So, what -c.h.a.n.g.e- have we seen?
From Bloomberg and FT,
"Asian stocks slump, Extending Global Rout, as Exports Fall; Nintendo Drops"
"Japan Exports Fall the most in Six Years as Global Recession Intensifies"
"US consumer prices fall 1% in October"
Not much, it seems. Of course, anyone who thinks and hopes that Barack Obama is the messiah for the current economic doom and gloom is obviously "out of touch".
It was interesting, to see at first hand, the -c.h.a.n.g.e- China has undergone. Sure, we've heard and read lots about how China has driven the World economy for the past decade and the worsening income disparity, supported with isolated reports of dissent among farmers and peasants in the rural regions. With the severe bias against China, it is often difficult to fully understand objectively just what exactly is the situation like. Since my return, my parents have been trumpeting how impressed they were with Beijing from their trip there. Not just with the Bird Nests, Water Cubes and the National Grand Theatre but also how much more organised the city has become since their previous visit. In short, it is difficult not to feel proud about China's achievements within such a short period since economic reforms in 1978.
From Bloomberg and FT,
"Asian stocks slump, Extending Global Rout, as Exports Fall; Nintendo Drops"
"Japan Exports Fall the most in Six Years as Global Recession Intensifies"
"US consumer prices fall 1% in October"
Not much, it seems. Of course, anyone who thinks and hopes that Barack Obama is the messiah for the current economic doom and gloom is obviously "out of touch".
It was interesting, to see at first hand, the -c.h.a.n.g.e- China has undergone. Sure, we've heard and read lots about how China has driven the World economy for the past decade and the worsening income disparity, supported with isolated reports of dissent among farmers and peasants in the rural regions. With the severe bias against China, it is often difficult to fully understand objectively just what exactly is the situation like. Since my return, my parents have been trumpeting how impressed they were with Beijing from their trip there. Not just with the Bird Nests, Water Cubes and the National Grand Theatre but also how much more organised the city has become since their previous visit. In short, it is difficult not to feel proud about China's achievements within such a short period since economic reforms in 1978.
And perhaps aptly, the glowing reviews of Beijing has served to highlight the severity of China's rich-poor gap even more following my short trip to GuangZhou. While this is already my Nth visit to GZ, this trip has undoubtedly left me with experiences and insights like never before. As I walked into GZ's top hospital, I know I can't expect the standards of Gleneagles, Mt. Elizabeth or SGH but what I was about the witness, was simply, "wow" (in a negative way). The main lobby was inadequately lit with crowds queuing at the registration counter that you would only associate with the Great Singapore Sale. Next, and perhaps something I enjoyed most. Waiting and getting into the lift. Obviously there's no such thing as waiting for people to come out first before entering the lift, and even then, the rush into the lift was as if there was a Gold Bar in the lift. So what do I do? Adapt and Play. As the lift door opens, I've learnt to make my presence "bigger" and holding my ground when shoved, Just like how you would defend a ball during a soccer match. LoL. It was great fun. Right that's beside the point.
Walking from the lift lobby to the hospital wards was interesting in its own right. Being amazed at how people can blatantly smoke right there with 'No Smoking' signs plastered all over and the wards just steps away. The wards, both the main corridors were full of the beds against one side. The patients simply recuperating and having their drips with relatives next to them, in the corridor. The environment was anything but conducive for recuperation. For those who are fortunate enough to get a room, (and mind you, you aren't getting a room even if you have the cash to splash. They simply did not have any vacant space), the space and comfort over at Tekong is far superior to those that Sun Yat-Sen University 1st Affiliated Hospital. I can only say that the conditions are simply appalling.
But that's not even appalling enough compared to what I am to encounter. Patients fresh from surgery are wheeled from the operating theatre onto a ROAD for a short distance OUTDOORS before reaching the main building. It's a ROAD, within the hospital vicinity, where there are throngs of people walking.. with the occasion car passing by and a CONSTRUCTION SITE right next to it. A patient just out from surgery being transferred in open space next to a construction site. You draw your own conclusions. And this is the top hospital in GZ with arguably the best medical expertise in the Pearl Delta Region except HKG. Admittedly, the current location of the operating theatres is temporary pending the completion of the new surgical building but this arrangement is simply unacceptable. I was made known that this is an isolated situation and that other hospitals do have proper exclusive access for patients heading to and from surgery but there simply isn't any excuse.
Now look back and think of the grandeur of the Bird Nest, Water Cube.. National Grand Theatre. For all that money, to put up that facade to showcase to the world that China is the next superpower. It is. It will be. But at what cost? It is, saddening to say the least to see for myself, just how inadequate the healthcare is in China and the alarming lack of new direction and revamp to improve the situation. GZ is currently building two skyscrapers which will rival the tallest buildings in the world upon completion, and everytime I look at the scaffoldings of those buildings, I wonder, If only those money had been directed to more practical purposes. If only.
And as if I haven't whined enough. I'm not done yet. I used to say, Guys are bastards, as much as girls are bitches, and sadly, I've always hoped to be proved wrong but save for a few anomalies, I've yet to see anything to suggest otherwise. In fact, guys are scumbags, and fine, include me in that. And part of the reason for the continued existence of scumbags, are the increasing number of the female species who are willing to be bitches so that there are scumbags. You see, Birds of the same feathers flock together. But boy am I glad that BanGanG epitomizes how not to be a Scumbag.
Some things never change... but some things do. For almost 104 months, I've only ever known one person who can make my heart rise and sink as much and as fast as the stock indices do these days. (yes, I'm hopeless) But cruel as it may be. Time waits for no one. While I've stood my ground, it has become increasingly clear that the grass is indeed very green outside, and the worse thing is, it just gets greener and greener. As one of my friend told me some time ago, "Wah, Good luck man". Yeah. I need it.
Walking from the lift lobby to the hospital wards was interesting in its own right. Being amazed at how people can blatantly smoke right there with 'No Smoking' signs plastered all over and the wards just steps away. The wards, both the main corridors were full of the beds against one side. The patients simply recuperating and having their drips with relatives next to them, in the corridor. The environment was anything but conducive for recuperation. For those who are fortunate enough to get a room, (and mind you, you aren't getting a room even if you have the cash to splash. They simply did not have any vacant space), the space and comfort over at Tekong is far superior to those that Sun Yat-Sen University 1st Affiliated Hospital. I can only say that the conditions are simply appalling.
But that's not even appalling enough compared to what I am to encounter. Patients fresh from surgery are wheeled from the operating theatre onto a ROAD for a short distance OUTDOORS before reaching the main building. It's a ROAD, within the hospital vicinity, where there are throngs of people walking.. with the occasion car passing by and a CONSTRUCTION SITE right next to it. A patient just out from surgery being transferred in open space next to a construction site. You draw your own conclusions. And this is the top hospital in GZ with arguably the best medical expertise in the Pearl Delta Region except HKG. Admittedly, the current location of the operating theatres is temporary pending the completion of the new surgical building but this arrangement is simply unacceptable. I was made known that this is an isolated situation and that other hospitals do have proper exclusive access for patients heading to and from surgery but there simply isn't any excuse.
Now look back and think of the grandeur of the Bird Nest, Water Cube.. National Grand Theatre. For all that money, to put up that facade to showcase to the world that China is the next superpower. It is. It will be. But at what cost? It is, saddening to say the least to see for myself, just how inadequate the healthcare is in China and the alarming lack of new direction and revamp to improve the situation. GZ is currently building two skyscrapers which will rival the tallest buildings in the world upon completion, and everytime I look at the scaffoldings of those buildings, I wonder, If only those money had been directed to more practical purposes. If only.
And as if I haven't whined enough. I'm not done yet. I used to say, Guys are bastards, as much as girls are bitches, and sadly, I've always hoped to be proved wrong but save for a few anomalies, I've yet to see anything to suggest otherwise. In fact, guys are scumbags, and fine, include me in that. And part of the reason for the continued existence of scumbags, are the increasing number of the female species who are willing to be bitches so that there are scumbags. You see, Birds of the same feathers flock together. But boy am I glad that BanGanG epitomizes how not to be a Scumbag.
Some things never change... but some things do. For almost 104 months, I've only ever known one person who can make my heart rise and sink as much and as fast as the stock indices do these days. (yes, I'm hopeless) But cruel as it may be. Time waits for no one. While I've stood my ground, it has become increasingly clear that the grass is indeed very green outside, and the worse thing is, it just gets greener and greener. As one of my friend told me some time ago, "Wah, Good luck man". Yeah. I need it.
I suppose many of you who still read this post must have been sick and tired of the endless aircraft photos but... here's more! =X
The system failure at Changi Airport resulting in queues never seen before at Changi. Kudos to the SQ ground staff however, for their calm and measured approach in handling the scores of passengers flooding them with queries and with the manual check-in procedures.
Old-School SQ Cabin, a far cry from the 777-300ERs for my MEL-SIN.
Touching down after a short 4-hr hop..
And Back Home at Changi T3..And for those who might have taken offence with some of my comments, just take it that I'm just rambling off mindlessly and take it with a pinch of salt, 'cos literally, I nearly did my head, a nasty knock that had blood trickling down. But hey, I still conjured up with THE LONGEST post ever, since this blog's inception.
