Scary Thaipusam

BEWARE, this entry blog contain sensitive pictures.

The first time I saw Thaipusam was two years ago on my way back home without knowing anything about the procession. A year later I made sure I was available to document what I was able to see, but my camera was not working well under such extreme condition (poor lights and crowded streets).

This year I had everything ready to take the best pictures I could and share with the world this unique devotion procession that happen once a year in Singapore, and some other region where the Tamil communities reside across the planet … at least this is what I though.

Devotees Destination

The 3.2 km from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple is usually a 40 minutes long walk even on the sunny side of the street, but during the Thaipusam the distance seems way much longer for obvious reason and could sometimes takes up to six hours for participants to reach their final destination.

Spiky Shoes

The word Thai-pusam is derived from the month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star that is at its highest point during the ceremony which commemorates both the birthday of the youngest son of god Shiva, the Tamul's God of War, Murugan (also Subramaniam) and his wife Parvati. The legend said that the wife Parvati gave Murugan a spear so he could defeat the evil spirit Soorapadman.

Woman with Pot of Milk

Devotees usually take a vow to offer a kavadi in return for an asked favor or granted request to the God Murugan. The kavadi is usually an metallic instrument to inflict pain that has to be carried over a long period of time in recognition to Murugan.

Lime Display

Before the celebration devotees have to prepare by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting, taking only pure food, once a day, while continuously thinking of God. Usually on the day of the festival, disciples shave their heads, covered it later on with an orange powder, before undertake the pilgrimage along the same set route between the two temples.

Tongue Piercing

Accordingly to the request granted or asked by the fan, various physical pains are undertaken during the pilgrimage. It could start with a simple iron pot of milk carried on the head, hooking lemon to the flesh, carrying a wooden temple on the shoulders, or pulling the same temple on wheel with hooks attached to your bared back skin. But the real deal is the metallic skeleton weighting 20kg minimum, surmounted by heavy iron circle to which is attached multiple spikes hooked back to the devotee flesh

Another Tongue Piercing

Mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with long spikes is also very common, reminding constantly of God Murugan and preventing from speaking and complaining while gives great power of endurance. Usually the greater the pain the more god-earned merit is granted.

Men with a Pot of Milk

Along the way, family and friends who have decided to help the devotee provide food and drinks, but also chants and encouragements to facilitate the contrition. It is not rare to see a group of dozen of fans dancing around drums to which the devotee respond in spinning onto himself in a frenzy painful dance.

Dancing with a Kavadi

More often than usual, spike flee out of the human flesh and land on the side walk, picked up by watcher as a souvenir for maybe another time if courage will join. What stoke me the most during this parade were on one side the quietness of the crowd fascinated by the exercise, and on the other the absence of visible blood and slow motion of the devotees.

Body Piercing

No scream, no blood, only visible pain on the face of the people who could after a while (usually many hours), under the hot and humid weather of tropical Singapore, bearably walk with their torture instrument attached to them. Watching someone suffering is never pleasant, but watching someone who self inflict pain is shamefully fascinating.

Pulling the Temple

The contrast that exists between the clean Singapore and the painful procession is striking. One of the Singapore's minorities is taking the lead during one full day over the other ones, but what they are demonstrating is residing essentially around pain, suffering and religion. Spectacular I conjure, but shocking brutal.

Back of the Flesh

Singapore is not the only place that celebrates Murugan. The temple at Batu Caves in Malaysia is a place that attracts usually over one million devotees and many more tourists for this very special public suffering procession. It is mentioned that the more impressive the more sure the wish will be granted, leading to sensational escalation of public suffer.

Corporate Sponsorship

I have to confess I was more intrigued by what I was watching but my reporter job. Maybe next year I will be able to capture better shot to render what the Thaipusam is really about. At the same time I am just wandering what the ceremony near Kuala Lumpur might look like.

Rex Cinema, Little India

At the stop of the city of Singapore, crossing over another land on its way to Little India, lays the 63 years old building Rex Cinema at Mackenzie Road.



Cornered by a parking lot on its left and a Hawker Center on its right, the now movie hall has reemerged once again from its ashes.



All day long, the three screens are blabbering all the Singapore official languages (English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil) with an inclination for the South Indian's, 3-hours, dance & song features.



The building has reinvented itself many times over the years, going through many transformations, from a skating rink, to a church and lately a nightclub, but went back to its original movie passion what it was designed for in the first place.



The cinema's 70s look enlights the whole area, echoing the coloring that the Little India of Singapore vibrates with so vividly.



Like a guarding tower on the side of an entrance, the building is not here to prevent you from crossing over the next land, but rather warn you about the colors you will see along the way.



Inside the experience is far away from the one at any village. People seat on chairs, eat Chinese food, and drink American pop. You have been warned to not eat betel nut and or spit leaf on the floor.



But as soon as the lights fade away, the drama movie takes you to mother land India where movie are watched outdoor with an entire village to help you laugh and cry.



It is said that Mr. Narayanasamy Muthu the owner of the local film distributor Mega Movies was helped by Mr. Murugan Suppurayan, who runs a film distributing company in Malaysia, to reopen the Rex Cinema.



Some saying that they put together more than S$1.5 million in the building in renovation.



Sure thing that it clicks and splashs in the night.

Durian Durian

My first visit to Geylang was during a hot and sunny day, and I was not impressed by it. It changed during a recent night visit to the King.



Few months back, when I talked to one my friend about my lack of entertainment in Geylang, he started laughing and told me that as a born and raised Singaporean he could share his keys to open some doors to the dark nights and bright lights of Geylang, but he recommended me to be careful and not feed the animals I might encounter during my night safari visit there.



Taking food as an excuse for a nigh visit to Geylang, I accepted his dinner invitation, but requested for a nigh version that time. As soon as we arrived there I quickly realized that I had previously not only visited the wrong side of the place, but also at the wrong time. One side of Geylang is a large and quiet residential area, but on the other side you find hourly rented room and lively sidewalk talks, but it all happen at night, never during the day (because the is the time people from the profession sleep, stupid!).



What struck me the most during this exploration of the local night fauna was that like in the Savanna, animals gather at night around refreshment and food point. An obvious observation when you think that if you let your instincts talking, you might as well let your stomach having a share of the fun as well. I noticed that a man on an empty stomach has always a too predominant conversation toward food and will not let his other animal aspirations resurface, so if you propose a large portfolio of services including paid visit to human counterpart coupled with details acquisition of dishes in the same place, don't expect nothing less than a profusion of food style and numerous cheap restaurants over the long run. That's probably why Geylang has been rated as one of the most interesting food destination in Singapore, with its late restaurants and fresh seafood platters.



Aside from the delicious food we had that night, I was really impressed by the number of people gathering around the durian stools. In almost no space at all, durian seller managed to propose a wide selection of fruits half on the sidewalk, half on the road. And like hundred craving butterflies crashing on a lantern, people were attracted by the durian seller bright lights and unequivocal fruit smell. Cars stopped, windows were rolled down and prices were asked in a matter of second, taking advantage of the traffic light.



If the price was set right, the negotiation could begin. The durian man dressed with a glove in one hand a knife in the other, cut a small incision in this round and spiky object of trade. It has been said to me that experience aficionados could choose Durian by just smelling and looking at the inner color of the fruit. When you think that the fruit can grow up to 30 cm long and 15 cm in diameter, typically weighs one to three kilograms, and its shape ranges from oblong to round, the color of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale-yellow to red, depending on the species, it's a long training to have.



The Durian flesh emits a distinctive odor, strong and penetrating even when the shell is intact. I have not found any comparison so far in my catalogue of smell to describe it, but I can guaranty you that the smell evokes always a reaction from deep appreciation to intense disgust, never ignorance. The odor is so strong and persistent that the fruit is banished from hotels, taxi and any public transportation in Singapore.



Board signs above the fruit usually indicate the quality and the origin of the delicacies dessert. Look for a D at least and a maybe a double digit number if you like strong taste and smell, although if you prefer exotic travel ask instead for a Mao Shan Wang (Cat Mountain King). I am not too sure who had decided to categorize the Durian family with such unappealing names but I will be alone to start a new trend and give them new fresh label. D24 was the reference by which bargainer were exposing themselves to stranger, and has been commonly recommended by endless taxi drivers in Singapore.



Don't be fooled by a fruit, Durian had become a reference in people's imagination with various quotes and proverbs in different languages across various South East Asian nations. It usually illustrates bad behaviors and strange habits that one can not let go off, but happy to entertain like a selfish pleasure.



Over my stay in Singapore many times I heard strange stories about sleeping safely under a Durian tree, or one can die from eating Durian together with whiskey, or can cause heatiness and sore throat, or the only place to have a safe durian experience is at Mr Goh Kwee Leng place. But as the famous proverb says that you should never trust a Durian Seller, I will not trust any Durian stories either, especially the one telling me that this is the best fruit on the planet.



On my way back home that night, a question popped in my mind: if Durian is the "King of Fruit", who is the Queen of Geyland then?

Tropical N

Tropical N. is today the number one pandemic sickness spreading around the globe, but nobody knows about it.

Tropical N. (a.k.a. Tropical Napping) is severely gaining roots in Singapore and I would not be surprised that this virus is also gaining momentum in other part of the planet. My long and deep observations on this important t(r)opic, conducted me to come up with a new theory on how and why tropical islanders are falling for Tropical N.

First of all, I would underline that Tropical N is neither a pastime like it is in South Europe, nor a hobby like it is in South America. It is on this side of the planet, an epidemic that has been turned in last decade or so into an Art of War against ... Sun, Rice and Trees.



I can see it in your eyes, dear reader, from across the wire cable that you are already questioning my fundamental thesis on the relationship that men across the tropics have with each other and Mother Nature. How come on earth, Tropical N is different from anything you've seen before? And what does it have to do with ... Sun, Rice and Trees?



Let me tell you, that Tropical N is different than anything you have been experiencing, reading or contemplating in your life. Today Tropical N is becoming mainstream, a social mandate and a corporate practice. It has been reported (somewhere on Wikipedia, so that must be true) that an ancient Japanese soldier, left on a deserted island in Indonesia, lived to 158 years because he was Tropical N'ing 6 hours a day. He also did not know that the War World II was over, but that's another story.



Tropical N is different because of its nature. Tropical N happens anywhere, anytime, any length, to anybody, in group or alone (remember that you only need 20 seconds to fall asleep). Tropical N has been recently reported to happen in streets, at work, at home, in public and certainly in private, between the dark walls of homes. Tropical N has been now socially tolerated, accepted as a common sickness and scheduled for isolation.



Where does it all come from?

The primary reason for Tropical N is the Sun.
From the early hours of the day, bodies are cooked by the vicious sunlight that by a weird local magic managed to find its way across any modern or ancient landscape. Not even the famous tourist tour groups, who honed for decades the world famous 3T war tactic, can escape the current pandemic outbreak on the island (from Wikipedia: "The 3T, or the Tourist Turtle Tactic, is a tactic that tourists use to progress in hostile foreign territory, by being covered in pastel color from top to toe, wearing giant sunglasses and sun visor protectors, and only moving in one coordinated group move").



Tropical N is also the consequence of the widespread use of Rice on tropical islands.

Rice is a base (I am talking about the cereal not Condoleezza here for those who try to read between the lines). And because of that, rice needs other dishes to go with. And then the issue comes along. What do you serve rice with? Stomach-heavy sauce, greasy curries, and other filling dishes that no human stomach can decently handle. Check out the list of rice dishes for your convincing.

It has been commonly accepted now in the healthcare industry that the root cause of S.A.D. (Sleepiness Attitude Disorder) is rice. A recent report has identified that 38.62% of rice eaters are SAD positive among underaged, non-pregnant women who use a pen as a tooth brush and eat rice three times a day at breakfast, lunch and dinner in a tropical island and living with their grandparents.



The last factor of the Tropical N pandemic is the natural luxuriance that exist in the tropics. Photosynthesis creates the lush and fascinating trees, the ones that can be 30 meters high and 40 meters wide, covering an entire backyard, bringing a fresh and cooling atmosphere under their branches. And like a kid to whom an old lady is singing a song, you are invited to climb into her arm and let your reclining napping monster get out of the box for a moment.



Sun, Rice and Trees are the three main factors causing Tropical N, and can only be fought back by cutting all trees, putting a bubble around tropical islands to protect inhabitant from the sun, and finally start globally subsidizing french fries. Unfortunately Tropical N is not well known on the planet because it touches a too low of a percentage of the global population now. I just hope that by explaining the danger of it, people will finally agree on acting on it and start spreading the message: Tropical N is S.A.D.



"I don't generally feel anything until noon; then it's time for my nap."
-- Bob Hope

Growth Report finally arrived

Launched in April 2006, the Commission on Growth and Development brought together twenty-one leading practitioners from government, business and the policymaking arenas, mostly from the developing world. The Commission was chaired by Nobel Laureate Michael Spence, former Dean of the Stanford Graduate Business School, and Danny Leipziger, Vice-President, World Bank, is the Commission's Vice-Chair.

Over a period of two years the Commission gathered the best understanding there is about the policies and strategies that underlie rapid and sustained economic growth and poverty reduction.
The Commission has finally released its final report, The Growth Report: Strategies for Sustained Growth and Inclusive Development, which looks at how developing countries can achieve fast sustained and equitable growth.

At this occasion, The Straits Times of Singapore covered a double central page in its Saturday edition about the report and had a full interview of the Senior Minister Mr. Goh Chok Tong. One the questions asked was a very interesting one, in which an official paper mixed in the same sentence Singapore and Democracy. Here is the question and answer.

"The Straits Times: As Singapore develops, will the rights and freedoms associates with a liberal democracy become more important? Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong: I think it’s going to be discussed more because, as the people get used to long periods of growth, and their wealth goes up, so will they move up the hierarchy of needs. They will look for things beyond bread and butter, like intellectual discourse, political expression, arts, sports and so on. More people will want our politics to be more liberal. That is fine, provided you’re not worried about your stomach and shelter, security and physical freedom, economic growth and unemployment. I think it is fair to ask and debate, “Can Singapore practice liberal democracy now that we are a middle-income country? Are we now so strong and secure that we can ignore our geography, our neighborhood and our permanent vulnerabilities? What are the long-term implications for us if we move away from our present system or government?” Liberal democracy includes the right to gather, demonstrate and protest against anything under the sun. Do you want demonstrations every day along Orchard Road or Shenton Way? I don’t think so. This is a small place. If there’s a big demonstration in our city, the whole place comes to a halt. It’s different for big countries. If there is a demonstration in the capital city, the rest of the country will keep on producing. We can’t follow that model of liberal democracy. But we can have a marginal kind of freedom to demonstrate, like designating Speakers’ Corner, for example, as a place where you can demonstrate as long as you don’t spill to other areas and hold up other people’s daily activities. Or we can allow people to rent a stadium and demonstrate. "

Professional headhunter wanted (dead or alive)

I had 15 minutes spare time in front of me before I was going to meet this fellow CEO that I had been chasing for over 2 months now, and to be honest with you I was quite proud of being on time after the rocking end of afternoon I had.

1 ½ hour before her departure time, J. called me on my mobile. When someone calls you at a check-in counter it usually not a good sign. I immediately though about a missing in action passport or even worse a broke-in suitcase, but in reality it was worse than that. She was missing her Noise Cancellation Headset and I knew at the sound of her voice that she was considering canceling her trip on the spot if she could not perform her noise cancellation concert during her oversea 30 hours trip.

Being unemployed has a lot of disadvantages, but certainly the best and maybe only advantage is the ability to manage your schedule the way you want without thinking twice. After a quick check on the time, I sized up the opportunity to dress up my old white knight armor, save the girl and score some serious brownies points. I decided to jump in a cab to the airport. I chit-chatted all the way with the cab driver but I was only really focus on the clock in this Friday afternoon prime time, on the unique road for a quiet weekend for thousand of people. I knew that the success of my job was just a question of minute and every second counted. The less I distracted the cab driver, the faster he could drive to Changi. So I did not for once entertain the discussion.

I finally saw her standing at the Terminal 3, Gate 4, with her suitcase and happy smile. I through the headset from the taxi window and watched my girl running to her plane. I knew that her DJ look will help her to half sleep correctly for some part of the night. Mission accomplished!

But my afternoon was not over yet. I had an interview to go to, and I was half certain that I could find where it was. I ask then J. to phone guide me to the exact address. It is quite crazy the thing you can do now with a phone, an internet connection, Google maps and a lost soul in a city. My subway ride to the interview was guided entirely by J. who, with her headset on, could now avoid any disturbance from her surrounding.

I arrived at 5:45 PM at the “Ya Kun Kaya Toast” from Funan DigitaLife Mall, my coffee chat location, thanks to J. and her headset. Ya Kun is a chain of air-conditioned Kopitiams (traditional breakfast and coffee shop found in Malaysia and Singapore). As the name suggests, it sells Kaya toast (butter toast), Singapore style coffee and tea, half boiled eggs and other beverages. I was proud of being 15 minutes, so I decided to take that time to do a quick expedition of this new discovered mall considered by certain as the second best mall for electronics after Sim Lim Square.

Around 5:50 PM, I went back to the coffee place and investigate the menu just to avoid the discomfort of having to eat or drink something you choose under interviewer pressure. In my extremely intensive local market coffee research I came to the conclusion that each time I eat or drink the famous “I’ll-the-same” I ended up having a hard time to focus on my interviewer answers. Few persons realized the tremendous risk that your humble Blogger has to take each time I meet with an unknown human being when I try to coffee-reach-out and handle the crap that they all drink. My stomach is getting better everyday, but I did not want to spoil my evening drinking later on.



The menu was for once in English and was well classified with coffee on one side and bizarre stuff on the other. After a quick investigation of the difference between O-Coffee (concentrate milk and sugar) and C-Coffee (sugar only), I was all setup for my interview. I could remember his first name, his company name, knew a bit his market, and most importantly knew all the competitors (3 in Singapore). I was so ready.

At 6:00 PM sharp I decided to stand up and with my white head above the crowd I was not unmistakable, I was sure to be disrupted by a hand, a smile of an eye contact and start a vibrant and solid conversation. My day was rocking after all. After 15 minutes of intense and constant crowd checking, a small guy with a uniform came to me.
- “Why are you looking like this?” he said.

He did not introduce himself, but his strange uniform color matching the coffee ad campaign behind him did not leave any room for surprises. I quickly guess that the tag name on his shirt was not a new tactic to approach shy girls, but rather was the coffee company policy. The entire staff was looking at me, and was backing up his brave shift manager, so I decided to justify myself with the simplest lame line possible that came to my mind at that time.
- “I am waiting for someone”, I heard myself said loudly.

My justification seem to have pleased him and the ninjas behind him, since they all went back to they usual task of people watching for a living, and occasionally serving them with alphabetic coffee.




I decided that I had to hold another more discrete position, and my special force training came in handy for once. I move out and I decided to seat close to the only pillar that was in the region, forcing myself to stare at the main entrance rather than the coffee chop counter. I realized then that I was previously standing next to the toilet door, and I am strongly suspecting now that my over focus look and strange appearance (taller & handsome) were sending the wrong signals to the Kopitiam police staff department (although called staff manager). On one of my night cab ride home, the very courageous extraverted driver tough me once the open and encouraged delator practices in the city-state, and I am delighted that sergeant Kopitiam decided to address the issue directly rather than calling the police instead.

Around 5:30 PM, I decided to order one of these alphabet coffees and a plate of Kaya Toast. I started to feel abandoned and the 3 phone calls I had made in the past half an hour to my interviewer voice mail did not encourage me too much either. After all if I had to miss a supposedly exiting conversation, I would not miss the best Kaya Toast in the city since 1944.

It was not the first time that someone asked for a late Friday coffee chat and did not show up. Among all the most impressive stories I had during my job hunt, illusionists are in the top 5. I remember for example this guy from Connected Group Limited, an executive search firm, who asked me to come over and he was not there yet supposedly but should be there in a minute or so. His assistant did the interview instead. What was his name already? Marcus something ... Ah yes! His name was Marcus Lai. I remember leaving the place and over hearing that Marcus was playing golf in Bintan the entire day and it was strange that he asked someone to come over for a meeting at that strange time. It seems that time has a different meaning in Singapore than where I am from. Cultural difference I assume.

At least today, I had to try the Kaya toast and C-Coffee. I was trying to drink my too sugary brown coffee, and swallow the buttery toast, when I started to do what I became a master at these days: daydreaming. I was trying to remember the conversation that I just had with the taxi driver, but could not really remember exactly what was the topic or how did it arrive on the lack of professionalism in his corporation.
- “What is the problem with the taxis in Singapore”, I finally asked him

He answer did not stoke me until later, but he said:
- “When you do a low class job, you are not proud of what you do”

That was the beginning of the 101 explanation, and he kept going:
- “I am proud of what I am doing, because when I go home, I can see a family member smile. But in Singapore young drivers like doing long trips and avoid short ones because it looks better among others cab drivers. I don’t do that!”

I did not know that actually young driver where competing on what kind of journey they were having during the day. He later on explained me his daytime routine, what he was doing outside work, and his difficulty in training young drivers who do not want to listen to his teaching. He followed with a basic description of the aging population in cab driving industry, and argued that older generation consider cab driving a hobby and do not care too much of the client or service, they just enjoying the ride.

He finally gave me a tip about bad behavior of cab drivers
- “If you want to teach him a lesson” in reference to the bad cab driver, “call the cab company, but if you want to punish him ask for a receipt and then call the Land Transport Authority (1800-225 5582) to complain. He will have his license removed” he laughed.

I forgot we were in Singapore and such a thing can happen.


I should have asked him if he knew the phone number of the Show-Your-Face-At-A-Meeting-You-Called Authority, but I forget.
I was on ride to save my girl.

Tropical Emergency

Nobody was hurt, and I am fine!

I am in perfect physical and almost mental condition, but I am going to share with you my last experience in Singapore: my Singaporean Emergency Unit experience.

Wednesday morning, I was late for my early morning meeting at 10 AM. I know for some of you this timing is quite a late timing in the afternoon, but for me, unemployed, it’s a bit of a stretch. I have developed recently a routine that helps me going quite well. After J. leaving for work, I am spending a lot of time online reading my favorites online newspapers. Around 11 or so, after my pot of coffee and a quick shower, I usually jump to some emailing, online job surfing and LinkedIn-ing cold calling to entertain myself for the rest of the day …

What was I saying? …
Ah yes, ... I was saying that it was almost 10AM when I realized that it was about time to move faster and change gear. In my attempt to multitask, calling a cab while putting my left sock on (try at home on your bed, and see if you could do it, before laughing), I tripped over my sneaker, and ended up kicking the side of the open wooden door.

Why my sneaker was in the middle of my way out to the cabby, or why did the wooden door kicked my right foot are still mysteries for me, but the bottom line was my right foot was hurting, the cabby was waiting for me downstairs, and the wooden door was still intact.

The first 10 minutes of my meeting was very much entirely distracted by the breakfast fighting given by my interviewer, but the following 30 minutes were concentrated on mentally checking the size of my foot. A quick ending of the discussion, hopeless promises and hand shaking were the only thing that I can remember from the meeting aftermath.

Back home, I crashed on my bed, liberated my pain from my shoe and contemplated my right foot. The wooden door was still intact and my foot had a normal size. The rest of the day was just an endless excuse to continue doing what I am becoming good at: virtual interaction with people online for no purpose, with a foot in the air.

At night, after telling my story to J., I promised her to see a doctor the next day to confirm that my right foot was not broken. I accepted resentfully to first ease her worries (Better safe than "story") and to second, have a new distraction in my boring and uneventful life.

So here I am, calling a cab, next morning (Thursday), to the Alexandra Hospital. The choice of this hospital is quite simple. This is the only hospital that we know of since this is where we did our medical checkup for the one year residency permit.

I arrived at the Emergency room, and beside a Chinese grand-pa, and a young lady with limited mobility, the room was empty. The number 50 was allocated to me (don’t tell me that they already had 50 cases), and I was send back to my seat with a plastic folder including stickers with my name on them, a customer survey, and without the S$60 form the consultation.

In a Tropical Emergency service, you pay before being serviced.

The Alexandra Hospital, tagged itself to follow best practices from other organizations and to deliver effective and efficient quality services. One of these effective and efficient quality services is the almost real time webcam of the A&E (Accident & Emergency) department. As soon as I got in the room, I SMS-ed J. at work to find out if she was able to see me online. She followed me in my Tropical Emergency unit experience.

Beside, asking friends to screen shoot you when at the hospital to make a blog entry I do not see the real purpose of having a webcam, refreshed every 5 minutes, in an Emergency Unit. Because to be frank with you, if you need to go the emergency, you are not going to check online if the queue is 45 minutes long, you are just hoping that they will treat your case as fast as possible and maybe save your life!

Anyway, I was at the Emergency for an X-ray, and I was going to be taking care of, my profile was in the “process” to be treated. As you can see, the person before me was taking his time (30 minutes average time for a Chinese Grand-Pa, I guess), but your humble Blogger was next on the list. In the meantime, I was investigating my surrounding, and discover very interesting signs around me. The one that stuck me the most was probably the larger one stating that your case will be treated according to the queue line up, unless your life depends on it. I felt automatically relieved, and I was happy to discover that even in a strong Process State as Singapore, your life threatening state could bypass you few seats in the line. This is the way to squeeze the process, and take advantage of the matrix.

When I was watching the new Chinese morning soap opera, a triangle love story on a construction site, between the second Architect in command (Ms Kim), the previous leading Architect (Mr. Jong) who want to follow his heart oversea, and the Master (Mr. Master) bleached headed with a very profound philosophy (“He will be back, they always come back”), my number was called.

I went to the booth number 1 to have my profile taken, answer few questions, and having my blood pressure done. When she asked me what was the purpose of my visit today to the Hospital, I told her my door story and asked for an X-Ray. She did not answer my request and pushed back in a conversation ending tone: “later you will see the doctor”.

My only benefit from my interaction from her was the fact that I was diagnosed as a Male, speaking some sort of English, and was upgraded to Indian!
Even now I don’t think that being Indian would have solved or either was the cause of my right foot injury, but you have to accept the truth judgment from a competent medical body. She was maybe right and saw through me, I might be Indian … deep, deep, ... deep inside.

Still shocked by this revealing information, she asked me to seat back to my place and wait to see the doctor as soon as my number 50 would be called on the board.

I was at the crucial point where the cousin of Mr. Jong, the leading architect, was playing violin outside a close wooden door (not mine, mine was open, not closed), when 20 minutes later, my number was called, and assign to booth number 2. Booth number 1 and 2 were in the same room, but divided by a paper wall. I was surprise to see the same lady with a mask that time at the desk. She asked me the same question, and took again my blood pressure. The good news were, I was confirmed to be Indian, Male, English speaking having still 125 (never heard such a number) as blood pressure measure. I told her again the same story and she asked me to see her colleague next desk for a further and more detail diagnosis.

I moved to the next desk, 3 feet away, and told the new masked lady that I kick an open wooden door, and I wanted to make sure that I had nothing broken, and an X-Ray might be the best option for me, although I am no doctor, and I wished not to tell her what to do.

She knocked and started to speak to me in Chinese. I did not understand, my file was saying that I was Indian, and therefore I could not speak mandarin. As soon as she saw my eloquent and colloquial unintelligent face she automatically switched back to English and asked me the same question as the previous lady. Nobody can trick me on these easy questions. I haven’t done any CIA interrogatory training, but I watched CSI a couple of times, and I know that you need to be consistent when been asked 3 times in the row your name, address and the purpose of your visit today, (notice the today, like you want to come back tomorrow to check if they have sales!)

For the third times, she took my blood pressure, and confirmed me that I would see the doctor soon. On my way back to my seat, I was scared that I could spend the entire day balancing from one staff member to another in this pretty big hospital, promised to be sent to see a doctor soon, while having my arm in pain with a 5 minute refreshed blood pressure, displayed online with a new webcam they would implanted soon.

In a Tropical Emergency service, you have to pass human lie detector tests before seeing a doctor.

Thankfully, Ms Kim, the second in command, after a fight with the ex-leading Architect, was now promoted to be in charge of the whole construction site. She was having an after hour refreshment when she opened up to her best friend. She was confused and did not understand “why the leading architect quit so close to be at the pinnacle of his career.” Her best friend told her that one have many pinnacles in life. One can pursue his or her Love pinnacle, or Friend pinnacle instead of his or her Career pinnacles ….



Number 50 was flashing in front of the booth 3: I am going to finally see the Doctor!
I rapidly, as fast as I could, limped to the room, and was asked to be seat by a young professional. He asked me the same questions as the 2 ladies before, but I knew the answer thanks to the rehearsals I had before. He told me that he could do nothing for me, unless he had an X-Ray, and asked me why I had not brought him an X-ray.

This is the time that you feel very safe, because this sounds very familiar to you. You know how to handle this kind of thing. You expect this exact kind of answer from a developed country in Europe or North America, so when you’ve been asked the exact same question in a developing country you feel relieved. You know that they are big enough to stick to a dreadful and inhuman process and not have the time to spend some time with you. You feel at home. They must be very professional to have the exact same questions and reaction as the ones in EU/America

“No, I did not know I needed an X-Ray” was my almost honest answer. Some of you would have jumped on the guy and probably beaten him while insulted him and all his family including uncles and cousins, but as a new Indian I wanted to handle the thing in a more positive way, plus I know by experience that fighting the process in Singapore will go nowhere. He sent me to the X-Ray room 2, booth 1. I shuffled my way to the other side of the hallway, next door actually, and patiently waited that my name would be called soon.

Ms Kim was still on TV and she was enjoying herself at a very lively dinner with her family and friends. Could not read the subtitles from the back of the room, but I am sure that she was doing fine in her new pinnacle in friendship. The whole family was laughing loud all the 15 minutes of my waiting time.

When my name was finally called, I was surprised that my neighbor also decided to stand up and walked to the X-Ray room. I did not know that I had an old Chinese homonym on the island, and I was ready to engage in a lively tree genealogy discussion with him when he was sent back by the masked lady who was guarding the front door of the X-Ray engine. She probably recognized that he was not Indian, and sent him back to his seat although we had the same name.

On my way to the room, I had to step back for a minute or so and let pass an emergency case. The young man was handcuffed both wrists to his gurney, and had a hard time to sign the large pile of paper he had in front of him. I have to say that the 3 policemen around him did not help to reduce the stress he was experiencing in his will writing. This is not the first time that I see handcuffed people around me in public places on display for prevention and order reinforcement.

In a Tropical Emergency service, you get serviced faster if you are handcuffed.

Anyway, 2 pictures of my right foot later, I was sent back to the waiting area where I started my adventure 1 ½ hour ago. The doctor interrupted Ms Kim in her attempt to talk to her mother about friendship and choice in life. He told me that my foot was fine and I had no fracture. He encouraged me to have some pain killer and a large bandage. I politely refused but he asked again. I refused again, and he asked again. Just before my third time telling him that I did not want any pain killers, I changed my mind and accepted his prescription to avoid another time the same question. Was it the Chinese polite way of saying you have to take some pills or I am not doing my job? Dunno…

He went back to his booth 2 in the room 3, and sent his assistant with my unwanted pills paper. I really wanted to see how I was looking on my X-Ray, and see if my right foot profile was better than my left one. I asked the assistant if I could see my X-Ray picture. So, she asked her boss if I could see the X-Ray, but both of them were extremely confused. That was an unusual question from an Indian-Male-English speaking. Why on earth would someone see an X-Ray?

I backed off, scared to be handcuffed myself and to have to sign the same huge pile of paper the young kid had to sign to see his X-Ray. I limped to the pharmacy for my prescription to be delivered (S$ 1.20) and jumped in the next available taxi (S$ 8.30).



The entire journey took me over 3 hours and I did not had a chance to see my X-Ray, the thing I went to the hospital for in the first place. The worse thing is not that the wooden door was still open when I came back, but I really don‘t know if Ms. Kim, the newly appointed architect, kissed Mr. Jong the previous leading Architect. I would appreciate it if someone could tell me the end of the Chinese soap-opera.

I might go back tomorrow to see the end of the TV show anyway.

15th and last day of the CNY

The day before is generally a full day for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival which is held on the next night.




Rice dumplings and sweet glutinous rice ball brewed in a soup is eaten on this particular day. Candles are lit outside houses to guide rebellious spirits home. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns.

The fifteenth day also traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities. The 15th day marks the first full moon of the Chinese New Year, and is known as Yuan Xiao Jie meaning "first night of the full moon". Another family reunion dinner is held with lanterns and oranges and marks the last dinner party for the Chinese New Year.


Taboos and Superstitions of Chinese New Year



House Cleaning
The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family’s spirits away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door.

Bringing In the New Year and Expelling the Old
Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year. On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows have to be open to allow the old year to go out and the new year to go in.

New Year Activities Set Precendent
All debts had to be paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. Back when tinder and flint were used, no one would lend them on this day or give a light to others. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning. Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word "four" (Ssu) which sounds like the word for death, are not to be uttered. If you cry on New Year's Day you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous. (I would never had get away with that one for sure)

Personal Appearance and Cleanliness
On New Year's Day you are not suppose to wash your hair because it would mean you would have washed away good luck for the New Year. Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year's sets the tone for the rest of the year. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given Lai See, little red envelopes with crisp and new one dollar bills inserted for good fortune.

More New Year Superstitions
For those most superstitious, before leaving the house to call on others, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to leave the home and the direction which is most auspicious to head out. The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-colored birds or swallows. It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room. Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.


While many Chinese people today may not believe in these do's and don'ts, these traditions and customs are still practiced. These traditions and customs are kept because most families realize that it is these very traditions, whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity, the Chinese identity.