Leap Day

29th February… the one bonus day we get every four years.

I realise that it’s an awesome way to take stock of how things have changed since the last leap day (back in 2012).

I can’t really remember what exactly happened on 29th Feb 2012, but what I do know is that I just ORD-ed from full time national service a few days ago, and I was probably lazing around, enjoying my return to civilian life. Oh, and I did a run too – a 6.2km run near my house at a 4:41/km pace, tracked using my then-still-quite-new Forerunner 405.

Four years on, things have changed again. I’m in my penultimate semester (could have been my final semester if I were a single degree student) – where did all the time in uni fly to? Thankfully, running remained a thing I do for leisure four years on… so I did a run today too – a 10km run at 4:18/km pace at West Coast Park, before school… basically equaling my personal best set in December last year at the SCMS.

(Good to know that my running has improved quite a bit since then! Didn’t fall into the “fittest during my NSF days” trap)

Also, four years ago, I was single, yet hopeful that I will find someone in NUS. Four years on, I’m happily attached to my girlfriend Chelsea (for almost 39 months now).

Four years ago, I was looking for a part-time job. Four years on, I’m still looking for a part-time job (aka internship).

Four years ago, I was super excited about school. Four years on, I’m quite sad recess week had just ended, and my enthusiasm for school has dipped. (But still not too bad!)

Very curious to know where I’ll be, how I’ll be four years from now.

29th February 2020… let’s go!

 

2015

Another 365 days has gone past. The SG50 year is reaching its end.

What a year it has been. Many events have happened this year, both within Singapore and outside Singapore. Terrible terrorist attacks, saddening deaths, joyous celebrations. Compared to my own life, and what I’ve experienced, 2015 was a tame enough year.

But tame doesn’t mean boring.

I did my internship at PwC and finally got to have a taste of the audit world in a Big Four firm. I spent the first half of the year attending class with my good friends, and spent the second half of the year attending econ classes mostly alone and meeting new people. (And of course, not forgetting FSP in the second half of the year) I did okay for school, and frankly I think I did quite good for the things that matter. Of course, getting exposed to modules like Game Theory leaves me humbled and cautious.

There were fun parts to the year too. Spent a beautiful five days in Bali with Chelsea in July after internship, and then spent a nice ten days in Yunnan, China with my family in December. Of course, significant progress was made in my relationship with Chels after we applied for our first BTO in May. 🙂 And I finally hit a target of 1,000km ran in a year this year, despite getting injuries (like an inflamed tendon late this year).

December was a particularly fun month. I also spent some time volunteering at the ASEAN Para Games before heading to China with my family. After coming back, I met up with many friends, spent time with my girlfriend and family and finally got my Lasik done.

The past few days I went out with Chels, with friends and with my family, spending time with people important to me in my life.

Just today I brought my grandma (and my aunt) to Gardens by the Bay, taking advantage of free train rides on the Downtown Line. I admired the scenery in the Gardens that seem to be in higher fidelity than when I was wearing specs. I’m really enjoying seeing the world through my new eyes.

I’m immensely thankful for a relatively smooth 2015, especially when there’s so much uncertainty going on in the world. I wish for an eye-opening and enriching 2016 – my final year as a student – and a healthy and safe year ahead for my loved ones.

Happy new year!

Rail Corridor… Destroyed?

It’s been a while since I’ve updated the blog. Busy times. But it’s week 13 – last week of school for this semester/calendar year! Yeahhhh.

Didn’t have any intention to post anything in this period, but when Han Liang forwarded a TODAY article to me regarding the rail corridor, it caught my attention. It was about how the 2 steel truss bridges along the rail corridor will be gazetted for conservation (aka cannot anyhow touch!). When HL said they were good news for me, frankly I felt that there was more than meets the eye.

It was almost as though the conservation announcement is to pacify people who are keen on conserving the old, people who don’t really care about any concrete park connector. I went to The Straits Times in search of an related article and I realised I was right.

The article’s headline is “Winning concept master plan chosen for Rail Corridor”.

Paved cycling paths and sheltered rest areas, lively event spaces and quiet rainforest viewing platforms all feature in the winning concept master plan that will guide the development of the Rail Corridor.

As I read the article, my heart sank.

My beloved rail corridor is about to turn into a whole different thing monster.

The Straits Times did a nice infographic for all the proposed changes:

SO MUCH CHANGE.

My friends would know me as someone who likes to run. And my favourite place to run in Singapore is the Rail Corridor. I’ve written about it before back in July 2013, so I won’t repeat much. At that time, I wrote the article because the government was inviting tenders to see how the rail corridor can be developed (the outcome, of course, revealed today).

Then, I wrote:

If you ask me, though, some things can be left untouched – even in a superdeveloped city like Singapore. The government is looking at ways to develop the rail corridor. Of course, development will happen. It’s about making the corridor more accessible, for more people to enjoy it – like how I did. Concrete paths will probably be installed, distance markers will likely be printed, lighting installed and shelters built.

Sigh. If only they just installed distance markers and some lighting.

Look at the plans. I mean… FLOOR LIGHTING?! Like the one at Orchard Gateway?

The part of the rail corridor I run the most, approximately point number 4 in the ST graphic, is going to be integrated with residential development, with a linear forest of HIGH-RISE BLOCKS. In other words, a concrete jungle. Obviously.

Don’t get me wrong. These developments are nice to have. If they come to fruition, I may even use these facilities and check out, for instance, the observation tower at the Bt Timah fire station. However, the question is – are we losing more by destroying an absolutely unique green trail, cutting through some of the most population-dense areas in the world, in favour of something that is, and can be, replicated everywhere else?

I mean… yoga decks. Underneath a 10-lane PIE viaduct. Why would you want to have yoga decks underneath a loud expressway?!

Look at this:

What the?! Am I at the Star Vista shopping mall?

When I cycled with Paul in June this year, this was what I saw near Buona Vista:

Which one seems to provide a greater marginal benefit for Singaporeans wishing to relax in the Buona Vista area? Another shopping area lookalike (which is frankly expensive and probably unnecessary), or a rare green trail? Just so you know, the only “park” in Buona Vista within walking distance of the MRT is the Ulu Pandan park connector, which is a concrete track next to a canal. Show me the grass. (You can’t find much, if at all. I run there sometimes and I know)

It saddens me that our urban planners, at least the ones in charge of this project, seem to think that the only way to progress is to build things up. Why not leave this linear trail the way it is, like how NParks treated Coney Island? And as far as I know, there are no sandflies on the rail corridor.

The strip can be handed over to NParks, and treated as a linear park connector. Sure, go ahead and put the concrete if really needed, and perhaps some simple shelters.

But please, leave the nightlife to Clarke Quay and the floor lighting strips to East Coast Park.

The article stated that the plans are not firmed up:

But these plans are far from set in stone, and will be further shaped and refined in response to public feedback.

It’s a nice touch. But it’s almost lip service, I think. Too much has gone into this ‘winning’ concept plan for it to be substantially changed.

In less than a month’s time, I will be celebrating urban development by (finally) taking a train ride, underground, on the Downtown Line. Yet, as I gain something I’ve been looking forward to for many years, I may lose something I treasure not too long from now. I feel so conflicted towards urban development and how quality of life is (and should be) measured.

What I know is that I better get more runs along this endangered green corridor before it goes extinct.

Election Season

After the 9 days of campaigning after Nomination Day, tomorrow Singapore goes to the polls. It’s so exciting because it’s my first time exercising my right (and duty) to vote as a Singaporean. I’m very glad all constituencies are contested so everyone can exercise this right. It’s not that long ago when there will be many walkovers in the ‘safe’ constituencies, including the constituency where I’m residing in. Thankfully that ended in 2011.

Since I’m able to vote, I’ve increased my attention to political news and tried to see the big picture, as far as I could, at least. Campaigning often include a lot of smoke bombs and noise thrown in by the incumbents and opposition parties.

Some thoughts before polling day:

1. It feels to me that there is less unhappiness on the ground this GE compared to 2011. I still remember how bad things seemed to be in 2011 – transport, housing, even the escape of Mas Selamat. Flooding on Orchard Road – more than once. This time round, I guess people do see (and recognise) the improvements made. (But who the voters attribute this improvement to is highly subjective)
2. Accounting is in the limelight for this GE! Used by both the incumbent and the opposition to further their interests and arguments, it is interesting to me as an accounting student that neither side really gives the full picture. Reading the financial statements and the audit opinions give a better idea of what exactly is going on.
3. One big bad fail for PAP accounting is in the last few days of campaigning when the Workers’ Party claimed that Punggol East had a big deficit at the time of hand-over, and PAP said “no, no, there’s this huge accounts receivable, which, when received, will reverse the deficit into a surplus”. Which is absolutely wrong because the receivable should have already been computed into the calculations for the deficit. Ng Eng Hen’s pending “definitive” answer to this issue, first promised on Sunday, is conveniently forgotten. Still, to the man on the street, the PAP argument makes some logical sense… which is dangerous. Misleading.
4. I find the WP use of the AGO report and adverse opinions against PA very smart, and the PAP’s non-response to it worrying. What’s going on in the PA?
5. Elections are highly emotional and subjective. No party offers the definitive ‘correct’ answer. One person may side with one party, and another may oppose for the same reason.
6. Curious to see how accurate sample count would be in predicting the final outcome for the constituencies.

Happy polling day my friends!

Good Elitism

First day of school. Pretty ho-hum until Chelsea shared this letter to the Straits Times with me, written by a Raffles Institution graduate (I would imagine he’s 19 this year). He argues that elitism can be good for society, and gave reasons why he felt there’s no need to veer from the “well-trodden path”.

I read the letter in disbelief, thinking that this person really personifies the kind of stereotypical “elite” who graduates from RI/RJC. Thankfully, I know better as my friends in NUS Business who have graduated from RI are nowhere like this fella.

I disagree with his overall conclusion, to the extent where I feel like putting some of my thoughts down here. One of the things I’ve been concerned about in Singapore is education. I believe in the power of education, how it levels the playing field, giving those who may not be as well off a fair chance to excel in society. Of course, in recent years, there is a perception that this leveller effect has reduced, thanks to increasingly wealthier families being able to send their young kids to (increasingly) expensive (branded) tuition classes, and the protection the Integrated Programme offers to these “bright” young kids. As PSLE scores are used to enter top junior colleges, more and more are seeing the benefits of expensive tuition and how it can help to secure their 12-year-olds for university.

Looking beyond the obvious mistakes (i.e, Singapore never had an aspiration for equity – which is the quality of being fair and impartial, not everyone doing the best they can. Singapore did however have aspirations for equality), the undertones and underlying assumptions that he points out are extremely worrying. For instance, he associates doctors and lawyers as superior to everyone else, who does ‘menial tasks’. Ouch. He has also assumed that his RI principal had highlighted the pursuit of equality during his speech, which I couldn’t find. What I drew from the speech was how the school was becoming less diverse, and how they are attracting a certain group of Singaporeans (clearly the rich and the well-off).

Then the part that made me sigh.

It is a natural consequence that students from affluent backgrounds get into better schools because their parents are likely more well-heeled and can afford better-quality education for them.

A “natural” consequence. No, no, no. It is a man-made consequence, urged on by societal pressures and norms.

To be honest, he did make valid points. I agree with him stating how elitism is the ugly side of meritocracy. That’s perfectly true, because there has be to some form of differentiation when it comes to the whole concept of meritocracy. The concept of meritocracy in Singapore is important, but it is not faultless. This I agree.

Then, the twist.

But maybe that is not a fault at all. A natural consequence that stratifies society does have its own purpose for the well-educated, critical minds to mingle together to build Singapore up to greater heights. Intelligence is an asset; and we cannot allow ourselves to prioritise equality over intelligence and equity.

Another “natural” consequence. This paragraph was such a fine display of elitism it made me look away. But the last part was so bad, I read it all up:

RI is often touted as a factory for future leaders – why would we want to draw resources away from the nurturing of our future leaders, or worse still, level the playing field?

We should relook the way we go off the well-trodden path, and ensure that we do not shake up the status quo just for the sake of doing so.

(emphasis mine)

Wow, wow, wow. Look at that amazing conclusion.

Here is a guy who probably has the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset. In this context, it is the “if the system benefits me, don’t fix it”. This is not the kind of leader we need in Singapore. This system worked for him because he has succeeded in entering Raffles Institution, which may or may not be a sign of intelligence (tuition – aided by parents’ financial ability – skews academic ability, which itself is a sign of, but not conclusive of, intelligence).

But does the system work for everyone? I beg to differ. There are many students out there who may be intelligent, but their parents may not be able to afford tuition. There are students who are gifted, but just not in math or science (I’m thankful for schools like the Sports School and SOTA to cater to students who are gifted in these ways). And there are the late bloomers, who may not be that academically able in primary school, but find ways to fight with the best. My friend David Hoe is one of them.

The system does not work for everyone. I’m glad there are efforts to change and improve the system. Such as NUS admitting students into its prestigious Medicine programme from madrasahs and polytechnics, and how more universities are being built to support the aspirations of a meritocratic society.

Unfortunately, I think the writer only recognises academic ability – at just the PSLE and then the GCE ‘A’ levels – as a benchmark for intelligence. And how the “intelligent” (in his definition) should be given the chance to “mingle” and build Singapore up to greater heights. As if our nation only depends on the work of our political leaders, as if building the nation is only reserved for the elite.

For all its flaws, I’m thankful The Straits Times has decided to publish this letter (albeit online only). It helps to illustrate Mr Chan Poh Meng’s (principal of RI) point in his speech:

Are we able, as a school, to help our students look beyond narrow class-based interests?

Clearly, Mr Chan has his work cut out for him!

Postnote: As an accounting student, I can’t help but think about how he perceives equity – or, in the accounting sense, net assets – as an important aspiration.

Golden Jubilee

The Golden Jubilee long weekend is finally over. What an exciting four days it has been – at least for me! It’s also the last few days before school resumes and life goes back to normal – I’ve really been relaxing too much these weeks!

SG50 Public Holiday – Black Knights / NUSSU Rag and Flag

On the special public holiday, I spent the first half of the day with my family because we wanted to catch the Republic of Singapore Air Force Black Knights aerial acrobatics team, which had planned a special acrobatic display for Singapore’s 50th birthday. After dropping my brother off at the Padang – and admiring the Padang site – my dad dropped us off at Gardens by the Bay where we slowly walked to the Marina Barrage.

The weather was not looking too good as 12pm (the start time) approached, and it started to rain just before 12pm. The start time was pushed back, then we were informed that it will be a partial show. Turns out it really wasn’t a very sophisticated show, just some flybys and simple tricks. Better than nothing though, but nothing like the actual planned performance.

In the afternoon and evening I spent an incredible 7 hours at the Float at Marina Bay for NUSSU Rag and Flag Day, thanks Heather and Ben for the last-minute ticket. It’s really the biggest rag day ever, with the floating platform nearly full (that’s around 20,000 people!). I remember the last time NUSSU had the rag and flag day outside was in 2010, at the Promontory. I thought it was a good idea to do it outside because that’s the whole point of rag day – to show appreciation to the public who have donated during flag day. If you have it in campus, the outreach is limited. Of course, cost concerns make it a lot more viable to have it in school as part of orientation.

But it’s a nice break thanks to (what I think) a huge budget increase due to NUS’s 110th anniversary, added on to SG50 celebrations. Good show, but just a bit long. Really enjoyed the Biz (i’m biased) and Medicine performances, they were superb. And these two performances got gold yet again – really the gold standard in this competition. Just feels like the bar is getting higher and higher every year.

After that, there were performances by Gentle Bones, The Sam Willows and Christina Grimmie. I know the first two, I don’t know who Christina Grimmie was (unbelievable right?). They were all good. Of course Christina is supposed to be better or something but I really think they are around the same in terms of goodness. (I think our local talent is up there too!)

We left slightly early ‘cos it was dragging way too long, we didn’t have proper dinner, and I think I’m getting a bit too old for this freshman stuff.

HAHAHA.

So grand, so majestic

Just a simple flypast

Clearly not the best weather

Saw this new floral clock in Gardens by the Bay, another SG50 thing

Waiting for show to start…

Skyline waking up…

Caught some fireworks thanks to the jubilee weekend too! Reminded me of NDP 2013

National Day Eve – Botanic Gardens

8 Aug would have been a typical Saturday. Met Letts and Sheng Kang in the afternoon for a long awaited catch-up. Following that, on a whim, decided to bring my mum and my youngest sister out to the Botanic Gardens for the SG50 concert. I heard that it was the Singapore Symphonic Orchestra performing so it would be nice to catch them out. Plus there will be The Sam Willows again!

Turns out we didn’t see either of those. What we did see (‘cos we didn’t stay there for too long) was quite a nice performance by the Singapore Lyric Opera and a whole bunch of people. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Botanic Gardens so crowded before. The palm valley surrounding the Shaw Foundation stage was FULL of families, many dressed in red, with picnic mats. Very glad to see many young kids too – and they are not playing with any of the fancy iGadgets.

Must say I was very impressed with the performance put up by Lyric Opera. I don’t listen to this genre at all (opera music leh, I’m how old only). It was a nice evening, not too hot, with gentle breezes here and there. It was particularly nice after the sun went down so it was just great weather and great music. 🙂

We found a nice spot quite far away from the front but not too crowded

A lot of people hor?

National Day – Black Knights again + Many hours in Marina Bay

All the $$ spent since Aug 10 last year to commemorate SG50 will finally lead to its conclusion on 9 Aug. After breakfast with my family and dropping my bro at the Padang, we heard the Proclamation by LKY in the car over radio. I got goosebumps and felt a lump in my throat when the familiar – yet not so familiar – voice declared that Singapore shall forever be an independent and sovereign nation. Forever – it’s a scary word to use especially considering the circumstances surrounding separation. 50 years later, forever still rings true.

Spent the rest of the day with Chels. We took the free public transport to Bayfront and followed the sea of red towards Marina Barrage. Weather looks better today, and the Black Knights really, really delivered. Made the wait for them to strut their F16s worth it. They were just as good, if not better (probably better) than when I last saw them in the 2011 Singapore Airshow (those NS days…).

The most touching one was definitely the tribute flypast, and the scariest one was… well, there’s more than one. I found those manoeuvres that brought the planes close to each other particularly scary.

We then spent our time slowly moving to lunch (in Peach Garden noodle house in Gardens by the Bay), then slowly moving to MBS, slowly having coffee, and then slowly finding a spot to watch the parade. Slowly because everywhere was full of people. It’s quite scary. The number of people everywhere really reminds you of how dense Singapore is. A very good number also decked in red and white – it was as though the entire nation was going to watch the show at Padang. But of course, National Day is more than just for those lucky peeps who get tickets to watch the parade.

We ultimately got a spot (helped by nice Singaporeans who gave me some space while I waited for Chels from the toilet) that had a good view of the LED screen but a partially blocked view of fireworks. For me it was a bit of a pity but I would rather have watched the parade and the show. The mood was superb – everyone watching the show around us were really enthusiastic. Clapped, sang, waved the flags, etc. In ways the mood of the people around us is better than the NDP Chels and I caught back in 2013.

Other than the sombre LKY tribute, the rest of the parade and show was received with loud applause and cheers from the crowd. Every chapter of the show. During the 2 national anthems everyone sung with gusto. Likewise for the pledge. It’s a nice, heartwarming feeling.

Until the fireworks start, of course. Then we were presented with our blocked view.

Zzz.  (But it’s okay)

After the fireworks Chels and I decided to take our time to go back because we can imagine how crowded public transport would be. We initially wanted to head to Marina Bay MRT but turns out I wasn’t the only one with that idea. So we decided to eat at SGEatWithUs right at the Bay, before heading back. Slowly.

It was so glorious to see Marina Bay in red and white, both in the day and in night. Truly a national day to remember.

Selfie before show starts

Red red red

Same same but different from two days ago! My other shots were quite blur.

Happy us at Marina Barrage – our first time together here!

That red snake

2:45pm at MBS. Look at how crowded the waterfront is.

The Q on the right leads to the casinos 😉

This was around 4.30pm. Final spot – the best one I could find

Close, not too bad view of the parade!

After hours of adjustments and moving around, everyone in the bay has stopped moving and is watching the show!

The 50, distorted thanks to our location

Our city in red

My lone shot of fireworks, hahaha

10pm at Bayfront. 2 hours after the fireworks, still so crowded

The Day After – Sentosa

Today is the last day of the 4-day-long weekend. Tomorrow school would start. People who have went off to enjoy the long weekend overseas would come back, holiday over.

My family had decided to check out the sand sculptures at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach, especially since the exhibition is only on for the jubilee weekend. Enjoyed the sculptures a lot, very detailed work by the sculptors.

Then we checked out Fort Siloso through its new skywalk – great view. It was my first time ever at Fort Siloso because last time it was a paid attraction. Recently it was made free so my family took a look at it. Quite a cool and very historic location. Made me think about life during the war. It’s crazy how things change.

Aug 10, 2015 and Aug 9, 1965

Free cable car rides today, but 10 hr queues meant we had to settle for this

Looking down from Fort Siloso’s newest attraction

Beautiful Keppel

Seaview

Exploring the tunnels

Long long time ago…

A Thought

Today there was a special edition of the Straits Times on the 50th National Day (obviously). What caught my attention was this article by Rachel Chang, who’s around my age (a few years older). I agreed with the article, which reflected some thoughts from this Gen Y-er on expectations for the next 50 years.

But the success story of SG50 was unearned by my generation. We Instagrammed all the best moments from the long weekend, but understood only theoretically the journey that led to here.

We were born into a fast-moving current, buoyed along by the waves others made.

It will be SG100 that’s our tale to tell. And when I am 79, the story I hope my grandchildren will hear won’t be just one of success, of going from Third World to First.

It will also be about how we held together when things seemed to go backwards, if ever they do. About how our identity and resilience as a people were not contingent on growth and constant addition, but were able to withstand scarcity and subtraction – and strengthen through those periods.

So true, so true.

That’s exactly how I felt about celebrating this year’s golden jubilee as a young adult, just about to be thrust into the working world. Jubilant, proud, but feeling somewhat unworthy. Excited, yet nervous, to see how the future will unfold when we are the ones directly contributing to the Singapore story.

Down the Rail Corridor

Yesterday, my friend Paul and I went cycling down the rail corridor. (Such a pity Danny couldn’t make it! Hahah)

I’ve ran on the rail corridor before quite a few times and I love it. I think it’s very nice to have a green trail in such an urban city cutting through from the north all the way down to Tanjong Pagar, one that is virtually untouched (after the removal of the train tracks) and almost continuous (I am seriously surprised by the absence of interruptions from the Bukit Timah Railway station (at King Albert Park) all the way down to Bukit Merah). So when Paul proposed cycling down to Tanjong Pagar, it’s an offer I can’t refuse. I can’t possibly run down the approximately 11km stretch from Bukit Timah down to Tanjong Pagar – especially without return transportation so it’s probably more comfortable to explore the rest of the green corridor using a bike. In this case, his mountain bike! (Such an experience!)

We met near the middle of the day, and made a quick detour to the petrol station to pump air into the tyres before heading off. Thankfully Paul lives near the rail corridor so it was painless to get to it via Rifle Range Road. Of course, this was familiar territory – I ran along this portion of the corridor many times. But of course, it feels faster – and easier – on wheels.

It’s quite interesting to cycle on the track yesterday because I thought of what Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong posted on his Facebook/Instagram/widely-used-social-media-platform about his recent ride down a 16-km concrete path that used to be a railway track, and how it could possibly be adapted for our own rail corridor. The cyclists were supportive – why wouldn’t they – while runners like me were more reserved.

For me I like the rail corridor as it generally is. I think it should be retained as a trail because there’s really too much concrete around. I would rather have a dedicated (concrete) cycling path next to some of our main roads as an alternative means of transport. To remove a green belt by adding concrete to it is ironic given how we are trying to plant (instant) trees elsewhere and maintaining our green image. The greenery is already there – maintain it!

And I think the corridor is very beautiful. It just gets better as I cycled down with Paul, passing by the old Bukit Timah railway station, going past Old Holland Road and the houses around there, soon reaching Ghim Moh, with the old Raffles JC on the right side (soon to be the home of some unnamed JC for IP students). This was still familiar to me because I have managed to run to Buona Vista and back before. But of course, on a bike, it was much easier to gain distance than on my two legs. Paul’s bike has a little cyclocomputer (basically a little computer that displays information like distance and speed) so I saw the km’s going by. It’s a nice change from gaining the mileage through runs.

Soon Buona Vista and the MRT track overhead went past and I was in new territory (yay!). The path down was beautiful too, with a bit more ‘urbanisation’ as the trail approached Tanjong Pagar. Saw more HDB flats, and some hostel-lookalike buildings at Portsdown. Soon we were at the Bukit Merah/Redhill area, moving past the industrial estate. Before I knew it we reached the end of the trail (we couldn’t cycle all the way down to the terminus itself because it was blocked off). Tanjong Pagar and the CBD loomed in the distance.

It was awesome. Then we had lunch at a Bukit Merah hawker centre, chatted for a few hours and headed back the same way.

Of course the trail is not the most friendly one, which probably makes cyclists excited about having the entire corridor paved in concrete. Potholes abound at some spots, and in areas where sunlight is blocked by the overhead vegetation, it’s waterlogged and difficult to pass – both for cyclists and runners (and probably hikers too). I made a bad decision when choosing a route and had my entire shoe drenched in mud. (Yum.)

These are problems that I have encountered before as a runner, but they are not severe enough for me to want the corridor as a concrete ‘alternative transport’ route down to the CBD. (I can already imagine motorbikes taking advantage of this development if it materialises) It should remain as a recreational space that many of the residents living in the Northwest/Southwest area can enjoy. And like East Coast Park – which attracts Singaporeans from all over – the rail corridor can be the trail/green equivalent to the ECP’s long coastline.

There has been passionate debate about the Rail Corridor in the past when Malaysia first returned the land to Singapore. I didn’t really understand the fuss then, but as the corridor grew on me I’m curious to how the government will develop this green belt. Of course I would prefer leaving it mostly as-is, improving drainage at certain points and perhaps provide better access points to the corridor and maybe even some lighting. It would be also nice to link up the northwest portion of the corridor – lots of breakages from Hillview all the way down to Ten Mile Junction, Sungei Kadut and beyond (I’m sure the Woodlands portion of the trail is probably the most disjointed). I think laying a concrete path down this asset would be such a pity.

There will be a year-end exhibition showcasing the proposals submitted for the Rail Corridor covering the first phase of development – between Bt Timah Railway Station and the Rail Mall – basically my ‘staple’ running route if I were to run on the corridor. Very interested to see how it unfolds.

Some photos from the ride!

Starting off from Rifle Range Road – one of the toughest running routes (I think) in the Bukit Timah area

The Bt Timah railway station

The area around Old Holland Road… just paths and greenery.

Paul approaching Buona Vista

New-ish HDB flats in Commonwealth area (called Commonwealth 10)

Two neatly cut paths. Dry and nice. (Of course it was hot)

I think these are yo:ha hostels at Commonwealth

Nearing the end… Bukit Merah. Now we’re parallel to the AYE

My mud-splattered (retired) Asics Kayano 19 shoes

A wider area which probably used to have crossover tracks and stuff like that

As far as we could go! Can see the CBD in the distance, and places like Pinnacle@Duxton too

Where the photos were taken – clearly I was more excited taking photos at the end of the route

Our total mileage for the day – 24.68km.

SEA Games: Exercise in Nation-building

The SEA Games are over!

It has been nice to have this kind of multi-sport international (okay lah, regional) sporting meet in Singapore. In many ways it feels nicer to have the SEA Games in Singapore than the Youth Olympic Games five years ago. Of course, the YOG is the one with the prestige – its the one with the most recognisable five-rings in the world. But the SEA Games are special because unlike the YOG, there are so many Singaporean athletes – and medals won – at this Games compared to the YOG, where we see ang mohs and Chinese/Japanese clean sweeping every event.

There also seems to be an increased sense of people caring about the SEA Games compared to the YOG. I can’t say for sure because I was doing my NS during the YOG days but looking at the numbers of Singaporeans and supporters from around the region flood the venues during the weekend evenings and the weekends really add to the atmosphere of the Games. No need to bring in students to boost support – there’s enough support already. When I watched the track events at the National Stadium last Thursday evening, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of supporters there (free admission helps of course). I watched the tennis finals on Sunday with Chelsea and her parents – it was nearly full house. And the fans were passionate – making every event a joy to watch, both online and in real life. (I can still remember the roar from the crowd after the netball finals where Singapore won Malaysia – it was scarily good even though I was watching from my computer)

And one big factor is of course Singapore’s record-breaking medal haul, with a total of 259 medals – 84 of them gold medals. I remember chuckling when I saw the Straits Times’ prediction of 80 golds, but clearly the ST Sports team knew what they were predicting. My siblings and I were particularly interested in checking how the medal count increased over the days. Medals from the expected places – like the pool – to the unexpected, like the track, squash court and in gymnastics. I remember this line said by someone when I was in NS: People like to support a winning team. And this time we were winning quite a bit.

Well, the standard of the SEA Games is much lower, which helps in the medal haul. We see athletes like Joseph Schooling who are way above the regional standard win convincingly and break countless records. But we also see surprise wins like those by Shanti Pereira who broke Singapore’s gold medal drought on the track.

But ultimately does that matter? I think the timing of the Games were very deliberate. While Singapore gave up the opportunity in 2013 due to the delayed Sports Hub, I think the government scored a coup by having this event in 2015. There’s no better opportunity to commemorate SG50 than having a winning Team Singapore represent the country on home ground, with many passionate supporters (also provided courtesy of the Sports School) waving the national flag. It builds up national pride.

I got reminded once again of the sporting culture in the United States universities, and how I was proud to be a Tar Heel when I was in UNC. UNC’s track record in basketball played a big part, as you see almost everyone else support your team. Sport does help to build a sense of identity and pride, and I see something similar forming in Singapore after these SEA Games.

Hopefully it persists. As a relatively young nation there are few things that can help form our collective identity. One is through tough times and crises – SARS comes to mind. Another is through the bad times and collective loss – the recent Sabah earthquake and Lee Kuan Yew’s passing. But there’s also collective triumph and celebration that can help us forge our common identity.

As the SEA Games end tonight, hopefully our sense of pride for our Team SG athletes will not extinguish.

Results Day

Today is the release of results for the second semester of the 2014/15 academic year, and it is also my fifth time receiving results from NUS. Somehow, it just feels harder to receive results as the semesters go by. It’s supposed to feel easier, right? Especially as the CAP becomes more and more ‘sticky’ as time progresses?

Even as the relative ‘importance’ of each semester’s results decreases, I feel the increased pressure. I think, for me at least, that results act as a signalling device for the amount of work you have put in for the previous semester. Of course, it is not the most accurate signalling device because there are so many variables that go into a single grade, especially in business school where class participation matters. And class participation has got to be the most subjective thing to grade. So it’s at best a relative signal.

I think I also feel the increased pressure for my Biz CAP compared to my Economics CAP because of the Honours system. Ultimately I will be only taking Honours for my Business (Accounting) degree, so my Economics CAP really doesn’t matter that much (as long as I meet the minimum to stay in the double degree programme). The previous semester was one where I had five Biz modules (four accounting) – all graded – and one Economics module (overloading is stressful too). I think the fact that the Accountancy cohort is so tiny (less than 100 students for this basket of modules) makes the bell curve very steep too.

While last semester was fun, with many fun modules and an awesome group, it may not translate to good academic results. Furthermore I felt my concentration span at home is quite a bit worse than when I was staying in Tembusu College. So I was mentally prepared (as far as possible) for a significant dip in my CAP.

Thankfully my worries were unfounded as my CAP dropped just slightly. (And the Econs CAP increased, which didn’t really matter, hahaha) But the cycle will repeat itself again, for four more times.

And now I can study (more or less) in a less stressed manner because besides the Field Service Project I will be taking mostly Econs modules next semester. Less pressure = better study life?

And this also marks the official completion of approximately 60% of my NUS life. Two more years to go.

(And six more weeks of internship to go!)

The Day It Rained

It has been an emotional and unforgettable past week.

Since the announcement of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s death on Monday, there has been an outpouring of tributes and messages online. People started flocking to the tribute centres (which sprung up very quickly) and the media released their special tribute edition to LKY. My mum bought 2 Lianhe Zaobaos (‘one is to be kept in pristine condition’) and 1 Straits Times one. Radio stations in Singapore stopped broadcasting their usual programmes. A week of mourning had begun.

On Wednesday, Mr Lee’s body was moved to Parliament House for lying-in-state. When the ceremony was taking place, I was stuck in class, but I couldn’t help but watch the CNA livestream on my iPad mini (and so did my other classmates). It was historic… we could always re-read the notes after that. Chelsea and I had agreed to visit Parliament House after our classes end, only to find out that the queue had stretched out to 8 hours. By the time we reached at 5pm, the queue would have ended only at 1am. Fortunately they extended the hours to 24 hours, initially for the first day and subsequently up till yesterday.

We went anyway. I didn’t really have time any other day and I felt it was way more meaningful to queue for this than having waited 6 hours in Times Square to countdown to a ‘New Year’s Day’ – a decidedly arbitrary date. Clearly many others felt that queuing was worth it – the queue never subsided after the doors to Parliament House were open. Since we queued on the first day, we started our queue just beyond Liang Court, which then stretched to Clarke Quay, u-turning towards Hong Lim Park (where we saw Minister Gan Kim Yong) and then to Raffles Place, before reaching Fullerton and then Old Parliament House, then finally Parliament House.

It took us 4 hrs and 45 minutes to get in to pay our last respects. We stood all the way – this was before the more systematic system put in place at the Padang in subsequent days. Along the way, the free flow of water was greatly appreciated. The nation feels united – everyone wanted to help everyone else pay their respects to our founding father.

In some ways I was glad to have been part of the queue on the first day. Sure, it was long and unwieldy, but despite being ‘spontaneous’ (i.e, the route the queue followed was not planned, it just popped up) it was a meaningful route to reflect on what Lee Kuan Yew has done for our country. Walking along the Singapore River was particularly memorable for me – I cannot imagine a dirty river there in the CBD, having not witnessed it for myself, but archival footage showed otherwise. The river really embodies his spirit and his hard work.

Subsequently the rest of my family went to Parliament House. My parents went at 1am that night, Hui Chee went at 6am before class started (and was captured on TV), and the rest of my siblings at 9:30pm on Friday (where they waited in line for 9 hours). They slept in the Padang.

I was also glad to have brought my maternal grandma to Parliament House on Saturday morning. She later told me that it would be one of her regrets if she did not go down to pay her respects, after watching all the TV footage and thinking about the past. She would know, as someone in the pioneer generation. She has been through that period of unrest and growth. If young Singaporeans can feel so much grief towards the death of LKY, I cannot feel how saddened the pioneer generation must feel. It breaks my heart to see so many elderly folk paying their last respects at Parliament House.

The most poignant one for me is the vigil guard tearing, and the aide wiping his tears for him because he was in position.

Yesterday, Chelsea and I went to the National Museum of Singapore to see the LKY memoriam exhibition. It was not a big exhibition, but many were there anyway. A lot of families with young kids.

Today, however, is the most memorable one yet. After paying our respects to my maternal grandfather for the Qing Ming festival, my family and cousins (decked in black) headed down towards Shenton Way hoping to catch the funeral procession. As we exited the MCE to Maxwell Road, the rain was very heavy. The rain clouds were so low, they were obscuring the tops of many skyscrapers. I’ve never seen the CBD like this.

As we approached Maxwell, we saw the large crowds already assembled there, umbrellas open, in the rain. At that point the rain was not super heavy yet and I managed to catch a photo. We managed to find a carpark lot and went towards the Maxwell/Shenton Way junction. The rain was super heavy at that time, and by the time we got there I was fully drenched. We didn’t have enough umbrellas and I used the car’s sun reflector screen to shield myself (which didn’t work so well).

We waited underneath a covered walkway outside OUE Downtown 2 and watched the livestream on YouTube. My dad correctly figured that they would close the road when the time approaches – that’s when we could line the road and spend less time in the rain. Once the traffic police stopped vehicles along Maxwell, everyone knew and rushed to the road. We were quite near the front.

Of course, the road was closed in advance and I’m not sure how long we waited in the pouring rain. As I got drenched (again) I started to shiver a little and remembered PM Lee Hsien Loong recalling the 1968 NDP in one of his national day rally speeches, talking about the heavy rain then, and how everyone stayed on.

I looked around me then and that was exactly what I saw. 47 years on, nothing has changed.

We then saw one of the Air Force F-16s fly above us, and I’m quietly glad that the Air Force is still able to pay its tribute despite the bad weather.

Singapore flags were given out and soon Lee Kuan Yew’s cortège went past us. The good thing about the weather is that the feared ‘digital tribute’ is no longer an issue – people didn’t really have the ability to wave the Singapore flag and hold an umbrella simultaneously – all the more better. Footage that was recorded showed large numbers of Singaporeans along the roads in ponchos or with their umbrellas, with Singapore flags to honour Lee Kuan Yew, not smartphones. It feels so much more correct this way.

‘Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Kuan Yew’, the crowd cheered in the rain. Umbrellas were taken off – we were all wet anyway. And when the entire procession went past, we left quietly.

The rain lightened considerably just a few minutes later. It almost felt pre-planned, as though we – Singaporeans – were tested on our dedication to our founding PM. The long hours in the hot sun and sleepless nights, just to give a final bow at Parliament House. And now, heavy, heavy rain to see him off. We did it.

Ultimately, 100,000 people lined the streets today despite the wet weather. 454,687 people visited Parliament House over 70 hours (way above my initial estimates of around 300,000 when queuing at Hong Lim) – that’s just shy of half a million people. And more than a million visited community tribute sites around the island. It speaks volumes of the respect Singaporeans – and people all over the world, too – have for our founding prime minister.

Mobile police station at Clarke Quay on Wednesday, 20 mins into the queue

Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong thanking queuers at Hong Lim Park

Nearing the end of the queue already

Saw the tribute site on Thursday after class. Decided to pen down my condolences.

Many post-its of thank yous at the National Museum of Singapore

Visitors viewing exhibits from LKY’s life at the National Museum

A sign that many Singaporeans would be familiar with. Below, hand-made tribute.

Just before 12pm… large numbers already gathered in the rain, which only got heavier later on

Only photo in the rain – didn’t take any in the rain, and many others didn’t too

HC took a blur photo (thanks to the rain) of me while waiting in the shelter before the roads closed

We dropped by again at Clementi on the way home to catch the cortège for the second time. Only the right-most lane was ‘mobile’ traffic – the rest were all (illegally) parked as people wanted to catch the procession

It all ends today. By now, Lee Kuan Yew’s body would have been cremated, and life goes on. It has been a sad week, but it has also been an exceptional week, one where everyone could see and feel the Singapore spirit, and a week of gratitude and honour. It adds that important perspective of reflection for this year’s SG50 celebrations for all Singaporeans.

Lee Kuan Yew has said this quote which, I think, marks a fitting end to this week, and more importantly, a start to the next chapter of the Singapore story.

Thirty years ago, my colleagues, younger and more dreamy eyed, settled the words of our pledge. We did not focus our minds on our navels or we would have missed the rainbow in the sky. We pursued that rainbow and that was how we came to build today’s Singapore.

For the young, let me tell you the sky has turned brighter. There’s a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure. And there are rich findings at the end of the rainbow. To the young and to the not-so-old, I say, look at that horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it.

The sky has cleared, and it’s time to muster our spirit of adventure, to find and follow that rainbow.

Thank you Mr Lee.

雨过天晴