- The Singapore Flyer (2005-2006)
Aug 5, 2005: First Impressions!
The city is very clean & efficient, well – planned especially in terms of transportation. But there is more than a tinge of boredom because of its predictability (nothing is unambiguous – signages galore) & sense of discipline. They are trying to create a sense of history since they don't really have much. NUS is also conducting its centennial celebrations this year...
...The national obsession seems to be shopping & the innumerable malls in the City (Orchard being the haven for shopping souls)cater to this. As for the people & the environment, everything appears to be controlled. People are generally content, sincere & disciplined. Probably materialistic & lack a CAUSE, if i may add. One would not find stray animals or even birds (except the mynah) around – they shoot down crows.
...The national obsession seems to be shopping & the innumerable malls in the City (Orchard being the haven for shopping souls)cater to this. As for the people & the environment, everything appears to be controlled. People are generally content, sincere & disciplined. Probably materialistic & lack a CAUSE, if i may add. One would not find stray animals or even birds (except the mynah) around – they shoot down crows.
...The City is the exciting place along the river with some juxtaposition of scales. Low rise is either too expensive or for the workers. HDBs & Condos dominate the skyline of most residential areas.
Oct 9, 2005: Gaining Perspective…
...This brings us to the question of PACE...is life as fast here?
S'pore unlike HK does not exude PACE in its physical environment - all static clean and green OR in its Public Transport - "low frequency and high waiting time" buses and MRT (apparently there isn't enough critical mass to make it RAPID...with that logic - Metros in India and China should be the fastest!) OR its PEOPLE - relatively sedate and introverted.
So where is the PACE? I think it's bottled up in the work culture - be it academic life or work life: the system here goes by the rules - strict deadlines, quick input, quicker digestion and quickest output are the key to the learning process here. Work hard and play hard is an alien concept. It is always work hard and more to come...pressure cooker situation! So, even if there is a declared holiday, you are not expected to take one for rejuvenation - expectations are so high that your output will most often than not score a negative. The steam is building up...
S'pore unlike HK does not exude PACE in its physical environment - all static clean and green OR in its Public Transport - "low frequency and high waiting time" buses and MRT (apparently there isn't enough critical mass to make it RAPID...with that logic - Metros in India and China should be the fastest!) OR its PEOPLE - relatively sedate and introverted.
So where is the PACE? I think it's bottled up in the work culture - be it academic life or work life: the system here goes by the rules - strict deadlines, quick input, quicker digestion and quickest output are the key to the learning process here. Work hard and play hard is an alien concept. It is always work hard and more to come...pressure cooker situation! So, even if there is a declared holiday, you are not expected to take one for rejuvenation - expectations are so high that your output will most often than not score a negative. The steam is building up...
