BKK - extra info

Thailand's weather is influenced by monsoons.
Rainy Season - torrential rain tends to fall in short bursts, usually lasting only a couple of hours each day. Most rain falls between June and November. Hot and Dry Season - is relatively rain-free between January and April. Travel elsewhere during the rainy season is not necessarily problematic unless visiting areas where roads are unpaved, as rain renders these tracks impassable.
Chiang Mai: Hot season(Mar - Jun), Rainy season(Jul - Sept), Cool Season(Oct - Feb)
BKK: Hot season(Mar - May), Rainy season(Jun - Oct), Cool Season(Nov - Feb)

Maps u can get it from airport once ur plane touch down, along the way to check yr luggage. You list down all the places u wan to go then check with the map for the distance (try to go places near each other: cut down time for traveling n use it for shopping)

taxi from airport to Asia hotel is 300b(via expressway incl. 70b toll & 50b surcharge) & gtg bck from Asia hotel to airport is 200b(include. 30b toll, expressway, ard 30 minus) Asia hotel got one nite performance is called Calypso. One at Sukhumvit road (near Phrom Phong BTS station) called Mambo. Mambo is in a big stage kind of show while Calypso is a smaller stage. Their performing style is abit different. The tickets are about S$30+, not more than S$40. 2 performances every night 8.15pm and 9.45pm.

never take up any offer from the "kind" friendly strangers who walk up to u, offers u guides n suggestions (rem!!! they r cheats!!! note: they always say they are the security guards of yr hotel or whatever. Just walk away or jt say u been to the places he offered.) They work in grp. one is the friendly stranger who walk to u, another is another stranger who always agree what the first one say, another one is the tuk-tuk driver who offer to drive u there, end up will be gem shops or expensive seafood

anyway if u really like to buy gem, u will come to one licensed one at end of the half day tour , the tour guides will always bring tourist there (it is a must for them cos govt need money to bring economy around but u need not to buy) Thai is famous for their gem I think.

go pathunam market....and shopping complex... very cheap as compared Ma Boon Kong expensive one... but alot of people go.
EAT STUFFS-must try a nice buffet Oishi resturant at Slam diSCOVERY centre beside DKNY.
go siam centre siam square and jj marketplayground a local designer store at thong lo

CARS STUFFS-4th level MBK. Hidden behind the loads of handphone shops is a plc called 'R-Style'. Lotsa stuff for Fit/Jazz. Carbon Fibre Cubic printed stuff looks good too.
R - style Racing address : MBK center 4F Room 132 6F Room 58 tel : 02-6118090
http://www.into-asia.com/bangkok/shopping/

Chatuchak Market: Open: 08:00-18:00 Weekends only. Nearest Skytrain: Mochit For clothing and Accessories go to (section 5, 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23) Plan before you walk if not "merry go round" and end up nothing to buy. Lastly, if you are getting more than 3 items from one shop you can ask for wholesale price.

suan lam nite bazzar- nice like Chatuchak Market: Suan Lum is not your traditional Bangkok market and although largely geared towards the tourist market is still an interesting evening market to stroll around. Modern, less claustrophobic (and not as sticky) as most markets, with a few nice places to eat, drink and watch the world go by. A good place both to shop and hang out. Check out the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre, close by. Performances (7:30-9:00) still leave time for shopping afterwards. Suan-Lum Night Bazaar...alight at Lumphini station, u can take BTS fr Asia Hotel (Ratchathewi Stn) and alight at Sala Daeng Stn (3 stops). Fare is 20 baht but in between, u must change train at Siam Stn....just cross over. Then fr Sala Daeng BTS Stn, u have to walk to Silom MRT Stn by using the linkbridge....take d MRT fr Silom Stn to Lumphini Stn (1 stop)....fare is 10baht. U can see Suan-Lum Night Bazaar once u get out of Lumphini MRT Stn!

Sampeng Lane: Both markets are usually very crowded, busy and bathed in the aroma of strange smells but that's half the fun. Pace yourself!

Chitlom BTS station
Erawan Shrine, all start for the side of Buddha facing the main entrance. Ladies pray in clockwise while men go anti-clockwise. Near the World Trade Centre, just beside the Erawan Hyatt Hotel. Temple is only open to public fr Fri to Sun at 6am...
Central World Plaza (formerly known as World Trade Centre) is just opposite Big C. Get the 5% discount tourist card from the info counter at 1st floor before u shop. ~ This place has a departmental store called Zen which is a little like our John Little; shops-wise, also quite limited...Isetan is connected to Central World Plaza.
Zen is a good place to shop for undergarments (at 2nd floor); VAT refund counter is at 3rd floor. There is a sticker counter discount thing going on, the more u spends, the more stickers u got, and u can use that for more discounts later.
NARAYA FOR BAGS
Central Chit Lom (BTS Chit Lom) is basically a huge departmental store like Taka..Lots of shoes and bags and accessoriesPratunam Market - Open 08:00-21:00 daily Corner of Phetchburi Rd and Ratchaprarop. near Indra Regent, there are gd clothes. Air-conditioned shopping can be found just north of Pratunam market on Rajadamri. World Trade Centre is a huge shopping complex which, apart from hundreds of shops, also contains cinemas, restaurants and even an ice skating rink! "Indra Plaza" wholesaler & retail next to "Indra Regent hotel" These are much cheaper shop you can find. Just 2min walk from Baiyoke Suites hotel

Pantip Plaza on Petchburi Road is Bangkok's formost computer shopping mall. If it's electronic or digital you'll find it here. A large selection of printers, computers, the latest electronic gadgets, and software under one roof. Location: Petchburi road near the Amari Watergate Hotel

Chinatown:
Chinatown is a colorful and busy area, packed with market stalls and probably the greatest concentration of gold shops in the city. The small alleys and streets between Yaowarat Road and the river are crammed with market stalls and small shops jostling to sell just about everything imaginable. Thousands of hair ornaments, tea sets, hardware, food, fabric shops, and strange vegetables imported from mainland China and Chinese funeral items. You don't buy one or two items - buy a dozen or two! Although there are some souvenirs on sale, there isn't much for the average visitor to buy, but it is, an interesting experience. Sampeng Lane (also known as Soi Wanit), running parallel south of Yaowarat and the narrow lanes directly off it, are a riot of color and noise. It's often crowded, hot and exhausting, but certainly offers a different perspective on the city. Chinatown is still relatively untouched by the modern development which has overtaken much of Bangkok. Few people speak English and accommodation is limited apart from some of the older more established local hotels. Following the river heading north, Chinatown gives way to the wafting aromas of curries and the exotic spices of Pahurat. A small but significant Indian community is located around the famous Pahurat cloth market on the edge of Chinatown, close to Sampeng market. Wholesale silk, cotton and all kinds of fabrics are traded with tough bargaining skills. It’s also a good place to head for if you're desperate for some authentic Indian food. The markets are generally open throughout the day until around 6pm.
Chinatown, around Sampeng Lane; Pahurat cloth market;
Turn right into Chakkraphet Road, on your right-hand side is the Khlong Ong Ang Market where you can purchase almost any kinds of toys. Next to it is Nakhon Kasem Market, which is the retail and wholesale market of machines and musical instruments. Adjacent to this market is Khlong Thom Market where thousands of consumers come daily to buy electrical appliances and sundry goods.
for sharksfin & bird nest, is 100 baht each per serving (they have different type of sharksfin & birdnest soup, think the most ex ones cost abt 500 baht per serving).. They also have other dishes like claypot fish maw/sea cucumber, crabs, prawns, poultry etc... at the beginning of Chinatown, we walked for abt 5 minus then located the restaurant... u got to walk along the road then u can see the prominent yellow signboard... the window near the entrance of the restaurant is filled with Chinese articles (mainly written by Hong Kong reporters featuring HK stars makaning in the shop)
Wat Trai Mit: Is located on Yaowarat Road in China Town, near the Hulamphong train Station. This temple houses a very impressive solid gold Buddha which weighs 5 and a half tonnes and is three metres in height!

Siam - shopping malls and funky clothes and the huge weekend market at Chatuchak on the outskirts of town.
MBK (Mah Boon Krong) close by, offers 7 floors of boutiques and small shops selling just about everything (local and western designer names, fashion boutiques and fast food) at very reasonable prices. You can access directly from National Stadium Skytrain station via a walkway. Very busy at the weekends. Foods like Fuji, Nam Seng (bird nest, sharkfins),
opposite "MBK" Siam Square near Novetel hotel.There are many small shop by some Thailand young designer...cool and unique. From clothes,shoes,bags,and accessory etc... If you are looking for clothing like those selling at "Fast East Plaza" or "Heeren" that's is the best place to shop. Is a happening place on sat like our orchard road. At least you can see people dressed up in Bangkok. Remember those shop close as early at 8pm. Some of the shops are selling pretty expensive stuff but very nice.

Sukhumvit: One of Bangkok's best known shopping areas, Sukhumvit Road stretches from east to west across the city. Completion of the BTS elevated rail system (Skytrain) along several miles of Sukhumvit has ensured easy access to hotels, shopping malls and shops in the adjoining streets. While the larger shopping centers are clustered around Siam and Chitlom, Sukhumvit still has lots of small individual shops specializing in antiques, rattan furniture and home furnishings complemented by one or two fairly new shopping malls.
The Emporium(BTS Phrang Phong), (Soi 24) an upmarket shopping centre, offers food courts, bookshops, a department store and beauty salons, as well as comfortable shopping in air-conditioned comfort. Plenty of space, and a cinema, cafes, restaurants and great food courts for when you get bored. Regular sales (discounts between 15 - 80 %) occur from time to time (usually co-inciding with Thai festivals) on brand name clothing and furniture. A tourist card (which you can apply for at the store) gives 5% - 10% discount off regular priced items in various shops. Location: Sukhumvit Soi 24/26, BTS Skytrain: Phrom Phong Open: 09:00-21:00

**rem to bring a cap in case of dizzy rain.
**rem to drink alot of water cos will get thirsty easily.

bangkok ..... continued

The third day, we wake up early...excitied to go
Chatuchak Market, we go there abt 9plus ok...i think 10am is ok...shops jt start... Here veri heaty n squeezed but u can get anything they even sell animals n yr household deco... but bargain pls, i see alot ppl buy things then cargo it back to hm. I also get lost here abit sian...i plan to buy alot but it rain heavily some place get flooded. So we go thai massage for an hr...cheap also..veri relaxing n my bf loves so much...cos he had been carrying alot of stuff around (that is cos we buy alot of stuff n put in his haversack, we show our photo to his frnds they thought we go backpacking leh) :) I always wan to try their tuk-tuk but my partner dun like cos bkk is dusty. n we find out from the hotel staff that tuk-tuk cost almost same as taxi.
The fourth day, we wake late...cos tired but fruitful. We go chinatown (my first time) dun reali know how to go....but confirm their things are cheaper alot than the nite market...(but they also sell in pack :wholesale) We jt walk around. Then we went back to hotel to prepares for check out. beforehand we had request for late checkout, the hotel able to let us check out at 2pm...so we relax...take our bath n short nap...n let the hotel staff to put our luggage at safe place then we go MBK again for last min shopping since our transfer is at 5pm.
wow...we both change $500(my bf) n $400 (myself), we change $900 in singapore @23.8 (personally i think the rate nt veri gd...cos i think change rate at weekdays better maybe can get 24+) In bkk, we find out still nt enough to spend so we change another $100(Dun worry there is alot of money changers around there, so u may not need to change alot baht at sg). Rem to keep 500baht per pax for the tax b4 u go back.

That's all, any question u can jt ask me, i will try my best to help u...
Rem Bkk is jt a big city compared to sg...dun worry

Bangkok.. bangkok

Once my plane touch down the BKK International airport terminal (interesting is the airport is built in the golf course itself, in fact so near that u can see ppl playing golf n a bit scary, fear that the golf ball hit the plane leh. By the way it is a two hr trip, BKK is an hr later than sg time. Jetstar had preallocated seats to ppl n allows 20kgs luggage per pax, it is different frm other budget airlines, but the leg space cramp due to a small plane only two rows, no centre row... n no meals we bring in our own food n eat secretly but they will help us to clear rubbish)
BKK airport is very old like our old bus terminal...things go very slowly...So once u get yr luggage, quickly go n queue up...there is a small camera to shoot yr face...(maybe u can cooperate with them to help them in processing faster :))

Once I reach my hotel, I was able to chk in as my room is available, chk all the lighthings n water for bathing so when u comes in the evening, u can jt pop to yr bed (u will be very tired).

The first day, I go Siam....take skytrain to Siam, it is connected to a shopping centre, Siam Central. There is alot of eating places...we eat The pizza company, shiok! n cheap(better than our pizza hut but take some time to cook). Siam is a whole street of shop selling funky clothes and young ppl as shop owners jt like bugis, then we walk to MBK (Mah Boon Krong) via National Stadium Skytrain You can access directly from station via a walkway. Foods like bird nest, sharkfins, are offer there too. We spent alot of time there cos my bf like aircon shopping centre...hehhaha. Here things can be cheap or expensive cos their price is always 199baht($8 dollar). I recommend buy some bras cheap trumiph abt $20 buy the gel ones...special leh cos sg dun have..(sg maximizer got cotton only) but Thai bras are simple design not fancy designs.
then we go Condom and Cabbage Restaurant Sukhumvit Soi 12, given with free condoms. It is jt an interesting experience for Thai food, it is built to support aids prevention for woman society. Take BTS to Asok Station. Get out from e Times Sq exit. Continue walking until u pass an overhead bridge. Turn left at the next small lane & u will see e big signage Massage & Spa, King & I Spa is nearby, just 5mins walk, beri deep in.

The next day after the half day city tour (nothing much of the boat market nowasday), we go pratumum wholesale market. It start early in morn til late noon, I think abt 430pm...not much shop liao. We ask the tour guide to drop us there instead of going back to hotel (the tour end abt 12/1pm). Btw u can ask yr tourguide for guide in bkk. Thai ppl are friendly...so it is much better if u ask them in polite manner..
It is near Indra Regent and baiyoke sky hotel(also know as baiyoke II; the tallest hotel in bkk, I think give a certain money u can go to rooftop to view the whole bkk, very windy), there are gd clothes usually casual but u can find office wear...(I always get lost in maze of shops...sigh...but there is always gd bargain. buy more, can discount more, like abt 6 pieces...in bkk, everything can bargain).
u can also go Pantip Plaza near the Amari Watergate Hotel, it is Bangkok's foremost computer shopping mall.
we have our lunch at local foodcourt..cheap like siao....hhahahah. We two eat plus drink abt 95baht(abt $4)but one thing I dun like their foodcourt is they using coupon system...one counter to buy coupon another counter to refund the money...(no need to change alot)
then we go big 'C' centre(here we can get our daily necessarities) to have our dinner...fascinates....
we have jap food at the 4th floor. Mine is 140baht but alot of food ...man...too full...
At first I wan to try their famous steamboat but didn't try cos everytime I saw it , it seem very crowded. Btw bkk food very cheap, taxi also very cheap(dun need to scare abt get lost; hehahah...the most we pay for taxi is 80baht; 100baht = $4 usually we take skytrain cos we scare traffic jams) even MacDonald seem to be cheaper...hehhah cos my bf wan to eat chicken ...to play safe cos of bird flu, we go fastfood restaurant...they even sell pork burger...
Thai ppl like pork...there y always got a kind of smell...but u will get used to it...one thing to inform u; their Sweden dun sell foods only icecreams.
I also go to Erawan Shrine, all start for the side of Buddha facing the main entrance near Chitlom BTS station(world trade centre). Hear that it is very 'ling', but I dun pray so I jt watch hehhaha got traditional dance every hr I think..alot of tourists. Then I went World Trade Centre is just opposite Big C. Get the 5% discount tourist card from the info counter at 1st floor before u shop. ~ This place has a departmental store called Zen which is a little like our John Little; shops-wise, also quite limited...Isetan is connected to Central World Plaza. expensive too... anyway I jt go there to shop for NARAYA BAGS...cheap n elegant abt 240baht u will get a very nice piece( alot of japanese tourist there plus naraya is by their own Thai designer ) I spent quite long time in deciding which bag to buy...too many choices....after that we rush back to hotel after dinner...cos we bk a 'thai ger show' with our tour guide/...it is illegal...very dark...quite grossly to me...yucks...but jt for experience we pay 1000baht for two...abt this rate...dun go higher than that not worth.
After that, my bf n I still very energier so we ask the tour guide to take us to their nite market Suan Lum (pounce like suanloom.. ) It is very tourist friendly, everywhere u see there are tourists, no local(cos I heard things sell here is expensive...but even it is expensive, it is still cheaper than Singapore) There is also alot of tourist police...so u r very safe there...it is very clean n divided into abt 3 section plus a big concert open-air foodcourt..my bf love here cos it is clean n spacey compared to usually cramped street shopping area...we went there twice leh...but here u will have to take cab back to hotel...(better lah..cos late at nite, quite tired) I hear there is midnight charges for cabs like sg...so we shop till 11+ .

times when wild

There were times when i was wilful... rebellious... cos i dun c eye with my mum.. She is a plain traditional woman who plays favouritism over her son. that y im always at odds with her... i hate to even think abt that... how unfair... how her ears are so soft toward my brother.
He is a spoilt brat, veri selfish.. proud, boastful n uncaring always taking more he wants.. i become self centred also... cos i dun wan to lose out. I always get out of this family, not to listen to my brother's lies... I turned deaf to my mother's orders n views...
I started hang out late, drown in drinking n loud music... i loved that freedom... no nagging.. Everything is fun , frnds are great.. always with me, accompany me. I wish to be FREE but at the same time I WANT TO BE LOVED, WANTED. I started to get into relationships... they are not easy, bad. They dun last. I was too proud, refuse to give in relationships... shield my heart from being hurt, i just want to take n take.
Basically, I dun reali hate her my mum, i pity her...she is an unhappy woman... her views are veri depressing.... always complains... n mourns... sighs... i hate it when ppl comment how much i look like her.
I JUST DUN WANT TO BE LIKE HER.

July - New Term

In May - had my entry tests...been so long to have the exam feelings again.. pray veri hard in June for me to pass (cos I will be granted a direct entry to the course if I pass.)
Hey, that is my wish for the yr 2005 cos if I able to shorten my course, my fees will be lessen.. of cos provided I cleared all subjects smoothly all the way. That is nt a small sum abt 6k lesser... who dun want. (already I have trouble in keeping up my fees: money problems). I barely scrape enough for my first payment.

wow... Here come my chance to go hoilday to Bangkok... With cheap airfares...Im able to travel.. Everything first time for me..quite an experience... An eye-opener..hehahah..
All I can say about budget airline is reali no frills-type. Service is ok, value for money..(nt for fussy types.) No food is served, doesnt reali matter since it is a short trip abt 2hrs, fine with me. I jt went to sleep n recuperate my energy for shopping later..hehhe.. Leg space is pretty cramped though even for me a short person(luckily it is a short trip) n abit slow in taking off... Overall, It is smooth n pleasant.

April 2005

This will be my impt mth of this yr 2005.
I had decided alot of things..(been thinking alot). My boss jt give birth to baby ger, then there goes my collegue...seem lately alot of ppl in my company is having a baby soon. N that meant I no longer can hunt for new jobs any sooner cos i will be covering their job scopes...will be veri busy plus ot... Had to shelf this idea for later in this yr or maybe next yr 2006.
So I decide to further study instead since I cant go anyway... (using my dipolma cert to apply for a course, I onli got five years to think abt.. why nt do it now? cos maybe if drags any longer, I may lose interest or my brain will be "dormant")
My decision is to study in hope to earn mre money next time when i finish my course...

u may think hey what so difficult...

I tell u wat, Cos study is not really my strength, plus I dun have any saving which means I need to work n study part time. Tat is hard life. n I may decide down to settle with this one... not easy at first... cos he certainly not into my type; Im quiet whereas he is much sociable (he also nt my dream "kind" also in gers' dream, guys r nt that realist... hehhaha). BUt along the way, I learn to accept n give more in relationship...some ups n downs.. of cos it wasnt veri prefect... it sometime did give me depressions n disappointments. Ppl are nt prefect, so do yr other half. This is a new thing to us, n for us to learn.. turns out nt bad.. at all.. nt difficult but do prepared some hurt... dun put high expectations n Dun take for granted...
IT HELPS!!!!!
Reali!!!! Trust me...

New year 2005

A yr had come n pass, hey I still facing the same problems...whether to change jobs? further my studies? had been bombarding my mind since the yr2005 is coming. I know I had to come to a decision like this n really act upon it...

HEY hey , one thing been nagging at me is my age... ya ...im 25 this yr, hey hate to admit it...sian.... not that I want to act cute or young... but come on, I had jt passed my birthday nt long. My precious day jt come in nov... n somemore is late one. Ppl alway say to me... admit it, man. (my age) Be graceful... But yucks!!! how can I???!!!! Things is unfair, there I jt enjoying my VIP day nt long a mth plus then it comes NEW YEAR... hi that's NT MY FAULT leh...
I jt cant could say out of my mouth; "Im 25 this yr." I rather say Im 24+, pls forgive me leh. Im not like others who had their birthday early to console... my poor heart jt could NOT take it n believe.
I guess this is the problem faced by all the late bloomers... or is it jt me???
Whatever, I also dun look old...at not my actual age :P
So pls dun correct me, whenever i add a + to my age next time.

How's r u?

Hi...
so long never seen...sigh...been a veri long time..
Not long I saw a blogger...tat passed by my head..hey, I also got one leh..???!!!
need to update, now I m goin back back to the past events I had been through...way back I left you...
hehha..old almas stories..u must be thinking but it's true.
In fact, on the Sept on that year 2004, I had go steady with my new guy..(my senior in sch? but I didnt see him in campus..we get to know at outside)
got one of my wisdom tooth taken out (my dentist advise to be taken out cos mine had grown the wrong way? whatever) been thinking of getting braces...
but see how lor...nt cheap. maybe shelf it for later.
n YA!! .. finally pass my driving (sigh...after 4 tests!!) to get my license. Ya...I know Im lousy...sucks in my practical... yucks... even my instructor looks down on me. At that time days were veri dragging n tiring... I waste a bomb(abt 2k) n alot of time (all my wkends gone).
After I get it, I told myself never never ever touch that wheel again!! hate that...it had became a fear, no shred of confidence in it, Im lost(totally defeated) towards it.
Sometimes ppl will ask me, if I will change my mind or regret, I havent thought of it.. things seem to be alot easier ever since it is out of my life, anyway whether what I want to do with my license is my business, I will know if there's really a worth. After all, I pay for myself for that.. no one help... so y shld I answer that question?
okok i jt recently dated.
He... mmm... quite handsome...ah adorable much a closer term to him... cute yes... with the eyes i love to see.. People had mention "eyes are the windows of soul" which I accept it heartily. i love to look into the eyes of my parnter.. kinds of cute. he got a pair of big eyes yup... double eyelids yes nice... single eyelids is cool to me too hehhahah.
oh yes the final part, his eyes are brown if u look carefully. this ponder a thought how come his eyes are brown when he had no mix in his ancestors maybe prephas in very early generations. (im quite biased toward that... dunno know y...cute i think.. soft brown) i check out my eyes colour twice in mirror, it's black not a trace of brown, neither even a hint of that! I have dated a guy with coloured contacts...weird... kinda of scared me off... (i think the colour is grey or some other color) it make him look fierce although i know he is a friendly guy. i try not to look at him straight in face when he try to kiss me... i kind of back off...scared. NOnono to coloured contacts pls...

Birth rate

So birth rate is dropping. Govt is so anxious, start to give baby bonus as a generous package for people in hope to see a delighting outcome. Wow..!! so all of sudden, giving birth had become…wonderful? Even news of celebrities are getting pregnant had increased tremendously for the past few mths (when the laws are being passed down) compared to the last few yrs ppl avoid in having children. Giving birth..??, it is easy to say than to be done…!! It is not just the matter of giving birth to them.. but lot n lots of love n care had to be poured in. Along the way, there may some disappointments, worries, and anxieties even heart-breaking moments. There’s no price tag to be given, what I could say that it is timeless n priceless.
What can I say? …yup..it is a bonus for some families, but having a child is yrs..our decision. Im sure tat very moment when we get married, we will or already starting planning to have kids of our own…cos they will be our personal models of own geneses creations. Who doesn't want that? The financial help is not even one of our motivations to get ourselves pregnant n have a baby.
I had to agree that sometime Singapore may not be a comfortable place to live in with the high living cost. It will add on to the heavy baggage of the low income families just to add one more member into their home.
Leave.. leave.. leave taking days off specially for our child exams is what parents do now. Lesson for them had been so tiring n heavy burden on their tiny shoulders. Not amazing that nowadays kids’ schoolbag weights more than a kg. Not only that, as for parents, they let their children to learn a lot of things.. e.g. piano lessons, computer classes…even ballet for the gers. Everything..in fact anything tat ‘the best of the best’, they will do to ensure their kids could outshine their peers…making them above others (cos of pride = proud?). Won’t be a new thing if children start turning to suicides when they fail to accomplish their parents’ high hopes..

CREDIT CARDS

Do you know any of them? Had u got it one for yrself? What yr views towards it?


Credit cards,… Credit cards, credit cards…these is alot of these now floating around us. All sizes, shapes n lots of design, ads is everywhere, splashing at every sights we could see n handle. Ads were shown how these people get to enjoy life, living luxuriously. How they were seen like the smart guys on their peaks of the world, looking like the next cool “James Bond”. On top of it, there are so many roadshows, populated the places u go.

I notice the market nowadays are targeting mostly on women. Lady’s card (DBS), UOB Visa Mini, The Black Card / Sliver cards, AMEX (American Express) are using women as the main characters in their ads. I had to admit now women do have high purchasing power than before…as they come out to society earlier than guys (having national service). They also much more tend to spend on things for pamper themselves willingly. E.g. purchasing the latest gadget in the town than really checking the specs on wat it can do.

Little gers and boys (students) had been asking you for their survey, as well as getting to know how much yr salary and yr savings.. These infamous questions like; Which one u like the best (design? benefits), which costs the lowest fees among all? You will be also told of paying up just the minimum sum of money e.g. service fees n interests fees… without much worry (these are what they mentioned: the lure/ bait).


Even news lately, are directed on them, so has credit card really is the “in” thing in town or has become a part of parcel of life just like our handphone. People started taking sides (advantages and weakness; oppose and the supports). As credit card speak out of language in the prestige n status of people are at stages of life. Carried in hand or in our wallets is much like a shining amour we have. No longer wallets are seen to be bulky, bugled with our walled up notes. But now, we are able to take our whole fortune around with us everywhere we go, with jt these thin-line cards. Using it causally, help to shown or flaunt our riches. It is the access to our future money, money will never be lacking, and as long we are able to keep our jobs.

There are people who welcome all this wave of credit cards. They are in fact so taken liked of it, inventuretly it had becoming their hobbies in collect all sort of credit cards (cos now these card comes in varieties of fancy designs then). Some even lure to the benefits (discounts for their fave stores), so they accounted they in fact save much mre by using credit cards. And they mentioned they are able to keep up in paying up the bills (I take it they are very disciplined with their money as well as financial stable).
On the other hand, there are also some who oppose it. They suffered in incurring huge heavy debts before they could forewarn abt it, especially when they are young high flyers. It is the first time they handed large amount of money, they tend to go abit haywire. Buying things they cannot afford when they are just a poor struggling university students, things that are materialistic (wants not needs), little luxury items n wining in the expensive classy places, even getting themselves the first car they could able lay their hands on. Each mth, they can spend more than they earn, paying jt the minimum like the banks’ promises. Little did they know how much their debt had amounted til the banks could no longer loan them funds anymore. Banks started to haunt them more than ever, chasing for prompt payments mthly. This may go on not just for months but also perhaps years ahead. It hit them most; get discouraged, borrowing from parents. They can’t be any carefree as their counterparts, laden with heavy burden of debts.
In fact, newspapers even mentioned that Singapore is rapidly becoming one of countries that had suffered from credit cards debts.

These are jt the points of view from the writer. The writer had no credit cards but currently holding three debit cards.. Cos the service fees are cheaper n the amount of spending is limited to the amt of saving u had.. To me is a safe, wise choice, since Im nt a disciplined person (weak willpower) also. J Plus there is so many temptation around us, hard to resist, making us confuse what is a really a want indeed or a need.