An ideal society ?

Two cops are suspended in Etawah, UP for ruthlessly beating up a little girl, as shown in a video clip by the Indian media. http://www.in.com/news/readnews-current-affairs-cops-beat-up-a-5yearold-girl-in-etawah-835ccf457b43ce0cee50b61b0b43c754127f8abd-53504-true.html It is not for the first time that this has happened. In fact, I would say that this is no different from the way the Indian parent beats up his kid for not "behaving". This was probably the first time it was caught on camera. So, I would say that the cop was only behaving in a manner that was expected of him, from the society that hands over a six year old to him for thieving. What kind of a society, I ask, has 6-year olds thieving around instead of going to school? What kind of society makes a six year old desperate enough to steal? What kind of a society, instead of providing for its children, hands them over to the cops when they falter? And why should I bother about society, I dont live in an uneducated, impoverished Etawah? No, I do not, but that is where my driver, my maid, my plumber, my watchman, my sabziwallah and dudhwallah come from.

Oh no, I would not take this opportunity, to blame the uneducated politicians of UP, or the corrupt bureaucracy. It is the common man, you and me, who does not bother about the state of our future citizens. It is easier to blame the authorities. But what have we done to ensure that our kids get a decent education, to ensure that they get two meals a day, to ensure that they are clothed and sheltered. Instead, we are ever-ready to teach these six-year old miscreants a lesson. Arent we experts at doing that, turning a blind eye to the urchins banging at our car windows at the red signal?

Oh, but what can I do? I'm so helpless. We Indians, are experts at technology, we are experts at strategy, we are experts at multi-tasking, diplomacy, working in stressful conditions, and even ass-licking. We just feel so helpless when we see a six year old being beaten up on camera.

Chingay Parade 2009

The Chingay Parade 2009 set afloat with an array of floats and performers from all over South East Asia and the Far East. Students from polytechnic institutes in Singapore, viz. Nanyang, Republic, Ngee Ann, and others put up a colourful display of brightly lit up pyrotechnic floats adorned with acrobats performing their acts. Performers from all over the region masqueraded the streets with their vibrant art and culture. Tourists and locals thronged the streets with their family and kids, trying to catch a glimpse of the masked capers.

I ran from pillar to post trying to grab the best spot I could to catch the performances. But I must say, that this was something i would never do, if i was by myself back home. Inspite of the rush to get the best spot, not once was I ever pushed or jostled by the crowds. Mobs lined the streets from City Hall to Raffles Avenue, but not one person even acidentally brushed past. Back home, we have no concept of space. For the first time I realise my sense of space and how I can respect it. Singapore does teach me basic courtesy, and I wonder where it comes from. I return home late in the night after the parade, and I feel pretty safe in this city. Not one
person staring at me as if I had committed a crime by staying out late. In fact, I love being taken for as a person, as an individual and not as a woman. The happy-go-lucky Singaporean couldnt care less about your colour, your race, your nationality or your social status.
Anyways, the fireworks were beautiful, and the street party after the parade the most happening ever. The recession-affected streets of Singapore were filled with life and joy, and not for a moment did I feel lonely in this vibrant melting pot.

It was a last minute decision for me to land up at the parade and hence these pictures from my Nokia 6233.

Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown

Pictures from the River Hongbao. The river festival for chinese new year. Brightly lit installations on the floating platform at Marina Bay

Here are pictures from Eu Tong Sen Street at Chintown.

At one of the stalls selling Chinese decorative hangings.

Veg meals in Singapore

Chella's vegeterian corner serves an excellent crispy dosa or fluffy idlis with 3 varities of fresh coconut chutneys the fiery kinds. Havent tried their meals yet, but they definitely know their food

Komala Vilas recommended by a lot of bloggers here is a huge spread with 3 veg, dal, sambar rasam, curd curry (mor kuzhambu), salad pickle papad and a decent south indian meal. Meal for 6.50 SGD

But the one that took me closest to home was Masala Hut in a quaint little stretch of Chander Road, off Kerbau Road in Little India. This was the best south indian meal i have to date in Singapore. The sambhar and rasam were completely homely and the leafy vegetable was just like mom's. At 4.50 SGD, this meal is a steal.

Culinary delights

Been out of action for sometime, since my laptop has been giving me problems. I'm not really sure what the problem is but this is the 4th time in 2 months that my notebook has crashed. The HP Service Centre in Bangalore kept telling me that the mother board has crashed and that they had replaced the mother board all three times i went to them. But the HP Service Centre in Singapore tells me that they did not find any replacement of motherboard in their India records. Now that is puzzling. This time they say they have replaced the main board. I hope it lasts longer than a month this time.

Anyways, now that my laptop is back, let me tell you about all the new restaurants i have discovered.


Go India at Vivocity is the find of the month. I would say that's the best Indian food, I have eaten so far in Singapore. The lacha parathas were nice, crispy, and as lacha as they come. And the Bharwan Baingan Masala was heavenly. It came with a medium spicy peanut masala with a generous helping of curry leaves. It was delicious. This must be my first satisfying meal in Singapore in the last one month i have been here.


Apart from Go India, Thai Express has been an absolute delight. Thai Express is a chain of restaurants, and has a good variety of vegetarian meals. The vegetarian laksa (Thai noodles) was heavenly. The yellow coconut gravy was thick and spicy and reminded me of those awesome curries back in Kerala. Portions were huge, with generous helpings of a variety of vegetables. Aw, well I still cant use chopsticks so we better not get into details of how I eat. The dessert was a delicious non-oily batter-fried banana fritters with coconut ice-cream. We are fans.

Little India has been disappointing for a second time The Banana Leaf Apollo had none of the Apollo dishes available for dinner. I took with me a couple of Vietnamese friends to taste the Indian curry. And after being told that 3 of the dishes they had asked for were not available,we finally settled for the Murgh Dahiwala with rotis. The Dahiwala was a delicious gravy, and the rotis crisp, so were the garlic naans, though the Simla Mirch Masala stuffed with cottage cheese and corn was a disappointment. It was loaded with added colour, and spicy. Though tasty, I wouldnt really call it a healthy meal with all the extra colour and oil.

Oh but the best meal, for all you Indians out there missing Mom's food, is at the Kopitiam in the basement of Vivocity. Look out for the Indian counter in the non-halal section. They have set rice meals and set chapati meals with 3 vegetables of your choice and a dal. The food is light, non-greasy, subtly spiced, and delicious. Just like home-food. Its a favourite with office-goers from around Vivocity.

Kopitiam (coffee - tea centre) are basically cafe's that have a variety of food counters ranging from chicken, fish, wok, claypot, rice, vegeterian, etc. Kopitiams generally have two-section halal, marked by yellow counters and non-halal marked by green counters. While back in India, green would mean purely vegeterian :) Koptiams can be found all across the city, and are a good stop for a clean, tasty, meal that doesn't burn a hole in your pocket.