Home is where the heat is
Saturday, February 20th, 2010i have escaped winter to return to the tropics and my sweat pores are ecstatic upon receiving the green light to perform to their full potential.
mmm nothing much has changed, at least not the bits that matter.
its strange how being away for so long (2 yrs) automatically makes one assume that some monumental breakthrough must have taken place.
not there havent been some improvements here and there.
the mrt now shows which side the doors open; fashion now includes more than just a variety of tshirts shorts and slippers. and theres a significant loss of public space now that orchard has undergone a major revamp and more shopping mall clones have sprouted and also all those other touristy attractions in the south. uhh not exactly an improvement as far as im concerned.
unsettled by the stillness of the countryside, i could never stay away from the city for long. ive always had a fondness for colourful neon lights, drawn to them like the proverbial moth to a flame. i secretly lamented about growing up in a city which cheated me out of experiencing the vibrancy and energy that came with gaudy billboards and neon signs. but now i fear that with the rush singapore is pushing progress in so little time and so much less space, we might just lose ourselves in the process. (that will be another topic involving prolonged discussion, stay tuned.)
on another note, it floors me why some people get offended when i joke about needing a tour guide when i come home. i dont intentionally act like a foreigner in my own country. (for the record, i also dont intentionally act or dress like a japanese, or singaporean or anyone in particular.) but for the most part im beginning to enjoy and look forward to these regular, albeit brief trips home. coming back from a foreign land with fresh eyes that dont exactly look at things with the same perspective as before is such a treat because you suddenly see the beauty in your hometown you had once taken for granted.
1. singapore should learn from japan the way to wait outside elevators, train doors, bus doors and the like
2. japan should learn from singapore how to maintain a perfectly smoke free environment
