19 November 2005

Back To The Present - S'pore Expo or Sexpo?

After several posts about old Singapore, it is about time I stop reminiscing and get back to present day reality. Ultimately, I have only so much memories and one cannot keep living in the past.

My wife and I were on leave yesterday. The kids had a rest day too - the elder one had already started the year-end vacation while the younger one's school held a graduation ceremony which did not involve the lower primary students. We went to the S'pore Expo for the Family Festival. But when Chris came to know about it, he teased me that I must be visiting the Sex Exposition (Sexpo) instead. The Sexpo, held here for the first time, was not only showcased at the same time as the Family Festival, but the two exhibitions were held in adjacent halls:


Actually I really went for the Family Festival only and I had photos to prove it. My son took a flying fox ride from this treehouse:


He was quite a brave boy and I am proud of him. (I took a movie clip of him taking the exhilarating ride but I do not know how to post it here.) He did not hesitate at the launch platform, quite unlike a younger boy who went before him. This boy sat there for a few minutes despite coaxing and encouragement from the instructor. In the end, he burst into tears and retreated back into the treehouse. I felt sorry for him and so did many of the spectators.

We were at the Expo almost the whole day. Some time in between, I sneaked out of Hall 5. Very naturally, my eyes strayed and I was greeted by this sight which was no less exhilarating compared to the flying fox ride:

At first, I thought that they were Sexpo live exhibits promoters who happened to be outside Hall 4. But then I remembered just in time that only those who were aged 21 and above could be admitted to Sexpo and they certainly looked a bit underaged to me.

There were even security personnel who were armed to the teeth to ensure that nobody flouted the age restriction. You could be forgiven if you had mistaken that this expo was about terrorism. The security guard in the photo seemed to be shouting to the father (carrying toddler at the entrance), `Hey, she's too young!':

But then, you are never too old to show an interest in the Sexpo. The senior citizens below (above 55) seemed to be asking the ticketing staff: 'Er... are we too late for this?' or maybe even 'Senior citizens got discount or not hah?'

But not to digress too much. Back to the objects subject of the gorgeous girls. Indeed, on clarification, the girls revealed that they were actually promoting this show instead:

To me, it looked like this show had the same theme as the Sexpo. (I might have aging eyesight but I certainly won't miss the bikini clad lass at the side.) It even had the tagline, 'It's all about a man's fantasy, vanity and masculinity.' However, the right hand side of the banner seemed to be promoting different things... maybe that's another show.

You can't deny that in Singapore, sex sells and it sells big time. The entrepreneurs and businessmen know this Singaporean psyche. Why do Singaporeans behave this way? It's probably because the Films Censorship Board and the Customs have been doing too good a job.

As for me, I honestly, really, truly didn't see the Sexpo, Chris (crossed my heart). But I did end up with one unexpected family buy from the family expo:



When I smsed Chris about my buy, he was truly surprised. Frankly, so was I because I didn't set out in the morning intending to buy a car. I didn't even have my cheque book with me. And I wasn't charmed by pretty woman sales executive either. For me at least, sex doesn't sell. Maybe it couldn't because my wife was with me. That is not to say that I have bought on impulse and regretted it. It is still too early for regrets (and maybe also too late).

For the sake of Chris who was distracted by the 'wallpaper' of yachts in the background, below is another photo taken from the front of the car. (See, I know Chris so well that I even pre-empted his fussiness by having ready another photo from a different angle.) Chris, you certainly could use some advice - 'Don't sweat the small stuff; always look at the BIG picture.'



19 comments:

Chris Sim said...

With plummeting storks coming our way year in year out, and the fact that we Singaporeans got second honour in a survey on frequency of love-making, I hope you're not so naive as to even think that it's mere coincidence that the Sexpo and Family Festival happened to be held on the same time at the same venue? Put on your thinking cap, my friend. That's the gahmen ploy to spice up us mere mortals' pathetic and non-existence sex live. Who knows, there’s just a slight possibility that pornography may become legalised.

Wah that two SYTs were quite an eye candy. Din get their numbers ah? But it's such a shame Victor that you didn't visit Sexpo even though you were virtually steps away from it. It might have done some wonders to your flagging sex live, if it exists at all. (Aww... 'fess up, you're one digit that contributes to our ranking in the poll!)Actually, you may not have missed much from what I read on the papers about the exhibition. Some said it's a waste of money - nothing much to see anyway!

Your boy is so brave - but you didn't specify which one leh? Junior or Senior Junior? You ahh, SYT photo took so clear; your son photo so far and cannot even tell who one your son leh???

About your car purchase. It's seems to me like an impulse act, quite unlike your style leh. But I really got no complaint... got new car to seat leh for lunch. Hahaha..

BTW the yacht at the horizon (on the same photo as the car) looks more interesting leh. Is it also on sales at the Expo hah? Hee!

Victor said...

Chris, you are unfairly accusing me of being the 'one digit' that contributed to the poor ranking of our sexual frequency poll! Let me state in no uncertain terms that my 'one digit' is still working perfectly fine, ok.

No, I didn't get the 'numbers' from the SYT. If it's the vital statistics that you wanted, you could probably estimate them yourself from the photo. If it is their telephone numbers that you wanted, sorry I didn't know that you wanted them so badly. You know me lah - for a friend, I would have risked life and limb to get them for you, if only you have indicated your needs to me beforehand.

When I say 'my boy', I am refering to my younger son. I would call my elder son a 'young man' now. The young man would have considered an address like 'boy' to be somewhat slighting, if not derogatory to his ego. Anyway, if you have noticed from the photo, the flying fox ride was for children of no more than 12-year old, I think. (My boy is only 9. He should have been 8 if he was not born nearly 3 months premature.)

The photo was deliberately taken that way for 2 very good reasons. First, it was to show how high the ride was. Secondly, it was to respect and protect my son's anonymity.(Actually, you can see my son's head from the photo in the right window of the treehouse - it is the 2nd head from the left.)

I see nothing wrong even if I bought the car on impulse. After all, sex also works that way - if not, there won't be the term 'sexual impulse'. Sex must also be related to cars too - how else do you explain the term 'sex drive'?

Since you are so distracted by the yachts in the background of the car photo, I have added another photo taken from another angle to my post, just for your sake. See, I am so accommodating to your needs.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunate for us that you did not see the Sexpo. Otherwise I'm sure you would have taken photos of the exciting exhibits for us to see.

I had wanted to go but somehow didn't. Perhaps due to inertia - Newton's Law about something at rest, you know.

About cars, I often wonder why people retain their old numbers when they change cars when the numbers are quite ordinary. One car saleslady said some people refuse to accept numbers alloted by the LTA because the numbers are inauspicious. I think that could be one reason.

Victor said...
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Victor said...

Indeed, when I did an Internet search using 'singapore expo sexpo' as search phrase, I couldn't find any related photos that were worth seeing. All I found was more sex bombs or rather, sweet young things (SYT) doing their erotic dances, or as Chris would have put it, pole dancing.

I guess there's not such thing as free sex, I mean lunch in Singapore. If you want to see the real thing, then no choice got to pay the $15 admission fee lor.

About people retaining their number plates, it is so coincident that I am one of them. How did you know? Got sixth sense ah? Yes, the reason that you cited is certainly one of them. It is fear of the unknown. What if you are alloted a number like 5354 (不三不四), 9413 (九死一生), 4654 (死佬不死) or 164 (一路死)? You can't reject the number once LTA has allocated it to you because the car is already registered under your name.

There are other reasons:

1 Some people might have bidded ($1005 minimum, no maximum) for their existing auspicious numbers and paying another $100 just to retain it is just small beer or to use a recent 'in' word, peanuts.

2 The current number may be good enough (read 'does not contain any obvious inauspiciousness') or holds some sentimental value for the owner.

For me it is partly the 1st and the last reason. In Singapore, for ordinary folks like me, I am left with no money to bid numbers after splurging on a car. Even the $100 fee to LTA to retain my number is already a strain to me. If you ask me, that amount is outrageous - don't have to issue new number and yet must collect money, sigh.

Chris Sim said...
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Chris Sim said...
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Chris Sim said...
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Chris Sim said...

Victor - Ya, what about the "ONE DIGIT"? Geezz, you're reading too much into it! But then on the other hand, some men simply can't help trying to compensate their inadequacy in certain area by driving BIG cars. Did you say it's 1.6L? Your car I mean. There! Sorry, I just can't help resist quipping the last part .... Hee!

Frannxis - Why do some people retain their old car numbers, indeed? Well, why do you think the same fellas keep waxing lyrical on Chinatown? And the same old fellas keep returning to pass comments on blogs on Chinatown? For sentimental reasons of course. We're suckers, aren't we? For being such sentimental fools. And I don't mean it in an insulting sort of way, for the fact remains that I'm no less sentimental then you, nor Chun See, nor Chun Sing, and of course Victor.

Anonymous said...

True, sentimental values! We keep old pictures, girlfriends'photos, primary school report books, things... all for sentimental reasons.

I still have the book "Teach Yourself Calculus" bought decades ago; just can't bear to throw it away. This book had helped me alot in my learning of calculus.

The car saleslady mentioned one number many car owners refuse to have: 8874. Read in mandarin it sounds like 'father goes to die'.

Victor said...

Haha, that's a good one, Frannxis. But I guess that number is good enough for me. Firstly, it's got two auspicious 8's in it. Secondly, my father had indeed passed on. But there's one little problem with it - I am a father myself. :(

Anonymous said...

Vic, talking about fathers and numbers, here is another one:

During my early working years, a senior colleague who loved to joke asked me to read him a telephone number in cantonese. Thinking that he wanted to learn the dialect, I read out the number.

Then he had a wide wicked grin on his face and said that I had told him about a daily habit of my father.

The number was 8811967.

Chris Sim said...
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Chris Sim said...

Tho I'm not a cantonese and can only speak "broken" cantonese, I think I know what that means, Frannxis. Thanks to a colleague of mine, who is of the fairer gender, I learned what "67" means in cantonese at work one day. Incidentatlly, that came about because another colleague of ours has the "misfortune" of having "6767" for his office extension number. Now, if only we can maintain our office telephone number the way Victor can retain his car number. How does 6598 sound to you? That's my office extension. Auspicious enough? It came out FIRST prize in 4D. Damn, I forgot to buy!!! Or I'll surely upgrade a car to match Victor's, and your Rover. Hee!

Lam Chun See said...

I hate that place. Always so crowded and chaotic; and cbd some more. I much prefer the one in Changi although I always get the names confused.

Victor said...

Haha, Chun See, it's your unmistakable wry sense of humour at work again. So I see that you are always confused between Suntec City International Convention Centre (SCICC) and Singapore Expo (Sexpo, oops) in Changi. Sexpo was held naturally in Sexpo(oops again)in Changi. How could you have mistaken? (Shaking my head.)

Chris Sim said...
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Chris Sim said...

Ooi Chun See. You going to the Sitex computer show or not? It starts tomolo and is being held at Expo where the former Sexpo was held hor. Near Simei. DO NOT, REPEAT DO NOT, END UP AT SUNTEC CITY AHH!

Lam Chun See said...

This week burnt out until chow-tar. Even Triple Sexpo also cannot excite me.