the cost-conscious young family, while Marks & Spencer will be positioned in the middle. The group has cut prices at M&S and brought in a wider variety of products from the U.K. chain, including petite sizes in womenswear.
Robinson declined to discuss the impact of these moves on its earnings or sales outlook or specify a time frame for the changes.

"Departmental stores have to position themselves in either the specialty store category or mass-merchandiser category, without losing the one-stop-decent-shopping attribute," Krishnan said.

They should also try to maintain some element of exclusivity by not having more than three stores in Singapore, according to Wee Chow Hou, a professor at Nanyang Business School.

Why am I not surprise at all.

The only reason why Robinson is not doing as well as it should is because of Singaporean's patience of waiting for their "Sales worth waiting for... 5 times a year not including warehouse sales 2 times a year" Seriously, with one sale every other quarter, it doesn't take that long really.

I remember few years ago, Robinson sale is something everyone really look forward to, at least for myself. You get quality stuffs at good prices with good customer service. There is no reason not to go. And such sale probably happens once a year. That too, gives an impression of snobbishness, which some shoppers really like. It's that exclusivity that draws consumers to such stores.

Now, if I have to spend money during non-sales period. I would go to Takashimaya. Because I do not want to buy something only to find out that they will have sales the coming weekend. Taka seems to give me that assurance that it wouldn't happen. Not for Robinson.

Merchandise plays a part too.

In fact, all departmental stores are losing their charm to attract consumers. You see the same old merchandise be it in Metro, Takashimaya, Robinson or Isetan. Does it really matter where I buy the product?

I personally prefer to shop in a Mall with different shops, thus different merchandise, than say in a Departmental Store. You somehow do not see the Departmental store changing the whole merchandising as they usually stick with the same old distributors.

For a shopping mall, it's different. While landlords tend to go for the modus operanti of "who pays more, get it", they sometimes do give exceptions to interesting concepts. Thus you almost could see some new outlets every 3 years when the lease it up. Though the main tenants might be the same, but they constantly tries to get new labels in. Eg includes WingTai who is owns label like G2000, U2 and Fox labels. Or Royal Sporting House who owns label like Mango, Zara. Or FJ Benjamin who owns Guess and soon Banana Republic and Gap.

Such big tenants needed new blood to ensure they could survive the tough retail climate, the hard-to-please consumers and the new-concept-hungry landlords. If they do not constantly bring in new labels, they risk getting boot out of a local mall by the landlord if another retailer manages to clinch a new label.

Thus freshness is ensured. Thus consumers get a new lease of retail therapy they craved. The landlord is happy, the tenant is happy, the consumer is happy.

Except the Departmental Stores.

there's something about ..... 1st birthday

Son,

Happy 1st Birthday. We will always love you.

Your Daddy and Mummy

there's something about .... kk (sequel)

I blog about my last experience on my visit to kk which was good.

Suay suay, I have to visit them again. And suay suay, they revised my opinion on them which is lagi suay for me.

My kid got a fever on Saturday. We suspected it was a case of "GAM DIO" (hokkien) and just gave him fever medication which we hope will go away.

It didn't improve. And yesterday morning, I decided to bring him to KK hospital A&E since we have a good experience the last time.

It was our turn almost immediately given the temperature was high and it was the third day. The ultra-young doctor after going thru our fever medication and after some diagnosis which yield no possible virus detection, decided that a urine test is necessary to see if it was urine infection.

And so we wait............ not for the test.... but for my kid to urine. That wait is almost 3 hours.

My kid couldn't urine the whole morning and we really think that it must be urine infection. We tried so hard to get him to urine but failed.

Only after about 3 hours, did he finally urinated.

So it was sent for testing and we continue to wait. We knew such test is immediate as this was not the first time my kid went on urine test. But we waited for an hour before the doctor call us back.

Nabeh. The test shows negative. And since earlier diagnosis turns out nothing, the doctor told us that it must be some virus and told us to go collect our medication.

Nabeh x infinity. The medication? The same fever medication that we uses the last 2 days to zero effect.

The costs? $65 plus 4 hours of waiting just so that we are given the same fever medication that costs us less than $20 from other private GPs. To be fair, 3 hours was due to my son's inability to urine into a "condom" for baby.

I was angry and dissappointed. As I wasn't there during the last 30 mins or so, I couldn't kick up a scene or questioned the ultra-young doctor, which I was told are Medical Officers turning Doctor or Interns.

We have paid good money so that these Interns could learn and make mistakes at our expense?

Few hours after reaching home, my kid experiences the highest degree of 40.5 in the last 3 days.

We decided that we needed another opinion and went to a local GP. The doctor immediately diagnose that my kid got a sore throat which causes the fever. He gave us one bottle antibodies, one bottle fever, and 2 panadol tablets for the rectal in case the fever did not subside after his fever medication... all for $24.

I would really think twice again about going to KK next time. I mean the paeditrician is about $30 more expensive but alot more experience, the local GP is alot more cheaper but also alot more experience though not specialised than paeditrician. But still it's better than an Intern that has not much of an experience and perhaps also not very specialised and more expensive.

there's something about ..... MP

I just realised I may not be the next Prime Minister of Singapore. Not to even mention, I just realised I will not be a candidate for the PAP in the coming election because I haven't being invited for any tea; and since the fastest a MP ever being asked to become one is 2 months before election, it's safe to say I'm out of that 2 months now.

Not that I harbour any thought of becoming a MP. But I thought if I clean up my act in the next 5 years, PAP will not be able to trace my bad traffic summons record plus other things like a foul mouth, then I may just be summon for a tea session with the ministers. Then maybe I can become a MP and maybe the next Prime Minister.

Why even think of becoming a Prime Minister? I mean.. it is known that the next Prime Minister is not currently in the cabinet or yet to be found. This is because the whole cabinet or even the MPs will be too old to take over the torch from PM Lee by the time our PM Lee decided to become SM Lee then becomes MM Lee. Thus a urgent need to find younger blood to train them for the future.

This is where I thought I come in. 5 years down the road, I guess I'm just about in my late 30s, be a MP for 10 years, and then nicely when I reached my late 40s, I can become Prime Minister.

Just when I was about to start my "cleaning up my act" stuffs, I got a shock (yet again) from ST that the new batch of candidates from PAP has someone as young as 31 years old!!??!??!?!?!?!

31????!!!!??!?!?!

When PM Lee mentioned that they will be alot more candidates representing the minorities, I thought he meant like Malay candidates, Indian Candidates, Eurasian candidates, Gay candidates, Lesbian candidates. I didn't realise he meant early-30s candidates.

That means... I'm actually a minority in Singapore!!!!???!!

You mean at 31 can become a MP??!

How come Government never tell us earlier. I thought you must at least work like half your life, get that life experience, before being qualified to become a MP. Afterall, if you do not have the necessary life experience, how can you serve the public when most of them may be much older than you?

If I had known that early 30s can become a MP.... I would have cleaned up my act from the last election.

I would join RC. Then go National Library to borrow more books (in case PAP trace what books you read). Surf intellectuals website (you know PAP could trace what you surf). Speak proper Queens english. Set up credible blogs. Eat more at Hawker Centres. Do more volunteer works.

I mean technically I can be a PAP candidate now.

Meaning, I can earn good money just by

• sitting in Parliaments and speak occasionally (even if you want to speak more, they don't allow you in new Parliament rules).
• Go to Meet the people's session 3 times a week. Listen to resident's problems, ask secretary to write letters to relevant authorities.
• Go walk and shake hands with residents once every 4-5 years.
• Occasionally make some constructive suggestions like adding more ERPs gantry to ease traffic to some roads but increase traffic woes to other non-erp roads.

I finally could say I'm older than a MP. That means... I have finally arrived in the society. YEAH!

there's something about ..... sports

Yesterday I read the papers and the headlines caught my attention. I think SPH has succeeded in making sure their headlines make people sit up.

YOGA IS A SPORT?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?

For your information, in case you are not a ST reader, the following is the top 10 sports people in Singapore engaged in:

1. Jogging
2. Swimming
3. Walking
4. Gym workout
5. Badminton
6. Football
7. Cycling
8. Basketball/street basketball
9. Golf
10. Yoga

Needless to say, I find this article highly amusing. I also find their definition of sports rather confusing.

I could be wrong, but some of these should be "excercise" rather than "sports". To me, these 2 terms are not interlocking and is far apart.

No.3 Walking. I'm surprised it's rank no.3. I mean... who doesn't walk everyday?!?!? I walk from my bed to the breakfast table. Sometimes, before I reached the breakfast table, I will also walk to the bathroom to do....erhem.

No.4 Gym Workout. I didn't realise the gay population is that big that this is ranked No.4. Ok... not everyone in California Fitness is gay. Some are seriously there to attempt to sweat it out in the very cold air-conditioning studio.

But Yoga......

I think they missed out one sports that is highly popular too. Majong!! This helps in blood circulation from the hands/arms up to the brain. In fact, I feel this burnt more calories than Yoga.

there's something about ..... Potong Pasir

Our PM has given a special task to our SM Goh Chok Tong to win back the opposition wards in Potong Pasir and Hougang.

Actually, I wonder why PM even bother. Seriously, even without Goh Chok Tong, I think Potong Pasir is already in the bag.

Beg to differ?

I have evidence to show you who control Potong Pasir. If you think is Chiam See Tong.... think again.

For the first time ever, in Blogging history, I'm revealing this news-breaking evidence.

The following are pictures taken in Potong Pasir.






Notice the size of the notice boards?

Both the column size is the same but yet the PAP notice board for Mr Sitoh Yih Pin is much larger than Chiam See Tong.

As an incumbent, this is a disgrace. Yes, it will cost alot more money to redo all your notice boards to match your rivals. But this shows the lack of fighting spirits as well as complacency.

You could also say that PAP put up the notice board much later and as such, they were able to make it noticeably bigger than Chiam See Tong's. And also, a bigger notice board doesn't mean a thing, it's who the MP that counts.

The next 2 pictures tell you another story.





In one of the blocks, PAP's notice board is much better placed than Chiam's. In fact, I see myself reading PAP's notice board while waiting for the lift. That is when it strikes me and I started looking for Chiam's. Chiam's notice board? On the other side nearer the staircase.

If PAP is not controlling Potong Pasir, could someone explain to me how PAP could have a better positioned Notice Board than the incumbent MP? Why would the incumbent MP allow another opposition who has no control over the Town Council to allow themselves to exert their power within the estate?

Unless PAP is the one that controls the estate.

Disclaimer: This is not a political Blog. This can't be. In fact, I have never voted in my life. Thus, I have no say in how my Singapore is shaped. Thus, whatever I say carries no weight.

there's something about ..... library

I just have to go to the National Library, even if it was by default.

How could I not go as a true blue Singaporean when even Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has already went.

To me, that was surprising. You would always expect Singapore Government to bring any high ranking officials from foreign countries to Iconic places in Singapore, not to even mention Her Royal Highness.

And I would really think that after spending something like $600 million to build Esplanade, she would have a chance to step in and admire or amuse at the structure... but I guess the government officials decided to play it safe.

Not too sure where else they visited, but I know Prince Philips visited the Sports School today. Fabulous. The same Sports School that produces Fandi Ahmad, Remy Ong and Jocelyn Yeo. The highest sports achievement any of the three has achieved was at the World Championship in Making Popiah.

Yes... I'm sore. I should have skipped school during my younger days and play bowling.

Actually, I would think Prince Philips should visit our Immigration Office. Our sports excellence actually stem from their immigration policies of getting Chinese players, make them PR and represent Singapore.

But a visit to NATIONAL LIBRARY??!?!?!?!?!?

HELLOOOOOOO!???!

Anyway, I visited the National Library today to see WHY. Call me shallow. But how I see are books stack nicely on shelves in a very LIBRARY environment.

On Level 5, there is this place called the "Courtyard". It was out of bounds today because there was a private function. But there was this exhibition which I believe is permanent where they explain the history of our National Library. It covers extensively the old library at Stamford Road. They even put up an old marble taken from the old library where words was inscribed into it.

It says "On 16 AUGUST 1957, this Stone was laid by MR LEE KONG CHIAN whose generous contribution initiated the building"

If Lee Kong Chian would know that sometime 35 years down the road, some wise guy at URA would go ahead and decide to demolish the building he initiated, so that they can build a new high rise building which lacks character to replace the building he initiated and showoff to Her Majesty, I think he would rather demolish it in 1958 by himself.

there's something about ..... membership

No no no.... not country club membership I'm talking about. It's Ikea "friends" club.

Like all retailer's clubs, credit card or country clubs, members has it's priviledges. Some priviledges are unparallel than non-members.

Like Robinson's sale, their so-called "The sale worth waiting for... 5 times a year" has a full day preview sale 1 day before public, or the 5% more discount for members than what the public would have enjoy. That is what I call member's priviledge.

However, Ikea is special. They don't conform to norm. In fact, they have a very "friendly" way of making their "friends" feeling special.


Ikea preview sale

They decided that their loyal members or "friends" should fight all the morning peak hour traffic, to fight all sleepy bugs, to fight with employers to have time-off, so that they can come and enjoy 2 hours of preview sale at 8am on a Friday morning.

Not only that, they are encouraging you to be ridicule by friends by asking 4 of them to join you.

Moomooman: Yo friend 1, tomorrow Ikea Preview Sale leh. Want to go?

friend 1: What time?

Moomooman: 8am.

Friend 1 slammed the phone.

Moomooman: Yo friend 2, tomorrow Ikea Preview Sale leh. Want to go?

Friend 2: What time?

Moomooman: 8am.

Friend 2: Nabeh.... 8am... meaning I have to wake up at 6.30am to get ready, eat breakfast, take bus down.

Moomooman: They have free breakfast leh.

Friend 2: Like that.... ok lah. So how much more discount members have?

Moomooman: Same as public, except you benefit a free breakfast.

Friend 2 slammed the phone.

there's something about ..... credit card

No... I'm not going thru the 5 Cs.

It just happened that I met with some amusing "problem" with the credit card company today.

I'm a big credit card user. If a $5 item can be purchased with a credit card, I would do so. Forget about forking out that $5 note somewhere in my wallet, which in most instances I have less than that.

So you can imagine, shopping at NTUC is quite a pain for me. If you hadn't notice, they do not have Credit card facility. But of course, I do shop there.

Why am I a big credit card user? Why not... for every $5 you spend, you have 1 reward point which you can claim some rewards down the road. Paying $5 notes do not earn you any points at all. In fact, you get germs from the notes.

Of course, I'm not encouraging you to spend and spend just to earn points. That would be silly. But to use your credit cards for necessities.

Anyway, you can imagine that I spend quite a fair bit every month.

My bill came today and I realised I was charged with extra interest of almost $50. You see, I always pay on time to avoid late payment penalty and I always pay in full. So the interest charged was definitely a mistake.

So I checked my last month bill and realised the mistake is on me and that I have missed out my wife's supplementary card's bill which happens to be on the next page and for only 1 item of about $43. Thus the interest charged.

HELLO?!?!?!?!?! $50 interest on one item of $43?!?!?!?!?!?!??

NABEH. I don't think loan sharks charged as high as Credit card company. If I couldn't afford to pay $43, I'm better off borrowing from loan shark to pay the credit card company.

After going thru the bill, I came across this bigger-than-fine print that says "Please settle this statement promptly. If the minimum Payment amount is not received by payment due date, a late charge will be levied. If payment of the current balance is not made in full, daily interest will be assessed at 24% per annum from each transaction date on ALL charges in this statement and ALL charges posted after this statement date."

They not only charged more than loan sharks, they are more "gangsta" than loan sharks. It's almost like you borrow from loan sharks and they charged you interest not only on your loan with them but ALL loan borrowed "after this statement date".

I couldn't comprehend such logic and I don't intend to.

And of course, no way I'm going to pay that interests even if it's my mistake. And so I called them.

After going thru the "press 1 for english, 2 for chinese" nonsense, plus whole lot of "press 1 for x, 2 for y, 3 for x and 0 for the operator", I finally managed to speak with customer service officer.

I didn't bother to give excuse, I just told them I needed them to waive the interests, and they actually waived it without question.

I don't think the recent GEM advertisement on TV helps, but I think they probably get thousands of such calls a day and they have heard all possible excuses that they probably appreciate my impatience to end the call quick.

And while I'm on that mood to call credit card companies, I decided to call another one. The other one has an annual subcription due and I just dun feel like paying them.

However, I'm quite impressed with the latter phone system. They require you to key in your I/c number before being put thru to the operator. My first thought was "WTF?" but the moment the operator gets to the line before you can even bombard them, they greeted you "Good morning Moomooman, how can I help you?"

By your first name. Dun pray pray. This is what I call customer service, even if it waste your time by keying in 7 digits into the phone when you are really really busy.

Moomooman: I like to cancel my credit card

Customer service officer : Mr Moomooman, I realised you have been our loyer customer since 2000. I will be happy to not only waive your subscription for this year but for the next 3 years too.

Moomooman: ok

Ultimate. Why can't take just waive it off even before I called them?

Ask and you shall be given. Dun ask, you give them lor.

there's something about ..... younger ah beng

Still on the topic of ah beng. Can't be help, my life has been void of excitment and only my ah beng in laws provide me some amusement every now and then.

I remember reading one New Paper article few weeks ago about expensive Cars parked in a Housing Estate. Some are high flyers who are probably just staying at the HDB flats while their multi-million dollar private house is being constructed or their mulit-million dollar private house is being rented.

However, one guy was frank enough to say that it's just for show or just for the ego-trip. Of course, that guy is not my brother-in-law.

Year 2002.

My younger brother in law after just started work, bought a Honday Integra Type R for about $120000. For the uninitiated, it's just a 2-door Honda. For the initiated, Type R is probably an engine variation that only available via parrallel import.

However, back then my brother in law only earns about $2500 gross. After deducting for CPF, he took home about $2000. But his loan for the car was $1500. His annual insurance was about $5000.

His loan to the bank was rejected back then. And he actually ask me to help by being his GUARANTOR.

Nabeh. I myself drive a normal car and I must be the guarantor for someone else sports car.

I remember back then he basically skip meals and only eat at home. And he takes the MRT to work. YES... I repeat TAKES THE MRT TO WORK.

Of course, the then girlfriend was also helping with the car financing.

Year 2006

Late last year, he bought a new dog. It's one of those expensive looking dogs imported from Australia. I dunno the pedigree of the dog. To me, Dog is Dog. Just like vegetables are vegetables. He claimed to spend about $4000 to bring in the dog. It's one of those dogs that people will walk them around estates in Bukit Timah to show off.

Of course, again he ask me to help as under HDB laws, he is not supposed to keep that kind of dog. Bo bian lor, lend him my address to register.

He even named him after one super branded luxurious car.

Not only that, he often sent him to dog competition, hopefully to win some top dog prize.

I guess my brother in law must be doing well lah. I mean every dog has his day.

And so, he recently exported his Honda. With car prices plunging lately, he decided that it makes dollar sense to change his car, like what everyone else is doing.

So he recently placed a booking for a SUBARA WRX for $100,000. Over the weekend, he was still choosing a nice number for his car, thus paying $1000 to bid for it.


Well, that is what rich people do sometimes. Buy a performance car and bid for unique number.


My father in law was questioning him about he need to buy such cars.

He replied in Hokkien, something along the line of "What to do, want a "ZAO CHIA" (running car), have to pay that kind of money".

I jokingly tell him that he should then buy a Nissan Sunny. Can also "ZAO" what, about 80km/hour. Somemore, he can buy 2 of them. One "Zao" on Saturday, rest on Sunday, the other one "zao" on Sunday. Or better still, both him and his wife can "zao" together.

Of course, such wisecracks are often not every popular with ah Beng. But that's me. My nephews in law hate me. And I dislike them to the core.

Anyway, yesterday my younger brother in law call me. I only just about received 2 calls from him in the last 4 years. Both on the same topic.

NABEH. His loan is rejected and he need me to be the guarantor.

there's something about ..... ah beng

My kid is an AH BENG in the making.

Sad but not surprising. I mean... my kid would have 50% of me and 50% of my wife. And since my wife's family has 2 ultimate beng, I would think at least 10% of my wife has the Beng genes.

So my son, at the minimum will be 10% Beng.

Why I say he is Ah Beng in the making?

For reason I can't explain, he love this song. He can be quietly sitting down reading his book but the moment this song is played on TV, he would jump around and stare at it. And when you hold him up, he would dance. After that, he would just revert to his mundane activities.



And mind you, only this Ah Lian will get his attention. I dunno what to say of his taste at an age so young.

And I'm constantly worried, he might one day become this guy here.

GOD HELP ME.

there's something about ..... coffee

While searching for that ever-famous home video everyone is talking about, i came across this which is hillarious.

there's something about ..... jazz

I love jazz music. I started out with acid jazz in the late 90s and I slowly discover olden jazz in the form of Frank Sinatra, and the blues in the form of John Coltrane which I really adored.

Guess I've aged.

I always hate singers that sing an old song in a new era, rearranged the music and pass it off as a new song. Remember few years ago, some boy band sang "Take on me" and I remember cursing and swearing with Jeff. However, over the years, I have discovered some of the songs I love so much growing up are actually songs sang by an older artiste too. Eg, petshopboys' Always on my Mind. Willie Nelson sang the old one and god knows who sang before him.

I'm ok with singers singing the same song as long as they stay true to the song and not take ownership like it is some original song. Some old songs during the olden days are sang by numerous artiste within the same era but a different feel to it. For example, Dream A little dream of me. This song must have been sang by almost all the fantastic singers of the past.

However, I have a big problem with young Jazz singers of today singing old songs. Michael Buble is someone I'm not a big fan of. Plus many others like Diana Krall. Nothing wrong with them. But I felt that if you are going to sing a oldie, I might as well listen to the oldie itself. It's not like the oldie is no longer accessible.

So my biasness for these young jazz singer is very strong.

Last week on Valentine's day. I heard this song played on "Car Tunes" in Class 95. It was "dinner jazz". And they played this very beautiful song. I love it so much.

It's called "SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL".

Good thing the DJ announced the singer which is Peter Cincotti and I went to hunt for that song from the local music store.

NABEH. The singer is a 22 years old jazz singer.

there's something about ..... virus (updated)

My family just can't seems to shake off the virus.

20 January: My wife got stomach Flu. Went doctor spend $100.

20 January: My mum also got stomach flu. Didn't see doctor. Uses my wife's medicine.

22 January: Mum stomach Flu got worse. See doctor. Spend $20.

23 January: I got sore throat. Wife stomach flu didn't recover. Both see doctor, spend $40.

25 January: mum stomach flu still didn't recover. See another doctor. Spend $55.

27 January: Kid got fever. See doctor. Spend $75.

31 January: Kid fever didn't go away plus cough. See Doctor. Spend $65.

3 February: I got stomach Flu and fever. Use medicines from above plus panadol.


10 February: dad got flu. See doctor. Amount unknown.

12 February: I got fever and cough. Eat Panadol.

14 February: wife got sorethroat and fever. See doctor. company pay.

15 February: Wife sorethroat and fever still have. Kid got running nose. Both see doctor. spend $40.

19 February: Mum got sorethroat. See doctor. amount unknown. (update)


NO MORE LIAO. PLEASE!!! (NABEH!!! NO MORE OK!!!)

there's something about ..... 1st anniversary

Just realised today 15/2 is the first year anniversary of my blog.

I actually lasted 12 months?!

Wow.... does that mean... it's time to do a facelift to my blog? Even cars got facelift. My room got faclift. Some tai tais also got facelift literally.

When I free first lah.

Here wishing the author behind "TSA cow.dunking"..... happy writing for the years to come.

there's something about ..... tooth

I'm finally a bluetooth user!!

Bought a new handphone and it comes with bluetooth capability, the first time the phone that i uses comes with such feature.

So I decided to embrace this technology.

NINABEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This technology just proved something I knew all my life.

I have SMALL EARS!!!!!!!! Bloody Hell!!!

I can imagine the doctors at the hospital uses the bluetooth earpiece device and measure if anybody has smaller than normal ears.

Doctor: Yes.. what's wrong with you.

Me: Doctor, I think I have small ears and it's affecting my looks. I think I look better with bigger ears.

Doctor: Ok.. you try this bluetooth earpiece.

Me putting on the earpiece.

Doctor: Confirmed. You got small ears!

NABEH!!!

I always hear people telling me that it's not comfortable and it takes a while to get used to it.

But when I use them, it's bloody comfortable like nothing it's there. Because the hook at the back is too big for my ear, thus it's not very secured.

My dad tried it on and it's too small.

My wife tried it on and it fits like a glove.

I wear it and it felt like a dangling ear ring!!

This is frustrating.

And I now know for sure 100% that I have smaller than average ears. You have to believe that companies like Samsung or Ericsson would have done enough research to ensure that the hook fit nicely to MAJORITY of the users.

And I'm not the majority.

there's something about ..... first time

These days.... Life becomes pretty bored. So one fine day last week, I woke up and decided to paint.

I don't mean painting as in art, I meant PAINTING as in painting the wall.

The spontaneity just snapped. Send my wife to work and I went off to buy paint and brushes. Not only the spontaneity snapped, I decided to be passionate and a bought Red Paint. And mind you, this is not for the room, it's for my little "SOHO" or home office, not exactly the appropriate place for a red colour wall.

Just when I was about to start, I realised.... this was the first time in my life that I actually do painting! I didn't know whether to add water to paint, or add thinner or don't add anything.

My mum being the professional that she is, told me to add water. In fact, she was the one who ask me to buy brushes too.

And so I started.

Painting with a Brush is quite a challenged.

I tried 3 different method being my first time on three different patches, and all the patches looks really bad. At that point, I seriously doubt my mum's advice. I mean, I have seen professionals painters and they have hardly use brush.

After I did one coat of the paint, the result was frustrating. This is even more so when the colour is bright or dark and all uneven painting patches are visible.

I decided to go out and buy a roller and a tray.

The rest is History.

Now I realised those so-called professional painters are at best my standard. It's bloody easy to use a roller. Not only that, it's fast and every patches are even. The end results was "professional".

My dad who didn't realised I was using a roller couldn't quite believe the end result.

The roller to a painter is like what a wonderbra is to a woman. What an invention!

The whole excercise has been so interesting, I'm comtemplating painting other parts of the house.

I always knew I'm artistic.

there's something about ..... brokeback

I came across this guy selling this in Yahoo. Amazing... he has my vote for Businessman of the Year. Not only that, I believe he can hit 2 dicks birds with 1 stone.

Because not only can he make money, he can also touch get in touch with like-minded people and go break back.

I wonder why it is called Brokeback Mountain.

Cowgay 1: Hi darling, come.... let's do it.

Cowgay 2: Ok... you bend or I bend.

Cowgay 1: you bend lor.

Cowgay 2: ok. (bend down)..... ARRggggg... I break my back!!

Cowgay 1: Ahhh... I like it.

If the screenshots is not very clear, you can see the full extent of the auction in Yahoo. The link is here. The screenshots is only 30% of the actual content. This guy gives a synopsis of all his gay films.

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there's something about ..... kk

Yesterday morning I brought my kid to KK hospital A&E. We decided that the fever has dragged on for too long and further more, there was lots of phelm in his throat that is making him very miserable and us very worried.

It's my first time to KK hospital since.......... I WAS BORNED!!! Wah.... it felt like returning to "hometown" after 30 over years. But seriously I've never have much faith in them. If not for the fact that most private clinics are closed and given the seriousness of my kid's condition, I would not have gone KK at all.

When I arrived, I tried to look out for the Children's clinic but the only one that I found was "CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY".

I kept asking myself if mine was an emergency but I thought perhaps not and kept on searching for a "normal" clinic.

But there isn't any other clinic and only this is opened.

So bo bian.... go in lor. It was full of people as expected of a government hospital. And what follows is an interesting observation of how a government clinic function.

We take a queue number at the door. Very typical in Singapore now. You go Nokia Care Centre, you take a queue number. You go to Starhub shop, you take a queue number.

So we waited for our turn for what it looks like a "registration" counter except that is it half of it... it is a "TRIAGE"!!!!!! DUN PRAY PRAY!!! Your Ang Moh not powderful, you also dunno what it is!!!

Nabeh!! Just realised my english standard is very layman. I dunno the meaning of that word.

But I just checked webster and this is what I got:

Triage:the sorting of and allocation of treatment to patients and especially battle and disaster victims according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors; broadly : the assigning of priority order to projects on the basis of where funds and resources can be best used or are most needed

WAH.... very good system. Why I say good because I actually benefitted from this "Triaging".

The "receptionist" is probably some Nurse who not only register you but will take temperature, "investigate" the problem of the patient and then decide whether to give priority to you.

We were given priority and we skips about 20 patients before us. I was glad because I dun have to wait but worried that Ian's condition is serious enough to warrant a priority.

After the triaging, the next counter is for payment. Ultimate. Haven't seen the doctor, we must pay first. $65 to be precised!

That means we cannot even change our mind if we decided to leave without forfeiting the money.

Next is the waiting area for all patients. There are about 7 rooms of which one of them would be meant for the "urgent" patients. This one room do not run by queue numbers and instead they called out the names.

Soon after, our name is called.

The doctor looks like some guy fresh out of uni. Not unliked those in private practice who looked like near 40. This doctor doesn't speak very confidently and he doesn't give opinions easily unless you probe for it. At that point, I really almost want to ask for a refund. Now I know why they collect money first.

There I was, in a children "emergency".... and I'm being managed by a inexperience doctor?!?!?!

To be fair, young doctor can be good even without years of experience behind them.

The doctor prescribed some medication to be taken immediately and we were told to wait for the medication to take effect so that the doctor could attend to us again to see if the ailment require more attention. We were told to wait for 2 hours.

And meanwhile, the kid needed xray to see if the lungs are affected.

Poor kid. So young and already must go for xray.

After about 2 hours, the doctor called us in and told us everything seems fine and we were told to go pick up our medicine.

After I pick up the medicine at the pharmacy, I was expecting to be told to go somewhere to pay for it but to my surprise...... there wasn't any further payment necessary!!!

Whatever we paid earlier covers the xray and the medication. WOW.

Not that $65 is cheap or anything, but the fact that it covers that many items do suggest that perhaps the doctor is indeed not very senior.

But I must say, my kid is recovering much faster than we expected. Which is good. So much faster that we actually went shopping that same evening.

We were at OG at bencoolen when we came across an exhibition on the fortunes for all the zodiac signs.

Interestingly, they correctly predicted the health problems. BUT... academic performance!?!??!?! Grades should improve!??!?!?!?!?

For a 10 months old baby?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?

there's something about ..... Hong Pao

You would think as a first time parent celebrating Chinese New Year with their kid for the first time, there will be a big hooha surrounding the giving of ang pao to their kid.

I mean that is a significant moment, a big moment because it's the first time.

I almost planned for a elaborate event with video, cameras, settings etc.

Except there isn't any event to witness this significant moment....... it didn't even happen at all!!

YES.... I'm a bad parent!!! My wife is a bad parent!!! We have yet to give our kid his ang pao.

My parents gave him yesterday and we thought we will give him at 12am exactly but of course he slept early due to fever.

We thought... let's give him this morning when he wakes up. But he woke up too early and I promptly let my parents look after him so that we can continue sleeping.

When we are finally up, we need to rush out for visiting and we didn't want to rush thru such a significant moment like this, so we thought, let's wait till we came back home.

We come back home and he sleeps immediately because we had a long day and he is still having slight fever.

And now we have passed the first day and we have yet to give him the red packet.

Shall we forget it? I mean, you put money into a red packet, give to him which he doesn't know what is it, end of the day, you take out the money and put inside the bank for him. Might as well just do a internet banking and transfer the money to his account.

Still pondering.

there's something about ..... new year "goodies"

I hope the year of the dog will start much better than the way year of rooster ended for my family.

My wife suffer from Food poisoning last weekend, follow by my mum. Both happened in the middle of the night and I have to go 24 hour clinic. And since the baby is taken care mostly by both of them, it became a challenge in the family since.

While my wife has fully recovered, the virus in my mum still persisted. She has diarriah (dunno how to spell) every alternate days and have seen doctors 3 times. As of today, we are not too certain whether she has recovered.

And I had sore throat early part of the week with slight flu and cough. So taking care of the kid became a bigger challenge with my wife and mum not exactly well too.

And yesterday morning, we woke up only to realised my kid has a high fever of 38.8 degrees. We were shocked as we didn't know how long in the night he has suffered.

Immediately we send him to the paedetrician (dunno how to spell). This is the first time he fell sick and somemore so high fever. So we were naturally worried.

We suspect is the big tooth thingy. But the doctor says he is suffering from Sore Throat. Win Liao lor. Of all things, he has the same problem as me.

Thus, medical expenses this week is about $300.

Not that I'm care about those $300 but if someone extort me for $300 in exchange for good health in the family, I will tell him I'll top it up to $500.

Seeing my son sick is damn heart pain. Seeing my mum sick is worrying.

So, I hope tomorrow being the start of the new year..... GOOD HEALTH TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS.

there's something about ..... cheekybynature

This is a tribute of sort.

It was a great blog. Full of humour. Good writing. Original writing. It's a blog I go check it out everyday for new entry, or just go thru some of his past writings for fun reading.

Anyway, hope you come back soon.

Cheers

there's something about ..... that phone

What a weekend. I can't even imagine how a day can be so perverse. The only Saturday I could really take a break off work with CNY next week and whoever up there decided to take it away from me.

This blog is inspired by "Momento". Should go see the movie.

Saturday 9.45pm
Got Home Finally. Physically and Mentally exhausted.

9.20pm
Got into my car at Cineleisure. Haven't been there like donkey years but didn't have the mood to walk around.

9.10pm

Step out of Somerset Station. Walk towards Cineleisure. Wanted to cross over to Heeren to vent my anger. Decided I'm too tired for that.

8.45pm
Douby Ghaut MRT interchange. Ninabeh. I felt like a F%$^ tourist. I actually got LOST in that F!^$ station. I wanted to take the train to Somerset MRT station and was looking for the North-South line, and promptly follow the direction signs in the train station. They put up a make-shift sign that says "Orchard, Yishun" next to the escalator and I just follow and take the escalator down.

But when I went down I couldn't find the F$^! direction to lead me to the right platform. All I saw was "NORTH-SOUTH LINE JURONG EAST/MARINA BAY". But I couldn't find that one that says anything remotely suggesting Orchard. I thought I went to the wrong level... I mean the Douby Ghaut Station is like bloody Big.

So I went back up thinking perhaps I went to the wrong escalator.

But it was correct. So I thought maybe I didn't search properly for the platform and I went back down again.

Still... I cannot find the direction that brings me towards North where Somerset station is.

So I went back up again. This time, I decided to put aside my ego and go to the control station to ask for help. I mean... I'm in my 30s plus a local ... and I bloody need help to find my way in a MRT Station?!?!?!?!?

I went to the control station and ask....

Me: Which way towards Orchard?

Officer: That way.

Me: But I went down and all it says was JURONG EAST/MARINA BAY??

Officer, show me a map: Neh......

Nabeh!!! The end station of "NORTH/SOUTH" line is in the "WEST".


8.15pm
Finally My turn at Starhub Customer Service Centre. The customer service officer is very friendly. He single handledly restore my confidence in Starhub. He exchanged my nokia one for one.

7.30pm
Reached Starhub Customer Service Centre in Plaza Singapura. Bloody Hell, it's damn crowded.

7.20pm
Took a bus from Orchard Plaza, next to Midpoint Ochard.

7.10pm
Ran to Cuppage Centre. The sign at the door says "close at 7.30pm". Phew. Just in time. Went into the Starhub Shop, told the guy at the information counter that I like to change my phone.

The guy tested the phone, agreed that it's not working well. Walk in to ask his manager. Manager came out and told me that they don't do exchange. WTF?!?!?!?!?

Me: What?!! They told me to come here! They said you guys do exchange!!!

Manager: Sorry. We are solely doing Retail now. We have moved our Customer Service Centre to Plaza Singapura.

Me: Comeon... surely you guys can just do an exchange, afterall you guys are one same company.

Manager: Sorry we can't. We need to have the technician there to certify your phone is not working.

Me: No need to certify... you can see for yourself it's not working.

Manager: Without the technician certification, we cannot exchange phones. It's the policy. Please go to our Plaza Singapura Branch. They close at 9pm. You still have time.

I STORMED out of the shop.

7pm
Arrived at Heeren Starhub Road show. Went to the guy who sold me the phone. I told him that the phone is not working. He tested... and tested.

Salesman: Sorry, we can't exchange it for you.

Me: Why? I just bought this this afternoon. You remember me. And I have receipt to show.

Salesman: I know. But we can't exchange because we are a distributor and we only sell phone.

Me: WHAT?! But this phone you sold to me is not working and I only bought it few hours ago!!

Salesman: I know. But we can't do anything about the phone if you return to us.

Me: You return to Starhub lah.

Salesman: Sorry. It's not that we don't want to help you, it's we can't. You better rush down to Starhub Customer Service Centre. They will do a replacement for you if it's within a day.

Me: What?!? I came all the way here and you ask me to go Plaza Singapura??!

Another Salesman came over: Why don't you go to the one at Cuppage Centre, it's nearer. But you better go, they are closing soon.

Me: I can't believe this.

6.50pm
Car park at Cairnhill place is Full. I decided to try my luck at Cineleisure. Luckily the car park is not full but bloody entry is $3.

6.30pm
Just reached home. My wife told me the phone is not working. NABEH. I just got back from Town and I have to go back again.

6pm
Met up briefly with Anthony at Bugis.

4.30pm
Reached my work destination in River Valley.

4pm
Went out for my appointment.

2pm
Got home. Happy that I gotten a good deal for a phone. Pass to my wife but she was sleeping.

1.25pm
Finally my turn. Buy the phone, trade in my old one still can take back some money. Shiok man. Some more the phone selling cheaper by $70 than elsewhere. I was too preoccupied with the deal that I didn't think of asking to test the phone, and they didn't offer as well.

12.40pm
Reached Heeren. Wah... Bloody long queue. Nabeh. But never mind lah, today not much work commitment. Can wait.

12.15pm
Saw on advertisement about the phone offer. decided to rush down to Heeren.

11am
Work up. Weather was fine. Felt like a good Day.

there's something about ..... pronounciation

All I wanted was a simple name for my kid. Nothing complicated. Just 1 syllabus name..... except... I was told much later.. it's not 1 syllabus but 2!!!! NABEH!!!

Then why the hell did everyone pronounce it the way I know all my life?!?!?!

When I grew up watching Ian Rush (that liverpool legend).... people pronounce Ian as Yan/Yen or something like that.

But when I told some of my friends of "higher" society, I became a laughing stock.

It's not pronounce as "Yan/yen" or single syllabus... but it's supposed to be a dual syllabus with a very soft "e" in front.

Thus.. it's pronounce as "e-yen".

Of course some "lower" society will pronounce IANAHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Nabeh. Now I'm super lost.

Friend 1: What's his name?

Me: "e-yen"

Friend 1: huh?

Me: YAN.

Friend 1: Orhh.. Y A N issit?

Me: No... I A N.

Friend 2: What's his name?

Me: "yan"

Friend 2: orhhh... Y A N issit?

Me: No... I A N.

Friend 2: ahhh... I see.

My friend of "higher" society tells me that "Ian" is of Irish heritage. Thus the need to pronounce it the irish way.

Just like "JOSE" is not pronounce as "JOES" or "JO-SE", but "Or-Say".

Or

"Genting" while commonly pronounce as "JAN TING", I was told it's "Geng ting"

Or

"Johan" is not pronounced as "Jo-han" but "Your-han"

Or

If a French guy called "Robert", you don't call him "Raw-bert", you call him "Raw-bear". If a Singaporean called "Robert", you don't call him "Raw-bert", you call him "Lor Bert"

Interestingly, when my Phillipino Maid first arrived, she called my son "e-yen". My wife and myself were embarrassed.

And as a Father, I felt a terrible need to correct myself constantly so that I pronounce it the correct way, so that my son will learn his name correctly and not have to be corrected by some "higher" society friends.

Now... the bigger task at hand.... how to correct the "lower" society not to call him IANAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Ian: Daddy... what's my name?

Me: "e-yen"

Ian: Then how come ah gu call me IANAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Me: Ok... tell mummy, you don't want to go Ah Gu's house every sunday ok.

there's something about ..... globetrotting

Isetan at Shawn Building
Tangs
Lucky Plaza
Wisma Atria (few times)
Ngee Ann City (few times)
Paragon
Centrepoint (few times)
John Little (few times)
Plaza Singapura
Raffles City
ADELPHI
FUNAN
Bugis Junction
OG at Waterloo (few times)
Suntec City (few times)
Millienium Tower
Marina Square
Thomson Plaza (many times)
Junction 8 (many times)
HDB Hub (many times)
Chinatown

Just realised yesterday my kid has been to alot of the shopping malls, even ADELPHI.

Siao liao... I ran out of places to bring him.

Yesterday we also went Chinatown. After we finished our hair cut (the whole family excluding the kid and maid) at Adelphi around 8.30pm, we realised the rain had stopped and going Chinatown seems logical.

It was fantastic. There is enough crowd to keep the place festive but not super crowded. We can even push the pram without difficulty. On top of that, there was a light breeze.

It was great.

We almost bought a Wong Fei Hong hat for him but it was a bit too big and we didn't think it will be comfortable to wear over a long time. So as all Kiasu parent, I took a picture without buying. Hiak Hiak Hiak.

I remember we used to go every year with JET and we will buy new year stuffs for our in laws and we will patronise the same shop every year. But now, it's getting logistically troublesome with the kid and stuffs.

Chinatown always have the same old things. They have tidbits, new year goodies, new year decorations, cushion covers, coconut drinks. Somehow, every year we will buy cushion covers from China town.

Last year was 3 for $10. This year, many stalls were going for $2 each. Interestingly, some stalls are still sticking to 3 for $10, even when their neighbouring stalls for going for $2 each.

I like to defy buying logic. So I went the shop selling 3 for $10 and ask for discount telling her that the stall next to them was selling at $2. The sales girl gave me a dead pan answer "NO".

Why did I even bother? I mean it's already cheap at $2 each, so why even bother trying to get a even better price next door, how much savings can I get from there? And in the process kenna snub. And also for the same designs covers.

2 things. First it's cheap thrill. There is no fun in negotiating something already so cheap at $2. But negotiating something perceived as expensive and get a good deal is shiok. But if you failed, going back to the neighbour shop, buy many cushion covers at $2 and walk pass the expensive shop, show them you bought many from the cheap stall... lagi shiok.

Secondly, I like to prove a theory. It doesn't make sense for a stall in Chinatown in a Chinese New Year month with so high competition from so many stalls selling the same thing, and with weather not in their favour, being so sales-disoriented. It's like telling people "don't buy from me, I'm not here to increase sales, go buy from my neighbour", unless.... this is their point.... buy from their neighbour..... meaning to say, both the stalls belong to the same owner. It's their strategy to sell their $2 cushion faster.

I got to be right.

Another thing I'm right is that Singaporean are blinded with brands. We walked past Lim Chee Kuan BBQ Pork shop. When we walked past, there was a super long queue around 9pm. When we were on our way back about 11pm, there were a short queue of say around 3 person. I thought it might be a good opportunity for me to buy a few packets back.

Ninabeh. They were selling their BBQ porks crumbs whatever you called it. The proper slices are all sold out, and they are just selling off the "balance loose pieces".

And these people are still queuing for it?!?!?! I decided to go Mei Zhen Xiang instead. No queue... proper slices.

Another theory... could Mei Zhen Xiang belongs to Lim Chee Kuan?!?