Come to think of it, It's quite funny.. I'm starting to work tomorrow and up to this time, I am still homeless.. but I am instead here.. writing blog about singapore.. anybody have any utility room for rent?
Singapore is a very organized country. Law are made to be obeyed. On one side, it is good to ensure order. On the other side, for a fresh comer like me, it will took some time to understand the whole system well. still I am amazed on how the government care for the well fare of its people..as you can see on the left, having a box of cigarette here are as expensive as having lunch for several days.. If only it happens in Indonesia, people there would be more healthy both physically and mentally.
there is one more thing that amaze me.. beggar here has to be certified by the goverment to perform on the street to ask for donation.. as you can see on the right.You can tell whether a beggar is certified or a wild one by just looking at the small red card that they usually brought.
I have also seen a wild indian beggar back at people park who lasted only one day before the goverment agency chased him off somewhere.. wonder what happens to that poor guy now.
and trust me.. though so beautiful a city, so tough a life. you can easily find some loonie (lunatic minded person, or someone with nerve problem) in many places. Hard to say.. earning a scoop of rice is a big problem in big cities..
Speaking of food, having the simplest and cheapest lunch here is just as expensive as having a feast back in bandung. But you can rest assure as food seller here puts quality to the top. you wont find left over from yesterday sold again the next day. and you wont have to worry about starving, coz you can easily find a food market, along with supermarket on every district, just nearby apartment where you live in.
the Ingredient for those food is also special. everything seems to come in great size here.. you should see how cucumbers are here.. they are HHHUUUUGGGEEE.. around five time the cucumber size back in bandung.. I believe that one can kill a rat just by throwing a huge one to them.
the other thing is that we can actually drink directly from tap water.. Singapore have several reservoir and water refinery, that can make tap water edible. one thing though, these water makes coffee sour. I know that that sounds funny, but I have proof it myself.
There are a multitude people living in singapore. It consist mainly to four different race: chinese, malaysian (and indonesian), Caucasian, and lastly Indian. Sometime you can also find a small number of african living here. but the important thing is that they live alongside each other in harmony.
like in India, singapore have its own social caste.. based on the permit the government gives :
- Social visit pass : is regarded as tourist. one can only stay in singapore for 30 days on this pass and after that period is over, one must leave singapore immediately. any foreigner who wanted find a job or stay in singapore would usually come as tourists. can only stay in hotels.
- Work Permit : is the lowest of all caste who can stay in singapore for over 30 days. people who apply for work permit or also known as S-Pass, can only work for a single boss. back in Bandung, I usually fill my free time doing many temp jobs, but I cant do that here as a work permit holder. how sad.
- Employment Pass (EP) : the diffrence I know from this and the previous one is that you are free to work as much as you wanted, and not to dedicate yourself to one boss only.
- Singapore PR (Permanent Residence) : people from this caste are eligible to rent or buy an HDB (government apartment) one can also have a CPF (somethings like Jam sos tek in bandung) a fund collected to ensure your retirement plan.
- Singaporean : are those who originally born in singapore. Around the age of 13, joining the militaristic civil defense is compulsory. I heard that it is also possible for people from the lower caste to upgrade to this caste as long as they submit to this civil defense.
Property here are cathegorized on how many rooms one unit (the whole house) have. a unit is usually denoted as 3+1.. which means 3 bedrooms and 1 hall (a room to greet guest). bedrooms are also cathegorized in 2 types : master bedroom (one that have toilet inside the room) and common bedroom. on some unit, there are also another small room attached that works as a cellar, which is called utility room.prices of rent differs according to the place you stay. rent in tanjong pagar area where I live can soar up to $500 a month for a common room, not included electrical and water fees, where in bedok ( a more rural area ) is only about $350. renting a room can be cheaper if you share with a room mate. Though regulation requires that one common room can only have 2 persons staying on the same time.
since I am living here alone, I am looking forward to rent a utility room, since it is said to be cheaper and less spacious, since I dont need much space after all..
