Singapore- Observations

Small, little things about Singapore.

Mustafa, the 24/7 retail store is an institution. Huge and chaotic, but product assortment is amazing.

In the public transport system, everyone (error margin of 3 percent) is staring into their mobile phones. Rarely is any conversation heard. (Maybe tourists are an exception, because their mobiles are not working everywhere?).

Announcements on the metro include something that sounds like Haapy Haapy, (in Malay?) and some in Tamil, in addition to English. Also an admonition to passengers that sounds like Chen Wong thoo, or some such (which language, I have no idea).

All the neighbourhoods are clean, including Chinatown. Little India, a little less. Obvious?

Ordering Kopi (Coffee) is easy, if you know the difference between Kopi C and Kopi O. The former is what most Indians want, with milk and sugar.

The attractions that are free to enter are pretty, and pretty good. Botanic Gardens, Haw Par Villa, outside areas of the Gardens by the Bay, including a laser show near the Tree Towers, Walk to Faber Park near Harbour Front. Chinese Garden. This pic is me waiting for food at Anjappar, Chettinad restaurant on Race Course Road (name copied from Bangalore?). Also ate at Aromas of India, Muthu's Curry, Komala Vilas, Delhi restaurant, one at Clarke Quay (by the riverside), Saravana Bhavan and Andhra Ruchulu. And Changi airport's Food Court. I tried japanese and Indonesian at the University food court too, and found the seafood very good.

Teacup in a Storm

Yes, I know we usually talk of a storm in a teacup. But I woke up this morning due to the sound of a thunderstorm with rain, and decided that the best course of action was to make myself a cup of tea.

So I did. And tea makes you think. So I did that, too.

The more I thought, the less I understood. Then I remembered I used to have a poster which said, "The more I think, the more confused I get." So I stopped thinking.

Our gurus (those that I have read anyway) advise us to stop thinking in order to approach the thoughtless state of 'being' to escape from the mundane, useless thoughts that crowd our poor minds. This is supposed to take you (over time, when the time is right etc..) to a meditative, calm, 'being-in-the-present' kind of state.

So I tried my best to meditate. And lo and behold, I found a new awakening, ....from sleep, because unknowingly, I had dozed off in the middle of my spiritual quest.

Anyway, there is always a next time!

Maun Vrat- Period of Silence

This is, as far as I know, India's gift to the world. I am inspired to go on one every now and then, like now. Blogging does not count as talking, therefore I can rightfully claim to be on one.

When does one go on a period of silence? When you feel disturbed. I understand in the meditation system called Vipassana, you have to switch your mouth off for a week at a time. If that makes you go weak in the knees, all the better. Children do not understand the need for silence, and can be forgiven their lapses. But adults, with new-found toys such as mobile phones, find it hard to keep shut, even in (or maybe particularly in) public places. By far, the most effective way to shut the males of our species is to get them married - to a female of the species.

Silence is supposed to be golden, and with gold prices being at an all time high, one would imagine that silence would be at a premium, and so it is. Noise is one of the biggest problems mankind faces, and the idiot box contributes much of the idiocy associated with everyday noise. The TV debates are extremely noisy, and so are the ads. That leaves the saas bahu serials. They bring in some rap-style background noises while focusing the camera on all the characters available for the shoot that day, sequentially. Makes you want to force them to go on the longest maun vrat of all. After all, what is the mute button for?

The festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi now have a regular dose of song and dance playfully adjusted to high decibel levels, so that ENT specialists are assured of good business in the "E" part of their specialisation. Diwali is around the corner, and while I am all for the fun and light, would someone please cut the sound? Community Maun Vrat, anyone?