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Good time for axe168! His chicken all sold.
- Thread starter Ash007
- Start date
He should be in Portugal. This country run on chooks.
Oh, you back already ah? Hows the trip ?
No. I am still in Southern Europe - Portugal to be exact. It is St John's day today and most shops are closed. You may like Portugal ladies, their bums are not as big as Aussies and the ones I met are quite slim and good looking.
I was driving on the tollway 2 days ago and notice the pilgrimage of Fatima followers walking 80km on the emergency lane. Quite interesting to see this old custom.
As usual, accessing wifi from hotel.
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Post-migration: The search for happiness ....
Returning to Perth after visiting southern Europe is a relief. The laid back and courtesious Perth people really make me feel welcome, and the mild winter air helps too. This is in contrast to my Singapore days when I had to drag myself back home from Changi Airport after an overseas vacation. In fact, the plane ride to Singapore always felt like curse because of the Singapore work conditions.
PERTH
My time in Perth will be short-lived since I have accepted an overseas posting to an overlooked but currently darling continent south of Europe. This marks another milestone in my life since leaving Singapore for good. I am glad that I am living for the future instead of staying in "holding position". I like Perth for its fierce independence from the rest of Australia. I will return here again after my posting. But there is no way that I will return permanently to Singapore if given a second chance.
In Singapore, I do not know any alternative, but Australia open the Pandora's box to endless alternatives, and opportunities.
Illegal Chinese migrants
In Europe, I saw illegal Chinese migrants who are stuck in a culture capsule because they do not know how to be unChinese and accept new challenge (very much like the SBF Emigration trolls). Also, their illegal status means that they prefer to remain in the shadow and operate tiny asian cheap "mini-departmental" shops.
The heatwave in southern Europe during my time there see how pitiful they live, using a simple water spray bottle to create mositure into a fan to keep themselves cool while watching DVDs of Chinese TV dramas from old tiny TVs.
Then there are ones who run tourist shops and restaurants. Many are no better than bond servants kept by Chinese snakeheads who takes advantage of Europe 2-year tax-free for new migrant business and cycle these Chinese every 2 years to keep their tax-free status. (You figure out how - Chinese are super creative in illegal contracts)
I also saw some very attractive Chinese women in seductive clothings with their rich African companions - nothing more than modern-day concubines. Not surprising, many of these Chinese are from Hangzhou.
The local travel industry boss also told me how Chinese tourists are conned into signing up for European tours, only to find that between quick visits to places of interests, the tours (operated illegally for Chinese by Chinese themselves) bring them to Chinese operated stores to shop, Chinese operated restaurants to eat. I have seen how these Chinese tourists seems to be doing their version of amazing race, with the tour guide timing everything to maximise use of time.
Switching to a similar topic ...
In Singapore, some tour operators also conspire with the Chinese government people to con Singapore tourists to buy things, esp to pay for the Beijing Olympic - Official Chinese govt corruption out in the open. It is the smart Malaysians who told me this.
Relax
I have learnt to relax on holidays - like a westerner. No more hectic SA or Chan Bros type of tours for me. There is no need to rush - just enjoy the place, the cruise or the restaurants. I remembered my last SA tour when I only reach hotel at 9pm and have to wake up early at 6:30am to continue the rush.
Now, I even have time to step into the hotel swimming pool and use the room bar service. No need to sting.
New life
My visit are meanly my fiancee's planning - having scrubbed Shanghai for Spain & Portugal.
My Japanese future wife unJapanese interest in Fado music resulted in an invitation to an intimate night out in Lisbon's Fado facility.
I learnt that Japan did not know what a "Thank you" is, until the Portuguese introduced the word to them a few centuries ago.
Her interest in Barcelona also arise from an interest in Antonio Gaudi. We had a privilege of entering the workshop at Sagrada Família to see her Japanese friends working there. Spain should thank the Japanese of re-discovering the beauty of Gaudi's work.
She is also a good dancer and wanted to learn the gypsy flamenco dancing in Granada and watch the best flamenco show in Seville.
In the narrow lanes of hilly Granada (Sacromonte), there are caves inhibited by the so called gypsies who perform their version of flamenco - in a way, this give them a decent livelihood compared to the petty crimes they once lived on. These gypsies were in fact illegal Indian (Rajasthani) migrants who lied to the Spanish Queen Isabel and entered Spain by pretending to be Mexicans a few centuries ago.
We also wondered into a resident's courtyard to enjoy the garden in Seville.
It turned out that a chef with a Michelin 1-star restaurant in Paris is visiting there on a summer break.
Like every excellent chef, he took an interest in my understanding of olive oils, and my knowledge of food produce (To those who thought I am wasting time hobby gardening in Perth) and invited us to visit a market with him and have dinner together the following day.
That Singapore civil servant who paid for the expensive French cooking experience probably have an excellent time, but so did I who enjoyed visiting a local market with a chef and later, an excellent dinner prepared by a celebrity chef. There are something that money cannot buy. It helps that I identify myself as Aussie and he has plenty to say about the excellent olive oils we have at home compared to the dodgy Italian olive oils, a lot of which comes from Spain anyway and some adulterated. Aussies should be proud of their own olive oils!!!
My ex-wife, a narrow-minded Singaporean , will probably be fuming if she find out about my new happy life. She is a typical PAP loyalist with a sharp tongue that is known to scare people from police to any nonya monster (mother)-in-law. She even fire people faster than Ho Ching when with Singapore Technologies.
Why migrate?
Just like Thailand new female PM, who continue to fracture Thailand with 2 opposing power bases, the world will continue to be impotant with nothing good for Main Street. If that is the reason to migrate, there will be bound to be disappointment because no government is God or close to one. Migration to Australia with its fairer values and a weak government is one way to get away from a stagnant Singapore with no resources, a tired people and a govt with only one idea - the same recurring idea from the last century. Getting out is essential to learn that life is a lot more colourful, and with determination, a bit of smarts, luck, common sense and sticking to some basic principles, we can go a long way.
Like what this interviewee stated when asked "Do you have local experience?" The interviewer replied, "I chose to come to the office by bus and I have visited your office at xxxxxx. It shows that I am willing to learn and I am a step closer to being a local.". Can any Perth senior managers remember when they last took the bus to work?
New life, a pretty & sporting fiancee, a challenging job, a nice home with garden, respect from peers, alternative income source, retirement eggs in my control.
Do I have anymore to contribute to this forum? I have no idea.
With that I end my post.
Neddy, glad you are going to a new and better place. It reminds me of Fromms book, to have or to be. Like you, I've slowly realised that to be is more important then just simply to have. It also kind of sadden me that we might not be hearing from you as often now. I hope the best of luck in your new life in a new country. What an adventure you'll have. Hope you stay in touch. As much as I hate flying Qantas their commercial is still the best. Hope you come back someday.
[video=youtube;XEbSIDeT144]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEbSIDeT144[/video]
[video=youtube;XEbSIDeT144]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEbSIDeT144[/video]