Monthly Archive for September, 2005

I need to talk about something, and that’s hugging. I don’t know what the rules on hugging are. It’s probably a travesty to even say that I think there are rules. That must go against the raison d’etre of a hug.

Hugs are spontaneous! Hugs show care! Hugs are what the new liberated Singaporean does!

Then why do I feel just a tad unnatural doing it? I wasn’t hugged a lot as a child, though it has nothing to do with how much my family loved me. Love was simply displayed in much less huggable terms. Maybe it’s as simple as a “Because we’re Chinese” explanation.
Continue reading ‘Gettin’ Huggy With It’

For a city as regulated as Singapore, it should come as no surprise to find that there is a host of “No’s” when visiting the new S$60-million National Library. No drinking, no eating, no big bags, no cameras. Oddly, there was no “No Talking” rule. Maybe it was too obvious.

This Portrait of Toilet Sink #2 is my best image, after much stealth camera effort in the fifth-floor Ladies Room.

I guess the powers-that-be are proud of the new library: Just don’t take any evidence of its “beautiful” architecture. You know, just in case.
Continue reading ‘No Photography, Please’