Fantasy ends at Jeju car museum

I’d do anything for my K-pop idol, so the trip to the Jeju car museum was some collateral damage I didn’t mind. “I’ll take you to the World Automobile Jeju Museum on one condition,” I told Pangzi. “You’ll follow me quietly on my idol trail the rest of the stay, understand?” “Daddy, what’s an idol trail?” …

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Preview of Korean non-verbal show: Nanta Singapore

“Daddy, I know what I want to be when I grow up,” Pangzi declared. “Thought I’ve already decided that you’ll be an architect?” I kindly reminded him. “But I want to be a chef!” he protested. That would be a calamity. Usually I’d say something like: “Chef your head!” But I thought of Nanta Singapore …

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A ship museum of untold riches

The problem with Pangzi having rich classmates is the tendency to compare. “Daddy, when are you taking me to a cruise?” he asked post-school holidays. “Why the sudden interest?” I challenged, fearing the worst. “Because Ramen just went,” Pangzi replied. “What Ramen?” “That’s the boy sitting behind me in class. His dad drives a Jaguar,” …

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Imagine a bigger world at Imaginarium

Life was different when I was Pangzi’s age. Last time we were very poor. Now we are very good at hiding we are very poor. The trick is simple: just imagine. I took Pangzi to the Imaginarium exhibition at the Singapore Art Museum to drive home the point. Imaginarium is more of an indoor playground …

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Megaweb of lies

“Daddy, why don’t you buy a Jaguar? That’s my favourite car,” asked Pangzi. “Well, money and I are not friends. Money tends to stay away from me,” I said, hoping the conversation would end right there. “But you can buy an old Jaguar. It won’t be expensive!” he reasoned. There was something fundamentally wrong about …

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