As the blue mascot Hai bao or the treasure of the sea welcomes you to the Shanghai Expo, remember that this world Expo is one of the places to be, in 2010. Along with 70 million visitors, more than 190 countries and more than 48 international and national organizations are taking place in this Expo with a Better City, Better Life theme.

I will never forgot those easy days long ago and far away. When I didn’t have to worry about which suit to wear in the morning, which Meeting to go to first or which Bill to pay last. My hands were small and I could barely hold my GameBoy with 2 hands.

Want to visit China this summer from Singapore? A large number of Singaporeans enjoyed visiting China, because they may have relatives and friends there. But if you are going to China for the first time, from Singapore, well, you do not have to worry at all, because you as an ordinary passport holder from Singapore do not need a visa to visit China. Same thing goes for Japanese tourists and tourists from Brunei. By the way, this visit is going to be limited only for 15 days for sightseeing, business services, visiting relatives in China, or for transit purposes.

So, all right. You have finally booked your ticket for a trip from Singapore to China. That is going to be a really memorable experience. But the moment you get off your flight, you may feel the sudden sense of déjà vu. You find China so much like Singapore and still not like Singapore. That is because Singapore is much more an amalgamation of ethnic cultures and multiplicities than China could ever be at this moment. So for all those people out there, strolling down the streets of Peking, here are some things that you have to know about China. Some are other amusing and some are downright practical, but that is what makes China so unique.

Yesterday I twittered this, “Aren’t Stewaredesses supposed to be pretty?”. Today you might read this and say “Watch out, Stereo Type” or whatever, I don’t care. It was just another tip of an ugly iceberg that practically crash landed my positive experience of in-flight “entertainment”. Shortly after we touched down in Singapore, late once again, or well, have we ever been on time anyway? Within the last months my frustration about the budget airlines operating from Singapore grew just as much as their service and cockiness got worse and worse. Their new luggage rip-off is only the latest scam adding another good point to below list,of why to avoid them at all costs, literally..

For all those people who are getting ready to get out of Singapore for a weekend and reach Shanghai for the World Expo, here is some amusing news, which may interest you. There are 150 pavilions which are going to be visited by more than 70 million tourists and visitors. This is a six-month long Expo, so you can enjoy the better city better life theme. With 190 countries participating in this world Expo, this is going to be a spectacular spectacular, as they say in the vernacular.

I get Christmas and Birthday SMS from about every Mobile Phone company operating in Singapore. Why? Because I fall under their “favorite customers” category. I loose every single new phone I get within the first 3 month of playing around with it. I travel a lot, I use my phone heavily, I loose it, I need to buy a new one. Great.