Smart and not-so-smart face of our smart-to-be nation

Experienced the smart and not-so-smart face of our smart-to-be nation today.

Went to NTUC at Tiong Bahru Plaza to grab an isotonic drink after a run in the afternoon. Started drinking while queuing to pay via the self-service machine. For those of you who are familiar with the self-service machine, the drill goes like this - (1) scan the item(s), (2) place the item(s) into the bag and (3) pay. Was stopped at (2) with a message that assistance is coming my way.

Weird, I thought. So it turned out that the machine detected that the isotonic drink weighted less than it was supposed to be (because I drank half of it!). According to the assistant, some customers buy 2 items but only pay for it and the machine can help to detect this! OMG - so smart right?

Decided to grab tomorrow's breakfast and I only had a credit card with me. And guess what, I did not managed to because Old Chang Kee and Four Leaves do not accept credit cards! Only NETS and cash. I thought these popular shops should have the basic credit facility! OMG - you mean I might go hungry in a smart nation?

Well, I shall not make a mountain out of a molehill. This scenario is not new. Some of the food places like food court only accept cash or their own cashless card too. And that's the time I had to dig my wallet for the notes or the coins  to pay for my food. Well, I am quite cashless these days because I want to use my credit cards to meet my minimum spending and clock points. Must make every dollar and cent spent worked harder right?

Well, it's part of the journey towards a smart nation. I guess. Some amazing discoveries and some expectations not met along the way. We will get there, slowly and surely. 

Yay to long weekend in Singapore

Enjoyed the Hari Raya Puasa long weekend that has just passed. It was great to just rest and not to have to think of work (except for 1 hour on Sunday - no choice, boss messaged).

Spent Saturday packing the house (G was coming to visit) before heading to Ikea (so so crowded) then Vivo City for dinner with the family (SS was flying off to Seoul the next day).

Sunday was spent at home packing again (LOL) before staying over at my parents' place. Feeling very domestic.

No Monday blues as I went cycling at East Coast Park (ECP) with C and KL Did I mention before that we can now cycle from ECP to Marina Bay Sands via the Park Connector Network (PCN)? Have done it thrice and loved it! Definitely looking forward to this healthy fun again soon :) The finale? Meeting Grace for dinner before heading to my place. Was a good catch-up as it has been a while since Maldives (check out Life is an adventure).

Photo stop at the Bay. Glad we started the day early - Singapore is beautiful in the morning too!

That's our CBD.

First time I cycled past the Barrage to MBS. That's the older part of the CBD (as I termed it).

Another beautiful side of Singapore that I seldom see in the morning.

Back to where we started the day at Marine Parade Food Centre. Herd mentality got us queueing for the Kun Ji duck rice/roasted meat and the Da Dong prawn noodle.

Not in sight is the Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow which we have wolfed down- surprised there was no queue!

#ilovelongvacationsg #longweekend #harirayapuasa #food #East Coast Park #MarinaBaySand #ECP #MBS #MarineParadeFoodCentre

SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely

Met up with D yesterday and she was sharing what she wants to do with her life next. I was just blogging about the goals I want to achieve by 2021 as few days back. Rather coincidental - perhaps signs that are telling me to go for them!

Working overseas was one of the many things on my to-do list many years back but I did not have the courage to ask for an opportunity. I really don't know if I speak for my generation (the Gen Y) but I wish I was as brave as D and the millennials when I was their age - to have that relentless spirit to pursue their dreams. There is no way I can do that now. The only way is to move forward :)

Of the many things that I have learnt during my stint in HR, one of them is goal-setting in a SMART way - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. And yes, I have set the SMART goals on the sticky notes on my laptop. And surprisingly, I found it a lot easier to set smart personal goals than the annual goals that I had to set at work.

 #livingformyself