Singapore
6) Life – The Last Kampong
Recently visited Singapore’s last Kampong – The Surau Kampong. The Kampong is located in Buangkok, nearby the old Woodbridge Hospital which is now known as Institute of Mental Health.
“Kampong” in Malay literally means village. In olden days, Kampong is the main building form before the reinforcement of concrete technology is established.
The common scene in Kampongs during rainy seasons is fun and memorable. Villagers chasing after ducks and chickens, hastening to bring in clothes from their clothes lines to keep away from flood and rain, whilst barefooted kids and dogs hastily fleeing to find their own shelters. Sadly, this amusing scene is a memory of the past in Singapore with the exception for this little last Kampong.
Kampong houses are usually constructed with zinc roofs and timber walls with windows and doors. Floors are usually laid with cement screed and it feels chilling whenever you step on the floor day or night. Leaving each other’s door open is a common sight in a Kampong. That was the trust and camaraderie the villagers had for each other.
Wind charms, tree houses, birds, chicken, ducks, dogs, cats, fruit trees, flowers, make-shift fencing, stand alone post box, shabby toilets, raw and unpolished nature 
landscapes are the elements of Kampongs.
Smells of chicken poo floating in the air; gecko’s calling; mosquitoes whizzing in your ears; lizards clicking on the wall; cricket’s chirping with their dance; dogs bucking in the night; frogs singing with their 
orchestra are just part of the calling soul of a Kampong.
The Surau Kampong currently houses 28 families – 10 Malays and 18 Chinese. In time to come, it may not be able to protect its own boundary. As life is impermanent, more than ever in this fast changing Lion City. Before Singapore gobbles up its last village, let’s step in more often to this carefree and slower pace of life as compared to the urban contemporaries.
Friend (18) – Nature
An elderly couple emerged from the early morning mist. Age in their 80s, sported in their usual casual wear, look washed out with the waves on their face. Unlike their silvery white sideburns, their energy never slide. The old man held a clutch in one hand, sustained by the old lady’s feeble arm on the other. Both look so happy like the desirable cobalt blue sky.
This is my other Friend “Nature”. He bestowed comfortable, warm and simple affection. Though they are just a pair of strangers in my life journey, but their presence and silhouettes never ceased to be strangers in my mind.
Few years down the road, the sight is still in my mind so sharp and clear. No exaggerated manners needed for set off, no gorgeous embellishment required to look good.
The elderly couple emitted fragrance so natural and rustic. No pretentious smile, just healthy, serene and noble sentiments circulated with elegant simplicity!
With the presence overtaken by events, perhaps both are together in heaven, or perhaps they are still strolling in the early mornings. But the message my “Friend” had left behind, makes me realized the wisdom of another life, sparkling with crystal clear insight.
Friend (17) – Dream
The afternoon sun brim over the church hall, through the space between the iron railed window grilles. Looking out from the window covered with climbing morning glories, on the old brick wall parked a small mantis.
This mantis is so small and frail, he leaped while the wind blows, picking himself up over and over again against the wind. This garden with a pond is surrounded with fragrant flowers enriched with fertile soil, conclusively with this little mantis who was injured through his fall but never succumb to his collapse.
Friends, your name is “DREAM”
With you, saplings thrive and sprout year after year.
With you, failure is no longer an easy compromise.
With you, the wings of a dream turn stronger.
With you, countenance of the youth loses its silhouette of frustration. The forlorn feels warm in blizzard nights.
5) Life – Kachang Puteh Man
I met a Kachang Puteh man outside Peace Centre along the main street. “Kachang” in Malay means Bean and “Puteh” denotes color White, on the whole it means White Beans.
Kachang Puteh man was an immigrant who came from India during the 50s and 60s. They are popular among the kids, cinema or amusement park patrons.
Life is a start from scratch. They are self-reliance and sell beans for a living. Besides selling beans and nuts, tidbits like prawn crackers, sweet candies are what they can offer too.
The beans varieties were mostly roasted, though some were steamed (like the chicks beans). All beans in containers are neatly laid on the Kachang Puteh cart. The kachang are wrapped with thin paper folded in a cone-up shape. In those days, it cost $0.05cents per cone but now I have to pay $1.00 for a cone!
Personally, I have a penchant for the roasted variety which comes coated with a layer of sugar, though too much of it may cost the Tooth Fairy some works!
Kachang Puteh man usually lodged their carts outside cinemas or amusement parks. In those days, cinemas and amusement parks are standalone buildings and it is easy to push the cart around and start a business. Unlike now, cinemas are mostly “built-Ins” and run by building’s management. Renting a ‘peanut’ corner in a building will be costly and affects the Kachang Puteh Man’s income. Moreover, no outside foods are allowed in the cinemas other than those bought from the cinema’s vendors.
However, Kachang Puteh man are vanishing soon, we don’t see them around more than often, even in our country’s Little India these days. If you happened to see one, do stop by and patronize, as they may fad off soon. Now you see it, now you don’t…. In times to come, it does not only leave behind a taste of nostalgia but also the shadow behind our Mr Kachang Puteh man.
7) Chrysanthemum Song / 菊花之歌
Is just another day
People rolling on the street
Wheels chasing each other
This is the moment we meet
You are in a cart along the city
When I look into your eyes
Let me have a chance to call out your name
Miss Chrysanthemum
You are a whispering angel
Calling my name in the dust
You are a true angel
And I am a true follower
By your side
I rather be a charming face
Is just another day
People walking on the grass
Wind chasing each other
This is the time we greet
You are the guardian of the graveyard
When I look into your eyes
Let me have a chance to call out your name
Miss Chrysanthemum
You are a humming angel
Calling my name in the garden
You are a true singer
I am a true prayer
By your side
But I rather be a faithful hand
Friend（16）- Autumn Rain
This few months, the haze from Indonesia has smog Lion City all over again. Our smoky heart yearns to see the bright sun and flashing star yet and again.
On that day, through my window west direction, my friend finally arrived.
He came from distant lands, dragging along in his left hand layers of thick dark clouds coming from the mountain. Trudging in his right hand a large rainy blow. Standing behind the window, awaken from my sweet drowse, surrounded with the sniff of the immense rain.
With this timely arrival of breeze, I know the rainy season is not far away as it adds ease and bliss to my heart and a little gay.
Friend, your name is “Autumn Rain”.
Faraway overlooking from my balcony, I evidence your arrival. As the Chinese poem said, “ Rain comes from the wind”. Friend, swinging your sleeves left and right, disperses the dense smoke in our city and dispels mist in our spirits.
Rainfall forms A beautiful Autumn.
Your are not just my Friend, you are indeed a friend to this piece of Land.
My friend, with you the land formats the four seasons, farmers gain their autumn harvest.
My friend, thank you for your attention, and thank you for selflessly nourishing this barren land.
6) Cactus Song
I live in Texas my homeland, a desert an untouched ground
I love the sun being my clothes
And I love the sweet, warm breezy blows
With a grouchy cuckoo on my head
No autumn leaves or winter snow
No splashing stream or falling rain
Just an empty Paradise on my own,
With the rocks and stones.
I like to dance in the falling night,
With the cowboys dancing around
That is my homeland, a desert an untouched ground
I live in Singapore IKEA my homeland, a concrete desert ground
I love the air-conditioner being my jacket all year round
And I love the halogen light giving me a good shine
With a grocery shopper passer-by
No autumn leaves or winter snow
No splashing stream or falling rain
Just a perfect Paradise within my reign
With my color and little sands deco
I like to sing in my own shadow
With the shopper’s cajoling around,
This is Singapore IKEA my homeland, a concrete desert ground.
Friend (14) –Car Park Entrance Gate (Barriers) / 朋友（14）- 闸门
这个闸门在外人看来象个傻瓜似的,车来举臂，车走放下。工作毫无意义，毫无乐趣，在虚度人生。
In the eyes of others, this barrier looks like a fool, it jiggles its arm up and down whenever a vehicle comes up or goes down. Its job is no fun at all and to some is wasting life after-all.
这小人物坚守一份小工作, 任劳任怨, 做起事来不闻不问,不问付出,不求收获，一整天只会抬头点头，举臂放下。它的唯一工作就是听从指示，不可以有意见，不可以有投诉。
Still, this little guy stick to his insignifficant work. He is hard working, never ask for much, never ask for returns and is able to get things done in a different. Day in day out, he jiggles his head and waggle his arms. His only job is to follow directions. He doesn’t own his opinions or have his own grievances.
试问，除了它有谁做得到？
How can anyone do this, other than him?
答案是有的；就是那些没有感情的机器。举凡桌上的电脑，厨房的冰箱，24小时开放的手机还有那令人舒服的空调等等。它们就是那一群任劳任怨的傻瓜。
Certainly there is! These are machines without feelings. Whether it is a computer on the table, the kitchen refrigerator, our 24/7 mobile phone, the comfort providing air-conditioner and so on. Again, these are groups of hard working fools.
但有谁会跟这些傻瓜说声谢谢？那他岂不是也变成傻瓜？
However, who will thank these fools? Perhaps only fools will appreciate what these fools had done?
我们真的不需要跟它们说谢谢，唯一可做的是心里多一分感激，两分珍惜，三分欢喜，这样就行了。
Indeed we need not thank them for what they done, the things we can do is to show a little gratefulness, a little cherishing and a little delighting.
这样一来，当它们罢工时，你就会多一分包容，少一分埋怨，青春永驻。
By demonstrating, you feel more accommodating, less awful and that’s helpful way to stay youthful.
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