Controversial! hahaa .. It is hard to draw a balance. The higher education they get, the higher expectations society has on them. Don't blame them for being opinionated, out spoken or always in heavy makeup ha! Are they? hrmm .. C'mmon, they just wanted to look good. Who doesnt? More guy patronized spas and facial treatment nowadays. Do you know that some of them own a "grooming pouch" in their briefcase?? .

 

I agree on the prawn peeling part. It is silly to do it out to show who's the boss. Anyway, it didn't concern me much as I don't eat prawn. If my "other half" wants to, D.I.Y. pls.  My hands are busy holding the chopsticks and rice bowl.

 

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Singapore women fierce, so what? by Sumiko Tan

Singapore women are too argumentative, say some Singapore men. So would there be fewer single women if we were more gentle and accommodating?

'I'M so tired of Singapore women,' a male friend lamented the other day.

'Why can't they stop arguing? And must they always ask so many questions?'

The way he sees it, Singapore women - especially those who are well educated - have become 'hard'.

They should learn to be more feminine, more accommodating and, yes, less career-driven, he said. If they are career-minded, they should choose mates who are not, so that the men can play house-husbands. But then, career women obviously don't want losers.

'Two highly stressed spouses can't add up to a peaceful home, with children well brought up,' he said.

My friend is a Singaporean in his early 50s. Although he has had his fair share of girlfriends - mostly Singaporean - he has never married.

Recently, he began dating women from China. Clearly, they have made a big, and positive, impression on him.

One, in particular, is not only young, but also 'stunning', gentle-mannered and plays a mean guzheng.

She can not only read the Chinese calligraphy scrolls in his apartment, but also provide the context and stories behind the poems, whereas we Singapore girls burst into giggles trying to decipher the scrawls. And she's not a university graduate.

Women from Malaysia, especially those from Sabah and Sarawak, my friend observed, also out-score Singapore women in the feminine/gentleness stakes.

They are also content to be housewives, tending to the kids while their Singaporean husbands work. And when the men come home, these women will not bombard them with 101 questions about their day.

He is not the only Singapore male to make this observation.

Recently, Xiewen, who writes the fortnightly He*Mail column in Life!, spoke of 'very attractive Malaysian girls' who would 'hold their partners' arms over dinner and feed them. And look so totally contented'.

He also related how a friend had this to say of Singapore and Chinese women: 'Singapore women are no match for their Chinese counterparts because the latter know how to be feminine without being fawningly subservient, do take care of their male friends' feelings and are not out to put them down as if they need to prove something.

'A Chinese girlfriend will, without asking, peel prawns for you at dinner without even being self-conscious about it. She will not regard it as lowering herself, or pandering to the male chauvinist ego.'

And, these men insist, these foreign women are not putting on an act to entrap Singapore men for their money.

The columnist spoke of attractive, financially independent, professional Malaysian, Filipino and Japanese women who know how to pamper their Singaporean male friends.

The column triggered a response from a Singapore male reader who wrote in to Life! Complaining about how 'local women don't cut it'.

He even gave his rating of women in Asia: 'Malaysian gals are friendly and down-to-earth. Thai gals have grace and are charming and caring. Filipino gals have talent and are devoted. Indonesian gals are also charming and musically talented. Japanese gals have grace and spunk. Vietnamese gals are also graceful and devoted.

'And Singapore gals? Only look good on the outside because they'd use a tonne of make-up which gets washed off in the rain.'

Well, well, well.

I HAVEN'T had much dealings with women from other Asian countries, and so I wouldn't dare pass judgement on them.

But, yes, the Singapore woman - especially if she is better educated - is a confident and assertive creature.

She is pragmatic and, hence, materialistic. (Money talks, right? Both Singapore women and men know that).

She is articulate (well, more so than the Singapore man) and will fight to defend herself and her loved ones.

She goes out to work and tries to excel in her career because (a) it is expected of her; and (b) the money she brings home makes life easier, for herself and those she loves.

She is frank and has no time for mind games, making her, in fact, naive at times. There is little pretence and guile. What you see is what you get.

She is also a product shaped by her society.

Singapore is small, cosmopolitan and competitive. There are no fields or farms where uneducated women are relegated to toil in.

Instead, much stress is placed on education - for both sexes - because every pair of hands counts in the urban workplace.

In school, girls are encouraged to go all out and compete with boys (think Raffles Girls School vs Raffles Institution). There is open competition, and open ranking.

When they go out to work, women are judged by the same standards as men. In fact, one of Singapore's earliest female role models is Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, the wife of the Senior Minister, who has proven to be a successful lawyer.

And because homes and cars are so expensive, women have to work - and work hard - if they (and their husbands and families when they get married) want to enjoy the finer things in life.

Can you blame us, then, if we tend to be businesslike and are uncomfortable with displaying more feminine traits like flirting, or feminine skills like prawn peeling?

I, for one, can't see myself peeling prawns for anyone at a public meal, except perhaps my niece, who's small and helpless.

I mean, why does a man need a woman to do that for him if he can do it himself? Unless he is out to prove to others around him that he has control over her, that she is 'his woman'?

And why would a woman want to peel prawns for an able-bodied man unless she wants to make a show that he belongs to her?

Either way, the mind games being played here turn me off.

It's another matter if the prawn-peeling is done in the privacy of the home, of course, for couples do share all kinds of intimate displays of affection, be it the woman putting on the man's socks or the man fetching her a cup of tea or the newspaper.

So, yes, the Singapore woman may not be the most charming and flirtatious of women, and she may not always make her man feel good.

Still, if you think about it, Singapore women show they care for their men by going out to work and helping to bring home the bacon, and often a large slice of it, too.

And when they are upfront about their feelings, they are actually showing respect for their men, for they are being honest. They are not treating men as idiots by trying to fool them through saying one thing and meaning another.

Now, if this isn't good enough for Singapore men, can you blame some Singapore women for turning to foreign men who can appreciate them for what they are?

 

I love this song because in my opinion, contains many positive elements. I may portrayed to the world as comformist but in actual fact, I have a rebellious soul! hahaha ... Yea, I'll spread my wings and learn how to fly, do what it takes till I touch the sky. I make a wish and take a chance. Even to make a change so that I can breakaway. Breakaway from what? Breakaway from my ignorance, many illogical society norms and unreasonable expectations. Of cos, during the process, I'll never forget all the ones that I love and respect.

 

So, take a risk, take a chance, make a change and breakaway!! :) The media player is playing the song. Come, sing with me!

 

Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson

 

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I'd pray
I could break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky.
Make a wish, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But I won't forget all the ones that I love.
I'll take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jetplane
Far away
And break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky.
Make a wish, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But i won't forget all the ones that I love
I gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging with revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep movin on movin on
Fly away
Break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But I won't forget the place i come from
I gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away
Breakaway
Break away

 

I got tagged by George (http://george.med97um.net/) for this "meme" thingie which required me to list "5 things you didn't know about me". Of cos, those of you who know me, you'll know most of the thing I listed here.

 

I'm a Malaysian woman (I tempted to call myself a "girl", but come to think about it. I'm 30+ yrs old now, so "woman" is a better fit for me! ). I spent most of my adult life in Singapore and 2 years in South Africa. 

 

I dumped my first love at age 20. He was a fine and rich young man who ferry-ed me around in Mercedes. Well, life is larger than this, I need to see the "real" world! :P

 

 

Mom is in town and we planned a family dinner on last Sat. Sis suggested a nice place for dinner. The place called Sembawang Eating House (Seafood Restaurant) situated at Bottle Tree Village. The place was featured in the local varieties programme at national tv as a place you must visit if you're in Singapore.

 

Well, I heard them - showcasing how unique the place is and I looked forward the evening. Okay, we traveled about 20-30mins by cab. Any WOW effect? No, not at all. Nothing really special except the small road linking to the place. Along this small road, it surrounded by lush greenery, ermm .. to me it looks like a mini jungle. The taxi uncle got worried when he saw where we heading to. He has no idea about the place. The place is incredibly remote. Traveling along this small road is just not so Singapore. When you get used with the 'concretes' life in the city, you don't anticipate to see any green green mini jungle somewhere somehow ..

 

Okay, I took the opportunity to walk around the place. From far, I can see the Johor Straits. We've some seafood, soup, beancurd and vegetables. Now, here the twist. Suddenly, I've stomach upset and don't feel quite well.  I've this habit. I don't poo at public toilet if I can help it. But this time, I can't control! I stormed into the restaurant toilet and had a brutal battle with "Diarrhea".  I passed out so much water! I thought I'm going to faint in the toilet. I didn't suspect the food until my mom and sis got it. What an experience. I never know real diarrhea feel like this. Luckily, we're ok the next day. The more I think about it, more angry I got. As a result, I wrote a complaint letter to the restaurant on Sunday.

 

If you asked me now what I think about the place, here is what I've to say :

 

1.   The place is overly publized, the trees are great but not the restaurant

2.   You can get such dining experience (by the beach) and food anywhere in Singapore, so I don't need to travel

      all the way there. 20-30mins traveling time with cab fare of S$15/trip

3.   Not value for money in terms of food and service. Overall, the meal cost us about S$200

 

Note : All of above still acceptable if the meal don't give me bad diarrhea.

 

In conclusion, it was my first and will be my last to go there. I'm extremely upset over this incident.  It is not my intention using this channel to bad mouth them but merely trying to relate my fateful experience. The place maybe a good place for you to visit but after what had happened to me, I'm through with them -period-

 

If you want to know what I'm talking about, you can find out more by clicking this link : http://www.can.com.sg/content/neocan/en/archive/spotlight/sembawang/message_in_a_bottle/the_bottle_tree_village.html

 

Awesome view. I've not check the authenticity of the pictures, but I'm sure the guy who took the pics is the luckiest guy on earth. It is just so hard to spot a full blown rainbow. Enjoy! :) 

 

 

 

 

 

With a blink of eyes, a year has passed. Indeed, time waits no one. I spent my time with mom at home. Nothing much, usual chat. Ermm .. I've not exactly have think about what I wanna do and achieve in 2007. The apparent objective is to complete studies and do little bit of traveling! Ohhhhh .. I'm turning 31 this year! scary..  ..geezz, can I stop the earth for not turning so fast? I got a "life" to catch! haha

 

May your burdens be a little lighter, your health a little pink-ier, your pockets a littler heavier, your smile a little wider and achievements a lot higher. Happy New Year, frens!!!

 

Cheerios...