I feel melancholic today but that's not because I visited to the National Museum(although I did).
In a spur of a moment (after the museum trip), I stopped at Clementi. This was the place where I spent my childhood years in; where I was brought up and grew up happily in. I still go to Clementi every other day on the way to NUS, but today, I returned to where my flat used to be.
It's hard to imagine one being sentimental towards rows upon rows of uniform blocks of flats and what's more the uninspiring look of HDB flats built in the 80s, but it was where my memories were.
So eight years after moving to a new place, I returned to visit my old home.
On the way back, I walked past Pei Tong Primary School. Ahh...my primary school. She was recently renovated and rebuilt as a high-rise school. God... she looked beautiful. A major part of my primary school years (unhealthy) consisted of thoughts of how undesirable the design of the school was and secretly hoping for a major change. I now felt vindicated. The old design of the school or the lack of was an absurdly big, over-sized grass (mud) pitch that made the quarters of the school look cramped and deprived. It made the walk from the front gates of the school to the assembly hall-cum-canteen a daily torture. Now she is proportionately shaped, everything looks orderly and pristine. Perfect. But somehow, I did not feel as happy as I thought I would be...
I moved on and walked a good five minutes to my old home. The two coffeeshops along the way although there, but most of the old stalls which I had often bought from was gone. The design of the coffeeshops looked like some generic modernised (in a distasteful manner) coffeeshop in Singapore.
Somewhere along the way, I realized that there would be changes to my old neighbourhood too, and I started to get eager to know what she looked like. I was not disappointed. She is no longer what she was. She is cleaner, brighter and shinier. The beautiful coat of new paint on the block of flats made her look attractive and lovely. The remodelled playground downstairs looked as even more inviting as ever. Only the fact that I was now an adult somehow prevented me from running gleefully towards the playground as I did in my younger days. I then walked upstairs, wanting to steal a glance at the door of my former flat.
Feelings of familiarity came rushing back as I climbed up to the second floor, sometime I used to do every day. I moved slowly, wanting to savour the mundane feeling of walking up this flight of stairs. Once on top, from the corridors, the opposite bank of the Sungei Ulu Pandan canal looked as aloof and creepy as ever, as the tall trees and palm-like trees from both banks obscure the view of the old unknown, short and square building from view. Ha...I didn't grow out of this feeling even till now. I walked down the corridor and saw that the decor of the flat has been changed from drab grey colour to a bright green and blue combination of decor. Right... an Indian family had bought the flat from my parents...
Feeling nostalgic, I decided to take a walk around. The pedestrian bridge that connected Clementi Ave 4 and Sunset way now had a colourful overhead shelter; something I used to think would be smart to have. The hot morning walk to the Sunset way market or the fear of lightning strikes during bouts of torrent weather in my childhood days were consigned to history. I crossed the bridge and went in the direction of Sunset way market. Or where it used to be. Now, a posh Japanese restaurant stood in its stead, and the previous familiar atmosphere of a neighbour wet market was replaced by a bohemian feel. Posh new-themed eateries now sprout over the whole front area of Sunset way.
Suddenly, I felt overwhelmed. Upset and betrayed. I turned around and went back, with tears starting to swell. The whole place felt unfamiliar; I was a stranger in my old neighbourhood. Why had the place changed so much in eight years? Life seems to be gone in a flash without my acknowledgement... so many changes...is this what living is about? Witnessing changes after changes? I was furious... my thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a mother walking towards me with her child. Then I understood.
As much as I hated the change, as I am now taller, stronger and wiser, she is now...different... and better in her own ways. But there is some consolation. Things have definitely changed, but some had remained. The jogging track parallel to the canal was still there, although the litter bins were looking a little neglected. The kindergarten opposite the road that I once studied (played) in was still standing in the void deck. It brought a tiny smile to my face...more than twenty years and still going on strong...with the PAP flag fluttering proudly in the winds. Well, some things never change...
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Reformation
In, out. In, out.
He tried to breath but it was proving harder than usual.
Amid abated breath, he peered from behind the cover of the dense foliage... looking...but it was impossible in the moonless night.
The night was quiet, too quiet. Or rather it seemed so after the unbearable screams and cries earlier.
There was no one around the dig site. It was deserted. Ryan turned and signalled to Josh to search the area. Josh creep forward and methodically combed the area with his crude staff. He could find no one; except for dried stains of blood and the dug-up holes, there was nothing.
Satisfied that no one was left behind, the two men walked along the fringes of Luther forest, hoping to come across any colonist that were living in the vicinity before daylight.
He tried to breath but it was proving harder than usual.
Amid abated breath, he peered from behind the cover of the dense foliage... looking...but it was impossible in the moonless night.
The night was quiet, too quiet. Or rather it seemed so after the unbearable screams and cries earlier.
There was no one around the dig site. It was deserted. Ryan turned and signalled to Josh to search the area. Josh creep forward and methodically combed the area with his crude staff. He could find no one; except for dried stains of blood and the dug-up holes, there was nothing.
Satisfied that no one was left behind, the two men walked along the fringes of Luther forest, hoping to come across any colonist that were living in the vicinity before daylight.
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Reformation
Josh and Ryan collapsed onto the ground, tired from sheer physical exertion and the emotional roller coaster ride; the mind numbing labor, the flight for freedom and the close shave with death. All in a day.
The men waited until the sound of insects chirping in the background came back before deciding to move on. Under the dark undergrowth, the men resorted to feeling their way back to the site of escape. Their plan was to conduct reconnaissance of the place before deciding their next move.
If the place was crawling with Reptilains, they would remain in the vegetation and move along the forest until it was clear before locating the nearest Resistance hideout. If no one was there, they would then have a easier time contacting their comrades. Either way, they were leaving the dreadful forest. There was no doubt about it.
The men waited until the sound of insects chirping in the background came back before deciding to move on. Under the dark undergrowth, the men resorted to feeling their way back to the site of escape. Their plan was to conduct reconnaissance of the place before deciding their next move.
If the place was crawling with Reptilains, they would remain in the vegetation and move along the forest until it was clear before locating the nearest Resistance hideout. If no one was there, they would then have a easier time contacting their comrades. Either way, they were leaving the dreadful forest. There was no doubt about it.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Reformation
Ryan quickly fashioned a crude stick from the broken branch and hit it on the ground to test it. Waving the stick at Larry and Josh, he merrily cooed, "Now let's arm ourselves, it may help save our lives ."
Josh grabbed a dead branch on the forest floor and laughed, "This will do just fine for fighting off lions and tigers."
Larry interjected, "Now what?! Anyone knows the way out of this forest or what should we do for that matter?"
A low growl suddenly materialized out of the dense vegetation and the three men instinctively froze, eyes scanning for the intruder. The atmosphere turned tense as the men waited for the inevitable attack, drenched in sweat, and hearts pounding in fear. The wait was excruciating as the terrified men recalled the tales of terrible creatures roaming the forest known all colonists.
Moments passed. Larry snapped and lost his nerves. He took to his heels, screaming and fled further into the forest. Josh shouted out for him to stop and come back, but it was doubtless that it was useless. The remaining men held their ground, knowing that the whatever was out there had now turned its attention elsewhere.
Josh grabbed a dead branch on the forest floor and laughed, "This will do just fine for fighting off lions and tigers."
Larry interjected, "Now what?! Anyone knows the way out of this forest or what should we do for that matter?"
A low growl suddenly materialized out of the dense vegetation and the three men instinctively froze, eyes scanning for the intruder. The atmosphere turned tense as the men waited for the inevitable attack, drenched in sweat, and hearts pounding in fear. The wait was excruciating as the terrified men recalled the tales of terrible creatures roaming the forest known all colonists.
Moments passed. Larry snapped and lost his nerves. He took to his heels, screaming and fled further into the forest. Josh shouted out for him to stop and come back, but it was doubtless that it was useless. The remaining men held their ground, knowing that the whatever was out there had now turned its attention elsewhere.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Reformation
Ryan keep on running and running right into Luther forest. With his two other companions, they went where angels fear to tread.
After a short while, they stopped and jogged to a halt, figuring they had put enough distance behind them. That was when they realized what they had done. No one knows exactly what kind of organisms were living in the forest. Its untamed nature welcomes no one. Encompassing the entire interior of the landmass of the continent, no man has ever successfully penetrated the thick foliage; the traders on newly colonized New Eropagins never showed much interest in exploring the wildlife insofar, living in sanitized living pods located on the coast of the continent and preferring to spend their time in the never-ending pursuit of material. The last time some wild adventurer went into the forest with his convey with much fanfare, he was never heard again.
"Over here. Look." whispered Larry in amazement. A trail of large footprints indicating a herd of animals was deeply imprinted on the soft soil.
"What on earth is that?" the other man exclaimed.
"You forget Josh, we are on Planet New Eros."
"Not funny, Larry. I do think we are in deep trouble"
"Gentlemen, you're wrong. At least we're free." interrupted Ryan. "Now we had to find a way to contact the rest of our forces."
The two other men nodded in agreement. But they looked around and realized they were lost in the thick undergrowth. The sky was covered by the overhanging branches, obscuring the stars that might help point the way out.
Immediately, the analytical mind and field-craft training took over; Ryan broke off a branch, "Guess we have to do it the low tech way."
After a short while, they stopped and jogged to a halt, figuring they had put enough distance behind them. That was when they realized what they had done. No one knows exactly what kind of organisms were living in the forest. Its untamed nature welcomes no one. Encompassing the entire interior of the landmass of the continent, no man has ever successfully penetrated the thick foliage; the traders on newly colonized New Eropagins never showed much interest in exploring the wildlife insofar, living in sanitized living pods located on the coast of the continent and preferring to spend their time in the never-ending pursuit of material. The last time some wild adventurer went into the forest with his convey with much fanfare, he was never heard again.
"Over here. Look." whispered Larry in amazement. A trail of large footprints indicating a herd of animals was deeply imprinted on the soft soil.
"What on earth is that?" the other man exclaimed.
"You forget Josh, we are on Planet New Eros."
"Not funny, Larry. I do think we are in deep trouble"
"Gentlemen, you're wrong. At least we're free." interrupted Ryan. "Now we had to find a way to contact the rest of our forces."
The two other men nodded in agreement. But they looked around and realized they were lost in the thick undergrowth. The sky was covered by the overhanging branches, obscuring the stars that might help point the way out.
Immediately, the analytical mind and field-craft training took over; Ryan broke off a branch, "Guess we have to do it the low tech way."
Sunday, August 10, 2008
The Reformation
Ryan was the last off the truck. The bright sunlight stared harshly, accentuating the humid weather of the land. The open fields provided no shelter from the sweltering heat, making the group of captives grouchy and less fearful of the Reptilians.
"All of you, start digging. I want it finished before sunset!" hissed the Reptilian commander.
Each man was untied, handed a shovel. Larry, the ever arrogant aristocrat officer challenged the order. "Why do we have to dig holes in the ground. My men and I refuse to be treated as labour."
A Reptilian solder sauntered up to Larry, without speaking raised his rifle and shot Larry in the feet. Larry fell and scream in agony. He looked up just in time to see the rifle aimed at his temple. He quickly closed his eyes and braced himself. Seconds pass, but nothing happened. He then opened his eyes to see the soldier walking away. Larry was merely badly shaken and quickly muttered a prayer of thanks. Now, none dared to refuse or even ask questions and silently set to work.
Sundown.
Suddenly shots rang out. Ryan dived and took a quick glance around. To his relief and surprise, the Reptilians were under attack from the remnants of the New Eropagnis Planetary Defense forces, a volunteer force made up of dedicated citizens. The attackers were making use of the dimming lights to facilitate the escape of the prisoners from the 3rd Heavy Horses. The Horses were captured when surprised from above before any warning was given. Reptilian soldiers dropped from above and landed directly on top of the staging base of the 3rd Heavy Horses who were still gathering their forces. The Heavy Horses fought with all they had, firing their pistols, some managing to fire a few shots from their tanks before being killed by Reptilians who had climbed up and into the tank turrets. The base commander Eric Lucker then decided to surrender the whole base to prevent his men from dying in a unequal battle.
Ryan shook the two other men beside him, shouted above the sound of battle and pointed to north, where the Timur forest blankets and protects. They nodded their heads and crawl on their bellies towards the forest. The Reptilian forces were pinned in their positions, under fire by mortar and sniper fire from the surrounding countryside. All the prisoners were making use of the opportunity to make good their escape although some of the Reptilians were quick to redirect their weapons at the escaping prisoners, felling a large number with their accurate shots.
As Ryan and company neared the forest, the first man decided to stand and run into the forest That attracted the attention of the Reptilians and fired their direction. Ryan then jumped up and ran in a zigzag manner towards the forest; figuring he was already seen by the enemy, ran for his freedom.
"All of you, start digging. I want it finished before sunset!" hissed the Reptilian commander.
Each man was untied, handed a shovel. Larry, the ever arrogant aristocrat officer challenged the order. "Why do we have to dig holes in the ground. My men and I refuse to be treated as labour."
A Reptilian solder sauntered up to Larry, without speaking raised his rifle and shot Larry in the feet. Larry fell and scream in agony. He looked up just in time to see the rifle aimed at his temple. He quickly closed his eyes and braced himself. Seconds pass, but nothing happened. He then opened his eyes to see the soldier walking away. Larry was merely badly shaken and quickly muttered a prayer of thanks. Now, none dared to refuse or even ask questions and silently set to work.
Sundown.
Suddenly shots rang out. Ryan dived and took a quick glance around. To his relief and surprise, the Reptilians were under attack from the remnants of the New Eropagnis Planetary Defense forces, a volunteer force made up of dedicated citizens. The attackers were making use of the dimming lights to facilitate the escape of the prisoners from the 3rd Heavy Horses. The Horses were captured when surprised from above before any warning was given. Reptilian soldiers dropped from above and landed directly on top of the staging base of the 3rd Heavy Horses who were still gathering their forces. The Heavy Horses fought with all they had, firing their pistols, some managing to fire a few shots from their tanks before being killed by Reptilians who had climbed up and into the tank turrets. The base commander Eric Lucker then decided to surrender the whole base to prevent his men from dying in a unequal battle.
Ryan shook the two other men beside him, shouted above the sound of battle and pointed to north, where the Timur forest blankets and protects. They nodded their heads and crawl on their bellies towards the forest. The Reptilian forces were pinned in their positions, under fire by mortar and sniper fire from the surrounding countryside. All the prisoners were making use of the opportunity to make good their escape although some of the Reptilians were quick to redirect their weapons at the escaping prisoners, felling a large number with their accurate shots.
As Ryan and company neared the forest, the first man decided to stand and run into the forest That attracted the attention of the Reptilians and fired their direction. Ryan then jumped up and ran in a zigzag manner towards the forest; figuring he was already seen by the enemy, ran for his freedom.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The first in The Reformation series
In, out. In, out.
He tried to breath but it was proving harder than usual.
Amid abated breath, he peered from behind the cover of the dense foliage... looking...but it was impossible in the moonless night.
The night was quiet, too quiet. Or rather it seemed so after the unbearable screams and cries earlier.
Ryan was gathered together with a few hundred men from the detention centre and loaded onto the truck. He recognized a few faces, Jake, Larry and a few others from the resistance. But the rest of the people looked unfamiliar, unfamiliar yet they were in the same predicament.
A voice whispered:" We are going to die..." A young, lanky man standing beside him murmured softly. Ryan nodded gently. That much was expected. The cruelty of the Reptilians had far preceded their presence, striking fear in the hearts of the communities living on New Eropagnis. Tales of bloodthirsty killings and wanton violence spread quickly to the rest of the star system. In response, the local defense either broadcast their surrender upon the approach of the Reptilian space battleships or fight to their deaths, knowing they would be given no alternative. It was total submission or total destruction. For the merchant-warriors of the newly colonized New Eropagnis, the freedom of trade, movement and affiliation was their lifeblood of their existence. It was better to die trying than live under control.
Woken from his stupor by a bum on the trail, he failed to maintain his balance and fell, pulling his fellow captives to the floorboard of the truck. The group moaned in collective agony and struggled to stand up in the jerking vehicle.
A Reptilian star leader, furious at the commotion, closed in and attacked the first man in the row. Lifting the man by his collar, the captor landed a punch on his head and threw him on the ground. Then the truck stopped.
He tried to breath but it was proving harder than usual.
Amid abated breath, he peered from behind the cover of the dense foliage... looking...but it was impossible in the moonless night.
The night was quiet, too quiet. Or rather it seemed so after the unbearable screams and cries earlier.
Ryan was gathered together with a few hundred men from the detention centre and loaded onto the truck. He recognized a few faces, Jake, Larry and a few others from the resistance. But the rest of the people looked unfamiliar, unfamiliar yet they were in the same predicament.
A voice whispered:" We are going to die..." A young, lanky man standing beside him murmured softly. Ryan nodded gently. That much was expected. The cruelty of the Reptilians had far preceded their presence, striking fear in the hearts of the communities living on New Eropagnis. Tales of bloodthirsty killings and wanton violence spread quickly to the rest of the star system. In response, the local defense either broadcast their surrender upon the approach of the Reptilian space battleships or fight to their deaths, knowing they would be given no alternative. It was total submission or total destruction. For the merchant-warriors of the newly colonized New Eropagnis, the freedom of trade, movement and affiliation was their lifeblood of their existence. It was better to die trying than live under control.
Woken from his stupor by a bum on the trail, he failed to maintain his balance and fell, pulling his fellow captives to the floorboard of the truck. The group moaned in collective agony and struggled to stand up in the jerking vehicle.
A Reptilian star leader, furious at the commotion, closed in and attacked the first man in the row. Lifting the man by his collar, the captor landed a punch on his head and threw him on the ground. Then the truck stopped.
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