The north of Singapore has always been a chapter for working-class hoi polloi. Dominated by middle-class Singaporeans and scatters of Chinese immigrants, it didn't exactly hold the prestige as a prominent location in Singapore. The most widely associated icon towards the North was the bridge (affectionately entitled the Causeway) that transported vehicles and pedestrians to neighboring country Malaysia, which used to be a popular weekend haunt.
Myself, being a resident of the north (Admiralty in particular) for close to eleven years, have formed an intricate love-hate affair with the place. It wasn't really a valuable constituency, despite being the largest one. Most Northerners haven't voted in the past three or four General Elections, and the most recent one was contested by the most pathetic opposition party ever. Even so, Northerners were so fed up with their limited voting chances that 20% of the constituency (around 20,000 Singaporeans) voted for the pathetic opposition party.
My love revolved around the comfort and familiarity of the area. Convenience was a seven out of ten, with a direct bus that took me to Tampines in 45 minutes and the MRT (Singapore's train system) a 5 minute walk from home. The relationships established among my Primary school friends plus church social circle also more or less revolved in the North of Singapore.
However, in the recent Victorian years, I have spent more time hanging out and homing in the East. Parkway Parade and Siglap were more familiar than the forgotten Causeway Point in Woodlands. The holiday season (now), did pull me back into the caressing north again.
So today, I traded the Penne for yellow egg noodles, Creamy Chicken pasta for substandard Wanton Mee and Pasta Mania for the neighborhood food court. Oh, and the Caffe Mocha for the Pao Pao Cha.
And it wasn't that bad.
Check out the photo-series inspired by my suburban neighborhood here.
Myself, being a resident of the north (Admiralty in particular) for close to eleven years, have formed an intricate love-hate affair with the place. It wasn't really a valuable constituency, despite being the largest one. Most Northerners haven't voted in the past three or four General Elections, and the most recent one was contested by the most pathetic opposition party ever. Even so, Northerners were so fed up with their limited voting chances that 20% of the constituency (around 20,000 Singaporeans) voted for the pathetic opposition party.
My love revolved around the comfort and familiarity of the area. Convenience was a seven out of ten, with a direct bus that took me to Tampines in 45 minutes and the MRT (Singapore's train system) a 5 minute walk from home. The relationships established among my Primary school friends plus church social circle also more or less revolved in the North of Singapore.
However, in the recent Victorian years, I have spent more time hanging out and homing in the East. Parkway Parade and Siglap were more familiar than the forgotten Causeway Point in Woodlands. The holiday season (now), did pull me back into the caressing north again.
So today, I traded the Penne for yellow egg noodles, Creamy Chicken pasta for substandard Wanton Mee and Pasta Mania for the neighborhood food court. Oh, and the Caffe Mocha for the Pao Pao Cha.
And it wasn't that bad.
Check out the photo-series inspired by my suburban neighborhood here.
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