I was speaking to a fellow crusader the other day. He's been driving in and out of Singapore since the new millennial.
THAT'S.TEN.YEARS.WAH.LAU.EH.
I have to say, it's been barely 4 months since I started this life of mine, but it's been a tiring and sometimes painful 4 months.
My only motivation is coming home to my daughter and family. The rest of the day is sometimes just a huge blur to me.
Men are often pushed to their limits when it is for something they deem worth sacrificing for. Take my friend here, he's doing this for his family, his house and his Camry. For a better life.
I see hundreds and hundreds of cars on the causeway everyday. Just how many of us do this everyday? Would 10,000 drivers be an overestimate?
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Flames on the causeway
In what was to be my worst jam at the Woodlands Checkpoint since my crusading days started, I was stuck for over 1 hour and 20 min before I was able to hit the causeway.
And I do believe this would have been considered a short wait, especially since the jam seemed to have extended beyond the Woodlands Avenue 3 exit.
I knew I was in trouble when I barely moved a centimeter 10 minutes into my queue which started about 50 meter after the Woodlands Avenue 3 exit.
I was to find out about 20 minutes into the jam that a vehicle caught fire on the causeway, causing traffic to come to a complete standstill on both sides of the causeway. A quick check on the traffic cam on onemotoring.com.sg confirmed this, a white vehicle was smack right in the middle of the causeway, and 2 long queues of traffic on both sides stopped a safe distance away. The picture on the traffic cam was surreal, almost zen like.
As we drove by the vehicle in question (it was actually a freight truck) on the causeway, we could see a very visible charred engine.
The CIQ on my way back, as always, was smooth as a baby's behind.
I guess there will always be days like this i.e. when the jam's totally terrible and unexpected. I just hope there isn't another one such as today's anytime soon.
And I do believe this would have been considered a short wait, especially since the jam seemed to have extended beyond the Woodlands Avenue 3 exit.
I knew I was in trouble when I barely moved a centimeter 10 minutes into my queue which started about 50 meter after the Woodlands Avenue 3 exit.
I was to find out about 20 minutes into the jam that a vehicle caught fire on the causeway, causing traffic to come to a complete standstill on both sides of the causeway. A quick check on the traffic cam on onemotoring.com.sg confirmed this, a white vehicle was smack right in the middle of the causeway, and 2 long queues of traffic on both sides stopped a safe distance away. The picture on the traffic cam was surreal, almost zen like.
As we drove by the vehicle in question (it was actually a freight truck) on the causeway, we could see a very visible charred engine.
The CIQ on my way back, as always, was smooth as a baby's behind.
I guess there will always be days like this i.e. when the jam's totally terrible and unexpected. I just hope there isn't another one such as today's anytime soon.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Accidents in Singapore
Ever since driving in Singapore, I've been shocked at the number of vehicular accidents I see on the roads and expressways in the island nation.
Last Thursday (3rd June), there was this bus that drove through the barrier on the PIE near the Toa Payoh exit, and landed on the first lane of the PIE towards Changi. I drove by the accident site around 7.30am, by then the jam was already building up.
For those stuck on either side of the PIE during then, tough mate, tough.
I read on forums that the entire stretch of PIE towards Tuas was jammed up. Which meant, if it were true, total chaos on all the slip roads and non-expressways. Seriously, if I stayed in the east, I'll just drive home and chuck a sickie (or take MC for the uninitiated).
And I realised that I never read about any of these accidents I see on the roads, even those that involve fatality. I think it's the same in Malaysia as well (unless its extra horrific or involve half a dozen of car). Also, how most of the accidents seem to happen on the first lanes.
Berhati, berhati, di jalannnn raya.
Last Thursday (3rd June), there was this bus that drove through the barrier on the PIE near the Toa Payoh exit, and landed on the first lane of the PIE towards Changi. I drove by the accident site around 7.30am, by then the jam was already building up.
For those stuck on either side of the PIE during then, tough mate, tough.
I read on forums that the entire stretch of PIE towards Tuas was jammed up. Which meant, if it were true, total chaos on all the slip roads and non-expressways. Seriously, if I stayed in the east, I'll just drive home and chuck a sickie (or take MC for the uninitiated).
And I realised that I never read about any of these accidents I see on the roads, even those that involve fatality. I think it's the same in Malaysia as well (unless its extra horrific or involve half a dozen of car). Also, how most of the accidents seem to happen on the first lanes.
Berhati, berhati, di jalannnn raya.
The in-between week
Last week was a unique week, unique in the sense that Singapore has started its June holidays while Malaysia only started this week.
My fellow crusaders have mentioned to me before that the traffic on the causeway is significantly lesser during school holidays.
To be honest, I never understood why, and was a bit skeptical about it. So came Monday (that's 31st May), the causeway was pretty packed, but being Monday it was understand. But the rest of the week was really significantly less jammed. Unbelievable!
So I had 3 theories to explain this:
1. Lots of cars decided to leave earlier (very very unlikely I reckon)
2. Lots of cars decided to leave later (possible, since the roads on Singapore are less jammed now)
3. There exists a significant population of parents/drivers that ferry their children to school (again, possible, given the poor state that JB's and Malaysia's education are in now)
I believe (3) to be more plausible, but of course I have no way to prove/disprove it. It is my personal observation that the number of bus sekolahs has reduced significantly 2 decades ago, supported by how much the amazing shringgit has shrunk.
But it was a lot more jammed this Wednesday morning, right up to the CIQ exit. And now its the Singapore side that's jamming up the causeway. I swear, sometimes the inefficiency on the Singapore side can give our Malaysian kastam brothers (and sisters) a run for their money.
On a side note, today marks the first time I've seen a 0.5 (in 231.50) in the exchange rates in a while.
My fellow crusaders have mentioned to me before that the traffic on the causeway is significantly lesser during school holidays.
To be honest, I never understood why, and was a bit skeptical about it. So came Monday (that's 31st May), the causeway was pretty packed, but being Monday it was understand. But the rest of the week was really significantly less jammed. Unbelievable!
So I had 3 theories to explain this:
1. Lots of cars decided to leave earlier (very very unlikely I reckon)
2. Lots of cars decided to leave later (possible, since the roads on Singapore are less jammed now)
3. There exists a significant population of parents/drivers that ferry their children to school (again, possible, given the poor state that JB's and Malaysia's education are in now)
I believe (3) to be more plausible, but of course I have no way to prove/disprove it. It is my personal observation that the number of bus sekolahs has reduced significantly 2 decades ago, supported by how much the amazing shringgit has shrunk.
But it was a lot more jammed this Wednesday morning, right up to the CIQ exit. And now its the Singapore side that's jamming up the causeway. I swear, sometimes the inefficiency on the Singapore side can give our Malaysian kastam brothers (and sisters) a run for their money.
On a side note, today marks the first time I've seen a 0.5 (in 231.50) in the exchange rates in a while.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Monday Monday
To all my fellow crusaders who took the BKE-PIE route this morning, I hope you enjoyed the drive :).
Yep, it's the start of the month long June holidays for schools in Singapore, which means less, nay, much less cars on the roads for you and I. Cars driven by filial moms and dads ferrying their precious ones to school and back will be official off the road for the next 4 weeks.
Some of my BMW friends (that's Bus, MRT and Walking for the uninitiated), are skeptical that these schoolkid carrying cars make such differences on the road.
Let's take a garden variety primary school in Singapore. Let's say there's five classes of 30 students per primary level for a total of 600 students. If we assume that 10% of these students are driven by their doting parents to work, that's 60 cars per school. Now extrapolate that to all the primary schools in Singapore.
Keep in mind we haven't even started taking into account the sec schools and JCs yet! And we've yet to factor in teachers too (who by the way, rake in some serious dough these days ok?).
I am toying with the idea of sleeping in a bit more, given that time spent on Singapore roads is reduced now (my colleague even found the time to pump petrol this morning!). But given the unpredictability of the CIQ (does anyone know what caused the 15 minute standstill at the bridge this morning?), I think I'll observe a bit more.
Have a good week ahead fellas!
Yep, it's the start of the month long June holidays for schools in Singapore, which means less, nay, much less cars on the roads for you and I. Cars driven by filial moms and dads ferrying their precious ones to school and back will be official off the road for the next 4 weeks.
Some of my BMW friends (that's Bus, MRT and Walking for the uninitiated), are skeptical that these schoolkid carrying cars make such differences on the road.
Let's take a garden variety primary school in Singapore. Let's say there's five classes of 30 students per primary level for a total of 600 students. If we assume that 10% of these students are driven by their doting parents to work, that's 60 cars per school. Now extrapolate that to all the primary schools in Singapore.
Keep in mind we haven't even started taking into account the sec schools and JCs yet! And we've yet to factor in teachers too (who by the way, rake in some serious dough these days ok?).
I am toying with the idea of sleeping in a bit more, given that time spent on Singapore roads is reduced now (my colleague even found the time to pump petrol this morning!). But given the unpredictability of the CIQ (does anyone know what caused the 15 minute standstill at the bridge this morning?), I think I'll observe a bit more.
Have a good week ahead fellas!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Happy long weekend
I used to joke to my friends that if I ever were to run for presidency in Singapore (let's pretend that there's no GRCs or PAP for now), my electorate campaign is for all citizens to enjoy at least one long weekend per month.
I predict a landslide victory for me.
Singapore has one of the least (if not the least) number of public holidays in the world. So such luxuries are really few and far between. And to make things worse, this weekend is the last public holiday we'll see till 9th August, which is more than 2 months away.
Enjoy the rest of the day folks, its back to the causeway and grinder for us tomorrow.
I predict a landslide victory for me.
Singapore has one of the least (if not the least) number of public holidays in the world. So such luxuries are really few and far between. And to make things worse, this weekend is the last public holiday we'll see till 9th August, which is more than 2 months away.
Enjoy the rest of the day folks, its back to the causeway and grinder for us tomorrow.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tale of two cities
I caught up with one of my football/drinking buddy over lunch yesterday.
We spent our lunch just catching up, about what we've both been up to, and he brought me up to speed about what the rest of our mutual friends have been up to, and what they are planning to do over the long weekend.
I do miss my friends in Singapore and the night outs that we've had before my Causeway crusading days. Let's face it, there's lots more to see/do/eat/drink in Singapore compared to JB. Sure, JB's got its fair share of good food and sights, but really, its just in a different stratosphere compared to Singapore.
It doesn't help that the majority of my buddies are based in Singapore, and I don't really have that many friends I can hang out and have a cold one with in JB. In any case, the drive back to JB tend to leave me drained, and it's really a challenge to head out again after reaching home.
All in all, I am really happy of my decision to become a Causeway crusader. To me, the benefits far outweighs the disadvantages. But I really do miss the nights in Singapore.
Consider this a part of the sacrifice on becoming a Causeway crusader, peeps.
We spent our lunch just catching up, about what we've both been up to, and he brought me up to speed about what the rest of our mutual friends have been up to, and what they are planning to do over the long weekend.
I do miss my friends in Singapore and the night outs that we've had before my Causeway crusading days. Let's face it, there's lots more to see/do/eat/drink in Singapore compared to JB. Sure, JB's got its fair share of good food and sights, but really, its just in a different stratosphere compared to Singapore.
It doesn't help that the majority of my buddies are based in Singapore, and I don't really have that many friends I can hang out and have a cold one with in JB. In any case, the drive back to JB tend to leave me drained, and it's really a challenge to head out again after reaching home.
All in all, I am really happy of my decision to become a Causeway crusader. To me, the benefits far outweighs the disadvantages. But I really do miss the nights in Singapore.
Consider this a part of the sacrifice on becoming a Causeway crusader, peeps.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesdays Tuesdays
Morning. Woke up. Drove to CIQ bracing for the worst.
Well colour me surprised!
The jam at the CIQ was almost non-existent, and for the first time in a while, I drove right up to the start of the bridge, and exited the Woodlands Checkpoint before 7am!
Amazing!
My fellow crusaders and I have spoken about this before - the jam at the Causeway has become very difficult to predict and account for. Just when you expect it to be all jammed up, it turns out the opposite. And vice versa.
I always have my Singaporean colleagues and friends asking me when would be the 'best time to avoid the jam'. I actually really dislike answering this question.
Give a bad timing, and you're sure to be blamed; give a good one, it won't be remembered.
Thankless and risky, so no thanks. And with the causeway so unpredictable on weekends, I really don't see how to comment on a good timing.
If pressed, I'd just say 'Come in early, and leave for Singapore late.'
On a side note, I am so looking forward to the school holidays next week. 1 month of less cars on the road ftw!
Well colour me surprised!
The jam at the CIQ was almost non-existent, and for the first time in a while, I drove right up to the start of the bridge, and exited the Woodlands Checkpoint before 7am!
Amazing!
My fellow crusaders and I have spoken about this before - the jam at the Causeway has become very difficult to predict and account for. Just when you expect it to be all jammed up, it turns out the opposite. And vice versa.
I always have my Singaporean colleagues and friends asking me when would be the 'best time to avoid the jam'. I actually really dislike answering this question.
Give a bad timing, and you're sure to be blamed; give a good one, it won't be remembered.
Thankless and risky, so no thanks. And with the causeway so unpredictable on weekends, I really don't see how to comment on a good timing.
If pressed, I'd just say 'Come in early, and leave for Singapore late.'
On a side note, I am so looking forward to the school holidays next week. 1 month of less cars on the road ftw!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Happiness is a strong Sing dollar
Today I went to my regular money changer for some MYR. Was happy to see the red numbers 231 at the window, and was elated to have been give 234! Happiness!
Before anyone accuses me of being 'unpatriotic' in hoping for a weak ringgit, please be aware that our wonderful Malaysian government actually pursues and maintains a weak ringgit policy to ensure the competitiveness of its exports overseas.
How else do you think we can sell Proton abroad?
We have seen the MYR appreciate significantly in the past weeks. It was as high as 240 at one point this year (if memory served me right), and now the rate is tethering around 230. As such, we have seen a 4% decrease in our wages in terms of MYR across the board. Painful!
I heard the news on the radio while driving in this morning - MYR expected to perform weaker against major currencies this week due to PIGS jitters in Europe, especially Greece.
All I can say is...καλή τύχη, Ελλάδα!
Before anyone accuses me of being 'unpatriotic' in hoping for a weak ringgit, please be aware that our wonderful Malaysian government actually pursues and maintains a weak ringgit policy to ensure the competitiveness of its exports overseas.
How else do you think we can sell Proton abroad?
We have seen the MYR appreciate significantly in the past weeks. It was as high as 240 at one point this year (if memory served me right), and now the rate is tethering around 230. As such, we have seen a 4% decrease in our wages in terms of MYR across the board. Painful!
I heard the news on the radio while driving in this morning - MYR expected to perform weaker against major currencies this week due to PIGS jitters in Europe, especially Greece.
All I can say is...καλή τύχη, Ελλάδα!
The Monday blues
For those of you who took the left lane into the CIQ this morning, my condolences to you and your passengers (if any).
For those of us who spotted the ominous orange clone that blocked off the right most entrance into the right most row of counters, give yourself a pat on the back for your morning alertness. An extra pat if you deduced that having that lane closed off meant lesser cars in that part of the complex.
I just shook my head in disbelief when I saw that. Whatever possessed the CIQ top brass to seal off an entire section of the CIQ? Just one solitary cone and you reduce 1/4 of the CIQ efficiency.
What could have happened? Did 1/4 of the officers manning the car counters just went on emergency leave? Or did they all go on MC on the same day?
And since they're no longer scanning our passports anymore, why do they even bother having manned counters? Just open up all lanes and let us be on our way. Have 2 or 3 manned counters to handle the odd Singaporean passports in the morning.
Of course, this being Malaysia and all, I guess I'll just suck it in and count my blessings, knowing that things ever hardly improve or change for the better. Especially in JB.
Let's hope they don't pull off any more of this nonsense tomorrow.
Tuesday. Arrgh.
For those of us who spotted the ominous orange clone that blocked off the right most entrance into the right most row of counters, give yourself a pat on the back for your morning alertness. An extra pat if you deduced that having that lane closed off meant lesser cars in that part of the complex.
I just shook my head in disbelief when I saw that. Whatever possessed the CIQ top brass to seal off an entire section of the CIQ? Just one solitary cone and you reduce 1/4 of the CIQ efficiency.
What could have happened? Did 1/4 of the officers manning the car counters just went on emergency leave? Or did they all go on MC on the same day?
And since they're no longer scanning our passports anymore, why do they even bother having manned counters? Just open up all lanes and let us be on our way. Have 2 or 3 manned counters to handle the odd Singaporean passports in the morning.
Of course, this being Malaysia and all, I guess I'll just suck it in and count my blessings, knowing that things ever hardly improve or change for the better. Especially in JB.
Let's hope they don't pull off any more of this nonsense tomorrow.
Tuesday. Arrgh.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The pursuit of happiness
Like many of my fellow Causeway Crusaders, my pursuit of happiness has led me to making out a career in Singapore.
I used to stay in Singapore, but decided to move to JB to embark on this new stage in my life.
This is a typical work day morning for me:
0530: Wake up
0615: Reach CIQ
0705 - 0715: Emerge out of Woodlands Checkpoint
0730-0740: Drop wife off at her workplace
0750 - 0800: Reach my office
And my driving route is BKE->SLE->TPE->KJE->ECP. My alternate route (depending on the traffic situation at the BKE to PIE exit) is BKE->PIE->KJE->ECP.
On average, I drive about 2,200km a month, and around 3 hours on the road per day.
I am certain my experience here mirrors many of my crusading brothers out there.
I used to stay in Singapore, but decided to move to JB to embark on this new stage in my life.
This is a typical work day morning for me:
0530: Wake up
0615: Reach CIQ
0705 - 0715: Emerge out of Woodlands Checkpoint
0730-0740: Drop wife off at her workplace
0750 - 0800: Reach my office
And my driving route is BKE->SLE->TPE->KJE->ECP. My alternate route (depending on the traffic situation at the BKE to PIE exit) is BKE->PIE->KJE->ECP.
On average, I drive about 2,200km a month, and around 3 hours on the road per day.
I am certain my experience here mirrors many of my crusading brothers out there.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Spending my time...watching the cars go by
We see them twice a day, every working day. We may even know some of them by sight already.
Yep, I am talking about the kastam officers at the CIQ, specifically, the ones manning the counters at the car section.
I have been for the past few weeks trying to see what is it they are staring at on their computer screens. You may or may not have noticed it, but these guys really, really stare intently at their screens. Like they are monitoring the KLSE or something.
If you haven't noticed, pay some attention when you drive in on the next morning. I have come across some who had to tear themselves away from their screens to look at my passport.
I don't think they have Internet access on their computers (or Facebook will most likely crash from all their access). I highly doubt they are writing any reports or crunching any formulae on Excel.
I have caught some watching movies on their screens. They were smart enough to minimize the window to a small corner of their screens though. I saw some playing some games as well.
Now you may have noticed that some of them have strategically positioned their screens so that there's no visible angle as we drive through. So how can you tell what's on their screens?
There are 2 ways:
1. Some counters have windows on both sides. You can see the reflection of their screens off the windows behind the officers' backs.
2. You can spot some counters with windows as you drive through the CIQ. Some of them have officers seated with their backs and screens against the windows.
I hope to catch some of the games they are playing the next time I drive through.
On a side note, it seems that the kastam officers have stopped scanning Malaysian passports. I wonder what brought this about. Is this the same case for pedestrians and motorcyclists I wonder.
PS Does anyone remembers the song that inspired the title to this post?
Yep, I am talking about the kastam officers at the CIQ, specifically, the ones manning the counters at the car section.
I have been for the past few weeks trying to see what is it they are staring at on their computer screens. You may or may not have noticed it, but these guys really, really stare intently at their screens. Like they are monitoring the KLSE or something.
If you haven't noticed, pay some attention when you drive in on the next morning. I have come across some who had to tear themselves away from their screens to look at my passport.
I don't think they have Internet access on their computers (or Facebook will most likely crash from all their access). I highly doubt they are writing any reports or crunching any formulae on Excel.
I have caught some watching movies on their screens. They were smart enough to minimize the window to a small corner of their screens though. I saw some playing some games as well.
Now you may have noticed that some of them have strategically positioned their screens so that there's no visible angle as we drive through. So how can you tell what's on their screens?
There are 2 ways:
1. Some counters have windows on both sides. You can see the reflection of their screens off the windows behind the officers' backs.
2. You can spot some counters with windows as you drive through the CIQ. Some of them have officers seated with their backs and screens against the windows.
I hope to catch some of the games they are playing the next time I drive through.
On a side note, it seems that the kastam officers have stopped scanning Malaysian passports. I wonder what brought this about. Is this the same case for pedestrians and motorcyclists I wonder.
PS Does anyone remembers the song that inspired the title to this post?
Friday, May 21, 2010
Bottleneck
It used to take me under 30 minutes to enter the CIQ and emerge out of the Woodlands Checkpoint.
Until Tuesday, 6 April 2010. That was when the brilliant minds of the people constructing the new flyover into the CIQ decided to close one of the two lanes leading onto the causeway.I am certain of this date as I still keep the SMS a fellow Causeway Crusader sent me to complain about this jam.
And that's the reason why I am taking nearly one hour everyday for the same distance.
I still remember that morning of 6 April vividly. I usually enter the CIQ from the Stulang Laut / De Bali entrance, and I was startled when there was a queue that extended not too far after the traffic lights.
It took me 40 min to enter the CIQ from there. And only after a traffic police turned up to direct traffic at the traffic lights outside the CIQ.
Imagine having motorbikes, buses and cars all filtering into just this one lane. And for some strange reason, Tuesdays seem to have the HEAVIEST flow of traffic in the week rather than Mondays these days.
Judging from the state of the (lack of) completion of the flyover I don't think this situation will improve anytime soon.
Hang in there, fellow crusaders.
Until Tuesday, 6 April 2010. That was when the brilliant minds of the people constructing the new flyover into the CIQ decided to close one of the two lanes leading onto the causeway.I am certain of this date as I still keep the SMS a fellow Causeway Crusader sent me to complain about this jam.
And that's the reason why I am taking nearly one hour everyday for the same distance.
I still remember that morning of 6 April vividly. I usually enter the CIQ from the Stulang Laut / De Bali entrance, and I was startled when there was a queue that extended not too far after the traffic lights.
It took me 40 min to enter the CIQ from there. And only after a traffic police turned up to direct traffic at the traffic lights outside the CIQ.
Imagine having motorbikes, buses and cars all filtering into just this one lane. And for some strange reason, Tuesdays seem to have the HEAVIEST flow of traffic in the week rather than Mondays these days.
Judging from the state of the (lack of) completion of the flyover I don't think this situation will improve anytime soon.
Hang in there, fellow crusaders.
Money changers in JB
On the top right corner of this blog, you will see a text box indicating the latest exchange rates (from SGD to MYR) offered by the money changers in JB.
And if you are a Causeway Crusader like me, you will most likely find this info useful to you.
But unless you don't stay in JB, you will have noticed that since no more than a couple of years back, the following have taken place in the local money exchange scene:
1. All money changers (from Pelangi to Perling to Gelang Patah ) advertise the exact same exchange rate
2. All rates are rounded up to the nearest one unit i.e. no decimal points or sen value
It's no secret that these money changers will often give you a higher rate than what is indicated on the glass window (ever noticed even the numerical whiteboard looks the same?). I have encountered getting RM2.20 to RM2.50 more per SGD100 exchanged, although I have heard people getting as much as RM3 above the advertised rate.
I am sure some of you may have thought to yourselves "Where got so chun all ngam ngam ho the same?". Some of you may have even wondered if this is legal, isn't it some sort of collusion?
Here's a theory a little bird told me.
"A large syndicate actually controls and deals with all the money changers in JB. At the beginning of every day, this syndicate will set 2 rates - the advertised rate that all money changers will display, and the rate it will buy SGD from these money changers at the end of the day."
"It's a win-win situation for the 2 parties. The money changers work with guaranteed profit margins without being subjected to exchange rate fluctuations. The syndicate in turns get to do some...er.... dry cleaning with its liquid asset".
I have no way of verifying if the above is true or not, so please don't quote me on this.
Anyone else have any other conspiracy theories? Leave a comment, please.
And if you are a Causeway Crusader like me, you will most likely find this info useful to you.
But unless you don't stay in JB, you will have noticed that since no more than a couple of years back, the following have taken place in the local money exchange scene:
1. All money changers (from Pelangi to Perling to Gelang Patah ) advertise the exact same exchange rate
2. All rates are rounded up to the nearest one unit i.e. no decimal points or sen value
It's no secret that these money changers will often give you a higher rate than what is indicated on the glass window (ever noticed even the numerical whiteboard looks the same?). I have encountered getting RM2.20 to RM2.50 more per SGD100 exchanged, although I have heard people getting as much as RM3 above the advertised rate.
I am sure some of you may have thought to yourselves "Where got so chun all ngam ngam ho the same?". Some of you may have even wondered if this is legal, isn't it some sort of collusion?
Here's a theory a little bird told me.
"A large syndicate actually controls and deals with all the money changers in JB. At the beginning of every day, this syndicate will set 2 rates - the advertised rate that all money changers will display, and the rate it will buy SGD from these money changers at the end of the day."
"It's a win-win situation for the 2 parties. The money changers work with guaranteed profit margins without being subjected to exchange rate fluctuations. The syndicate in turns get to do some...er.... dry cleaning with its liquid asset".
I have no way of verifying if the above is true or not, so please don't quote me on this.
Anyone else have any other conspiracy theories? Leave a comment, please.
I am a Causeway Crusader, hear my engine roar
Just who is a Causeway Crusader?
If you work in Singapore but stay in JB and brave the causeway on a daily basis, then you are one.
I've been one since March 2010. A relatively inexperienced one, I know.
When I was pondering on becoming a Causeway Crusader at the start of 2010, I flexed my Google-fu and searched for information on this daunting and demanding 'lifestyle'. And I was shocked at the lack of information, discussion or sharing on this, despite the tens of thousands of Causeway Crusaders out there.
Not even a forum thread.
So I decided to blog my rants and muses on being a Causeway Crusader, maybe share my thoughts and advice on the experience, and hopefully get to meet other Causeway Crusaders along the way.
Are you a Causeway Crusader too? Leave a comment.
If you work in Singapore but stay in JB and brave the causeway on a daily basis, then you are one.
I've been one since March 2010. A relatively inexperienced one, I know.
When I was pondering on becoming a Causeway Crusader at the start of 2010, I flexed my Google-fu and searched for information on this daunting and demanding 'lifestyle'. And I was shocked at the lack of information, discussion or sharing on this, despite the tens of thousands of Causeway Crusaders out there.
Not even a forum thread.
So I decided to blog my rants and muses on being a Causeway Crusader, maybe share my thoughts and advice on the experience, and hopefully get to meet other Causeway Crusaders along the way.
Are you a Causeway Crusader too? Leave a comment.
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