Thursday, May 8, 2014
I just went down to buy McDonalds. Yep, at 1 am.
As I exited the lift and walked across the void deck, a wave of nostalgia hit me. It suddenly felt like it was the old days, back when I was a kid again. All the cars were parked in the open carparks, a lone driver who just parked his car heading to the lift. I walked to the street. It was a cool night after rain. Hardly any cars around, hardly anyone around. The shutters of the shops were shut. The empty chairs by the tables at the coffeeshop. The lamp posts. McDonalds was relatively empty, but the lights were right and the mood was cheery as usual, like all outlets. As I waited for my order, the Malay manager was talking to a malay customer. I then realised that it really was the slower pace of life of those around you, the cheerful smiles of people, our own people conversing so casually, and space. At night, the few people and fewer cars made it seem like everywhere was just more spacious, and really just more comfortable.
As I was walking back home it dawned upon me something else that really really mattered. Something that I really missed when I was younger. Listening to the insects chirp in the cool and silence of the night was AMAZING. I mean come to think of it, developments happen so fast, everywhere, that nature has essentially disappeared from under our noses. The soothing sound of the insects really brought me back to a time when life was slower-paced, and really just simpler and happier. I am really glad that I have a park, sort of, beside my house. Otherwise I'd never get to appreciate the close caress of nature right in this urbanised city which really characterises Singapore in the 90s, or at least in my childhood.
I really hope my children are able to experience all these in the future. || posted by Kuan Hui
As I exited the lift and walked across the void deck, a wave of nostalgia hit me. It suddenly felt like it was the old days, back when I was a kid again. All the cars were parked in the open carparks, a lone driver who just parked his car heading to the lift. I walked to the street. It was a cool night after rain. Hardly any cars around, hardly anyone around. The shutters of the shops were shut. The empty chairs by the tables at the coffeeshop. The lamp posts. McDonalds was relatively empty, but the lights were right and the mood was cheery as usual, like all outlets. As I waited for my order, the Malay manager was talking to a malay customer. I then realised that it really was the slower pace of life of those around you, the cheerful smiles of people, our own people conversing so casually, and space. At night, the few people and fewer cars made it seem like everywhere was just more spacious, and really just more comfortable.
As I was walking back home it dawned upon me something else that really really mattered. Something that I really missed when I was younger. Listening to the insects chirp in the cool and silence of the night was AMAZING. I mean come to think of it, developments happen so fast, everywhere, that nature has essentially disappeared from under our noses. The soothing sound of the insects really brought me back to a time when life was slower-paced, and really just simpler and happier. I am really glad that I have a park, sort of, beside my house. Otherwise I'd never get to appreciate the close caress of nature right in this urbanised city which really characterises Singapore in the 90s, or at least in my childhood.
I really hope my children are able to experience all these in the future. || posted by Kuan Hui
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