Yushui Village in Lijiang, Yunnan, with snow mountain backdrop and cascading waterfalls.
8/02/2009
Are Singaporeans really that crazy?
We used to pay $30k for a 1,300 sq ft HDB flat. Today, people are queuing up to pay half a million or more for a 1000 sq ft little pigeon hole in the air. And everyone is so happy about it. Don't they know that it will take them a whole life to pay to be cooped up in that little space when a big sprawling house could be had in other places for much less?
What is so great about a little space dressed up like a hotel room, a place to sleep, a place to pee and eat, and a TV to watch. And that is about all for $500k to a million.
And the best part, everyone is expecting to make a handsome profit when they sell that little space to the next sucker.
What kind of quality of living are we getting into? Work like shit for life to pay for a little place to sleep and shit and getting so excited over it? Do Singaporean ever ask whether life could be better, less stressful, less work, more leisure and fun and space to run around? Or this is what good quality living is all about?
Can you imagine the stupid sucker bought me a mansion in Lijiang in exchange for my 3 room HDB? Not only are Singaporeans crazy, those new PRC citizens are dumb as well. The queuing up phenomenon at the Condo launches can be explained by Singaporeans upgrading, having palmed their 3,4,5,exec HDB to the duffers from the mainland. Whilst Singaporeans may lose out on jobs to the mainlanders, they at least get to stay in supposedly better surroundings. Don't worry about the monthly payments, let tomorrow take care of itself. Which leads to another bubble and a new opportunity to make a killing in the financial markets. So I am not complaining. Me? I opt for this place close to Shangrila.
ReplyDeletePRC invading Singapore on the job front and the property front shows a very promising future for Singapore. Soon the new Singaporeans will out number the true blues. Well, the writing is on the wall for all who have the vision to see. Who is to say that the true blues will not be classified as second class citizens, and for the Malays and the Indians, please use your imagination.
ReplyDeleteWell, if the "true blue" Singaporean continues to expect things to be brought to him by virtue of his citizenship instead of doing something effective, he will be a second class citizen for sure.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, I find that there are quite a many Singaporeans who are always unsure of their own wants & needs, they simply follow.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a queue to get something, be it some free stuff, cheap stuff, pricey stuff, they got worried if they didn't join the queue, they will miss out something in life.
Typical Singaporean, dunno how to live their own life, just copy, just follow, if government says its right; or many people says its right, better do it. Head on, eye shut.
Singaporeans are typically brave, they are great risk takers ! They dare to gamble.
ReplyDeleteI heard Steve Wynn said the winners are the owner.
ReplyDeleteso wally, you are going to become an emperor in lijiang and not living in a 1rm rental after all.
ReplyDeletegood for you. i may do likewise : )
Guys, are you talking in your dreams? Migrating to China is impossible!
ReplyDeleteRedbean,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that after selling my 3 room HDB, I cannot apply for a 1 room rental flat immediately and have to wait for a 1 year period if I am not choosy and a 2 year period if I want to wait for the new next generation rental flats which will come with all the amenities of studio condo living. I am opting for the 2 year wait. In the meantime, I will make good use of the 2 years and be a little emperor in Lijiang. With the internet, communication is not a problem and the journey back to Singapore for my char kway teow and visits to Sim Lim is only 4 to 5 hours away.
JJ,
No need to emigrate to China. For short visits of 15 days or less you can enter without a visa. You can stay for 3 months if you have a visa and applying for it is a breeze. In any case, more than 3 months absence from this interesting island with all its foibles will drive me bonkers!
Side tract a bit. Wally mentioned quite a few times the comfort of a lijiang's home.
ReplyDeleteTo what I know (maybe I was wrong or have misunderstood), over in lijiang, the man is consider second class citizen, woman is the king. It is lawful and a culture for a woman to have several husbands? Hmm?
Dunno about that but if the wayward wives are willing I don't mind to conduct a personal tour of my mansion including the ensuites on the proviso that the tour can only take place when the wife is back in Singapore to visit the grandchildren.
ReplyDelete;-)
i don't mind becoming a concubine, 10 times over : )
ReplyDeleteMany SIN Lao uncles may not be able to climb into the nuptial chambers of the Ligiang lasses.
ReplyDeleteBut, no harm trying.
patriot
Not this uncle.
ReplyDeleteAll the spring chicken with ginseng that my wife lovingly steamed for me hasn't gone to waste and is powering me to greater heights.
:-))
Under all conditions, it seems that guys here welcome the idea to be treated as second class citizen in lijiang, and hold second class status in the household.
ReplyDeleteWhat make you so willing?
- the place?
- the price?
What citizen?
ReplyDeleteWhat household?
We're still Singaporeans remember?
Just that we are having a great sojourn in an idyllic locale with the lasses as the icing on the cake.
And the weather? C O O L. Not like the furnace or should I say sauna in Singapore.
JJ:
ReplyDeletecitizenship in the globalized world stands for nothing.
Not only is the weather here liked furnance, at best sauna. There is no sceneries to talk about here and outside your own four walls(home) You see six biggers walls.
As for the lasses, those at Ligiang will change the men around themselves and that's unique of course; not Unique SIN and no sin when they do that to the men ! And men are likely to enjoy being kicked around there(in Ligiang).
Man(kind), both male and female enjoy freedom(in all living aspects) and natural beautiful environment; get it at Ligiang.
patriot