Squareface @ 31°North

SINGAPORE

LAWS: 1. Male homosexual sex is illegal, and can be punished by life in 

         prison, lesbian sex is legal in private.

      2. Visual representation of homosexual acts are banned, and so are 

         materials that portray homosexuality as a legitimate and acceptable 

         lifestyle. 

      3. The Ministry of Defence does not admit self-acknowledged gay men 

         into the military, but they have to serve the army in the capacity

         of administrative or logistical clerks when serving their two and a 

         half-year compulsory military service.

NOTE: 1. Singapore’s Registrar of Societies refused to register the gay 

         organization People Like Us on March 31, 2004 and ordered its members 

         to cease activity. The agency said registering the group would violate 

         the Societies Act’s ban on organizations that are “likely to be used 

         for unlawful purposes or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, 

         welfare or good order in Singapore” and its ban on organizations that 

         are “contrary to the national interest.” People Like Us said it would 

         launch an appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs. However, on April 7, 

         2004, the ministry suggested that would be pointless. “As the mainstream 

         moral values of Singaporeans are conservative, it is hence contrary to 

         public interest to grant legitimacy to the promotion of homosexual 

         activities and viewpoints,” the ministry said in response to a press 

         inquiry. For the time being, People Like Us has halted activity, but a 

         spokesman said the organization’s more than 1,000 members will continue 

         to advocate for gay rights individually.

      2. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, is anti-gay.

Homosexual Rights Around The World

So, in light of the proposal to outlaw lesbianism and the stir it has caused in the GLBT community in Singapore, I think many citizens will depopulate the country should the Lee Administration give the go-ahead to NCSS.

Here’s more reason to staying away from the place where big brothers dictate and impose their bigoted ideas on you:

http://www.methodistmessage.com/mar2007/penalcode

Homosexual
lifestyle:
NCCS
commends
Govt on taking
bold stand (b) The Explanatory Notes to the Proposed Amendments issued by the MHA state that “The Public Prosecutor is aware that some offenders are of low IQ or mentally deficient. They take this into account in deciding whether or not to charge the offender.” This approach by the Public Prosecutor demonstrates compassion towards low IQ offenders and the NCCS commends the same. The question is whether, given the variety of conditions that exist within the spectrum of mental illness, the statutory general exception for unsoundness of mind (section 84 PC) should be amended substantively to reflect the same. This contrasts with the present approach of leaving the same for prosecutorial discretion.


(c) We are aware that the proposed amendment to delete section 377 PC but on the other hand retaining section 377A PC may be controversial in some quarters. Nevertheless, we consider homosexual acts to be sinful, abhorrent and deviant, whether consensual or not. The NCCS commends the Government on taking a clear, unequivocal and bold stand of neither encouraging nor endorsing a homosexual lifestyle and opposing the presentation of the same as part of a mainstream way of life. At the same time, we do not condemn homosexuals as the Bible calls us to hate the sin but love the sinner. Given that section 377A PC criminalises homosexuality whether done private or publicly, we are of the view that a similar prohibition ought to be enacted in respect of lesbianism, considering that lesbianism (like homosexuality) is also abhorrent and deviant, whether consensual or not.’

5th George Bernard Shaw Essay Competition

Some pictures of 朱家角 (Zhujiajiao).

Tucked away on no. 663 Hong Qiao Road (虹桥路), this restaurant was reviewed by a Hong Kong gourmet as having the best 小龙包 (xiaolongbao, steamed dumplings) in Shanghai. I disagree, but this restaurant does indeed serve delectable dishes, and contains no MSG. My mom’s friend introduced her to this restaurant because apparently she recommended the boss to add more ginger to the soup for the 汤圆 (tangyuan, glutinous rice balls in ginger soup) and it was implemented. My parents and I went there after the usual lunch hour, but after calling the boss, he was willing to stay back and open the restaurant just for us (without knowing who we were nor where we’re from)!

醉鸡 (Drunken chicken)

脆皮素鹅 (Crispy bean curd) 18元/例

糖醋小排 (Sweet & Sour Spare Ribs) 28元/例

哆来咪 (Do-re-mee)

南翔小龙包 (Nanxiang steamed small buns with pork filling) 9元/10只
蟹粉小龙  (Steamed small buns with crab powder) 48元/10只

荔芋香酥鸭 (Crispy duck with taro/lychee flavour) 38/半只

生煸草头 (Stir-fried spring sprouts) 18元/例

With a very hospitable boss so willing to serve you, the journey and the price (very reasonable) is well worth it. I just wish he was paying me to post this.

Getting there: Take Metro Line 3 to 虹桥路 Station, and you’ll be able to reach the restaurant within 8 minutes.

It is quiet in my apartment. And very cold. My parents, after 9 days in Shanghai with me, have departed for home. Gone with them are their everyday grouse about the weather, the handy help cleaning around the house, and the company.

My apartment!

Oriental Pearl Tower on a cloudy day

We took a ride on Shanghai’s Maglev train, from Pudong International Airport to Pudong’s Long Yang Station. It costs 50RMB per person (40RMB if you have the same day’s boarding pass). The journey only takes about 7 minutes, and goes up to a speed of 430km/h. Although the wind produced a loud noise, it felt like we were in a flying capsule, so it was a really good experience.

We went on to patronize the new Xiang Yang place at 上海科技馆 Metro Station, Xinyang.

Instead of walking along tents and being subjected to weather conditions, the new Xiang Yang place now works like a shopping mall, just that prices are negotiable, and you’d better jolly well negotiate.

Here’s my mom trying out a pair of pants. This is a common sight. Since they haven’t got space for fitting rooms, they create a mobile temporary one as and when necessary.

My mom signed up for the Accor card, so she gets great discounts at Accor hotels. Near the new Xiang Yang place was Sofitel, so we had dinner there.

We dined in a private room of a Japanese restaurant with a great view of Pudong. The location worked well for the 15th day of the Spring Festival, for there were fireworks everywhere from 6pm till about 10pm. I’ve always enjoyed watching fireworks (especially fireworks festivals and Singapore’s NDP’s), but hearing it for 4 hours in the restaurant and back in my apartment compelled me to treat it as a nuisance. Firecrackers were also lit since the start of the day, everywhere.

The food was really good! We were the only customers though.

I discovered this place one day on the way home from 七浦 (qipu, a street of price-negotiable shopping malls, better than Xiang Yang or the new Xiang Yang for that matter in my opinion). Stepping in, you will find a long alley of stalls selling handphone or accessories and various electronic appliances. Behind this area is also the best place to purchase 2nd hand laptops. To get there, get down at 宝山 (baoshan) Metro Station and it won’t take you more than 5 minutes to walk there.

My mom brought 2 of my cousins’ old walkmans to repair, but when I asked the staff at the various audio appliances repair shops, they exclaimed that nobody repairs/uses these things nowadays. So think twice before saying (the whole of) China is backward.

My parents on Nanjing Pedestrian Street. We ate at Nanjing Road’s Sofitel hotel’s Mosaic Restaurant. Splendid selection of food. I had a wonderful dinner.

Chocolate fondue

Perhaps even better than 七浦(qipu), for custom-made clothes, head to 陆家浜(Lujiabang), and remember to bring either the pattern of what you want, a sample, or at least a very clear idea in your head!

These dressmakers really make anything, according to your requests, mostly good workmanship, and at reasonable rates. I ordered jeans!

You can tell, from one look, they are foreigners. If you’re a person with keener observation, I’m sure you can guess that they’re Singaporeans.

We went to 城隍庙(Chenghuangmiao) because my dad called this girl my parents once bought numerous bags from when her stall was in Xiang Yang market, and she informed him that she was selling “high-end” stuff at 城隍庙. I have been wanting to check out these kinda illegal stores, and was delighted at what I discovered! Previously, at Xiang Yang market, I never dared to follow people into their “warehouses” for fear of being kidnapped or robbed. But this opportunity was an eye-opener! Basically the interior looks like a shop, as you see above.

But the goods are actually showcased in one of these old houses.

The shop keepers have to keep watching out for the cops.

城隍庙, with an array of lanterns from the Spring Festival celebrations.

My parents and I went for a good massage session.

We also had a sumptuous lunch, and went 朱家角 (ZhuJiaJiao).

Check this out!

A parody on The Importance of Being Earnest’s Lady Bracknell and Hamlet’s Hamlet

It really captures the essence of the 2 characters. Those who are familiar with the characters will be able to appreciate it effectively.

I still advocate that people who know how to eat generally live a happier life than those who force themselves to suppress their satiety, such as people on a diet when they don’t need one. Of course, everything should be taken in moderation, but an occasional splurge can be very delightful. Lucky are those whose bodies have well-functioning mechanisms to break down what should not be accumulated, whilst people like me shall have to work at eating balanced meals from now on.

Day 1:

At Chomp Chomp, Serangoon Gardens:

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Day 2:

At Xian De Lai Shanghai Cuisine — All-you-can-eat Buffet (S$18+/pax), Liang Seah Street:

The eaters. (Yes I’m wearing a skirt. And I can’t believe my hair is square too.)

At Uzumaki, Bugis Junction:

A toast to the capacity of our stomachs!

Day 3:

At The Roti Prata House, Thomson Road:

From top, left to right: Teh Chino, Milo Dinosaur, Mushroom & Cheese Prata, Chicken Murtabuk, Paper Prata, Chicken Bryani 

Guess who really needs to go on a diet now?

Executive Language Training is a language school providing English and foreign business language training. Their language courses are customized to your learning style and professional goals. They promote themselves as providing “accent reduction” training, but I wonder what that actually means. How do you have no accent at all? Or are they trying to imply that accents like the Chinese or Indian accents should be abolished? Or are they trying to say that they don’t advocate the use of British/American/Australian accents?

Nevertheless, I do think most people in Singapore need training when it comes to speaking professionally to clients, so perhaps their Business English is worth a look at.

When they say they offer “foreign business language training”, do they mean language training for foreign business dealings, or foreign language training for business purposes? *shrugs* Maybe their copywriter for this advertisement was playing on words to make you want to check out for yourself what they were trying to express, or perhaps the play on words was to show you how important it is to do so!

Although it’s the 4th time that I’m leaving home for Shanghai after settling in comfortably for at least a month, the attachment remains strong. I’ll be missing plenty here: my family, who will always be there; friends who are willing to stick it out at a flea market stall; friends who are willing to explore Pulau Ubin together; friends who make the effort to meet up every single time that I’m back; friends whom I can goof around with at Swissotel; friends whom I can chat with till the wee hours in the morning with Kickapoo and Sampoerna at a coffee shop, talking about diversity in people and inter-personal relationships; friends who can really eat; and of course, a lover who loves with all her heart.

The rain pattering gently on the grounds of Singapore seemingly manifests what I have to suppress.