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Arthur Yap, Singapore Poet

When it comes to luxury, Singapore hotels are remarkable for anticipating the guests’ needs and wants. In a city with urban verve and gorgeous views, the hotels offer a place to call home in between all the adventures and excitement that the city offers.

One of the more international cities in the world, with its closeness to Taiwan and to China, Singapore is a source of inspiration to a host of writers. Arthur Yap is, many would argue, the most important and influential writer out of Singapore. His poetry is extremely delicate and precise, and contains an enormous sense of playfulness and poise. He has the same preference that e. e. cummings had for using all lower-case letters, and his work contains a certain ambiguity of place that inspire a sense of universality among readers. His work also contains a deep sense of irony and uncertainty, which reflect an attitude toward modernity and tradition. There is a sense of pull between these forces, and the tension is one that never quite reaches a conclusion. The result is a potent memory that rests like an uneasy bird in the consciousness of the careful reader.

Educated between Singapore and Leeds and Singapore again, Arthur Yap split his time between writing and teaching, demonstrating a dedication to continuing the Singapore letters tradition for the next generations. Arthur Yap argued for a kind of autonomous literature, one that could stand on its own without reference to other disciplines. His books of poems have won the National Book Development Council of Singapore Award a couple times, and he’s won the Cultural Medallion for Literature, as well as the South-East Asian Writer’s Award. After a long bout with throat cancer, he died in his sleep in Singapore in 2006.

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Singapore Business Protocol

Singapore is a city that is steeped in protocol and etiquette. This is perhaps the most important aspect of conducting business on the island. International business, is big business in Singapore. Many who travel to the country and stay in the best hotels in Singapore, may not be aware that this is a much more formal culture that that of Western countries such as the United States. One must realize that as it is true for the family unit in Singapore, it is also true in business, that the group or company success as a whole, is much more important than the individual. Singaporeans do not respect those that conduct business in a self-serving manner. There is a strict command chain, those who are in charge are, those who are in charge and their decisions should never be called into question.

In Singapore business, the personal relationship that one establishes becomes very important for the business relationship down the road. Good networking and ties to the right people will provide one with success in any given business venture. The culture is oriented in the group, and once one becomes part of the group, working in the city becomes much easier. These relationships are not created overnight. Patience is required as trust must be gained. It is necessary for the leaders to know that their people truly are in it for the long haul and not just simply the quick personal gain. Singaporeans are of a gentle nature, and the aggressive nature of some on Wall Street may not fair well in the Singapore business world. The calm and peaceful approach, is always the approach.

Most appointments and meeting are scheduled in writing, although in this day and age, many are now being accepted via the telephone or email. Punctuality is one of the many virtues Singaporeans believe that carries the weight of indicating a person’s character. Small talk and conversation is appropriate and expected before any meeting gets underway. Again, is it very important to refrain from criticism or disagreement with those that are senior in rank, as this may destroy the relationship. There are many things to consider when conducting international business, and the cultural expectations are among the top considerations.

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Legend of Bukit Merah

There are many myths surrounding the landmarks of Singapore and surrounding islands. One such legend is in regards to a hill in Singapore, Bukit Merah. Many call this Redhill as the soil on the hill is actually red. There are a view versions to the legend, but all make reference to bloody events. Long ago the island of Singapore was populated by fisherman, the main source of their substance and economy was the industry of fishing. Many times out at sea the fisherman would be attacked by swordfish. Legend has it that a child living close to the hill suggested to the men the idea of building a fence to protect against further attacks. So the fence was built using the trunks of banana trees. The swordfish attacked again, but were caught up on the tree trunks, thus the young boy was proved right in his idea. The fisherman were happy as they saw their battle was one. And the boy was celebrated.

However, as legend has it, the King was not so impressed. Known as the most handsome, the most intelligent, he could not bear it that someone else had out-thought him, and a small boy no less. He had been known for attacking those who took the attention away from him, and as he had done in the past, he did so now. He ordered the boy to be killed. When the soldiers appeared at the hill to carry out the king’s orders, a woman with long hair awaited them. She had created a spell, and what the soldiers saw was a red fountain, and understood this to be a fountain of blood. The soldiers were frightened and left without carrying out the king’s mission. In another version, the boy was actually murdered and the red soil is the result of his blood spilled.

Other areas around the world have natural environments with red soil such as the Papago Mountains in Tempe, Arizona and the Red Rocks of Sedona in Northern Arizona. The scientific explanation is that the soil is rich with aluminum and iron, which is quite common in hot climates. This is a beautiful landscape and should be part of any luxury travel. Singapore is known for these legends, and they add to the beauty of the island and the richness of the culture, regardless of the scientific explanations.

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Rule of Thumb

It is said, that in the United States, according to an out-dated, but never up-dated book of laws, that it is still legal for a husband to use a whip on his wife provided the welts left by the whip do not exceed the width of his own thumb. Hence the saying, “Rule of Thumb”. No doubt this is an urban myth, but in the city-state of Singapore whipping with a cane is legal, in the judiciary system as well as domestically. It is outlawed by the United Nations Convention Against Torture, however, Singapore has never signed to the Convention. And although much press has been given to cases in the past, and Amnesty International has condemned the legalized practice cruel and inhuman, it is still a widely used form of corporeal punishment.

Caning is legal in the home, in schools-private, reform, public and military. However the most severe forms, and one of the sad things that Singapore is widely known for around the world, is the practice of caning in the judicial and prison systems. Caning is a punishment reserved for the male population. Domestic and scholastic canings are carried out on younger children of either sex, but for the corporeal punishment sentenced by the courts, the requirement is that the subject be a male between the ages of 18 and 50, and must be proven to be in good physical health. Far from the Singapore luxury hotels, in a court room a judge will sentence caning, concurrent with a jail term, as no caning is sentenced to those that in the end to not go to jail. Sentences of caning are handed out to those who are convicted of robbery, rape, assault and prostitution. The famous case of the American student, Michael Fay, created outrage as he was struck with the cane four times, for spray painting cars. Vandalism yes, but he received the same kind of punishment as one who is convicted of rape.

There are precautions taken, padding to protect vital organs and specified areas on the body where one is allowed to cane another. Most often times the punished are caned across the buttocks. Medical attention is provided afterward, but this practice often mutilates the area and leaves permanent and sometimes horrific scars. All canings take place in one session, unless the one receiving the blows is deemed medically unfit to continue. In that case, the remaining strokes are delivered at a later date.

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Cheong Soo Pieng

Cheong Soo Pieng was born in China in 1917. He began studying art at the Xiamen Academy when he was just sixteen years old. He was the last of seven children and was not discouraged in his pursuit to become an artist by he family or more specifically his parents, but they did not encourage him either. His self motivation is obvious as he graduated from the fine art academy in just three years. He went on to further his studies in Shanghai, however his time there was cut short as the academy he was attending was destroyed during the Sino-Japenese war. So he decided to return to home and to the school of his youth to become a teacher there and to work on his own pieces. For he was known to be an incredible and an inspirational teacher, his own work and his own art making is what drove him. His first one man show was there at the school in 1942 and at the time, he worked in watercolor. Tubes of oil paint where extremely difficult to get a hold of in China at the time.

In 1945, after spending some time in Hong Kong, he decided to move to Singapore. He began teaching at the Nanyang Fine Art Academy. He was a well respected and admired teacher there for more than twenty years. And while he loved teaching, as stated earlier his true passion was in creating his own work. And just before he turned 50 he was able to retire and become a committed full time artist. His innovative and modern way in the school of NanYang Style, has him recognized even today, as one of Singapore’s most revered and influential painters. He continued to paint in watercolor, but became well versed in the use of oil painting and sculpture as well. In galleries, in businesses including the best hotels in Singapore, his works hang on the walls and continue to inspire those who view them, and to influence those who study painting and art. He was recognized for his life time of achievements by the National Museum and was scheduled to hang a retrospective show in 1983. His show was hung, however he passed away four months prior to the opening. His work lives on and he will continue to influence the world of modern art for all of time to come.

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Sustainable Living in Singapore

The government of Singapore has stepped in again. However, in ways that will benefit the rest of the world as well as the country, in terms of the environment. The belief is that it is now the responsibility of everyone to come together and fix the sick environment. There are government mandates as well as government reimbursement programs available. This is a long term program, with the realization that these problems of the pollution and energy usage cannot be fixed overnight. The people involved will need to endure and persevere in the continued care of the environment. The technology has become so advanced that to turn away from the possibilities now is not only a ridiculous notion, but quite a dangerous one as well. And some of the technology has become so advanced that at this point it is becoming less expensive for consumers to take advantage of and utilize the means of alternative energy. One of the government mandates requires big business such as resorts, restaurants and five star hotels Singapore to install water conservation devices in the toilets, urinals and taps. Not only has this cut down on the water usage in the city, but the continued incentive has been a noticeable reduction on the water bills for these establishments. Research and development has been underway for many years, on creating a viable means of desalination plants, thus furthering conservation and making the most of natural resources. Also a mandate for these big businesses as well as large apartment buildings and condominiums is a mandatory recycling program, which will be in effect by the end of 2009. Many of the landfills on the island have already been converted into eco-parks, wherein scientists and researchers are discovering new ways of recycling and new forms of renewable energy sources.

The government reimbursement programs include funding for the installation of the water saving devices as well as the installation of solar panels. Companies using air conditioning for big buildings will need to insure that they are using the most current and ecologically friendly models of air conditioners, and the government will provide rebates for this as well, sometimes picking up at least 80 percent of the cost to the consumer. Hybrid cars, the rebate program for those choosing to purchase alternative means of transportation has been extended to run throughout 2011. Giving people time to save up to buy these energy efficient vehicles, and then giving them a little bit back for their effort and continued dedication to the protection and care of the earth and her environment.

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