January 2014

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36 January14
LETTERS Readers’ thoughts and
comments about EL
Email us at
BEST ONE
We want to hear from you! Send us your thoughts on the
magazine, or on any subject under the sun. To drown her
taxi woes, Robyn Kent wins a bottle of Moët & Chandon
Imperial Brut.
BEST
letter
Taxi Dis-Comfort
I love Singapore taxis. Having lived in Singapore on and
off for almost a decade, travelling widely during that
time, I can safely say that they rank amongst the best
in the world.
But I hate Singapore taxis – because you can never
get one. Yes, the tracking system is impressive, but it’s
overwhelmed. Booking has become the default, as your
chance of flagging down a cab is pretty low. Peak time, in
the rain? Forget it. But if you do not have a local telephone
number, you have no chance of booking one, which is
most frustrating for visitors.
Having come back after a couple of years abroad, it is
noticeable how the taxi service has declined: fewer cabs,
picky drivers (not just at shift-change times) and four or
five rejections per call when trying to book. For the first
time in 10 years, I am considering buying a car. Just to
avoid the frustrations and be able to be where I need to
be – on time.
Strict regulation does not make for the good service
that a more competitive, privatised environment brings.
Maybe it’s time to let supply and demand take its course.
It might bring a fairer environment for drivers and a better
experience for consumers.
Robyn Kent
Ed: Yes, it’s an island-wide issue.
The Sunday papers recently
presented some very good ideas
for reform; let’s hope there’s a
solution put in place that will suit
the fare-paying public – and soon!
History Hit
I must commend you on
Verne Maree’s excellent
piece on Jewish culture
and histor y in your
December 2013 issue,
basedononeofGeraldene
Lowe’s Singapore tours. It
was insightful, informative and a pleasure to read!
Sangeetha Naidu
Press Officer, Embassy of Israel
Business Matters
There is a lot of chitter-chatter on the trailing
spouse front with regard to setting up sole
proprietorship businesses. The rules changed
in June or July 2013 and there is a lot of
confusion. Would Expat Living like to research
and put together a “how to” guide? We’re
currently applying for PR, so I’m hoping this
won’t be an issue for us; however, I know
that many trailing spouses would find the
information invaluable.
Louise Duncan
Ed: Excellent idea! We’ll get onto it.
Great Recipe Swap
Goes Global
I thought the Expat Living
team should know how
well Beate Baldr y’s
Great Recipe Swap has
been received in the UK.
Recently, I held a “potlatch supper” at my home
– that’s when everyone brings a contribution.
One of my friends made a delicious dessert
from a recipe in your November 2013 issue:
the No Bake Chocolate Cake. The mixture
produced 12 desserts, which were topped
with fresh fruit and proved a great success.
It’s always good to add a new tried-and-tested
recipe to the list.
Janice Trembecki
Great Doddington, UK