An interesting incident

This happened in Florence, Italy when 3 exchange students in Munich made their way to the city's most famous Museum - The Galleria degli Uffizi. First they reached there on Labour Day at 7.30am, thinking they beat the crowd (it was rumoured that you need to queue for at least 3hrs to get in), they happily sat down in front of the door. But how could a musuem that famous be empty 1 hr before opening (opening at 8.15am)? Then they realised that the museum was closed on Labour Day. Tough luck!

The next day, the same 3 students reached the Galleria degli Uffizi at 7.45am, only to end up queuing 3hrs to get into the museum and it was a little boring btw. But an interesting incident happened while the 3 waited for their turn to enter the museum. A japanese lady came up to them and asked them a question.

Japanese: Nihon-ji des ka? (are you japanese?)

Exchange students from Munich: instinctively shook their heads and said, 'Nein' (in german)


What is interesting is that they were all in Italy, the japanese asked a question in Japanese while the students were earlier conversing in Mandarin. The exchange students then looked at each other and wondered why in the hell they answered in german so instinctively.

The spoilt brats of China

Though the One-Child policy in China managed to control the population growth of the country (I hope it did), it has spawned a new problem for its citizens - a generation of spoilt brats. Before I illustrate their doings, I must emphasis that not all of them are spoilt. I personally have chinese friends who did not display such behaviours to the slightest bit and too are irked by the ugly behaviours of their countrymen.


Incident 1

It was part of the orientation programme to visit the Royal Palace in Munich. As a picnic is expected, many brought their own food along. This incident happened between my taiwanese friend and a you know who.

My Taiwanese male friend prepared a sumptuous sandwich meal for himself and another Taiwanese girl in the group. When the chinese girl(about 18 or 19 years old) saw the delicious sandwiches, she approached the guy who was sitting with me.

(Translated from mandarin)
Spoilt girl: Wow, your sandwiches look delicious

Guy: I just made them with whatever I had.

Spoilt girl: Can I have one?

Guy: Sorry, but I only made enough for myself and the other girl.

Spoilt girl: How about you give me yours?

Guy: (gives a awkward smile) Sorry, I can't.

Spoilt girl: (She brought some normal bun from the supermarket) How about I exchange my bun with your sandwich?

Guy: Sorry, but there's not enough.

At this point in time, the spoilt girl was giving a pitiful look hoping for the taiwanese guy to relent while he continues to give an awkward smile. Then she finally relents after a couple of minutes and buy something from the cafe.

Apparently on another trip a week later, she approached the taiwanese guy again to ask for some lettuce, which I have no interest in finding out the details.


Incident 2

It was also part of the orientation that there was a welcome party at a club near one of the dorms. My Singaporean friend bought drinks on behalf of a few of us and apparently the girl from the previous incident was one of them. After 2 cocktails, the girl appears to be drunk and slumps onto a chair outside. As we were also about to leave, we were discussing about some stuff next to them. Then out of nowhere....

Spoilt girl (18 or 19 yrs old): Hello... (Pointing to my friend) hey you!

Singaporean guy (23 or 24 yrs old): yes?

Spoilt girl: (gesturing with her index finger) Come here!

Singaporean guy: (walks over)

Spoilt girl: Here's the money for the drinks just now for me and the other girl. (hands the money and slumps back to her chair)

Singaporean guy: Takes the money and continue talking to me.

Living in Munich

Munich has one of the World's highest standards of living. In fact most western European cities are expensive when compared to places in Asia. But how expensive are things here?

The expensive list (1 euro is approx = S$2)

1. Frozen chicken (whole): 2.19 euros
2. Ice cream with cone/cup: 0.6-1.2 euros/scoop
3. Durian (yes they do sell it here): 15.99 euros / 0.5kg
4. Fresh seafood: from 1.29 euros/100g
5. Watermelon: 1.99 euros/ quarter
6. Transportation: 1.2 euros for 2 stops on the S/U-bahn. Travelling in groups of 5 is most cost saving at 9 euros/day for all 5 people. Ticket for one from airport to city centre will cost 9.20 euros for just 1 trip, again the day ticket makes more sense.

A typical meal(main dish only) here in Munich would set you back by at least 5 euros in cafes, and about 8 euros in restaurants. For the ill-informed, there is NO hawker centres or kopi-tiam here.

Not everything here is expensive, there must still be stuff that is cheaper than anywhere else. Local products are indeed cheaper than imported goods, in fact some can be so cheap, its unbelievable.

The cheap list
1. Potatoes: can go as cheap as 0.99 euros/ 5kg
2. Dairy products: e.g. ice cream (tub): 1.2 euros for 1 liter tub
3. Alcohol products: Beer can go as cheap as 0.5 euros/ 500ml bottle (pfand not included)
4. Mineral water: 0.19 euros/ 1.5L bottle



Some people may lament at the high cost of Eurail passes, but if you have the time, its well-worth to learn about the Deutsche Bahn(DB) system.

The Happy-weekend ticket entitles up to 5 people on unlimited travel for either Saturday/Sunday from 00.00-03.00 the next day throughout Germany by regional trains. (37 euros)

The lander ticket is a state ticket which entitles up to 5 people on unlimited travel on DB, metros and buses within the state for the day by regional trains (weekdays 09.00-03.00, weekends 00.00-06.00 the next day). (28 euros)

My recent trip to Northern Bavaria with 4 other exchange students only cost me 15 euros for transport for 4 days and 5 cities. Some planning in advance and getting to know the DB system will save you a lot of money while in Germany, of course the Eurail passes allows you to take the superfast Inter-City Express trains.

Funeral - English

MCYS' newest commercial... I miss S'pore TV programmes!

The short-lived spring

When I first arrived in Munich on 24 March, it was snowing. Before I left for Spain on 25, it was still snowing in the afternoon.

When I returned from Spain on 2 April, clutching the same thick jacket I was wearing when I left Munich, it was all shiny revealing the arrival of Spring. Leaves started emerging from the buds and flowers started blooming this week.

Yesterday temperature starting soaring past 20 degrees Celcius, the sun was up with no clouds across the sky. It certainly has a hint of Summer that couldn't wait for Spring to be over.

The main difference in weather here is that though its sunny, its still cooling and slightly drier than Singapore. You do not sweat after just walking for 5mins under the sun. The dry weather creates static on the clothing where you can hear the short-circuiting by just running your arms over the blankets. Its a eye-opener at night when the lights are off and it just seemed like lightning has descended upon you.

Stepping into Europe

Arriving in Munich on 24th March, it was snowing and freezing like hell. Condensation could be observed when I left the airport to take the S-bahn (street train). A german approached us if we wanted to share the partner ticket (for up to 5) with him and we did, so the train ride which would have cost us 9euros is now 4euros. Anyway it was a good thing that I made arrangement to Spain where the weather is a lot better, warmer and sunny, at least in Madrid.

Madrid did not get off to a good start with the plane delayed for an hour but the Barajas airport got a magnificent surroundings with mountains and nature. Madrid has very nice streets, cobblestone and the houses that lined these streets all have balcony, those little ones. I like their metro (MRT) system which is similar to Singapore's but a lot more extensive and also need to walk more to change to connecting trains. Interestingly there's 2 types of train doors, 1) all doors open at the station, 2) press a button/lift a lever to open individual doors.

30mins away by train brings you to a very different town of Segovia. Its main attractions are the Roman Aquaduct, Sant Maria Cathedral and the Alcazar fortress.
More details later, I'm in Barcelona now and its very different from Madrid. Adios!

I will complain you!

It always amazes me how people in general, not particularly Singaporeans (I believe such people exist everywhere) like to look at things from just their point of view. People like to complain at anything and everything that did not turn out to favour them. People now regards convenience as an entitlement and demands it. People have failed to recognise that maybe convenience should be more of a personal previlege than an entitlement conferred. This way when things go wrong, people are less likely to feel anger and disppointment.

It is also human nature to blame others first than themselves, these people failed to look at things from the perspective of others. Thoughts of 'They could have done this, or why don't they do that instead?' always surface in their mind but they never go deeper on the possible chain effect or put themselves in the shoes of the other party.

Crowded buses and trains are the common grouses these days, tons of people complain about them. Their suggestion? Get more buses lah. This does seemed to be the most straightforward solution but not many actually delve deeper than just purely getting more buses.

There are at least 300 bus services in Singapore, assuming half of them are always crowded during peak hours and we increase the fleet of these services by just 1 bus each and we will already get at least 150 more buses. Question is, does it really end here?

1) Where do we park these 150 more buses if the interchanges and depot are already at close to max capacity?
Of course if they had sound planning in the first place they would have already considered the option of getting more buses thus would already have plans for that.

2) Who will drive and maintain these buses?
Since its recession now, many people are out of jobs so now there's 150 more jobs? Would you go be a bus captain after you're retrenched? I am not saying its not a decent job but it is a fact that not many people want to do it (long hours, low pay, etc). Same goes for automotive technicians.

3) Who is going to pay for these buses?
New buses cost S$360,000- S$500,000 each, equating to S$54m- S$75m needed to acquire the 150 new buses, not inclusive of spare parts, additional staff and support needed, as well as fuel. Shareholders definitely would not want to bear that costs since it will cost their dividends. The government would not want to bear that cost either where the taxpayers' complaint letters almost drowned them when the GST was increased to 7%.

4) With more buses, do we even have enough roads for every vehicles?
Bus passengers: Build more roads lor.
Government: No land leh.
Bus passengers: More bus lanes lor.
Car drivers: Cause more jam leh.

As you can see, there is no way to satifsy everyone, it is a vicious cycle that never ends. I just want to bring the point that everyone should take things easy and be content.




I also would like to share a rather interesting conversation I overheard (I didn't mean to, he was way too loud) on the way home.

Guy: I was late for work today

Girl: How come?

Guy: I took bus A and reached the bus stop to change to bus B. When I alighted, I saw bus B in front and ran, trying to catch the bus. When I reached the door, before I could knock on the bus door, the bus just left the bay. F**k! (Expletives included in actual conversation)

Guy: I don't care, I am going to write to SBS and demand an explanation why the bus just drove off and did not wait for me.

Girl: Were you late?

Guy: I was at the bus stop on time...

Girl: I meant if you were late for work

Guy: I had to wait for the next bus which came at 9am.


Firstly, buses are never on time, they do have a guide as to what time they are supposed to be at each bus stop but as the name suggests it is just a guide. Even MRTs which have their own tracks are not always on time. Secondly, if you expect such exclusive service, public transport is definitely not recommended. Again as the name suggests, it is for the general public so it has no obligations to wait for you. Thirdly, not everything in this world revolves around you, people must learn to take things easily and no complain at the slightest issue. Wake up to the real world dude, maybe wake up early to catch that bus of yours as well!