Singapore has a world class transport system – I agree

I really can’t understand why people in Singapore keep complaining about their transportation system. Even after Singapore won the international award.

I mean, true, I sometimes complain too. Why does it take so long for the bus to come? Why does the bus driver drive so uncomfortably? But really, my complains haven’t got that far that I don’t agree why Singapore really deserves to win the award.

I think the people in Singapore (who are constantly nagging and complaining.. See this website for more info and proof) are just too used to the comfort and the good facilities that they have grown used to it, and consider them as an ordinary feature.

What are these ordinary features?
First, knowing where to go, on a particular bus.
Every bus has a route. The route is pasted somewhere in the bus stop and even when they don’t have it, you can always buy the book that lists all the bus routes. I have one. And it’s been extremely useful.

Now you’re thinking how the hell buses or trains don’t have an exact route. Well, it happens. In Jakarta (I know it’s not fair to compare it just to Jakarta but I’m sure it’s one of the worst transport system in the world), there are many buses. Like, many. Apart from the government’s buses, there are plenty of private buses and angkots (angkutan kota-city transport), plus many private cars that are “rented” by the owners to be an angkot to get some extra money.

And well… They don’t have the route information. Well some do have but no exact stops. So yeah, you don’t know where it stops. Oh well. They stop everywhere anyway. Yes that’s true. Everyone stops everywhere. Even when there’s no bus stop. Simply shout to the driver that you want to stop and it will stop. Simply flag everywhere to get a bus and the bus will stop to pick you up. Nice? Well, messy at the same time.

I have a true story if you want proof that it is indeed messy. My cousin, whose university is at Banten (another province, just slightly at the west of Jakarta), took a bus intending to go home (her house is at West Jakarta). Lo and behold.. She ended up in Blok M, which is at South Jakarta. And Jakarta is big, you know. Bigger than Singapore. Eventually we gotta send a driver to pick my poor cousin up.

The second thing. The comfort inside buses/trains.

Admit it, it IS comfortable. Well except when you have to stand. I know. But at least you have a place to stand. You won’t be like those ones..

Sitting on the ROOF of the train. Yeah there have been cases of dead people.

And..
There are no distractions in the buses/trains. (except that stupid tv mobile with equally stupid tv series. seriously???)
Some of the things you can encounter in buses/trains in Jakarta (or Indonesia)…

This is pengamen. Or street singer? More like bus/train singer.
Well, sometimes they sing nicely though. I once encounter a couple of pengamens that sang “Paint My Love” by Michael Learns to Rock.

Some others..

This is pedagang asongan. They are basically people that sell little and petty things like cigarettes, candies, and stuff. Yes you will encounter them in buses, asking you whether you want to buy. Tell me how you’ll feel if you have such people in Singapore’s buses and trains.

The point is.. Those good things have been used a lot that you (yes you naggers and complainers) think that it’s considered to be an ordinary feature.

Singapore does have a good transport system. Stop complaining.

Late Post =P Yebber 1st Anniversary Bash

The reason why I posted this late is because I don’t have any camera (will somebody donate?) and I don’t have any interesting photos to be shared. So I waited ’til ppl upload their photos so I can “steal” them conveniently =P

Rinaz, Jean, and Claudia plus some people at Yebber, I hope you guys don’t mind me putting your pictures here. Your watermarks are kept intact!

ANd sooo…

I came to the bash after got specially invited by Claudia. It was a VVIP invitation, ok! *winks*

Here’s my photo with my name tag… “Sylvia aka Sylvdoanx”

Thx for the photo Rinaz! Damn chio!

Here’s my photo with Rinaz..

My fake Bottega Veneta bag is nice hor? My mother bought it for me from China. Hahaha!

And here’s one with the ever-so-popular Chillycraps..

Before anything starts.. There was a video presentation. And here’s the photo of the audience. (yes I only pick photos with me inside =P)

He was using Lessig Method of presentation! Meaning, each and every slides have only limited or even just one word/picture/anything. Hehehe. Yes I know the Lessig Method of presentation. In case you don’t know.. Lawrence Lessig is the founder of Creative Commons!

And after that.. The moment we’ve been waiting for.. Food!!!

The food is so yummeh. It’s a sad fact that I don’t really like seafood and/or vegetables. (I didn’t eat the salad and only took a small amount of the crabmeat linguini) No worries though. The chicken parmesan was yummeh I even took 2nd helping! HOhohoho!

After that was game time! It was bingo!

I’m sitting beside Daniel CerVentus who put his food on the floor, claiming that food tastes better after picked up from floor. LOL.

I didn’t win though. I was so close! 2 more numbers!! Grrrrr…

But it didn’t really matter coz after that there was a lucky draw!

This is Creative Zen Stone plus..

And….
Yeah, you’ve guessed it.

I WON!!!!

Mwahahaha. Didn’t think I would be so lucky. I’m usually very unlucky in lucky draws or something like that. Sigh. But I won!! Hahaha. I already have an iPod Nano though. So I’m gonna give it to my sister. (My sister’s reply in sms : “How come you’re so lucky??”)

All in all, I really had fun! Thx to Yebber (especially Claudia for the invitation!)! looking forward for next events =)

Coldddddddddddd

OMG. I’ve never experienced Singapore THIS COLD. It’s just simply sooooo cold. Too cold. The rain was pouring from morning ’til night. I can still see wet pavements. Channel News Asia said it’s because of La Nina. Oh well. This “little girl” surely is no little.

I usually complain about Singapore being too hot (“Singapore with trees is hotter than Jakarta without trees!” I said).

Okay I gotta end this post and curl in bed. It’s just too freaking cold.

Blogged?

Somebody (I suppose) had submitted my blog to this website called blogged. Here’s the link to my page.

Well, since I’m shameless and all that, here’s the rating from them (supposedly from a qualified editors, they say).

Oh well. Thank’s for submitting my blog. Appreciate it.

On a side note, in case you don’t know it, the domain sylviagiacinta.com is owned by me and will redirect to this glorious blog.

7 weird things about me

I got tagged by Joycie~ And I think this is like the third meme that exposes my weird things. Or is it fourth? Hmm.. i don’t know.. I really can’t think about any more weird things about me.. Let me try..

Basically, I have weird “rituals” and “categorization”.
First off. I have my own rules for things to be put in my pockets (pants’ pockets). They are : handphone in left front pocket, my SMU card dangling in right front pocket, and EZ-Link card+cashcard+Kopitiam card in right back pocket. Sometimes I slip some money in the right back pocket also, along with coins that were used for change. The left back pocket is usually empty since I always carry my bag on my left shoulder (my right shoulder has a problem) thus disabling me to put/take anything from my left back pocket. This “categorization” is the reason why I always get confused when I’m wearing something without pockets, e.g. skirts.

I still buy CDs. And sometimes I have a desire to buy original DVDs (never happened). Of course it’s weird regarding the fact I used to live in Indonesia. Well… If you catch what I mean =P

I play piano with my mind wandering. Sometimes. And I still play. At least my fingers do.
Yes.. My fingers have soul… They are scary…. Wheeeeeezzzzzz (dunno how to make/type a spooky sound)

I can’t speak Mandarin fluently nor read/write Mandarin flawlessly
Of course it’s weird considering I’m of Chinese heritage.. Sigh..
But I can assure you my Indonesian is excellent =P

I like drinking orange juice but I dislike eating oranges
Basically I dislike eating food that requires peeling/spitting out the seeds/making hands dirty+sticky. There’s a reason why spoon/fork/knife was invented. Or why an occupation like chef was invented. Like helloooooo?

Ok. 2 more.. What else.. Let me think…

I have good memory and have troubles “deleting” those unnecessary memories.
I still remember my elementary school’s lessons. Like the history of Indonesia. Or the Moral subject (ew). I still remember my father’s first handphone number. I remember all the license plate numbers of the cars my family used to have. Like WTF, rite? I wish I can “clean up” those memories and replace them with some more worthy ones. Like people’s credit card numbers? *rolls eyes*

Oh that makes the seventh thing..
I remember people’s names, not faces.
Well so to say, don’t be offended if I don’t remember you while seeing your face. I’m quite a shy girl and sometimes I don’t look up/directly when talking with people I don’t really know. That’s why your face will be so hard to be registered in my mind. However if you tell me your name, I pretty much can tell everything about you (reference : the previous point).

And that was 7!

And I don’t wanna tag…..

Happy Chinese New Year!

新年快乐！ 恭喜发财!

Happy Chinese New Year by ~sylvdoanx on deviantART

Wish you all a happy and prosperous year =)

Thx for chillycraps for the chinese characters. For copyright information in my greeting card design, please look at the deviantart page. See the greeting card in action in this newsletter made by my friend.

New theme

Not configured yet. Will need some time to do so. Endure with the hideous look for a while.

Upgrade… Done!

Upgrading is done.

Love the new admin interface.

Will clean up the mess soon.