Sunday, September 06, 2009
I saw something interesting today!
I was on a shuttle bus today when i witness this happening.
Involved were 3 kids... and their parents' handphones.
Kid 1&2 are siblings. Kid 3 is a kid who didn't managed to get a seat on the crowded shuttle bus. All 3 were sharing 2 seats on the bus because the kind parent of Kids 1&2 asked if Kid 3 would like to squeeze and have a seat with her children (so nice of her!).
Starting out, Kids 1&2 were keeping to themselves while Kid 3 was sitting awkwardly to the side. After awhile, Kid 3's mom passed her a handphone in an attempt to provide some sort of entertainment for her. Kid 3 sat and started fiddling with the phone, playing some weird game that I've never seen before... Before long, you can see Kids 1&2 itching in their seats, trying to get a view of Kid 3's phone screen. Before you can say "voila!", Kid 1 (older) asked: "What game are you playing?" Borrowing his sibling's courage, Kid 2 soon joined in with a comment of his own: "Can we see what you are playing?". With a meek "YES" uttered by Kid 3, they all started talking.
Not to be outdone by Kid 3, Kids 1&2's mom handed over her phone to Kid 1. Now you see a power shift. Kid 1 now has everybody's attention, and is milking it. Kid 2 now feels inadequate so he started yelling for his dad's handphone. Its ridiculously funny seeing how all of them ended up playing with handphone games and in the process, start up introductions.
PERFECT example of how new media contributes to increase in social interactions!
(then again, me with a "new media research" book and a weird indian national can also lead to conversations on the mrt. WEIRD la. DON'T LAUGH at me!=x)
I also noticed power shift and dominance in a group setting. Its pretty amazing. Maybe I should go out and do field research on this and use it as possible thesis in the future. o.O
--------------
On Wed, I met up with the normal gang.
We went to Cafeteria ilLido located at Suntec.
Its a newly opened restaurant located right beside crystal jade, around the fountain at Basement 1. We went there because I read 8days and they recommended that place in the food review section. I have to say that i'm disappointed. Let me explain myself...
I feel that going to a restaurant for dining, no matter how "budget" it might be, I place much emphasis on the service of the staff there. After all, we pay 7% more for SERVICE CHARGE plus goods and SERVICE tax(GST)! So by right, we are entitled to expect at least a basic standard of service.
I shall dis the restaurant first before talking about its redeeming qualities..
Firstly, when we reached there, we told the waiter that we wanted a table for 4. Upon being shown to our table (albeit SLOWLY considering the place was 3/4 empty), he attempted to remove the "extra" set of cutlery from the table (there were 3 of us present, waiting for the 4th to show up from dance lessons. hahaha). That totally showed that he wasn't paying attention!! We said table for 4. I held up 4 fingers. I doubt he did that because he misheard or misunderstood me.
Secondly, the length of time they need to bring over requested items is SO long you can't help but wonder if they were just distilling the water (for iced water) or waiting for the farmer to grow wheat for flour (for pizza). I am not making this sound ridiculous. It IS ridiculous.
Thirdly, it doesn't help that the waiters and waitresses were very slow to respond, it was made worse by the weirdness of them. Their expressions made me wonder if they were from outer space or if that was the first time they were encountering other humans. When they took orders, (one waiter particularly), liked to give funny faces like grimaces or some expression that involves contortion of the facial muscles. I find it disturbing. Its just not normal... eeks.
Another thing that bugged me while I was there, besides the service, was the decor of the entire place. Granted that it was named CAFETERIA, a more run down look may pass. BUT the whole place was so dull, gloomy, boring that it took the life out of me.
Dining should be an EXPERIENCE. While this place didn't leave me with a great one, you bet it gave me an EXPERIENCE I won't rush into voluntarily the next time.
Now on to the better points of the restaurant.
The food wasn't all that bad. In fact the taste was full-bodied and acceptable. The orange fried chicken was rather good. The price that we were paying for it justified the food standard at least. But considering that the chef is a renown pastry chef, the thin crust pizza just didn't quite make it. Timbre's pizza wins hands down. No doubts about it.
You can guess that the food wasn't too expensive. We had a total of 6 dishes and paid about $52 dollars. That was a meal for 4 persons...
So if you are looking for a place to try, I wouldn't recommend it unless all other places are filled to the brim. Astons is loads better. Seriously.
----------------
One last thing before I end this post.
On our way home, all 4 of us bumped into a group of 3 girls that happened to be people that we know. Would you believe it that the breakdown of both groups became 2(us)1(them), 1(us)1(them), 1(us)1(them)?? Basically, everyone in our group knew someone in the other group and it was a "know ONE and ONLY ONE person from the other group thing". Really goes to show how crazily interconnected our social circles are. Our primary school friends might end up as best friends of our uni coursemate, your friend's other half might be your good friend's ex-classmate... its crazy!!
I shall point all responsibilities of the creation of such craziness to EDUCATION!
Be careful what you say, and to whom. You never know... your bitchiness might get you in HUGE trouble.
------
Yes i'm FINALLY done. =)
up next, more restaurant reviews... I've been devouring loads of good food lately. Its no wonder i'm getting rounder. =x
CHEERS~
I was on a shuttle bus today when i witness this happening.
Involved were 3 kids... and their parents' handphones.
Kid 1&2 are siblings. Kid 3 is a kid who didn't managed to get a seat on the crowded shuttle bus. All 3 were sharing 2 seats on the bus because the kind parent of Kids 1&2 asked if Kid 3 would like to squeeze and have a seat with her children (so nice of her!).
Starting out, Kids 1&2 were keeping to themselves while Kid 3 was sitting awkwardly to the side. After awhile, Kid 3's mom passed her a handphone in an attempt to provide some sort of entertainment for her. Kid 3 sat and started fiddling with the phone, playing some weird game that I've never seen before... Before long, you can see Kids 1&2 itching in their seats, trying to get a view of Kid 3's phone screen. Before you can say "voila!", Kid 1 (older) asked: "What game are you playing?" Borrowing his sibling's courage, Kid 2 soon joined in with a comment of his own: "Can we see what you are playing?". With a meek "YES" uttered by Kid 3, they all started talking.
Not to be outdone by Kid 3, Kids 1&2's mom handed over her phone to Kid 1. Now you see a power shift. Kid 1 now has everybody's attention, and is milking it. Kid 2 now feels inadequate so he started yelling for his dad's handphone. Its ridiculously funny seeing how all of them ended up playing with handphone games and in the process, start up introductions.
PERFECT example of how new media contributes to increase in social interactions!
(then again, me with a "new media research" book and a weird indian national can also lead to conversations on the mrt. WEIRD la. DON'T LAUGH at me!=x)
I also noticed power shift and dominance in a group setting. Its pretty amazing. Maybe I should go out and do field research on this and use it as possible thesis in the future. o.O
--------------
On Wed, I met up with the normal gang.
We went to Cafeteria ilLido located at Suntec.
Its a newly opened restaurant located right beside crystal jade, around the fountain at Basement 1. We went there because I read 8days and they recommended that place in the food review section. I have to say that i'm disappointed. Let me explain myself...
I feel that going to a restaurant for dining, no matter how "budget" it might be, I place much emphasis on the service of the staff there. After all, we pay 7% more for SERVICE CHARGE plus goods and SERVICE tax(GST)! So by right, we are entitled to expect at least a basic standard of service.
I shall dis the restaurant first before talking about its redeeming qualities..
Firstly, when we reached there, we told the waiter that we wanted a table for 4. Upon being shown to our table (albeit SLOWLY considering the place was 3/4 empty), he attempted to remove the "extra" set of cutlery from the table (there were 3 of us present, waiting for the 4th to show up from dance lessons. hahaha). That totally showed that he wasn't paying attention!! We said table for 4. I held up 4 fingers. I doubt he did that because he misheard or misunderstood me.
Secondly, the length of time they need to bring over requested items is SO long you can't help but wonder if they were just distilling the water (for iced water) or waiting for the farmer to grow wheat for flour (for pizza). I am not making this sound ridiculous. It IS ridiculous.
Thirdly, it doesn't help that the waiters and waitresses were very slow to respond, it was made worse by the weirdness of them. Their expressions made me wonder if they were from outer space or if that was the first time they were encountering other humans. When they took orders, (one waiter particularly), liked to give funny faces like grimaces or some expression that involves contortion of the facial muscles. I find it disturbing. Its just not normal... eeks.
Another thing that bugged me while I was there, besides the service, was the decor of the entire place. Granted that it was named CAFETERIA, a more run down look may pass. BUT the whole place was so dull, gloomy, boring that it took the life out of me.
Dining should be an EXPERIENCE. While this place didn't leave me with a great one, you bet it gave me an EXPERIENCE I won't rush into voluntarily the next time.
Now on to the better points of the restaurant.
The food wasn't all that bad. In fact the taste was full-bodied and acceptable. The orange fried chicken was rather good. The price that we were paying for it justified the food standard at least. But considering that the chef is a renown pastry chef, the thin crust pizza just didn't quite make it. Timbre's pizza wins hands down. No doubts about it.
You can guess that the food wasn't too expensive. We had a total of 6 dishes and paid about $52 dollars. That was a meal for 4 persons...
So if you are looking for a place to try, I wouldn't recommend it unless all other places are filled to the brim. Astons is loads better. Seriously.
----------------
One last thing before I end this post.
On our way home, all 4 of us bumped into a group of 3 girls that happened to be people that we know. Would you believe it that the breakdown of both groups became 2(us)1(them), 1(us)1(them), 1(us)1(them)?? Basically, everyone in our group knew someone in the other group and it was a "know ONE and ONLY ONE person from the other group thing". Really goes to show how crazily interconnected our social circles are. Our primary school friends might end up as best friends of our uni coursemate, your friend's other half might be your good friend's ex-classmate... its crazy!!
I shall point all responsibilities of the creation of such craziness to EDUCATION!
Be careful what you say, and to whom. You never know... your bitchiness might get you in HUGE trouble.
------
Yes i'm FINALLY done. =)
up next, more restaurant reviews... I've been devouring loads of good food lately. Its no wonder i'm getting rounder. =x
CHEERS~
