Art of Seeing

Takes a time to recall the position of the maid in this country and the wider region. These young Indonesian and Filipina gals with a place at the restaurant and cafe tables, jumping up to attend to the babies—so often babied far beyond their infant years, as in the case of this poor little fellow in the special baby seat into which he has been strapped at Dome cafe, attached to the Singapore Art Museum. (The correct kind of place for "art" in this country, and many others too: behind glass and ropes on a pedestal.) 
         Parents either side of this little princeling in his high chair. Daddy rubbing back; mummy spooning caramel and ice-cream into his mouth. It was the maid however who jumped up a few minutes ago, while the pair were concentrating on newspaper one side and iphone the other. Little tiger dribbled out the corner of his mouth. 
         Valuable alacrity and coming cheap. Maids go for about $400 per month at the lower end here; lower still for an inexperienced one. Six hundred once they have proved themselves. (A number of disturbing reports in the papers recently of suicides and escapes from imprisonment in apartments. Agitation too for a legislated free day monthly. Competition from Taiwan and Korea for the labour force can only help the cause. There they often have a day a week free and better pay.)
         Harder still recognizing second and perhaps even third wives at the Malay tables at the Lower Geylang eateries. Years of observation would be needed in these cases. Again the Straits Times carrying a report in last few days from a region in Malaysia where the authorities are encouraging polygamous men to come clean and properly identify their household. The whole admin. bureaucratic order on shaky ground where such basic arrangements are kept hidden.
         Some of the women have to be additional wives at those large tables under the awnings. Not all the excess can be sisters-in-law, aunts and cousins, the sly old dogs. Circumspect over their food, giving not a jot away. (Legal in fact even in Singapore as a concession to the Malays.)