This week in Singapore

After 2 months of cavorting around Europe, I returned home to find more changes in Singapore. What can i say, except "same same, but different".

Fresh from the glow and publicity of being the host-city for the recent IMF talks, the Tourism Board is hardly resting on its laurels. This quarter, they are proudly promoting the multi-cultural and multi-ethnic aspect of Singapore. Yes, its that time of the year again for gorging ourselves (ok myself) on mooncakes because the Mid-autumn festival is here! And, what's more, we are celebrating Deepavali (Festival of lights) and Hari Raya Puasa(Aidil Fitri) too. Haven't had a chance to make a trip down to Little India or Geylang serai yet though. I have been too busy gawking in Orchard road..

Orchard road has been decorated again (is it Christmas already?!), AND they have chopped off the lovely old trees next to the MRT station to make way for some new buildings. There goes the Sunday picnic shade for our foreign workers. As most locals would recall, that was also the dumping ground for a corpse in a grisly murder last year. They'd all just have to find some place new.

Balls-up in Orchard road...

What better way to distract lingering IMF delegates, tourists and would-be protesters/terrorists than with gift-wrapped trees along our shopping district?

Salvador Dali sculptures in town

The brilliantly eccentric Spanish artist famously said,

"... There is only one difference between a madman and me - The madman thinks he is sane - I know I am mad ... "

and,

"When I paint, the sea roars. The others splash about in the bath. "

Definitely known more for his talent than his modesty.

Protesting about protestors never gets you anywhere - except a broken torso and some spiders.