after hours
I found this when I was looking for my old poems. Really enjoyed writing it.
I clutched my carbonated water as I walked down Lorong Mambong- the short street lined with eateries, cafes and watering holes at my dearly beloved Holland Village. Who has, after being discovered by the world at large, been ravaged by Singaporeans of all shapes and sizes. She has been nabbed by the coporate monster whose idea to exploit the hippie charm of Holland V, (I refuse to say bohemian!) is one of sly ingenuity.
The mark of the horned one is everywhere: Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and a digitised message board. The beast has no concern, whatsoever of the consequences of deflowering this poor maiden of a town centre. What happens when the coporate monster takes over is that people no longer enjoy their days at work. Talk is about margins, units, revenue, image... Everyone is stressed out milking the most out of their business, finding (I hate this word) - innovative - ways to revamp their products to cater to changing tastes. All decisions are made to pander to the fickle, transient desires of the customer. No longer do establishments stick to the original items on their menu - their first draft. No - they know that it would never work because people tire easily and to keep in business, one has to 'move with the times', 're-invent'.
Customer service becomes 'Mcdonald-lized', homogenised; the counter greets you with, 'Good morning, welcome to _____!' They bade you good bye with, 'please come again, next please!' Interactions carry a standard plastic veneer and no one really comes through as themselves. Oh how I yearn for the rude salesgirl again!
There is a stalwartly beauty about preserving tradition. It is not letting things get lost in the forward tumble of time, even when everyone around gets caught up with change. There is a sense of assurance that comes from people who hold fast to things that were past down through generations. When people guard the elements of their identity. There is security because when the waves of new ways come sweeping over, there are those who remain the same.
It is important to have such people around. This is because you know when the big ugly suit comes proposing with his horrible, money-making ideas, there are those who will politely decline and stick to the things they have done for decades. Not that they hate money and would rather live on pride but because there is value in stuff people have done for a long time. It is a show of perserverance and belief. Such qualities are worth keeping.
My heart smiles when people say, 'during my parent's time, people don't divorce, they would stay together for the kids.' I admire that. People did not quit as easily and would do something because they saw good in it. They were self-sacrificial, not self-centered. They may not have gone about it the best of ways, but they had character.
Isn't character more lasting than any other human attributes. The ability to work can be lost over-night, but no one can take away character. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control cannot be lost. These are, for lack of better words, enduring qualities.
Therefore, let us devote ourselves to all things everlasting.
I pay tribute to Ya Kun, Teck Kee Pau, Killiney Kopitiam and Han's. Thank you for being around. You are symbols of hope in Singapore.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
I clutched my carbonated water as I walked down Lorong Mambong- the short street lined with eateries, cafes and watering holes at my dearly beloved Holland Village. Who has, after being discovered by the world at large, been ravaged by Singaporeans of all shapes and sizes. She has been nabbed by the coporate monster whose idea to exploit the hippie charm of Holland V, (I refuse to say bohemian!) is one of sly ingenuity.
The mark of the horned one is everywhere: Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and a digitised message board. The beast has no concern, whatsoever of the consequences of deflowering this poor maiden of a town centre. What happens when the coporate monster takes over is that people no longer enjoy their days at work. Talk is about margins, units, revenue, image... Everyone is stressed out milking the most out of their business, finding (I hate this word) - innovative - ways to revamp their products to cater to changing tastes. All decisions are made to pander to the fickle, transient desires of the customer. No longer do establishments stick to the original items on their menu - their first draft. No - they know that it would never work because people tire easily and to keep in business, one has to 'move with the times', 're-invent'.
Customer service becomes 'Mcdonald-lized', homogenised; the counter greets you with, 'Good morning, welcome to _____!' They bade you good bye with, 'please come again, next please!' Interactions carry a standard plastic veneer and no one really comes through as themselves. Oh how I yearn for the rude salesgirl again!
There is a stalwartly beauty about preserving tradition. It is not letting things get lost in the forward tumble of time, even when everyone around gets caught up with change. There is a sense of assurance that comes from people who hold fast to things that were past down through generations. When people guard the elements of their identity. There is security because when the waves of new ways come sweeping over, there are those who remain the same.
It is important to have such people around. This is because you know when the big ugly suit comes proposing with his horrible, money-making ideas, there are those who will politely decline and stick to the things they have done for decades. Not that they hate money and would rather live on pride but because there is value in stuff people have done for a long time. It is a show of perserverance and belief. Such qualities are worth keeping.
My heart smiles when people say, 'during my parent's time, people don't divorce, they would stay together for the kids.' I admire that. People did not quit as easily and would do something because they saw good in it. They were self-sacrificial, not self-centered. They may not have gone about it the best of ways, but they had character.
Isn't character more lasting than any other human attributes. The ability to work can be lost over-night, but no one can take away character. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control cannot be lost. These are, for lack of better words, enduring qualities.
Therefore, let us devote ourselves to all things everlasting.
I pay tribute to Ya Kun, Teck Kee Pau, Killiney Kopitiam and Han's. Thank you for being around. You are symbols of hope in Singapore.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
posted by Bunny at 11:52 PM
3 Comments:
and you forgot to mention far east plaza! its WE!its OUR generation and the one before us that laid the foundation and created the framework for all that is and was authentic and happening and alternative and cool!
All you Gen Y fluffypups, your emo shit is crap! bow down and pay homage to your predecessors! muahahahhhah
i miss starbucks times with you...awww. Wishing and hoping for more of those times come end this year :-)
yes yes...gosh. it's weird that when you're coming back for good, I'll be going off. My admission is still pending until I submit a letter from my sister stating my dates of employment and job description. Don't think it will be a problem. So many things to look forward to. Yippee.
no matter. you going there gives me an excuse to go back to aussie land and enjoy the sun sand surf and all thats good once again!:P
Post a Comment
<< Home