Pathetic Singaporeans

I have always fantasize about retirement. What would life be when I don't have to be awake by my iphone alarm. I don't have to rush through traffic in the morning and evening, worry about bills to pay, etc... The list goes on.

Every human being, to me, the effective or I should say productive lives spans at about 60 years old. When I'm 60, I do not think that I should still achieve greater heights in life. It will be truly nice where I can start enjoying and appreciate the little things happening around me. Gardening, coffee experimenting, reading, fresh air... endless list.

Sweet 60... I hope that I do not suffer from any diseases, rheumatism, etc. Imagine the life when you wake up 6 in the morning, take your favorite breakfast, do your morning exercise, sip your aroma coffee with your best friends. Do the afternoon power nap after lunch and followed by enriching your mind with new knowledge and life philosophy. Complete dinner by 7pm and watch your favorite discovery channel programs with a Heineken in hand. Lights off at 9pm to get ready for the cycle tomorrow. Boring? So you mean work is fun for you now?

Let's do a general analysis of this dream.

I'm in my mid 30s and having a 4 room flat under my belt weighing at $200,000 owe to HDB. Serviced my loan at the rate of $921 from CPF OA account for the pass 2 and half years paying $27,630. The last time I checked HDB website says I still owe them $188,000+. Why is that so? They say most of the payment went to financing the interest rather than the principals. WTH. I hope to have a smooth sailing to complete my loan at 56 years old. By then I should have enough for retirement (provided the minimum sum kept at $165,000 from now to year 2037).

What if my pay grade fall below 5k within these 25 years? I still can manage for a year as I parked a few thousands in OA. If the bad times goes beyond a year, I will be in

Singapore Mookata fever

Recently there is a trend of eating Mookata in Singapore. Mookata is a traditional Thai cuisine which one can find it almost every corner in Thailand. "Moo" means Pig and "kata" means Pan. Why is it called pig on the pan? It is because the traditional Mookata uses pork fats cube on the barbecue side of the pan. In Singapore, most uses butter or vege oil.

Mookata is a eat all you can buffet. What disturb me is that in Singapore, Mookata is typically around $26 per person with a time limit of 90 mins. A typical Singapore Mookata can be found here. I guess it is more like a trendy thing.

Now let's see what Mookata I eat in Chiang Mai.

 

It doesn't have the posh feel and it is non air-conditioned. The food seem clean and fresh to me but I'm the kind of people that can sit on a roadside in Vietnam eating noodles. So our concept of clean food might be a bit different. 

     

The meal is served the same way just that instead of using butter or vege oil to grease the bbq pan, they uses pork fats. Really cubes of fresh concentrated pork fats. Now you might think that you preferred the Singapore butter but that's because you have not try it yet. Health might be a concern over here but what I feel is that if health is really a concern, you should not be eating Mookata in the first place. You see, using the pork fats makes the smell so aromatic! The barbecued food are much tastier. God, I'm not lying! You have to try it. (I caught myself swallowing saliva now).

 


Moreover in Chiang Mai I don't have to keep track on my watch because there is no time limit. Eat all you wish, as long as you wanted. The best of the best part, I ONLY PAY 165 BAHT! Yes, only $6.50 SGD. What have the rental price did to Singapore?

Read more here: http://a.northernthailand.com/chiangmai-restaurants/moo-kata.html

The difference in motorcycle maintenance

This is a Scoopy-i

Since I found some extra time (during work :D), why not write another post just to build up the category column.

2 months ago I went to Chiang Mai for the routine visit. There I always rode a mini motorcycle scoopy-i belongs to a special someone. Riding a free bike is a blessing but actually it didn't cost much to rent a bike in Chiang Mai. It cost about 200 baht a day approximately $8 Singapore. I will usually stay for 4 days which cost 600 baht for 3 days rental.

Ok, long story short. With much courtesy, I offered to send the bike for servicing since it is about 3 months away from the last service. I rode to a bike repair shop and converse in broken Thai with the mechanic. I ordered a full check on the machine. According to our endless boxing rounds conversation, I summarize my knowledge into the followings,

• The bike is about 4 years old.
• The battery is old and had not change before (original).
• The brakes is still in serviceable condition (need not change).