The Man in Choa Chu Kang

I must admit i am not the nicest person in the world.

But I am honest. Honestly!

And that was what was going through my mind when I was going to buy my pie at Pie Kia in Choa Chu Kang. If you are a frequent visitor of Choa Chu Kang MRT station, around 4:45 - 5:30 you will see a blind busker playing an electric guitar with a backing track. Oh, and you will also realise he will play the lambada over and over again (probably his only repertoire).

This really struck me. Is his (i must apologise to those who take offence) meagre repertoire going to sustain himself? I know the world can be cruel. It takes sides. It favours those who are perfect in every manner. It ditches aside those who cannot cope. And these people are the ones who are more self-sustaining, much more content than most people are. They can be alright wearing last season's clothes. They are ok taking a crowded bus or train to home or work. They are fine with hand-me-downs. These are probably things that we fortunate ones detest, because they are "out-of-date", "old fashioned" or probably "inconvenient". We often take things for granted.

What is the world coming to?

We all know that there are more than enough food for every human being on the planet. Yet there are still people out there dying of hunger simply because food is difficult to come by. Instead, we see powerful nations sending people to space (no, i'm not saying it is wrong though. Astronomy is a fine discipline to explore into) when the millions and millions of dollars can be used to feed people around the world. Also, the more common topic, the investment in nuclear weapons. Countries such as the USA are always on nuclear talks to Iran and North Korea (actually it's like a pot calling a kettle black-- The USA also have nuclear weapons too). What is the point on spending on warfare when people are still suffering around the world. Is it not a waste of time?

What is the world coming to?

Back to the busker. I was done buying my pie. He was playing a much more embellished version of the Lambada. Somehow I knew what notes he was going to play next. And I walked over and dropped a dollar into his collections.














Just a word to note: Pie Kia's Pie Seh, Pie Kia and Toa Pie Kia are very popular in Choa Chu Kang/Bukit Panjang youths. Their Pie Seh is awesome--at prices of $1.20-$1.30

P.S. When I first saw this shop, my first thought was "What is the world coming to?" ...

What is the knowledge when creativity is not there? -- Book of Philosophies 12:208

I think what is above is too true for our Asian society. We treasure knowledge, too much, until so much so that creativity is put aside?

Why in the world would I need creativity when a good knowledge promises me a good future? you may say. For starters, creative minds have shaped today's world so effectively. Who was it behind the concept of money? The one who designs products so that it will be easier to use? More impotantly, who was the one to create writing systems? All these are creative minds at work.

Speaking of which, what do you think is the most important invention ever created by man? Is it a computer, a book, a house, or i don't know, your gaming consoles you probably own?

In my opinion, writing systems are the most important. Really. Imagine if the written language was never invented, you would not have the computer, the book, or the gaming consoles in the first place. As the most basic necessity needed for learning, it is essential that every human being on this planet have this skill. Only then, the world can prosper and progress into the future.

Sadly, literacy rates are still low in some countries.

To veer a little off topic, for those of you who don't believe in the existence of the Antarctican dollar, here are some pictures

http://www.banknotes.com/aq10.htm

http://www.banknotes.com/AQ6.JPG

Now who says they don't exist?

I just got a nice photo of Amundsen-Scott, the most southerly settlement on Earth (only a few metres away from the South Pole). Here it is.