big city bright lights

I hate ranting, I really do, but I guess there's no other outlet since I have no open arms to run into. But seriously, I've just wasted 2 hours of my life stuck in a goddamn traffic jam at 10.30pm at night on Bukit Timah Road. I've had a bloody long day - my day started off with a traffic jam along Orchard road while I was on my way to work. Then, my day ended at 8ish, close to 9 and I only arrived home at 11pm. Bukit Timah has freaking FIVE lanes, count the number of fingers on your hands and yes its F-I-V-E lanes. The entire stretch from town to Jalan Jurong Kechil was packed with cars about 2 inches apart from each other. My eyes were blinded by the frustration-inducing red hazards lights every time a vehicle inched forward & braked almost immediately. The best part is when I was expecting a huge ass accident which caused the bottleneck, there was NONE.

I hate this so much, I'm still boiling with rage. All the profanities I know cant even express how upset I am. I guess I'm just being a pain in the ass as usual, but, sorry I can't help it. I'm UNHAPPY. FYI, people tell you that smoking kills, it reduces your lifespan by at least 5 years or something like that. But I think that's nothing if you think about spending about 3hours each day trapped in traffic jams doing nothing much productive other than tapping your foot impatiently & swearing in your head. I hate to say this, but with each passing day, I hate living in a city & living in a city state even more because there's no other place to run away from this crazy concrete jungle.

Well, if I must count my blessings, then at least Wednesday was a lovely day, despite having a killer class at noon. Having cheap& good food for dinner, fabulous company & chilled draught beer is one of the best ways to finish up your midweek.


It's 6pm in Singapore & I'm seated at an Italian delicatessen at Cluny Court. It's facing a busy junction and I'm attempting to read my AFA textbook. My surroundings are pleasant enough- iron wrought tables & chairs placed outside a restored colonial shophouse facade, only with the occasional mosquito disturbances. Although I was simply trying to kill time before meeting my friends, it was a short breather for me to appreciate the privilege of my travels.

I heard 2 french men conversing urgently as if they were talking about a really important business deal as they strode past me. A French wife was waiting for her husband at the cafe with her red-haired toddler in a pram. Soon, the father (who looks 100% French with his head full of curls,) arrived promptly & then greeted his child with great delight. They departed together after he shared a kiss with his wife. Afterwhich I continued my readings and i glimpsed this man cycling past while attired in his crisp white business shirt and dark jeans, puffing away on his cigarette. I also noticed his laptop bag sitting comfortably in the rattan basket at the front of the bicycle. That is so French, or maybe even European in general.

I start to feel as if I'm on a piece of little France and I can't help but feel nostalgic. I really like France- though not very impressed by Paris, I must admit that I have since reserved a soft spot for France. I guess after spending a week there, you start to grow fond of Casino brand groceries, get used to seeing "SORTIE" signs for exits and hearing French spoken exclusively. Contrary to popular belief, the French are really kind & warm people. I guess I can't say the same for all Parisians, especially if i were one, I'll be extremely annoyed at all the tourists thronging my city every single day. Especially you anglophones- Give me some peace & quiet from your bastardised language please.... Stop contaminating my French! Haha. The French people we've met elsewhere were absolute darlings and we loved to wish them Bon Weekend!

Perhaps the exchange experience has left too deep an impression. I'll have a flood of memories hitting me like a tidal wave all too often, during precious moments like this when you're able to detach yourself from the maddening world & indulge yourself when in a pensive mood. That said, I can't further emphasize on the immense joy from travelling despite facing the stresses of logistics coordination, budget constraints & other unfortunate unforeseen circumstances. E.g. Justin's friend's wallet got nicked in BCN last weekend & he actually said to the pickpocket, "Can I have my wallet back, please?" HAHAHA. Imagine that with the Brit accent! That is so priceless. The perfect English gentleman in distress will always be polite and well-mannered. hahaha. I guess if you're armed with a good sense of humour then all mishaps & anything similar would be part of the fun, isn't it?

You know, I had already kept my slip of paper away to brace myself for more serious reading, but I began to chuckle involuntarily and I had to take my paper out to scribble some more. This woman just strolled past with a long baguette in hand, munching on a piece of it from her hand & I swear she's definitely French. I recall the insane queues at the Parisian bakeries in the mornings, and the queues were still equally long at lunch time. The french really really really adore their baguettes!

I bet I can sit here the whole day, on chairs that face the road just in the typical European sidewalk al fresco cafes style, (whereas our local cafes have chairs that face each other,) and eavesdrop on people's conversations.