belletammy

Quick facts : - Singapore is an island country in Southeast Asia.  - It is a city state and does not have states and cities like other countries. The country is a well-planned urban area. - The country has an estimated population of 5,917,600 people. - The official languages are Malay, Chinese, English and Tamil. The population is a mix of people originating from China, Malaysia, India and others .  - Their currency is Singaporean Dollars (SGD). - Singaporeans kind of sound like Nigerians when they speak English, hahaha Visa requirements i) Valid Passport with minimum of 6 months validity from the date of entry ii) Photocopy of passport ii) Previous passports (if any) iv) One recent passport size colour photo with white background (taken within the last 3 months) v) Completed Visa Application form (Form14A) vi) Sponsor Letter of Introduction (LOI) from Singapore (V39A) vii) Proof of employment letter with salary & leave entitlement, employment letter approving annual leave viii) Pa

  “Like sand through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives” – a phrase I heard regularly on TV during my childhood. One I’ve come to appreciate now. By the way, if this was part of your childhood, you probably know the TV programme I’m referring to and you’ve earned the right to be called an elder 😊 I'd be keen to know if you know which programme it is. The sun setting over Yangon Every sunset and sunrise come with the hope that we could still do something meaningful. We trudge on through life despite the many challenges and we sometimes take for granted the things and people we think will always be there. Someone here today may be gone tomorrow, and nothing is guaranteed. The line of everyone is fighting their own battle has become excessively popular. The world is much harder than it used to be which takes its toll on people in different ways. Mental health being one hidden part, as it doesn’t instantly show. May, I’ve heard is mental health awareness month, and in one w

I go on walks early most mornings, in the park close to where I live. With each passing day, on my morning walks, I get one more nod, one more smile, one more good morning. Different faces are now becoming familiar ones. There are two older men who do not fail to call out, greeting good morning even before I spot them. A group of women do the same. Different people would smile, some say beautiful, some would nod and of course there are the ones who seem so grumpy and would not look at anyone but remain focused on their path.  Occasionally you'll see young lovers, who cannot seem to get enough of one another. Hugging each other like the other person is about to disappear or kissing like their lives depend on it. I caught myself smiling at the two couples I saw this morning at different spots. I always wonder why they come out to the park so early, especially now with the heat. I digress... There are women who sell different items, one sells breakfast packs, she would look up and gre

Laos had been high on my bucket list for years so when I had the chance, I just had to visit. I visited in February 2024. Quick facts -           -           Officially the Loa People’s Democratic Republic, the only landlocked country in South East Asia, it is bordered by 5 countries (Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand). -          -           It’s capital and largest city is Vientiane and the people speak Lao. -          -           They have an estimated population of 7.8 million people. -            -           The local currency is called Lao kip Visa Process I wrote to the Lao embassy in Yangon where I live, to make enquiries and was told as a Nigerian passport holder, I needed the following: -           -   Letter of introduction from where I work -           -  Proof of funds (pay slips/ bank statements) -          -   Visa fee of $35 -          -   Hotel reservation -           -  Flight booking -          -   2 passport photographs -    

I moved to Yangon, Myanmar, in May 2023. The Golden Land as it is called, is a country like no other, peculiar in many ways. I've heard some people still refer to the country as Burma which is the former name, but the name was changed to Myanmar in 1989. The people however, are still referred to as Burmese.  One thing that stands out is how Burmese people are polite, they would not openly get annoyed as it is does not reflect well to openly express anger or irritation. Even when people struggle with something, you'll hardly get an outright NO. Losing face is something people would not do, so they might say okay or beat around the bush. In all that, you are 'not allowed' to lose your cool as it is not taken well :-)  If you put too much pressure, they could shut you out. And you'd never hear a thing even if it were killing them. However, they are always eager to help when they can, which I think is sweet. My arrival was anything but pleasant because of my nationality

Biola reflected on the recent events that she had had to deal with. Her life had been upended in a way she never imagined would happen. She thought that she had things figured out until that fateful day.  She had been so consumed by her career and getting ahead that she neglected everything else and everyone who was dear to her, until her world came crashing down. She got home, late as usual. I’m home she called out but emptiness came back at her. She went to her bedroom, something was different, but she couldn’t figure it out immediately. Then she went to give her a son a kiss, something she did every night. But he wasn’t there. Then she noticed, a lot was gone from his room. She ran back to her room and opened the wardrobe. A good lot of her husband’s clothes were gone. She called, frantically, but he didn’t answer his phone. She was in a panic, she wondered why. She saw them in the morning before she left for work and all seemed well. Or so she thought. Her husband was everythin