Why Singapore's Future is Secure?

Yesterday, I witnessed this family travelling in MRT.. a couple with about 3-4 years daughter and 10-12 months son.

The father was feeding the son in his arms with a bottle of milk and his daughter sees this.. The daughter says "Cannot drink in train".. Her dad could only muster and say, "Baby can!"

Me, Apps and KC just could not stop laughing... (though as per KC's version the mother was not quite amused with the joke on her daughter)

Pichle Saat Dino Mein......

Well it is the end of a well utilised Mid term break....... Proud of my achievements here in Singapore!!!

Starting with the Bintan trip! Oh Man! What a beautiful island this is!!! Although in Indonesia, it is only an hour away from Singapore!! Imagine the number of visitors that might be visiting Bin Tan that all the prices and currency accepted everywhere on the island is Sing Dollars!!! Visa on arrival... direct ferry... lotsa options to stay... no hassles... a perfect tourist spot!! It is actually very rich in flora and fauna... Of other things I saw Komodo Dragons, Snakes and Black Squirrels!! Cannot really comment on one highlight of the trip coz there were many things which were absolutely amazing... to start with it was the first time I had a 15 year old Single Malt Glenfiddich and I have become a big fan of Baileys as well... I drove an All Terrain Vehicle through the dirt track and it was first ever time I drove a car. Good Lord saved my co-rider!! Although she claims that she more fun when I was driving but I know she would have been praying all the time! And the Snorkelling.... I admit I was really scared to go in water coz I dont know swimming but whatever I could see underwater was toooooo good!!! I saw a school of blue small fishes and the scene was what we generally see on Nat Geo or Discovery... I saw marine plants and the corals!!! I saw jelly fish in the ride to the place where we went snorkelling!!! These experiences stay for life!

Coming ahead in the week... I attended first class where I know I will be using these skills at work... The advanced excel workshop was a great refresher in between the theory classes. Although the prof did solver and pivot table, it was quite helpful to get refreshed on modelling skills... and the highlight was prof gifting me a original McLaren Key Chain for answering questions on Pivot Table!!!! Here's the link - http://f1store.formula1.com/stores/f1/products/product_details.aspx?pid=50364

Kaise bhoolon saatva jo din aaya..... I witnessed first ever race in my life and that too my fate was that it was night race on street.... i am still in trace... the sound of engines buzzing in my ears.... no words to describe... need to be there to experience it... I am not an F1 fan nd hence I decided I wont go to race... Hence the bintan trip happened in first place... I could not afford to spend that kind of money on tickets.... But, as I always say... I am here to enjoy every bit of my life... Studying will always take a backseat... So I decided to take a chance since it was a Street race... God bless the originator of street race.... So I reached by 6:30 and got an awesome view.... Just opposite one of the stands... the only difference between them and me was that I dint have seat.... The first roar of engine was deafening.... and the second got the adrealine pumping... and the noise then turned ito music... And I was in absolute daze!!! Thru the evening I witnessed race from 3 different views... each without paying a cent!!! The highlight was the moment when Ferrari overtook Red Bull and sparks flew all over the place!!!! And luckily we found a group which had mobile tv so he could update us on the number of laps and drivers.... We could make out the teams from the colors but not the drivers.... So when people say its difficult to make which car is which team, they are actually bluffing... Go for yourself and experience the thrill!!!! Btw, I have now atleast decided to follow the F1... So even though I regretted about not taking up a sport, this can act as consoloation prize!!!!

The Real Singapore

As I said earlier, I dont stay in the real Singapore. We were duped to stay here - thats what I can say. We decided to venture out and go to Raffles Place - Nariman Point in Mumbai terms. The MRT station was underground and the minute we came out on road, it was like WOW!! This is the Singapore we see in the brochures and papers and videos. The entire skyline was mesmerising... And what a view it would be for the office goers... Look down and you see the river and the boat quay.. The boat quay (pronounced as qi) is like a chain of resto pubs on the river... One of the most happening place in Singapore after Clarke Quay... Clarke Quay seems to be party peoples paradise.. Divided is 5 sections, it has at least 50 different restaurants, pubs, clubs etc... We did not venture in any of them thinking it would be quite expensive... The conversion factor is still quite high and we will take some time to stop converting and start enjoying... Later on, when I had a chat wid a new found friend, i think it would be just lil higher than mumbai prices.. But it would be just that we are enjoying better quality here...
Btw, I am so dying to go and visit Ministry of Sound and another place called ZOUK (often mentioned by Nick Leeson in Rogue Trader)

Also visited the university today - did not look much but my raction was that it was 100 times better than this stupid yoha hostel... My initial reaction was like is this a five star holiday resort or a university... so well maintained buildings.. greenery around... great architecture.. lounges... canteens and eating places... too too good!!!!! Very very happy that i can stay there for half a day :)

Saw more of real singapore near the City Hall, Suntec City and Esplanade which again have great stuff like malls, offices, residential buildings, operas etc etc....

The whole point is that this Boon Lay was really depressing thing to hit on first day... how even great city like Singapore can have areas which are not so like real Singapore... like Bhayender and Mira Road in Mumbai - which although part of Mumbai, have nothing in common like Nariman Point and Worli and Bandra! Just getting to accept the fact that I need to stay here for atleast first semester... like my friend and batchmate Suveer said the other day "120 days to civilisation"

Singapore - First Impressions!!

Its just 30 hours in the new city and hence I cant really comment. But just a few striking facts.

When I came down to Changi Airport, the lobby to welcome the foreigners is just tooo good. I guess it almost matches lobbbies of best 5-stars in Mumbai if not better! Too Good! Generally, people say immigration is very tedious process, Singapore is like a bliss! My flight landed at 7.20 and by 7.40, I had my baggage in hands! No hassles at all!!

What struck me at airport (and later in City) is cleanliness. Not a wrapper on the floor. I have seen that in India as well but the places are far and few. Here, the entire city is the same. Too good! (btw, I have heard its S$500 fine for loitering and people do have to pay up!)

Transportation and Infrastructure - One of the seniors told us that Singapore has best roads in the world and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit - equivalent of railways in Mumbai) is its pride! After travelling in Mumbai railways for years, I found it MRT a lil too odd. I had to hold the rods for support myself - I could not rely on the crowd to support me. The buses again are too different from Mumbai with more spacious and luxurious! Another thing - I really loved the ticketing system - you just need to tap a card while boarding and again while getting off - no queues at all which saves hell lot of time!

All those public private partnership case study seekers have an excellent example here - SMRT (Govt) and SBS Transit (Private) together run the entire MRT and buses system. I think the routes are divided and the service qualities are almost equal. Also, for public conveinience, the EZ Link Card can be used in both MRT as well as buses. Mumbai - please learn - if a scheme is started by Western Railways, ensure the same accomodates Central Railways and Harbour Line too. We need the entire service under one roof and not bickering among the government entities. No wonder, people said that I will Singapore! So much convienience!

I found communication system a lil too funny. Firstly, its a big pain to find coin operated public phone booths. Everyone here uses calling cards and you need to swipe the cards for talking. On airport, luckily I could do away with credit card - but in city (in absence of mobile (or handphone in Singapor parlance)), I had to hunt to get to machine where it accepted the coins. Luckily, unlike India, the shop keepers are cooperative of giving you as much change you want. Coming back, for an outsider, its completely lost out feeling if you do not have any other means of communication. Another thing, after living India where it was so convenient about getting calls because "incoming was free", it was quite a shocker to see that you are getting charges almost at same rate as an outgoing call. You can only avoid "incoming call" charge by swicthing to postpaid connection only. Even funnier stuff, with som IDD thingy, I can call to India at really low rates of 8 cents a minute - however, my local call charge is 16 cents a minute!!!

Overall, I love Singapore but the place I am staying is far from what actually is Singapore... more in next post....

The Countdown Begins

Yes... Its the final countdown.... We are heading to Singapore!!!!

Only some days earlier, I saw it was still 36 days to go and suddenly the number has come in single digit... 9 days to go from today....

Its a mixed feeling... Nervous and anxious about the entire thing... happy and excited that finally I am gonna go... sad for leaving loved ones behind... apprehensions about relocation... awaiting the freedom... lost because cant fall back on anyone.... its indeed mixed emotional state...

What Lies Ahead!

As I had mentioned a few weeks earlier, I met some seniors. They were very helpful bunch of people. Today, I stumbled upon Suraj's blog - http://nus-mba-life.blogspot.com/

And I must admit that it has gotten me more excited to go and reach NUS and Singapore as soon as possible...

Great work Suraj!!! Its an excellent blog and needs to attract a wider audience. Especially prospective NUS MBA applicants...

Historic Moment!

How can I not post today???

I am a free bird... mentally so much at peace... relaxed.. calm... like 100 kg weight taken off my shoulders... its not that I did not like my work but to quit is a different feeling... as I entered home, I realized I will not have to go back to work for quite sometime now...

Obviously, with CFA around the corner, I will not realise that kind of feeling I come back from Singapore! But by that time, I would be all pumped up again to go back again!

Although the main reason was to celebrate my last day at work today - its been a extremely eventful week for me! Like
o Earlier in week, I met seniors - decided on staying in hostel as compared to pvt accomodation
o Got the hostel results - made the payment (definitely saved a bomb here)
o Decided on what day to leave - which flight to leave
o Constantly exchanged mails with my newly found NUS friends (yes too many of them now)
o Got the forex for the CFA trip (did you know Singapore has plastic notes with transparent hologram??)

It has been a great week!!! And the end of the week was the best - Last day at work!!!!!

Goodbye Saki Naka! Singapore calling me!