A flat of my choice

MY sister and I were so tired after climbing up and down of more than 10 flats which are higher than 4th story. We're going another township with the prospect of finding a suitable one. In fact we are distraught with the manner of talkative agents. We are getting understand the condition of market and the possible flat type we can buy with our budget. We can summarize ourselves that we can't get a normal flat without spending more than 10 millions local currency. The whole afternoon had been spent on one township flats and we could able to satisfy with one hall-type flat which cost us 16 millions Kyat. We continue our hunting journey by taxi and make appointment with a sister of my friend couple who are also working in Singapore.

My friend couple had bought 2 flats in one housing and they strongly recommend me to buy one within their premise. She explained me how their flat look like and how pleasant their surrounding is just before I return home land. I didn't go there first because the flat price of that housing is far beyond my budget. However, after I made some survey around, I understood that the hall-type flats prices also raised and beyond my budget. Thus, I wanted to give a try in those housing in which flat come room-type. The housing is located in a popular township and easily accessible by public transport. It's mature estate and situated amidst of landed property. I guess the price would be sky high even I haven't seen the flat. I see surrounding of the housing when I first time go in by taxi.

The sister of my friend help me arrange with potential sellers to view their flats physically. Firstly I take a rest for a while at her flat and study how the flat is lay out and built. I straight away liked the flat style by seeing their house. It's healthy flat which receive enough natural lighting and ventilation. It come by separate rooms in which 2 bedrooms, living, dinning, kitchen and common bath & WC. One level is composed of 4 flats and all flats are corner. Thus there would be no other neighboring apartment/project to steal our light and air. Since it's done by government's housing authority's supervision, the flats come solid and appear good quality finishing. Each flat has its own balcony as well as wide verandah. My sister and I were happy to see the flat and both agree to buy such flat rather than hall type flat which we saw in previous visit to other towns.

There are two options available, one come without furnish at level 3 for 18 millions while another come with fully renovation at level 4 for 20 millions. We go and sight seeing two flats available for final decision and price negotiating. We met flat owners and it's positive for us not to medium any property agent. In addition, there need not to talk land owner as this housing is owned by government. I asked the sister of my friend for the cost of renovation her house. She said it cost them about 5 millions recently for timber parquet at living room and bed rooms, tiling at bath, wc and kitchen, security iron grilling at all windows and entrance door. It help me to decide on how much we should ask the owner to lower down the asking price. Finally, we choice the furnished flat at level 4 for 19 millions, 10 millions less from asking price. We verbally agree on the case and make appointment for deposit and sign pre-contract. We could able to sight after that. We tentatively finished the mission and it's going to continue until we make final contract within 2 week time. It's not going to be easy as we don't know what are procedure and how to check if the flat seller are real owners and there is no hidden risks.

We consult with my cousin sister if we need to hire lawyer or not. She got a lot experience on local property market and she advise me to better hire layer for further documentation checking and final step of contract. I agree with her and travel to my home town at upper Burmese. We paid 300,000 deposit and make appointment within 2 week time before I return Singapore. What're waiting me ahead? I can't stop keep thinking of this. At the moment, I try to think of joyous moment by meeting my princess in my hometown. It's been about 9 months I haven't seen her and I am back now to attend her 1 year Birthday celebration. I have partially done for one mission attached this time visit. What is going to happen in my final contract. Please stay tune in. I'll be back in next post.

To be continue.

Girl for Gold

On a pleasant day, I was chatting with a taxi driver on the way to my destination. He suddenly asked me if I'm married or not. When I said yes, he continue to question me whether got child or not. I said the same yes. He curious if my child is girl or boy. I response him mine is girl. He cheer me by telling it's good to have a girl today. I am a bit confuse with the reason he gave me as I know the culture of this society favor the gender of male. Thus, I ask him if he got any reason for his confident answer. He provides me a better picture to fully accept his claim.

Taxi Driver: Do you know 4C.
Me : Yes I know, It is the shortcut for Cash, Car, Condo & Country Club membership
TD : Good, you must have been here for quite long.
Me : Just more than 3 years
TD : Ok, the real fact is you will find it difficult to get a gf unless you have those 4C.
Me : isn't it? then where gone real love among younger couple?
TD : believe me, young girls are more fashionable and they would prefer to choose men who possess 4C regardless of age, handsome.
Me : if it's a case, it's not good for all adult men, I think
TD : Yes, we all Singaporean men found that it's very expensive to marry our fellow women.
Me : Imm I oftenly read such news in the local papers.
TD : So we Singaporean men have to choose alternative plan by opting to marry foreign brides.
Me : No wonder there have been such agent on the paper advertisement.
TD : Yes you are right, it has become a good business for them.
Me : Imm, customer can take their choice for S$4,000 in return.
TD : You must be a good reader.
Me : I enjoy to read daily paper, it's my only source of polishing my English.
TD : It's good anyway.
Me : Thanks for your elaboration.
TD : any time
Me : I once read a quote saying that "my daughter is my daughter until she die while my son is my son until he married."
TD : yes it's correct, we Chinese has a proverb that "my son is my son until he married and he become his wife's son".
Me : Woo, I never heard before. This also reflective of our real lives.
TD : Yes it is.
Me : Thanks for sharing.
TD : So do I.

After we depart, I carefully thought what we have talked on the way and more pleased to be a father of daughter. It look like we're more safety with daughter in future than having son. Despite our culture don't teach us to expect something from our children, we are obviously interdependent as a human beings. Thus, we are less or more depend when we become old and retired. Our culture teach our younger generation how to take care and respect their old grandparent and parent. We don't need to set up so many senior citizen houses as our child gladly take their own parent at their home. It show our culture still valuable to be appreciated.

May all parent love their child regardless of gender.

King & Queen

ANOTHER taxi driver shared interesting story that he had witnessed. One day a couple took his taxi and talking each other at behind. He notice the couple are not same race. Man is Singaporean and his wife is Thailand. Singaporean husband cannot speak Thai language while the wife can't understand English. But this two person can live together as a husband and wife under the same roof. The taxi driver was itchy to ask his wondering and eventually he frankly asked his fellow citizen husband.

TD : I really don't understand how two of you communicate.
Men: May be you are not, but we still have a good relationship.
TD : How?
Men: This is my wife & I had previous marriage relationship with my fellow citizen.
TD : so how does it split?
Men : She always wants me to treat her like a Queen.
TD : so, you can not bear in the long run?
Men : Yes of course, at first ok, in the long run, I felt it's unfair and even bully at me.
TD : good then you choice to break with her and met Thai wife?
Men : Yes I am.
TD : the are you finding new life is happy enough?
Men : Yes I am because she treats me like a King.

Taxi driver suddenly got an answer himself that people want to be loved, respected and appreciated regardless of race, religious and nationalities.

Lets treat our life partners as a King/Queen....:D

Mum's curry

I like to talk with taxi driver whenever I use their service. I see it a chance to understand the life of ordinary Singaporean. And they are deemed an informative person. On a fine day, I am going to a meeting which is so far away from my office. The traveling time is more than one hour as the venue and my office is located two extreme end of city state. That's why I got a chance to talk with a Singapore Malaysian taxi driver. He is quite friendly and active in talking. I was quite by thinking about the agenda of the upcoming meeting. He started to ask me by a simple question.
Taxi driver : are you Singaporean?
Me : No, I am not.
TD : Then where are you coming from?
Me : Myanmar
TD : Oh I see, how long have you been here?
Me : More than 3 years.
TD : Are you SPRs ready?
Me : Not yet, my application for SPR had been rejected for 2 time.
TD : Immm, this time may be difficult, I think.
Me : I believe so.

He silent for while and continue with a question....

TD : by the way, what do you miss most when you are away from home?
Me : Ummm,,,,,,,,(I'm just thinking of proper answer for his Q)
TD : he come out with answer by saying "it's mother's curry", aren't you?
Me : Oh definitely yes, brother..I agree with you.
TD : Yes, our traditional women are usually cooking at home for the whole family.
Me : ya it's good for everybody, I think.
TD : But......such traditional is no longer with our women nowadays.
Me : How,,,brother?
TD : Today women even don't know how to cook at home.
Me : So they all enjoy outside foods at hawker center?
TD : Yes it is the way they are passing their life.
Me : Then how is your wife? Is she one of such women?
TD : She also don't want to cook at home. I understand her as she also working and tired enough at the end of the day. She prefer to dine at outside.
Me : So you follow lah?
TD : No, I suggest her to cook at least once or twice a week so that our childs enjoy home made foods.
Me : Imm should be...
TD : It's not I want to save money, it's a way to bond among family members.
Me : You're absolutely right.
TD : At day time, we parent are going work while our children are going school. The home is empty until the bed time because everybody come back home after having their dinner at their convenient places. So home become just like a hostel/ inn. I don't want my family becoming like that.
Me : Imm,,,my wife and I always eat dinner together.
TD : Moreover, one day our children will go out oversea like you do, then there wouldn't be something to be remember at home if my wife fails to cook and serve them now.
Me : Oh it's good attitude, bro. I appreciate that.
TD : Sometime she even complain that some Chinese men are cooking, washing in their household while I don't need to.
Me : Really?
TD : I told her go and marry him lah...I am very upset to be compared like that.
Me : Yes she shouldn't use this as a reason/excuse for don't want to cook at home.
TD : Are you married?
Me : Yes I am
TD : Does your wife cooking at home?
Me : Yes of course, it's our traditional as well.
TD : You are lucky enough man.
Me : Hope so,,,she also working here.
TD : It's additional bonus, my friend.
Me : Am I considered fortunate enough to have cooking and working wife?
TD : Yes of course, it's valuable and appreciate it.
Me : Ok I'll remember that.

We silent again and taxi is approaching the destination. I wonder what if I told him that my wife is earning more than me as well........

May all men possess a cooking wife to shake their hearts for ever.

The Lady

THE world's media call her the lady, we affectionately call her Amay (mother) Su. She is another quality product from Burma to date. My country has been generating few world renowned leaders to date and she is one of those few elite list. The world had seen first ever Asian UN general secretary from Burma for instance. She is not coming from the ordinary background family. She has blood of our national hero general Aung San who is assassinated by fellow citizen just before the nation independent. Her grand-father was also popular national hero of anti-British in his time. So no wonder she has been politically famous not only in domestic but all over the world for his unrivaled service to mother land.

She set up NLD (National League for Democracy) and won 1990 election by landslide. But her party wasn't handed over to date since then. Instead, she had to make her own house a jail. Since her blood is so red, surrendering is not a word for her dictionary. She keep going and presenting the people's choice. She is never armed any weapon but the million soldier army afraid of her. There must be some kind of powerful in her mind. She is caged for more than decades but Junta never think of relax. She must has possess some magic power. She is quietly staying in her own house but the world has been awarding her several honorable prices. She must have an internationally recognized brain. People are proud of her non-violence activities but she still fail to get a place in our brand new parliament. Recently she went parliament to attend national work shop for business review with the invitation of President. People are too happy to see her in the photo of journals. I can't imagine how much people would be happy if she really acquire the right post in this parliament.

To be honest, I am not admirer of this powerful lady until I listen her question and answer section through video conference with the sponsor of Hong Kong University's 100th years anniversary. I thought she is making herself too safety without recognizing those who died for democracy previously. I thought she is too silent to fight back Junta. I thought she will never get power by non-violent method. I thought she is not as good as world's media stated. I thought world's media over awarded her so that they can involve in our politic more. I thought NLD is taking advantage from the donates of outside world by just branding. In general, I don't have valuable respect to the lady and her party until I listen to her speech.

Coincidentally, I was listening the speeches of 4 candidates of recent presidential election that time. Also I am always listening the PM's national day rally as well as other minister's speech whenever I got a chance in this country. Sometime I listen other leaders of the region in the media coverage. It make me do effectively comparison between the lady and the leaders of the ASEAN. I was overwhelmingly impressed by her answers to the students and lecturers of the Hong Kong University's 100th year celebration recently. The question cover very wide range from politic to religious, from human right to education, from democracy to healthcare, etc. I can't remember everything she speaks as there are so much cover and deep in depth.

I respected the way she speak in English and the way she answer to all questionnaire through video conference technology. It is instant question and answer. There is no room to be thought/ considered. But her answers are smooth and impressive. The lecturers and students are asking her as a genius. They paid her fully respect upon her manner. She seem so charming and so mature as a human being. I fully recommend those Q&A section to you if you haven't listen yet. It can be access via youtube. What you need to do is just type Aung San Su Kyi and thy youtube will suggest a lot related upload with regard to her. I hope you all like it and respect and appreciate the words she spoken. I even decided to do for her in future if I am give a chance. I hope I can get my wish sooner or later.

Sincerely hope Burma will has its version of female President in near future. If Thailand could have female PM, why not for Burma? I tell you it'll come sooner than later. Just wait and see how. Time will tell us the truth story as this land is belong to those who give more than 100% like the lady. I believe people will follow her good leadership when she conquer the presidential house in NPD. We can smell the changing now and sure we will see her wear the national dress and sit on president's seat sooner than later.