Revisiting Upper Peirce Reservoir

If you enjoy nature, Upper Peirce Reservoir is a really nice place to spend a relaxing weekend away from the crowd.

This used to be our favourite hangout when the kids were younger. It's been years since we last went, and I'm glad the place hasn't changed at all.

It was hot though, so blazing hot that it was impossible to hang around too long. It was never that hot before.

Little India

We were back at Little India last Thursday night to do some midnight shopping. We arrived at 11.30pm but from the crowd milling about, you could never tell it how late it was. That’s what I love about this little place that never sleeps.

A visit to Little India is a treat for the senses and there is a surprise waiting for me in every nook and cranny. Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of Little India...

As I stroll along the narrow lanes, I catch a whiff of sweet jasmine and the tantalising scents of spices drifting out from restaurants. What a feast for my eyes too…. the gorgeous saris, colourful garlands, gaudy bangles and dazzling array of gold jewerly. I love taking in the sights and cacophony of sounds. The blare of Indian music mingles with the sounds of car horn tooting, people bargaining, hawkers cajoling and visitors marveling. I see rows and rows of shops with a dizzying display of food from thosai to thali and tandoori, briyani, murtabak to an array of snacks and sweets. How can I resist the delicious smells and friendly faces greeting me at the door?

I marvel at the little shops lining the narrow streets that display everything and anything…from fresh vegetables to curry powder, clothes and Bollywood videos to pots and cameras.

I love how the colourful temples co-exist side by side with the churches and mosques, and the way fortune tellers and ‘mamak’ stores jostle for attention along the sidewalks. The ever-changing mix of restaurants, backpacker lodges and CD shops never fails to surprise me. It’s amazing even the back alleys of shop houses are occupied by tiny stalls hawking anything from VCDs to flower garlands.

There is orderliness in this cluttered, chaotic neighbourhood. You can almost imagine you’re in India, minus the beggars, squatters and the filth. This is the reason why our charming Little India is so loved by locals and tourists alike.

When I read that Urban Redevelopment Authority is planning to ‘spruce up this place yet retain the charm’, I wonder how this is possible.

Look at what they have done to Chinatown and Arab Street! They will reorganise the shop mix, relocate tenants that do not fit into the new scheme of things, get rid of clutter, ‘sanitise’ the area, rebuild old shop houses, spruce up the alleys, inject new art galleries and put in new signboards, increase rent…

In other words, the essence of Little India will soon be gone.

A desirable place

Singapore has been crowned the world’s most desirable place for Asian expatriates. This is the fifth consecutive time that Singapore has beaten 254 cities to take top spot since the annual Location Ranking Survey started 15 years ago by Hong Kong based human resources consultancy firm ECA International.

While many expats agree that Singapore is one of the world’s best places to live in, I often hear nothing but complaints from fellow Singaporeans. They complain about our expensive housing and cars, the education system, the lack of social welfare and freedom of speech, the job market, the government, the size of our island, the lack of natural resources, the influx of foreigners, the law, the traffic, the humidity, the heat...the list is endless.

Singapore is a great place to live in. I feel blessed to wake up everyday without having to worry where the next meal is coming from. Or whether there is going to be another earthquake, snowstorm or hurricane. Or a siege or bomb attack. I know that the kids are safe in school and will have lots of opportunities to further their education or seek employment right here when they grow older. And that they can walk in the streets without getting mugged.

I know that the tropical weather is perfect for my skin and for the plants in the garden. I love that I can step out of the house in a light cotton top anytime of the year without catching a cold. I can go camping, hiking or sun bathing all year round, or even steal a getaway to our neighbouring countries in a heartbeat.

I relish the huge array of food that is widely available and so affordable too. Yet, I can step into the swankiest restaurants and clubs when I feel like living it up. I even love our Changi Airport that is amongst the best in the world. And appreciate the fact that we can almost fly to any city in the world without any stopovers or special permits. Or that everywhere is within easy reach on our little island.

We probably have the nicest looking cars on the road. I think traveling by public transport is cheap and convenient. I appreciate the cleanliness and greenery around us. And the racial harmony that we all take for granted. I like our unique culture and even our weird Singlish accent.

I am grateful that we do not have beggars on the streets and that almost everyone has a roof over his head. And that we have a high literacy and low unemployment rate. I am thankful that running a business here or expanding overseas is not that difficult.

Sorry if I sound like I am gushing but I have read and seen enough about what’s going on around the world to know a good thing when I see one.