First and foremost I would like to say that I have nothing against busking. However, I would like to show the world how the ever popular Ngee Ann City of Singapore looks like on a typical Friday evening. Honestly, I always had the thought that begging in Singapore streets is a lucrative “business”.
Well as I walked down the walkway towards Paragon Mall from The Wheelock Place, I realised that air is filled with music. First I came upon the Chinese Musicians. They had nice music and they didn’t put up a pathetic look trying to get sympathy from people and donations off their pockets. So I gave them what I thought they were worth and what my pocket allowed me to. 
Then while I was still walking down Ngee Ann City’s walkway, just after the Tourist Information Booth, I see 2 more. On was an American Indian Band and the other was a Statue. Amazing. Both side by side. The American Indian Band were selling off their music. They weren’t really busking. They were showing off their talent. There were quite a few people that bought their CDs. So who said free perfomances will not profit you in any way?
Well don’t forget the statue, you might think that the American Band was hot stuff but you are wrong! ;D The statue was hot favorite especially to kids. When a kid passes by and looked at him, he waved to them with his pinky finger and they just crowd around him. Lol! Cute. You got to salute to such a man being able to stay on one position without blinking for about 15 mins straight.
Last picture I have for you is a pianist. He is on a wheelchair doesn’t disturb anyone, blocks the centre of the pathway and looks at everyone that passes by in hope for a few cents from them. I have nothing against him.
The last busker I want to talk about is a limbless harmonica player. He sits at the corner of Ngee Ann City just opposite the Meritus Mandarin Hotel. He is the most special one as when I wanted to snap a picture of him, he packed up and threw whatever he was holding. Guess what they are. A cigarette and a McCafe drink.
Hey I have nothing against a smoking beggar that drinks Cappuccino or Latte. But the fact that he behaved that manner aroused me to talk about his suspicious act. Is his busking license real? Is he really poor? What the hell is wrong with him? So I pretended to move away and hide at one corner.
Then I saw him sit on the ground again. Kept all the coins he had in his tupperware, put the empty tupperware back in front of him. Took out an old newspaper, placed them around him and adjusted his shirt to make him look like a retard!
He was practically trying to win sympathy from the passerbys to donate. Holy Crap isn’t it? Strategical move. He can afford to smoke, have a nice drink and all he does is sit on the ground and play the harmonica every weekends. I couldn’t snap a photo of him as I was just using my w810i phone. At night, the pictures cant come out clear unless I am directly in front of him and on Night Mode. Just like how I did with the other friendly buskers.
That’s why I choose who to donate my money to. Not just any other pathetic looking people. My advice, only donate to those you think are worth your money. Singapore is definitely a beggar’s paradise as most Singaporeans get emotional easily and feel for the others. But I don’t think we should help them in this sense.
Deen Yusoff
Elvenarsha Mok
barakathunnisha
