Culture Shock - Arriving in singapore

Brah · Post by **Brah** » Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:34 pm

zzm9980 wrote:I wonder if JR8 hates Apple because it is American, or hates Americans because we have Apple.

(Just joking Jr8!)

A wise man once told me that behind every joke is an element of truth

Brah · Post by **Brah** » Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:38 pm

Steve1960 wrote:I know its off topic but man you just reminded me of those glorious trips in Upper Class on Virgin. Given I am a Sinagpore Airlines bitch now I lost my Virgin gold card status last October and cried for a week

Hope you travel a lot, otherwise you could very easily loose your KrisFlyer points, or be forced to pay to maintain them. Wish I put all those miles on Star Alliance like I always did before, I'd still have them.

Never again SIA, you suck.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:23 pm

Brah wrote:
zzm9980 wrote:I wonder if JR8 hates Apple because it is American, or hates Americans because we have Apple.

(Just joking Jr8!)
A wise man once told me that behind every joke is an element of truth

Ain't that the truth. A good joke is finessing, perfectly, the line of truth.

The better I know, the closer I'll let you go before taking offence.

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 9:17 am

JR8 wrote:
Brah wrote:
zzm9980 wrote:I wonder if JR8 hates Apple because it is American, or hates Americans because we have Apple.

(Just joking Jr8!)
A wise man once told me that behind every joke is an element of truth

Ain't that the truth. A good joke is finessing, perfectly, the line of truth.

The better I know, the closer I'll let you go before taking offence.

Well I don't see why you'd take offense. You give Americans shit in other posts but claim you don't hate them, so I give you shit for giving us shit. It's all fair IMO. This is an internet forum. None of it is personal. Even the shit I give squirrel, I get the impression him and I would have a blast having a few drinks at Ipanema or a similar bar.

Steve1960 · Post by **Steve1960** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 9:45 am

Brah wrote: Hope you travel a lot, otherwise you could very easily loose your KrisFlyer points, or be forced to pay to maintain them. Wish I put all those miles on Star Alliance like I always did before, I'd still have them.

Never again SIA, you suck.

Unfortunately yes I do travel a lot. PPS card holder now. I do use my air miles regularly so not much chance of building them up. I had heard SIA are pretty harsh when the travelling reduces or stops.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:02 am

zzm9980 wrote: Well I don't see why you'd take offense. You give Americans shit in other posts but claim you don't hate them, so I give you shit for giving us shit. It's all fair IMO.

You say.

So quote where did I 'give Americans shit'. Was it the rhetorical flourish re: my ex-wife? Was that what got to you (you aren't married to an American are you?).

If you make such an allegation it would seem fair that you at least quote me, in order that I might reply, rather than just scatter-gun it... eh?

p.s. I really object to your use of the term 'hate'. I REALLY like Americans. Is that clear (yet lol)?

ScoobyDoes · Post by **ScoobyDoes** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:47 am

Brah wrote: Hope you travel a lot, otherwise you could very easily loose your KrisFlyer points, or be forced to pay to maintain them. Wish I put all those miles on Star Alliance like I always did before, I'd still have them.

Never again SIA, you suck.

The benefit of *A is that I can fly Thai like this coming Sunday, or Lufthansa next week or Asiana, or Swiss or Turkish (even UA if I'm desperate) paying their lower fares but then do all my redemptions on SQ. How SQ can think their Business Class tickets to Europe should be more expensive than Thai's First Class I have no idea, or nearly double to price of Swiss or Turkish.

SQ get little of the benefit of their high fares, but all of the cost of the KF-miles I've accumulated and spend with them......at a 15% online discount.

SQ need to wake up and smell the, um, hmmm........ok, smoke.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:07 am

ScoobyDoes wrote: The benefit of *A is that I can fly Thai like this coming Sunday, or Lufthansa next week or Asiana, or Swiss or Turkish (even UA if I'm desperate) paying their lower fares but then do all my redemptions on SQ. How SQ can think their Business Class tickets to Europe should be more expensive than Thai's First Class I have no idea, or nearly double to price of Swiss or Turkish.

SQ get little of the benefit of their high fares, but all of the cost of the KF-miles I've accumulated and spend with them......at a 15% online discount.

SQ need to wake up and smell the, um, hmmm........ok, smoke.

I think you have an embedded complacency. Much like when Freddie Laker or indeed Richard Branson took on BA.

SQ are a monopoly and are handicapped with that arrogance, or... lack of self-knowledge.... complacency...

Try Emirates, or Qatar... they're what Virgin was like in the 90's, when an airline really WOWS you... SQ are nothing special at all, compared to other options.

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:49 am

JR8 wrote:
zzm9980 wrote: Well I don't see why you'd take offense. You give Americans shit in other posts but claim you don't hate them, so I give you shit for giving us shit. It's all fair IMO.
You say.

So quote where did I 'give Americans shit'. Was it the rhetorical flourish re: my ex-wife? Was that what got to you (you aren't married to an American are you?).

If you make such an allegation it would seem fair that you at least quote me, in order that I might reply, rather than just scatter-gun it... eh?

p.s. I really object to your use of the term 'hate'. I REALLY like Americans. Is that clear (yet lol)?

'Observations' from your culture shock/observations post, and just numerous small jabs made at Americans or the US in other posts. You don't really need me to point it out do you?

Honestly for someone who is quite frank (which I like you in), you're being really defensive about this. I don't really believe you *hate* Americans (as I alluded to in the joking part), but you do really enjoy trash talking them (and many other groups) and there's nothing wrong with that. Fair enough? But if I call it out, you shouldn't take such offense.

ScoobyDoes · Post by **ScoobyDoes** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 3:07 pm

JR8 wrote: I think you have an embedded complacency. Much like when Freddie Laker or indeed Richard Branson took on BA.

SQ are a monopoly and are handicapped with that arrogance, or... lack of self-knowledge.... complacency...

Try Emirates, or Qatar... they're what Virgin was like in the 90's, when an airline really WOWS you... SQ are nothing special at all, compared to other options.

I'm complacent?

Au Contraire, I fly with a single alliance to benefit from higher luggage allowances and priority availability on the carousel. Within that alliance I have no real preference of which airline to fly and go on routing and/or price.

Whilst Qatar is a good airline I dislike waking up half way through a flight.

Brah · Post by **Brah** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:06 pm

Steve1960 wrote:I had heard SIA are pretty harsh when the travelling reduces or stops.

Harsh? More like Machiavellian. I lost ALL of my points. I never lost Star Alliance points.

But for someone who travels as much as you it shouldn't be an issue. As long as you get to use them.

Brah · Post by **Brah** » Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:14 pm

zzm9980 wrote:
JR8 wrote:
zzm9980 wrote: Well I don't see why you'd take offense. You give Americans shit in other posts but claim you don't hate them, so I give you shit for giving us shit. It's all fair IMO.
You say.

So quote where did I 'give Americans shit'. Was it the rhetorical flourish re: my ex-wife? Was that what got to you (you aren't married to an American are you?).

If you make such an allegation it would seem fair that you at least quote me, in order that I might reply, rather than just scatter-gun it... eh?

p.s. I really object to your use of the term 'hate'. I REALLY like Americans. Is that clear (yet lol)?
'Observations' from your culture shock/observations post, and just numerous small jabs made at Americans or the US in other posts. You don't really need me to point it out do you?

Honestly for someone who is quite frank (which I like you in), you're being really defensive about this. I don't really believe you *hate* Americans (as I alluded to in the joking part), but you do really enjoy trash talking them (and many other groups) and there's nothing wrong with that. Fair enough? But if I call it out, you shouldn't take such offense.

This reminds me of that thread I said I'd start one day which I never did. Intentionally. It's also why I left the forum a couple of times (SMS can corroborate).

It's all very simple really, Americans are generally only divisional amongst themselves, whereas.....

(the word 'generally' effectively absolves any stereotypes)

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Fri, 21 Jun 2013 8:56 am

stiwi wrote: Where would you move? I am not sure where else in Asia you can get cheap food considering civilised conditions? I am also sure that Monaco doesn't offer good value of living for middle class, it is either reach or super reach. Who else can afford having toasted sandwich for S$40? S$4 doesn't sound bad here then.

It is an interesting question. Monaco is a tax-haven, an oasis amongst a continent of high-taxing socialists. SG pitches itself as a corruption-free haven (you pay taxes but a relative oasis > your funds won't get outright thieved).

stiwi wrote: If you are reach you are looking for "safe heaven" to park your money, this is what Singapore became. I visited few showrooms to see new condos development, it is really surprising how well they are selling considering prices and "cooling measures" by government of introducing ABSD (additional buyer stamp duty) of 15% in addition to 3% for foreigners, not to mention high prices of these properties. It looks like for those with money, not much can stop them from investing here whether it is good or not.

ABSD, is a classic sin-tax. They're not trying to stop you, no no, they just want your money, and since 'YOU'RE GUILTY!!!' it's all your fault, your pain is for your own good...

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Fri, 21 Jun 2013 9:33 am

- The government (CNB/MAS) having an article on the front page of the newspaper, that 'Section 419 fraud' is, er, fraud.

-- 'It [CNB] advised members of the public to be wary of messages from unknown people...'
Really, is this the job of government, are the people SO completely stupid?

- A guy standing next to petrol tanker on a garage forecourt using a mobile phone (it used to be banned to use a mobile in a garage at all).

- That 'hub' word again: 'Changi Motorsports Hub'.

- A young girl holds a door open for me (youngsters seem to be very courteous).

- Adverts, that combine a free prize draw.

- Children swimming in spectacles.

- Bilingual newspapers (reminds me of Japanese Tv)

- Full service petrol station. You don't get this in Europe. The petrol-uncles are elderly and *very* short.

- Old men pool-side in Speedos. Yeuuuueeeh....

- 4-5 old men, with 5-8 children in rings and so on (none swimming) randomly dotted around the lap-pool and moving around, making it challenging to swim laps.

- Can't pay at the pump in SG? Hence the queues backed up the road?

- A motorcyclist wearing his rain jacket back-to-front (this is very SGn! )

- A shopping trolley and a safe (locked!) at the condo recycling area!

- Thinking my swimmers were dry, before I put my khakis on top and went to the shops: Only to find after getting home that they obviously weren't, and I must have looked like I wet myself, front and back!

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Fri, 21 Jun 2013 9:41 am

- Seeing an old uncle on a tricycle riding in the fast lane of a dual carriage-way.

-- Then him going through a pedestrian 'cut-through'/divider, to the other side and riding in the slow-lane against the traffic [Having a 'Hey welcome to Asia' moment hehehe]

- Beating the heck out of a huge cockroach, three times, and it was STILL alive an hour later.

- <Thinking> Are there any single lane roads in SG? Even unused little roads here seem to have two lanes each-side...

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Culture Shock - Arriving in singapore

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