2020 恶灵饿零

In another few more hours, we will say "Never see you again 2020"!

再过几小时，我们就要跟2020说声“永远不见”了！

When asked, how did you spend your 2020, most people would be at a loss.

当被问及你如何度过2020年时，大概很多人会一头雾水吧！

2020 itself is a cursed year.

2020年本身就是一个被诅咒的一年。

Why?

为什么？

When 2020 being read in Chinese, it sounded like "evil, spirit, starve, zero".

2020念成中文时不就是“恶灵饿零”吗！

The evil spirit does not need me to say much, everyone knows that it refers to COVID-19.

这恶灵不用我多说大家都心知肚明指的就是“新冠肺炎19”。

Due to the Circuit Breaker, all industries are in depression, some are starved to death while others are struggling to survive.

而因为阻断措施，百业萧条；很多行业都饿到死去活来，难以经营。

Singapore's economy has never been seen to be below zero.

新加坡经济前所未见的处在零以下。

Luckily the Singapore government has come out with a lot of policies to help the citizens and businesses tide over the epidemic.

幸运的是，新加坡政府出台了许多政策，以帮助国民与企业度过疫情。

Singapore government has so far distributed millions of reusable masks to citizens for free.

新加坡政府至今已免费向国民派发了数以百万计的可重复使用的口罩。

On December 30, Singapore's national COVID-19 vaccination programme kicked off.

新加坡在12月30日起正式启动冠病疫苗接种工作。

This marks an important milestone in Singapore's fight against COVID-19.

这标志着新加坡对抗冠病的重要旅程碑。

The vaccination could help accelerate the resumption of economic as well as other community activities.

接种疫苗可以帮助加快经济活动以及其他社区活动的恢复。

It also pave the way for the reopening of more borders.

这也为重新开放更多边界铺平了道路。

Let's hope that after the 2020 plague year is gone, everyone can usher in a healthy and prosperous 2021.

希望在送走了2020这瘟疫年后，大家能迎来一个健康繁荣的2021年。

Hawker Centre 小贩中心

Singapore

新加坡

At 10.10pm on December 16, 2020, Singapore's hawker culture has been officially added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

2020年12月16日晚上10时10分联合国教科文组织正式把新加坡小贩文化列入非物质文化遗产代表名录中。

It is also Singapore's second entry to any UNESCO list, with the first in 2015 when the Singapore Botanic Gardens was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

这也是新加坡继植物园2015年成功列入联合国教科文组织的世界文化遗产名录后，第二次申遗成功。

Effort to move street hawkers into hawker centre was launched in 1972.

1972年启动了将街头小贩转移到小贩中心的工作。

It was not that after the hawker centre was built, hawkers would move in.

这可不是建成了小贩中心后，小贩就会搬进来。

Not all street hawkers wanted to be licensed and moved into hawker centre.

并非所有街头小贩都希望得到执照并迁入小贩中心。

A total of 108 hawker centres were built between 1971 and 1986.

1971年至1986年间，总共建成了108座小贩中心。

The mission to house all street hawkers in hawker centres were finally accomplished.

将所有街头小贩安置在小贩中心的任务终于完成。

No more hawker centre was built after 1986.

1986年以后不再建造小贩中心。

The government announced in 2011 to build 10 new hawker centres.

政府于2011年宣布再建造10座新的小贩中心。

Can't Judge Wealth By The Look 富不可貌相

Recently the Thai society has begun to turmoil again.

最近泰国社会又开始动荡。

People protested and demanded that the government to return the power to the people.

人们抗议并要求政府将权利归还于人民。

They also demand the royal family to return their wealth to the people.

他们更要求皇室把财富返还给人民。

Which monarch is the richest in the world today?

当今世上哪位君主最富有？

Give you a minute to think about it.

给你一分钟去想。

Any clue? Give up?

任何头绪？放弃？

According to CEOWORLD magazine, the richest monarch is Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn (asset US$43billion).

根据《CEOWORLD》杂志的报道，最富有的君主是泰王拉玛十世哇集拉隆功（资产430亿美元）。

Ranked second is Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (asset US$28billion).

排名第二的是文莱苏丹波基亚（资产280亿美元）。

The third place is King Salman Abdulaziz Bin Saud, Saudi Arabia (asset US$18billion).

第三名是沙特阿拉伯国王萨勒曼（资产180亿美元）。

Ever thought that the top two richest monarchs came from Southeast Asian countries?

可曾想过最富有的前二名君主竟然来自东南亚国家？

Left? Right? 左？右？

Left-Hand Traffic (LHT) and Right-Hand Traffic (RHT) are the practices, of keeping to the left or right side of the road.

左手行驶（LHT）和右手行驶（RHT）是保持在道路的左侧或右侧的做法。

In LHT, cars usually have the steering wheel on the right side while RHT is the opposite of this.

在 LHT 中，汽车通常将方向盘置于右侧，而 RHT 则与此相反。

At the roundabouts, LHT circulates clockwise and RHT circulates anti-clockwise.

在环状交叉路，LHT 沿着顺时钟循转，RHT 则逆时钟循转。

For people who enjoy self drive when traveling, LHT or RHT can sometimes be really confusing.

对于旅行时喜欢自驾的人来说，LHT 或 RHT 有时还真令人困惑。

So which countries or regions are LHT or RHT?

那么哪些国家或地区是 LHT 或 RHT 呢？

ASEAN / 亚细安

Brunei / 文莱 - LHT

Cambodia / 柬埔寨 - RHT

Indonesia / 印度尼西亚 - LHT

Laos / 老挝 - RHT

Malaysia / 马来西亚 - LHT

Myanmar / 缅甸 - RHT

Philippines / 菲律宾 - RHT

Singapore / 新加坡 - LHT

Thailand / 泰国 - LHT

Vietnam / 越南 - RHT

Asia / 亚洲

China / 中国 - RHT

Hong Kong / 香港 - LHT

Macau / 澳门 - LHT

Taiwan / 台湾 - RHT

Japan / 日本 - LHT

South Korea / 韩国 - RHT

Asia-Pacific / 亚太地区

Australia / 澳大利亚 - LHT

New Zealand / 新西兰 - LHT

Bangladeshi / 孟加拉 - LHT

India / 印度 - LHT

Pakistan / 巴基斯坦 - LHT

Sri Lanka / 斯里兰卡 - LHT

Fiji / 斐济 - LHT

Maldives / 马尔代夫 - LHT

Canada / 加拿大 - RHT

USA / 美国 - RHT

Russia / 俄罗斯 - RHT

Europe / 欧洲

Denmark / 丹麦 - RHT

Finland / 芬兰 - RHT

France / 法国 - RHT

Germany / 德国 - RHT

Italy / 意大利 - RHT

Netherlands / 荷兰 - RHT

Spain / 西班牙 - RHT

Switzerland / 瑞士 - RHT

UK / 英国 - LHT

Middle East / 中东

Oman / 阿曼 - RHT

Qatar / 卡塔尔 - RHT

Saudi Arabia / 沙特阿拉伯 - RHT

Turkey / 土耳其 - RHT

UAE / 阿联酋 - RHT

P/S: Remember to check the country or region you want to self drive whether is it LHT or RHT.

注：切记查清楚要自驾的国家或地区是 LHT 或 RHT。

Safe Distancing Ambassador 安全距离大使

Singapore

新加坡

With COVID-19 haunting the whole world, social distancing becomes crucial. 

在全球冠病疫情的笼罩下，社交距离更显得至关重要。

In addition to washing hands frequently and maintaining personal hygiene, one must also keep a safe distance when dining.

除了要勤洗手和保持个人卫生，用餐时也得保持安全距离。

McDonald's introduced the Minions as Safe Distancing Ambassadors.

麦当劳出台了小黄人为安全距离大使。

With such cute Minions companion, one will not feel loneliness even when dining alone. 

有这些可爱的小黄人陪吃，即使孤家寡人也不会感到孤独。

Emptiness 空

Singapore - Changi Airport

新加坡 — 樟宜机场

Changi Airport, an internationally renowned international airport.

樟宜机场，一个享誉国际的国际机场。

The airport, which used to be crowded with people, has become empty due to COVID-19 pandemic.

昔日人潮汹涌的机场，因冠病疫情而变得空空荡荡。

The once bustling international airport is now quiescent.

曾几何时，一个熙熙攘攘的国际机场，如今却是门可罗雀。

Only a few countries are available to fly.

只有少数几个国家可以飞行。

There is not even a soul at the check-in counter.

办理登机的柜台甚至连个人影都没有。

The retail stores have no one to serve but to spat flies. (But Changi Airport is so clean where to find flies?)

零售店铺根本就只有拍苍蝇的份。（但是樟宜机场那么干净哪来的苍蝇供拍打？）

The arrival hall is total emptiness.

抵达大厅更是空空如也。

Where is the usual scene of people coming and going?

平时人来人往的景象到哪去了？

The tourists who enquire at the counter have disappeared!

柜台询问的旅客都销声匿迹了！

Even the playground where children love to play and make the most noise is now lifeless.

连小孩爱嬉戏发出最大噪音的游乐场，如今也了无生气。

Where is the usual crowd of people waiting for the cab?

平常人头攒动等候出租车的人龙呢？

The entire airport is like a ghost town, the entrance and exit of the MRT station does not even have a soul!

整个机场就像是一座鬼城，地铁站的的出入口通道连个人影也没有！

Happy 55 快乐

Singapore

新加坡

Today is Singapore's 55th birthday.

今天是新加坡55岁生日。

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year National Day Parade (NDP) will be broken down into two segments.

受冠病疫情影响，今年的国庆典礼将分早晚两个环节。

A morning parade and ceremony held at the Padang, the site of Singapore's first NDP in 1966.

早上在政府大厦前大操场（1966年新加坡第一次国庆的所在地）举行检阅典礼与仪式。

An evening show at The Star Performing Arts Centre.

傍晚在星宇表演艺术中心直播室内节目。

This year NDP goodies bag contains disposable surgical masks, washable and reusable masks, thermometer and hand sanitiser.

今年的国庆礼包就包含了一次性手术用口罩、可清洗重复口罩、温度计和消毒手液。

2020 is a tough year for everyone in the world.

对于世界上每个人来说，2020年是个艰难的一年。 

Hopefully this pandemic will pass quickly and life can be back to normal soon.

希望疫情快快过去，生活早日恢复正常。

Advance Singapore! (Majulah Singapura!) 

前进吧新加坡！

Happy 55th Birthday, Singapore!

新加坡，55岁生日快乐！

Rainbow House 彩虹屋

Singapore - Little India (Rainbow House）

新加坡 — 小印度（彩虹屋）

There is a colourful building in Little India, it is a villa built by the wealthy Chinese businessman Tan Teng Niah in 1900 for his wife.

在小印度有一间五彩缤纷的建筑，那是华人富商陈东龄在1900年为妻子建造的别墅。

Tan Teng Niah made his fortune in the pastry industry in his early years and later owned several sweet-making factories along Serangoon Road.

陈东龄早年以糕饼业发迹，后来在实龙岗路拥有几家制糖工厂。

The house was restored and conserved in the 1980s for commercial use, and the restoration project was awarded the Singapore Institute of Architects Honourable Mention in 1991.

此建筑在1980年代进行了修复和保存，做为商业用途，并且该修复项目于1991年获得新加坡建筑师协会荣誉奖。

The Rainbow House is located at 37, Kerbau Road, a block away from Little India MRT Station.

彩虹屋位于Kerbau路37号，距离小印度地铁站仅一个街区。

S$100Billion 1000亿新元

Singapore

新加坡

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore government has rolled out four budgets totalling close to S$100billion, almost 20% of Singapore's GDP.

由于2019冠状病毒疾病疫情，新加坡政府已推出四个预算案总合近1000亿新元，相当于新加坡国内生产总值的百分之二十。

What is the concept of 100billion? / 1000亿是什么一个概念？

100,000,000,000

As Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat said: "While other countries had to borrow for their support measures - saddling their future generations with debt - Singapore could draw on its past reserves. We have a strong fiscal position. Our founding generation left us a legacy of a sizeable reserve, which we must continue to treasure and build on."

就如新加坡的副总理兼财政部长王瑞杰所说：“新加坡和其他国家不同，因为历代国人和政府谨慎理财，让我们拥有多年积累下来的国家储备金作为坚强后盾，这让我们可以在无需贷款的情况下，果断应对眼前的危机。”

Mc-smerise 麦着迷

Singapore

新加坡

After a long 22 days of waiting, McDonald’s finally reopened on May 11.

经过漫长的22天等待，麦当劳终于在5月11日重新营业。

The business hours have been shortened from 24 hours to 7am to 9pm.

营业时间从24小时缩短成早上7点至晚上9点。

Due to the large number of people ordering food, the system malfunctioned on the first day.

由于订购食物的人数众多，因此系统在第一天就出现了故障。

Deliberately waited a few more days before buying, just to avoid the crowd.

特意多等几天才去买，为了就是避开人群，

Did not expect to have so many people in the queue.

没想到排队的人竟然有那么多。

How should modern people’s eating habits be called?

现代人的饮食习惯应该怎么称呼？

Call it the influence or contamination of fast food culture?

称其为快餐文化的熏陶或污染呢？

Can this phenomenon be called “Mc-smerise”!

这种现象能否称之为“麦着迷”！

McGoodbye 麦再见

Singapore

新加坡

Today McDonald's has unprecedentedly closed more than 135 branches nationwide.

今天麦当劳前所未有的把全国超过135家分店全面关闭。

McDonald's will suspend business until May 4.

麦当劳将暂停营业至5月4日。

This comprehensive shutdown mainly comes from the advice of the Ministry of Health to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

这次的全面停工主要来自卫生部的建议，以预防冠病疫情进一步蔓延。

McDonald's unexpectedly closure of business for two weeks has indirectly lead to the business of other fast food restaurants.

麦当劳始料不及地休业两周，间接带动了其他快餐店生意。

Burger King's waiting time is up to three hours.

汉堡王的等候时间甚至长达三小时。

From the previous social distancing to the later takeaway service, and finally the full shutdown; the main reason is that there are currently seven cases of McDonald's infection.

从之前的社交隔离到后来的外带服务，以至最终的全面关闭；主要原因是麦当劳感染群目前有七起病例。

Therefore, for all the McDonald's fans out there, for the time being just "McGoodbye".

因此，对于麦当劳的所有粉丝们，暂时“麦再见”。

P/S: Pictures downloaded from internet.

注：图片是从互联网下载的。

Social Distancing 社交隔离

Singapore

新加坡

Singapore from April 7 to May 4, 2020 to shut workplaces and schools to curb spike in COVID-19 cases.

新加坡从2020年4月7日至5月4日关闭工作场所和学校，以遏制2019冠状病毒疾病在 本土传播。

Except for those in key economic sectors and essential services, all other work premises will close for a month and employees need to work from home.

除了提供必要服务的机构及有战略价值或在全球供应链有关键作用的重要行业将继续运作，其余的都必须关闭一个月，员工需要在家办公。

Singaporeans are advised to stay home and go out only for essential services.

新加坡人没必要的话不要出门，外出也只是为了办理必要的服务。

Previously, it was stipulated that diners should maintain a certain distance, but now ban dine-in and can only be taken away.

之前规定食客之间要保持距离，但现在一概禁堂食，只能打包带走。

Home Improvement Programme 家居改进计划

Singapore

新加坡

The Home Improvement Programme (HIP) offers Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat owner deals with common maintenance problems in ageing flats.

家居改进计划为建屋发展局组屋屋主解决老化组屋中的常见维护问题。

The HIP comprises of three components - Essential, Optional & Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Improvements.

家居改进计划包含三个组成部分 — 基本、自选、乐龄易计划。

Day 1 / 第一天

Day 2 / 第二天

Day 3 / 第三天

Day 4 / 第四天

Day 5 (Waterproof Test) / 第五天（防水测试）

Day 5 (Add more cement) / 第五天（添加更多水泥）

Day 6 / 第六天

Day 7 / 第七天

Day 8 / 第八天

Day 9 / 第九天

Day 10 (Completion) / 第十天（完工）

The government fully funds the essential improvements and subsidies a major portion of the optional & EASE improvements.

政府全额资助基本的改进设施，并对自选与乐龄易计划改进设施提供高额津贴。

Homeowner's cost co-sharing ratio: 5% (1/2/3-room), 7.5% (4-room), 10% (5-room), 12.5% (executive)

屋主的费用分摊比率：5%（1/2/3房式）、7.5%（4房式）、10%（5房式）、12.5%（共管式）

By 2019, 78.7% of Singaporeans live in public residential provided by the HDB.

截至2019年，78.7%的新加坡人是居住在建屋发展局的组屋里。

Over 90% of the resident population owns their own home.

90%以上的住屋人口拥有自己的房屋。

This has made Singaporeans one of the highest home-ownership rates in the world.

这使新加坡人成为世界上拥屋率最高的国家之一。

P/S: HDB is the statutory board of the Ministry of National Development responsible for public housing in Singapore.

注：建屋发展局是国家发展部的法定委员会，负责新加坡的公共住屋。

Happy 7th Birthday 7岁生日快乐

Singapore

新加坡

North-South-Dong-Xi is SEVEN years old.

North-South-Dong-Xi has published 211 articles including this one.

From a human perspective, North-South-Dong-Xi is in the first grade of elementary school.

From a marriage perspective, North-South-Dong-Xi has come to a seven-year itch stage.

From a western perspective, the number seven is lucky.

No matter from what perspective, as long as I can share my experience with readers, it is the most wonderful thing.

Must repeat this important phrase, hope that North-South-Dong-Xi has years to keep everyone company.

~*Happy 7th Birthday North-South-Dong-Xi*~

《North-South-东-西》七岁了！

《North-South-东-西》已经刊登了211篇文章，包括这一篇。

从人类角度来说，《North-South-东-西》上小学一年级了。

从婚姻角度来说，《North-South-东-西》可是到了七年之痒的阶段。

从西方角度来说，数字七可是幸运的。

不论从什么角度来说，只要能跟读者分享我的经历就是最美妙的事了。

必须重复这句重要的话，希望在未来的时间里《North-South-东-西》可以一直陪伴大家。

～＊《North-South-东-西》7岁生日快乐＊～