2 Oct 2006 : I work up late today and managed to reach the MRT by 7.35 am and collected my free “Today” newspaper but still purchase my usual paper “TheStraitsTimes”.
I saw the “Review” section and found an article by Mr Ng Weng Hoong from energyasia.com on the topic of “World oil reserves : Are we at the tipping point?” I read with earnest and realised that what I had known previously in http://www.peakoil.com/ and http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/ and other website have some credibility and may had predicted our uncertain future.
In the hazy morning, drinking my $1 kopi-peng (Ice Coffee) at the coffee shop opposite Tiong Bahru Plaza. I began to wondered in my thoughts….
“Oil prices had fallen again and OPEC had announced to cut oil production” …….. I overheard another table’s conversation…
“….must be the good times had come!” I thought…then again…with the article in hand…maybe with lower oil prices may had forced OPEC to abandon or halt extraction of small or old oil fields that are no longer profitable…and what’s left are going to be in the most unpredictable regions in the world as mentioned in the article.
ok, 8.29 am got to go back office…with a heavy heart I went to work.
4 October 2006 : After work 5.30pm, my colleague had driven me to attend a World Internet Secrets Seminar at Sheraton Tower Level 2. We arrived early and went to Newton Circus to have a quick bite while we discussed what other ways we can make money.
The first reaction is shock to have many people approaching us asking if we need any food from their stalls. We felt it is pretty rude to be approached this way like in the orchard rd roadshow (no pun intended) and rejected them all.
We had a survey afterwards and found out all the prices had gone up…wah! Chicken Rice $4, Fish Soup $4, and others mostly $4 and above and we end up eating the Hokkien Fried Noodles which may be the only $3 food available there!
We found out that the surrounding people are mostly Ang Moh (Foreigners) and felt out of place. The changes might not be their fault, the rental might had gone up after the renovation and many may have to raise their food price if they want to sustain their living.
Looking back…and I bet the inflation of rental and their energy bills might be the cause of these changes. The world will be more competitive very soon with higher inflation caused by market forces for the limited energy resources….
Shaking our heads, we left the place knowing we won’t come back anytime soon….such a waste….
