happy birthday, singapore!
As you may know, I hail from Batu Pahat, Johor which is about 1.5 hours from Singapore (by car).
I was a TV addict, but believe it or not, I never seldom watch Malaysian TV until I was around 20 years old (I watched old P. Ramlee movies on M’sian TV). And that was because I had no choice - once you go past Muar, it’s highly difficult to receive Singapore channels on TV. My family, friends and I grew up on Channel 8’s 7-8 pm and 9 - 10 pm series and when I could understand English a little better, I was hooked on Channel 5. Until today I still miss it for the variety of programmes, but 8TV is doing a good job filling the void.
Zoe Tay, 8 Days, Vernetta Lopez, the rise-halt-rise of Fann Wong, Jack Neo and Moses Lim, Liang Popo, Ang Mo Kio, Sentosa, Kumar, Najip Ali and his talk show, 3-room HDB flats with a small playground at every other block, Russell Lee, too underage to enter a pub at Boat Quay, too underaged to visit my grandmother in the hospital ward, Yakult (it was only recently brought into Malaysia), Ah Meng, my first circus experience are among those little things that I remember.
Heck, I can even sing the Singapore’s national anthem better than some Singaporeans 
Then I grew up, moved to KL and lost touch with Singapore. In 2003 I re-visited this tiny island that is reaping all of Malaysia’s good qi from our Titiwangsa Range, only to be…
I mean, WTF!!!
But that visit in 2003 was also my first time seeing the famous merlion. I told my Singaporean friend and guide Pinky that I wanted to do the tourist things and she delivered.
I had a few firsts in Singapore as well. My first Hoegaarden, and my first Paulaner.
When I said before that Singaporeans queue up and wait for their turn, I was referring to a gay club somewhere in Tanjung Pagar, which was opposite a place where Jaime and I were having supper.
The queue went ALL THE WAY to the other side of the building! It looked really fun, but we were too tired to go clubbing that night, plus the idea of waiting in THAT line was exhausting enough.
There is a lot of bad blood between Malaysians and Singaporeans for a variety of reasons. They say this, we say that, they do that, we do this… politics, leaders, water, culture, media, education, exposure, history influence etc etc etc. There won’t be an end to this love-hate relationship of ours anytime soon. When all is said and done, I personally believe that there is a lot they can learn from us, and a lot that we can learn from them. Oh well 
(Edit: that sounds a bit offhand, doesn’t it? We’ll leave the point-to-point differences for later.)
Happy birthday, Singapore
Love Thy Neighbours.
Happy Birthday Singapore.
You Singapore bloggers better do the same for Malaysia on 31 August
omg… FROM CONVENT?
Funny, S’pore having national day, but they come to Johor to celebrate.
Oh well,….
True. They come by the loads up the hill to gamble away their hard earned money. Hm…… bz like f**k and what do i get - satisfaction from work…… er……… more like back ache and hoarse.
Anyway, ours is coming. What malaysians do on that day ?
Know what I love about Singapore? The Serangoon Rd Hokkien mee! Best in the world.
Singaporeans suck balls, they are gays. And they have to use chopsticks cos their cocks are too short.
Yum Yum .. Suanie pak suit suit wat luit luit
:-P””’
OMG! Lookout! The merlion is spitting on Suanie’s head!
kim: wah piang… why you so ‘dok’ one…
Hey, I still remember the SBC8 and SBC5 days. My childhood years revolve around SBC’s channels and then come the time when they changed SBC’s name to Media Corp (i don remember which year was that already).
But 1 thing for sure, I’m exactly the same as Suanie, never watched the Malaysian channel until about the age of 20. I wouldn’t wana watch even if today (if I have the choice). Seems like I can’t escape that.
Thanks to S’pore tv, I’m good in my mandarin and English today. Even my friend don believe me that I can’t read and write in Chinese. I too still miss S’pore channel. The educative and accurate subtitle with the correct grammar (SHAME for M’sian irresponsible broadcaster with inappropriate English subtitle).
Hey, I too know how to sing the S’pore National Anthem =P. You have to admit it rhythm better than Negaraku. But still, Malaysia BOLEH!!! And to Suanie, you makes BP-ian proud!!! Kudos!!!
halo…halo….
as a boy that grown up from the same kampung as you, Singapore is part of our childhood…..
i really like this particular topic as it brings lots of good memories……
nice work gal…..
you’re absolutely right… i can sing Majulah Singapura and know what it means better than my singapore friends… but its all good… its all good…
I have a Merlion on my bookcase. Admittedly, it doesn’t spit water on anyone’s head!
Reminds me of something my mother told me. When she was young, her father told her that he was so respected by the Malaysians that they wrote a song about him (they were living near Changi at the time). So he taught her the song. Later she found out, it was the Malay National Anthem!
Bwahahaaaaa! Poor mum!
yeap
make a national parade simulation and broadcast on tv because no one dare to go out
ppl told me about it but i haven’t tried it yet
chill woman… heh
yo Alvin how’s it going? heh yeah I remember it being SBC .. gosh time flies
Hey. Nice photos.
The Merlion looks like its spitting water on ur head. Amazing.
Cheers!
Hello, my name is Pinky … I am Suanie’s first love at the Spraying Merlion. I will never forget that moment in time. It felt like time stood still and the Merlion stopped spraying. It was …. *sniff* … magical. SUANIE BABY! I WILL ALWAYS LUB CHEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW 4EVAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!
bwahahahahahahaha. p/s: make sure u lub me 4eva too K?? muak muak
all those comments brings back memories. Remember those days when Channel 8 was not a pure chinese channel, it was together with tamil. always waiting for verekam by the newsreader before we get to watch chinese serials. haha…
most people in BP can speak chinese because of Spore TV. but most of us can’t read and write. Even after going to “Cheng Siu” 3 times a week. haha….