I am participating in the Write a List - Rediscover Your Blogging Groove Day task from Problogger.net. No prize will be given but what the heck, it will be fun.
Newater
Newater was a project started by Singapore to work towards a self -sufficient state. It uses reverse osmosis technology to turn waste water (from your toilet…) into drinkable water. Personally, i have tasted the water in bottled form. It tasted a bit weird, but that could be because of its lack of minerals within the water. Psychologically, I am still iffy about the whole process.
Recording breaking
Singaporeans likes to break records, especially obscures records that others might not think of breaking. A few examples of our record breaking feats:
- Largest Number Of Blind Dates - World Record
- Largest Pass The Parcel Game
- Most Number Of Paper Cranes Made In 1 Hr
- Most Number Of People Shaving Simultaneously
- Fastest SMS Texter - World Record
Visit the website to see for yourself. Quite interesting, I must say.
Singlish
Our National language is Malay due to historical significance, but not many non- Malay Singaporeans is fluent in it. For business, education and other official context, English is used. For local flavor, we spoke Singlish which to me is a very colourful language. It is a combination of English, various dialects of Chinese, Malay and Tamil. At first, Government bodies frowns upon it but recently, they have incorporate it into their speech to give it a local flavour. Here is an example:
“Aiyah my essay cheem meh? Where got cheem?”
Translation: Is my essay really difficult to understand? That can’t be the case.
Wikipedia had a more in depth review of Singlish.
Singapore’s National Flower
Some interesting facts about Vanda Miss Joaquim:
- Singapore has gained the unique distinction of being the only nation to have a hybrid as its national flower.
- The identity of the lady who discovered the flower was an Armenian. Born on April 7, 1854, Agnes Joaquim was 39 when she discovered the flower. It is said that she is buried at the Armenian Church in Hill Street.
- The official Chinese name for Vanda Miss Joaquim is Zhuojin Wandailan (?????) meaning Orchid of Long-Lasting Excellence.
- Orchid is the largest family of flowering plants in the world.
Food in Singapore
Eating is a national pastime. We have foods from all around the world (Japan, China, France, Africa, etc.) and the price ranges from S$2 for a bowl of fishball noodles to S$300+ imported Kobe beef. Here is the top ten food dishes in Singapore (surprisingly most are very local food):
- Bak Kut Teh
- Carrot Cake
- Char Kway Teow
- Chicken Rice
- Chilli Crab
- Fish Head Curry
- Laksa
- Rojak
- Roti Prata
- Satay
Here you are, I have gone one step further and done a list within a list. Enjoy.
Today (21 July 2007) is Racial Harmony Day (?????) in Singapore. This event is to commemorate a racial riot which took place on 21 July 1964 that caused the highest number of casualties in a local riot. As Racial Harmony Day was first launch in 1997, I do not have a chance to participate fully in the primary and secondary school level. That is where most of the activities is being held. 