General elections are here!

General elections are here, and there is really a sense of excitement in the air. This is the 2nd time since independence in 1965 that the People's Action Party (PAP) was not returned to power on nomination day. At the last elections in 2006, 47 out of 84 seats were contested, the first time that the PAP was not returned to power on nomination day. But they still won 82 out of 84 seats in parliament.
This time around, 82 out of 87 seats are contested, and there is a hope that this will be a watershed election where the number of opposition seats in parliament can grow.

There is a great disparity between the support for the incumbent and opposition at the nightly rallies. But whether this opposition support translates into votes or not remains to be seen. First picture is of turnout at PAP rally, second picture is of the turnout at an opposition rally.

For Matthew...

Well, these are technically trams rather than trains... but I thought Matthew might be interested in them still... it's a cross between a train and a bus.

There's a green one... they share the road with cars and bicycles. So there are tram lines in the middle of the road, and more complicated traffic rules at junctions.

And here is a brown tram waiting at the traffic light for its turn. The brown trams are free for everyone apparently, sponsored jointly by the tourism board and the city council and maybe someone else.

Hello from Downunder!

I am currently holidaying in Melbourne, Australia, for a week, visiting my aunt and uncle who have migrated here. And this is my prize photo from today's visit to the city centre.

Mobile phones are taking over the world!

Well, at least they seem to be doing so in Singapore.

On the MRT (mass rapid transit) train, almost everyone entertains themselves by looking at their mobile phone...

My husband is no exception, here he is playing with his phone.

Even little kids play with them! If ever there was a plan to take over the world, I think the plan will have to include mobile phones.

Sorry for the long radio silence...

... have been struggling with nausea and fatigue as there is a little baby cooking in my tummy!

Here is a picture of it at 6 weeks... just a blob. :P

And here is a picture of it at 12 weeks... more of a shape to it... this was taken on Thursday 31 March.

Man selling roasted chestnuts...

 

The things that you can't do...

On the MRT train... with the relevant fine, presumably proportional to the magnitude of the offence. Note that you can't bring durians (a pungent smelling fruit) on the MRT train, but there isn't a fine for it.