Kiasu Nation

We Singaporeans always claim to be the most kiasu people in the world. We say it as if it is a source of pride. But the fact is everyone is kiasu. If you want something bad enough, you will break all normal code of conduct to get it. A can of milk, Hello Kitty, LV Bags, old transformer toys . . . whatever float your boat.

In the US, it is fashionable to queue up for hard to buy tickets. NBA, NFL, NHL, NBC, ABC whatever. Here we see a queue at 9 pm outside the NBC centre. The people are ready to bunker down for the night with books and sleeping bags just to be the first in line to buy Saturday Night Life tickets.

Saturday Night Life is a weekly late-night 90-minute American sketch comedy/variety show based in NYC. It launched the careers of many, many comedians and actors e.g. Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Drew Barrymore, Steve Martin and even Britney Spears. The tickets are hot but I never realise how hot. Tickets go on sale on the morning of Saturday but queue is already up and running at 9pm on Friday night.

Keep in mind that it is cold in NY nights. Here is the NBC center near where I stay.

This group of girls actually brought a tent.

Everybody seems to be in high spirits despite the cold.

This girl actually brough a styrofoam bed. Awesome. Looks like a homeless person.

I shall end off this late night entry with a picture of an overweight woman who was panting heavily when she walked next to me. She asked me where was Lexington Avenue, to which I replied that it was just one block away. She gave me the look as if I just told her that Lexington Avenue was as far away as Singapore. She even asked whether I was kidding her.

I should have directed her in the opposite direction to make her walk more!