I've just returned from a holiday in Singapore, my birthplace. The place ive lived in for the 1st 21 years of my life. Returning home each time always brings a nostalgia of the happy/sad memories of the past. Ive always been excited going home, looking forward to the stylish fashions, cheap buys Id be able to get each time and defn going back to melb with a few more bags than Id come with. The previous trip I made to Singapore was Dec last year, only a short 6 months before. However, I was rudely taken into the reality of Singapore's changing culture once I stepped off the plane.. My close friend Joanne had alr warned me prior to my trip, but to see it in person was a rude awakening. Singapore reminds me of HK now, not in the mad shopping or crowded streets at 12midnite but it's the craze of branded items that shocked me. Literally everywhere I turn, I see branded bags carried by teenages, professionals, moms, grandmas.. The rampant brands include LV, Gucci, Coach, with Burberrys, Prada, Kate Spade in the running.. I wondered if the friends around me had conformed to the pattern of this world.. (Rom12:2) Then I wondered 'would I conform if I lived here?' Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!! I refuse to conform!!!!!!!!!!!
No doubt the weakness of most ladies are bags, shoes, clothes. Though my heart is willing, the spirit is weak.. Thankfully tho, I realised I had not changed any currency and had to depend on my savings in POSB to cover my stay here :. No $$ to buy branded stuff!
Ok back to the point. I discussed this issue with my friend Tina who had just come back for a holiday fr London and she felt the same. Tina said 'They've prob moved with the changing culture and we've just not moved yet.' True, after spending 5 yrs in Melbourne - a place where the most common brand is Guess, I realised that prob its my thinking needing abit of adjustment. Come to think of it, when a country's society improves, they naturally go after the 'better' things in life aka Brands, fine dining etc.. So maybe its a good thing..hmmm
The dining in SIngapore is comparable to Melbourne's pricing now. However, for the same price, you'd prob get only half the size of the meal in Singapore. Thats what makes the difference. In Melb, the food portions are so huge, 2 pple can possibly share. In Singapore, you pay heaps and get peanuts. What logic?? And this is happening at most food chains. Even the food court prices have increased by about 20%! I guess the cheap n nice food still needs to be found at your local hawker center/kopitiam..
So this trip to Singapore proved not as fruitful as expected. Nevertheless I found a real yummy and cheap fishball noodle stall just opp my house which I ate at almost everyday.. really miss it now..
No doubt the weakness of most ladies are bags, shoes, clothes. Though my heart is willing, the spirit is weak.. Thankfully tho, I realised I had not changed any currency and had to depend on my savings in POSB to cover my stay here :. No $$ to buy branded stuff!
Ok back to the point. I discussed this issue with my friend Tina who had just come back for a holiday fr London and she felt the same. Tina said 'They've prob moved with the changing culture and we've just not moved yet.' True, after spending 5 yrs in Melbourne - a place where the most common brand is Guess, I realised that prob its my thinking needing abit of adjustment. Come to think of it, when a country's society improves, they naturally go after the 'better' things in life aka Brands, fine dining etc.. So maybe its a good thing..hmmm
The dining in SIngapore is comparable to Melbourne's pricing now. However, for the same price, you'd prob get only half the size of the meal in Singapore. Thats what makes the difference. In Melb, the food portions are so huge, 2 pple can possibly share. In Singapore, you pay heaps and get peanuts. What logic?? And this is happening at most food chains. Even the food court prices have increased by about 20%! I guess the cheap n nice food still needs to be found at your local hawker center/kopitiam..
So this trip to Singapore proved not as fruitful as expected. Nevertheless I found a real yummy and cheap fishball noodle stall just opp my house which I ate at almost everyday.. really miss it now..
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