It's been two months now and I'm beginning to appreciate staying in a mature estate, as compared to a new town like Punggol, my previous neighbourhood. Somehow, the people, way of life, facilities and preferences are all different. It reminds me of Hillview, where I grew up.
During the ten years I was in Punggol, I only said hi to members of max. three households. It's got to do with the demographics for sure. The younger couples never experienced kampung life, you can literally see the barriers around them and no words is exchanged unless absolutely necessary. When I was younger, all the neighbours knew the kids and vice versa. We would smile and greet every ten steps along the way. I miss that really but it's evident where I stay now. Some smiles, some hellos, some goodbyes. The minimarts are run by families, who recognise their customers and know where they stay, what they need. That familiarity is priceless.
The amenities are just amazing. It must be the fact that the neighbourhood is a little overcrowded. But choices are aplenty. You have nearby heartland malls, cineplexes but you also get countless kopitiams. Some daily necessities can only be bought at discounted prices. I sound like an Aunty but when life requires you to be more careful with your dollars and cents, you start to appreciate these things in life. Saving 60 cents on shampoo isn't a must but you ask yourself why not? Why should I spent more money in a shop when the other one is just around the block?
Even at 11pm or midnight, you just need to slip into your flip flops, in your T shirt and shorts and pop by the nearest convenience store to buy a magazine or ice cream. I have forgotten what it was like to enjoy convenience at your doorstep at a fraction of the price.
The best part, it brings you back to the most treasured memory you have never learnt to let go after all these years. You see your childhood elements all around. The familiar shop layouts, the friendly shopkeepers, childhood tidbits, toys, shoes... All seem much poorer in quality now but brings you the same level of joy. Dejavu contentment too, seeing innocent kids save on their pocket money for these treats, like you used to. Somehow... Kids from the new towns behave older than they are. They know only of malls, air conditioning, restaurants and everything else that spoils them crazy.
18 April 2012
17 April 2012
Mayor Bloomberg and NYC transformation
A long overdue entry. Some after thoughts from the Mayor Bloomberg session where he was in town to receive the Lee Kuan Yew World City prize. Like me, many of my friends never experienced the decline of NYC. The cosmopolitan city we all know today is exciting and celebrates vibrant diversity. Mayor Bloomberg was sharing how he is passionate about his job, giving up a cushy position in the private sector to take on the mammoth task of being a mayor to a declining city. He had a team with foresight of the vision of the new NYC. They closed off broadway and roads to build more bicycle and walking lanes. It is true, walking is the most basic form of transportation and why shouldn't we make more accessible lanes for our legs that carry us way more miles than cars? And that 80% (or so) of New Yorkers stay within 5 minutes walk away from a park.
Yes it would be nice.. To have designated bicycle lanes. To be able to explore more green modes of transport but of course, you need order. Millions of Chinese commute to work on their bicycles everyday but that doesn't make any Chinese city sustainable like New York. They are still polluted and messy. Don't get me wrong, I love China in more ways than one, including the amazing history and unpredictable attitudes. But for a city to truly work towards a vision, you need good leadership and a good marketing campaign. Mayor Bloomberg said New Yorkers are not the easiest to convince, definitely not with what they have been through. And I believe that.
To me, Singapore is a world city too, with so many aspects I have taken for granted, having lived, studied and worked here all my life. Some weekends are boring but our connectivity brings us places. Pushes us outside of our boundaries to explore new cities yet yearn to come home again. I admire the city landscape along Marina Bay today and am left in awe of the changes that have taken place over the years. Who would have thought, a decade ago, that we would one day have two casinos in the small island state?
Yes it would be nice.. To have designated bicycle lanes. To be able to explore more green modes of transport but of course, you need order. Millions of Chinese commute to work on their bicycles everyday but that doesn't make any Chinese city sustainable like New York. They are still polluted and messy. Don't get me wrong, I love China in more ways than one, including the amazing history and unpredictable attitudes. But for a city to truly work towards a vision, you need good leadership and a good marketing campaign. Mayor Bloomberg said New Yorkers are not the easiest to convince, definitely not with what they have been through. And I believe that.
To me, Singapore is a world city too, with so many aspects I have taken for granted, having lived, studied and worked here all my life. Some weekends are boring but our connectivity brings us places. Pushes us outside of our boundaries to explore new cities yet yearn to come home again. I admire the city landscape along Marina Bay today and am left in awe of the changes that have taken place over the years. Who would have thought, a decade ago, that we would one day have two casinos in the small island state?
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