Revisiting those teenage years!

Looking at my niece growing into her teenage years somehow reminds me of my own that didn't seem that long ago! Ha ha... :) When I looked at her collection of blisters from basketball training sessions and her current act of juggling school work with basketball training, I can't help but feel her pain. I remember I used to have to train at least twice a week after school hours for.... badminton (a game that I played competitively since primary school). However, in secondary school, our worst nightmare during those training sessions was not just the physical pain that we have to experience but the psychological trauma that we have to endure from our coach. A typical training session would be something like doing 10 rounds of duck walks, running 10 rounds around the school quadrangle and some stretching moves. After which we need to do weight training for our wrists.... perhaps by the hundreds before we could step into the courts. Once we have reached the courts, we would be doing shuttle run routines in the courts alternated by feeding shuttle-cocks to precise positions on court. The last parts of the training sessions were usually stroking with team-mates or playing matches with our seniors. However, it was not merely the physical torture that we were subjected to that put us off ..... what was more traumatic for most of us were the remarks made by the coach who was totally unpredictable. Most of the time, punishment was meted out to the entire team if anyone made a mistake. After two years of being in the school team and playing competitive badminton, I was suddenly struck with appendicitis after one of the training sessions during the year-end school holidays. I was hospitalized and could not train for the rest of the holiday period. When I returned to school as an excited secondary 3 student, I was shocked that the coach decided to close down the badminton school team that I have devoted my entire life into. What made the team so mad was that the coach offered no valid reason for its closure and we were told that we were all "sacked". We were also asked to choose a new sport. I was transfered to the basketball recreation team and missed the badminton school team members and surprisingly the training sessions most terribly. Despite the woes of being "sacked" from the team, we did not lose everything. Most of us in the team remained close. By going through thick and thin together those two years, we have made some dear friends.... whom we have shared our tears and joys with.... whom we have huddled together for support when we were reprimanded, whom we have depended on when the going gets tough, whom we have hung out with at Seah street (for beef kway teow and ice kachang) after each training session, whom we could still call friends even though we have not been in touch all these years..... just because we have survived those memorable teenage years!

My favourite music 2009!

Let's go fly kite!

On the day Genevieve (my niece) completed her Grade 3 piano practical examination..... we trooped down to the Marina Barrage. To fly kite! Literally so... ha ha ha. It was perfect weather condition for flying a kite.... and we did just that! I have always wanted to try that when I was a kid but never got down to it except trying to fly a kite in our small little 3-room HDB flat in Toa Payoh. Well, my brother and I managed to do quite a few things in that flat ... umm... riding a tricycle, roller skating, playing ping pong, playing badminton.... but never flying a kite! So the next time you feel that you need a breath of fresh air - just go fly a kite at Marina Barrage!

Lamenting the fate of Singapore's Last Kampung

When I read the New Paper that carries the story of the impending fate of Singapore's last kampung at Lorong Buangkok, I cannot help but feel a sense of loss! Although URA asserts that the "kampung life can still live on"... my question is how.... when the place is re-developed into something totally alien to these people who have lived there for more than 30 years? Not long ago, many of our parents and grandparents were enjoying the kampung way of life.... where much sharing and trust was evident... where no one locks their doors... where things are valued and re-used over and over again.... So where have this "kampung spirit" gone to... 30 years on?

I was studying in Australia for barely a year or so and when I came back ... I was appalled at the pace and vastness of our "re-development" ..... what seems to me a functional shopping complex "the pavilion" has disappeared within a year and is now replaced with a new and taller one. The interesting thing is that URA said that they have plans for this piece of land (about the size of about 3 football fields) to be used for housing, schools and other neighbourhood facilities.... Think again! Is there a real and urgent need for housing when brand new flats are suffering low take-up rates? This parcel of land cannot even be used for an 18-hole golf course.... ? Is it worth the sacrifice?

This quaint little kampung has got more educational value than any "less developed" countries that schools take their kids in the name of service learning, more historical value than any museums created for archival purposes.... simply because it is a piece of home to us, it is authentic and it connects us to our own pasts. Do we really bear to wipe out what's left of our little piece of history? I am certain no amount of "National Education" can bring back this kind of connection to our land.

Via Veritas Vita

Perhaps it's the new year... perhaps it's because we are in the thick of organizing the SK Quah Run or perhaps it's because of the gathering of old friends and teachers of SAC yesterday.... whatever it is that evoked in me this nostalgic memories of old SAC building sitting lonely and dusty in Middle Road... amidst the gigantic and shiny buildings around. I felt compelled to write in to express my thoughts and feelings about the place...So I submitted a feedback to REACH, Singapore....

The content of the feedback:

I am an alumni of the St Anthony's Canossian Schools... and a group of us, ex-girls are extremely concerned about what is to become of the old building at Middle Road. A few of us went to pay a visit recently and found that the building has been left like a warehouse for props.... which is pathetic-looking.

I remember as students, we used to enjoy the unique charms of the school... even today, we are still talking about the bustling quadrangle, the lovely chapel and the cosy environment it provided for our growing years.

Imagine how sad we were when we were confronted with a place that we used to treasure. It was everything reduced to this present state! What's left of the building now is a graffiti-stricken lift, broken tiles, caged up spaces that are dusty and dirty. However, we are hopeful that the building can be restored to its previous grandeur with some sincere refurbishment plans from the government.

Why is this building of such rich historical value being left to its devices when other buildings around the vicinity have long been developed into art museums (former SJI) and entertainment hub (former CHIJ)?

If you need ideas about what the building can be used for, our ex-gals and alumni will be more than willing to contribute. Please do not let it degenerate further.... let us restore this piece of history back to its glorious days.

The Gems of Chek Jawa

It was Family Day at Chek Jawa yesterday.... and I was extremely excited because I brought my niece and sister along. It is their first encounter with Chek Jawa! As we approach the visitor centre, we were greeted by the call of an Oriental Pied Hornbill.... how lucky is that? During our 2-hour tour, we met many friends like the Knobbly, sea stars, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, Hermit crabs hidden in beautiful Noble Volute shells and baby Horseshoe crabs. Just when we thought the day could not be better, we shared a special moment with a Noble Volute who was laying its eggs in the seagrass lagoon!

Spending time with Nature

I decided to sign up as a volunteer guide with NParks in June. It was a decision made after many years of contemplation.... I have always been in love with Chek Jawa... since I first set foot on it in 2001. Then, I was helping with a project with NIE, measuring carpet anemones. Well, I have not visited the beautiful place since the project ended for fear of tainting its “pristine” environment. Moreover, my busy work schedule did not afford me the luxury of spending time with nature. Now that I’ve embarked on full-time studies and research.... I decided that I should dedicate some time to volunteering as a guide. These couple of weeks has been extremely enriching for myself as I undergo “On-the job training” with guiding at CJ..... I am both thankful for the wonderful opportunity as well as amazed with the lessons “mother nature” impart to me each time I spend time with her. I hope to be able to share what I have experienced through volunteer guiding.... I look forward to each visit to CJ and I remind myself to cherish every moment spent with nature.