Road to Singapore

I do have this strange liking for Singapore, even though I don’t think I could ever live there permanently. It’s really hard to explain. On one hand, I dislike how everything seems so, umm, sterile, but then there is also this sense of adventure whenever I am there.

It’s not that I’m totally unfamiliar with the city. In fact, I have been visiting Singapore very frequently starting from when I was just a few months old. You see, my mum is from Singapore and as such, she used to go back quite frequently for visits when my grandparents were still alive.

I don’t think there has been a time when I have been away from Singapore for more than a year. Even when I was studying in Australia, I at least transitted at Changi airport once or twice a year.

I like how Singapore is so advanced, yet if you take some time off and look properly, there are all these gems which reminds you of the days of yore. Well, not like the middle ages or something, but just little hints of the colonisation. I feel that in a way, Singapore holds on to its heritage way better than we do here in Malaysia, despite the fact that they are obviously technologically and economically more advanced. For example, the signage below would probably have been removed a long time ago, if it was in Malaysia (or worse, replaced!).

Now, one of the things I like most about Singapore I guess is that it exists so that we Malaysians can laugh at it. But no, despite the bits of, umm, analness, among Singaporeans, I like that they are able to laugh at themselves too. I am reminded of the parody album by the Kopy Kat Klan, with their hit song: “Why you so like that?” (Lyrics and music here) which basically takes the piss out of Singaporeans. And then there is the iconic cartoon character Mr Kiasu (which I loved reading, and have all the books!).

But of course, Singaporeans take themselves very seriously as well (and maybe that’s why it’s so easy to get away with laughing at them). I don’t think reminders like this one below, would ever work in Malaysia. I’m not sure how efficient the message is, but I can just imagine that in Malaysia, the poor foreign worker who is painting this (or worse, the National Service trainee!) would get arrested for defacing public property. Heh

In recent years, after my grandparents died, I didn’t go down to Singapore as often as I’d like. I suppose work and all makes it difficult. That said, there was a couple of years – maybe back in 2004-2006 – when work would send me down there. I really enjoyed those trips because it meant that I would be staying at a hotel and didn’t have to pay S$30 taxi fares after midnight for the cab to send me back to my relatives place in Pasir Ris.

Of course, the work itself was fun. I get to go down to do photoshoots with the likes of Jon Johnsson (Manhunt winner), concerts (like Norah Jones and Michael Buble) as well as interview people like some of the cast members of Heroes – Sedhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder Suresh), Ali Larter (Niki Sanders), Greg Grunberg (Officer Matt Parkman) and Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura). Can’t complain right?

Check out my Flickr page to see pictures of me meeting the Heroes cast!

Yes, yes, I know, I fell asleep with Buble’s hand around my shoulder. LOL

I think one of the things I like most about Singapore is anonymity. Not in the paparazzi-avoiding, sunglasses wearing sense but really, I feel like I can try different things there because, well, nobody knows me. If I want to get drunk and make a fool of myself, I could and there would be no one to remind me about it for the rest of my life (oh, it happens in KL too and then the taunts begin). Or like I can go shopping and feel like I am allowed to shop because I am travelling, and isn’t shopping part of the agenda always? Or say, I could have a manicure for the first time and not worry about embarrassing myself if I didn’t know what the process or procedure is because I will never see that woman again.

Now, you must be wondering why I’m being all nostalgic about Singapore. No, it’s not because I’m afraid that some war will be raged and it won’t exist anymore.

It’s just that I’ve stayed away from Singapore for a while but today, I shall make a short visit back there for the first time in more than a year. I don’t think I’ll be catching up with any friends or do any shopping – my visit there is for a very specific reason (which you probably already know about if you’ve been following this blog, or else you can find out tomorrow or Sunday when I write about it).

So yeah, I’ve just got Singapore on my mind.

9.39am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)

Tags: ali larter, cavenagh bridge, changi, greg grunberg, heroes, hiro nakamura, holiday, jon johnsson, kopy kat klan, manhunt, manicure, masi oka, matt parkman, michael buble, mohinder suresh, mr kiasu, niki sanders, norah jones, pasir ris, sedhil ramamurthy, Singapore, Travel, visit