Have not been back there for more than a decade because there is more to adventure than visit what has been touted a surgically fine, pun intended city republic. Things especially the transport system does RUN EFFICIENTLY, the place squeaky clean and too sterile but then friends there are happy health is wealth in this city where wealth and fortune seems the gods of prosperity.
And dollar for dollar, as someone said in an earlier blog, things are cheaper, cost of living if you discount the home, car and husband in any other that is hah! Seriously, the McD, Starbucks is cheaper if you don't convert. And shopping for a camera resulted in close to RM2K savings and it was a full frame camera with lens mind you!
If a coconut cost $3 or so, why does it cost about RM4 ringgit or so in BolehLand huh?
Of course, one would always remind, convert it then you will know! But we are talking dollar for dollar, and there they are first world economy, high income, supposed to be more expensive dollar for dollar compared to BolehLand touting itself middle income for eons but still cost of living for food and everyday stuff is more expensive than down south? Why? Why? Why?
And what do the Singapore Malay friends think of their ancestors in Tanah Melayu in BolehLand. "If you think we are exploited and deprived of privileges, rights and all those things your bumi folks in KL accuse the LKY's government of doing to us, we would have gone to KL or migrated to Johor right?" said one.
"So what do you think of your 'cousins' north of you?" I asked.
And the reply if I am to post it would be too sensitive to our sons of the soil here because they weren't nice stuff these related race opinioned of their cousins in Tanah Melayu.
In short, the down south sons of the soil prefer to think themselves hardworking while think their northern braders and syasters the antonym of how the city bumis in the republic think themselves to be. "Noone is going to feed you if you don't make an effort and it's fair game if you want to succeed!" they keep on reminding. Enough said right?
Anyway, being so busy with business than pleasure, there was hardly time to find out what's happening in Tanah Melayu except reading from their papers. The most interesting report is about the 'freedom of assembly law' promised by 1Malaysia which is causing controversy. And that means today there is lots of catching up what the state of the 'union' is in BolehLand.
Love the transport system there and after coming home, same ole same ole greets you! sigh! And we proclaim we got oil, palm oil and the world's best democracy! Uncle Kim of North Korea and some 'Gabie' of Banana republic also said similar stuff if we recall right?
"But I like Malaysian Malays as my passengers, they are courteous and if I take a longer route they won't complain, they will just pay," said a taxi cab driver.
But it's always glad to be home to Bolehland and like in a relationship you accept the warts and beauty nevertheless hah!
Just some pictures below of what we always call our down south Singapore neighbours as 'KS' and they have equally similar stereotyping about us too! hah! Taken with the 'cheaper' full frame camera bought there! Don't we have ever more reason to complain our cost of living is high for a third world developing country huh?
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