Singapore’s leading publisher, SPH, reported that the country has the “highest density of millionaires” around the world because of the state’s small size and the number of millionaires living here: 99,000! A typical millionaire, the report says, has an average of 3 signature watches (SGD15,000 each or half a million pesos), and travels out of the country every month (for international cuisine and leisure), among others.
When I shared this statistical fact of inequality, I mean, demographics, to Mike, we started being curious about people we see–is that one of the 99,000? Ah that luxury car driver is one of them son of a… millionaire, actually aside from the Queen Bees (old women millionaires) and Old Gold (men), there are also the young corporate bankers and traders who are part of this 2% (hmmm that rings an Occupy bell).
I’m using here our photos in Clarke Quay (accessible thru the MRT purple line) because it’s one of the beautiful and sleek places in Singapore. One memorable experience I hold here is when I had a lunch meeting with my Singaporean boss and his Aussi friend who’s a magazine publisher and who’s been living in Singapore for six years.
It was cool watching them talk about their international trips (which eventually, and sadly for me, turned to sports talk). Lots of them businessmen and women in suit (many of which are Caucasians) could be spotted in Clarke Quay because of nearby offices. These guys may not necessarily be the millionaires I’m talking about, but they’re part of the workforce and industries that form the capillaries and veins of Singapore’s well-pumped economic system.
At night time, Clarke Quay serves a nightlife in a piquant cocktail, blending all cultures from Arabic to Zpanish.
Weeks ago, I brought Mike there as I tasted the Singapore Sling, the world-famous special cocktail mix of the Little Red Dot. The verdict… A+!
The tangy pineapple makes gin, brandy, cointreau, and benedictine all friendly spirits to the thirsty. We greeted each other Happy anniversary. We do this whenever our happiness level shoots up; not drunk, but literally happy and giddy.
That Sunday night, fireworks lit up the sky and a solo performer from Japan drew crowd over the bridge. Mike knows I am such a worry wart on all things from personal life to work, but moments like these hush my heart. I’m sure the millionaires have their fair share of problems, too, probably multiplied by their accumulated wealth. Isn’t that what living is about, choosing your set of assets and liabilities in a balanced book? So for now, we’re good with what we have.
If our happy memories can be counted as treasures and assets, then I guess we could count ourselves in as part of the 99,000.
But we continue our game of spotting the 2%.
that’s a lot of millionaires for a teeny bit country! no wonder occupy singapore could not penetrate singapore!
hi, marco, thanks for dropping by the blog. Occupy Singapore was futile–first of all protest movements or any gathering of people to protest is strictly prohibited in singapore, let alone a movement against the elite. Singapore society is Asia’s elite, even if parts of its country are aging and underemployed.
singapore sling! it’s a perfect fruity mix to complete a singapore trip. and they come in bottles too. thats awesum.
yup, there are tiny bottles as good as one shot. but if i were a tourist id buy it as souvenir for keepsakes.
Are you still in SG? Ha ha i never seem to get hold of you.
I was in Camiguin when you posted ^
Hahaha! I’m just around. I miss your presence in facebook. 😀