Weekends in Singapore

My weekends are sacred. I intend to keep them stress-free as much as possible since I only get two precious respite days a week. Unlike almost everyone I know, I do my chores (laundry, ironing, cleaning) on weeknights so I can enjoy my anything-can-happen weekends.

Last Saturday, my sister and I decided to go biking in East Coast Park. Too bad it rained.. And since I was still recuperating from my week-long cough/cold episode, we just settled for our ultimate favourite McDonald’s afternoon break.

[But we really plan to visit the place regularly.]

Sharing some photos we took on one rainy afternoon..

Weekend Location: East Coast Park, Singapore

at S$ 6 / per hour +1 hour free on weekends..

Rent anything with wheels (bike, rollerblades, roller skates, etc)..

There is a reason the loo is called “comfort” room and “rest” room

One thing I love about Singapore is that most of its restrooms are well-maintained and well-equipped. Something that you can expect from a highly developed country. However, I can’t seem to comprehend why there are still individuals who live in a civilized society yet lack the basic toilet etiquette. It is as if they have been brought forth into this world to annoy us all with their nasty toilet habits..?

To my darling office neighbour, I hope you get to ponder on these..

What public restrooms are not:

Photosource: thatsweird.net

1. It is never meant to turn tummies upside down

Flush! If you have to do number two and don’t want to unleash the stink, flush as soon as the “thing” disengages from its source. When you’re done, flush away! And make sure you don’t leave any souvenir for the world to see. I agree that achieving such may have taken a long and tedious process, but trust me, we don’t need your proof of business.

2. It is never a choice between sitting and squatting

Although in very rare occasions (here in Singapore), you may be faced with squat-type ones, but for obvious reasons, the toilet seat is meant for sitting and not to set your foot prints on. If disinfectant and seat liners are not available, you can use the tissue to wipe and line the toilet seat. Point and shoot! When done, flush! And make sure you don’t leave any splatter un-wiped.

3. It is never a skid mark gallery

If we want to see artistic strokes and green-brown-black color gradation, we’ll go to an art gallery or an art museum. Again, we don’t need your proof of business.

4. It is never a smoking area

I know of a few people who like to smoke while relieving themselves. But not everyone can tolerate the smell of cigarette smoke, especially on hair and clothes. So please, give due respect and read the "NO SMOKING" sign.

I haven’t met anyone who is fond of cleaning after another person’s mess so please be an angel and respect everyone’s right to a clean and comfy loo. There is a reason why it is called “comfort” room and “rest” room. Let us all be considerate and let everyone experience a moment comfort and rest when we need them the most.

Discomfort Zone

I have always believed that I’m the “happy-go-lucky” type. This theory has been proven by a series of personality tests I took over the years. I am the type who would easily get bored with routine and comfortable (term to be qualified) situations. I thrive in highly stressful environments. Maybe that’s precisely why every time I planned on slowing down; I end up jaded and depressed.

But now as I contemplate on the decisions I’ve made and the actions I took, I have realized that I have been responsible for all the complications I went through. Yes, I have always been the type who mapped her whole lifetime out but I am also the same person who has always been attracted by spontaneity.. by uncertainties.. by unexplainable situations.. and by the innermost desire to surpass them.

Hence, the big move.

Now I am again within my discomfort zone. I am working for an industry that is completely new to me in a place that is relatively new to me. I have accepted my current job with my knowledge and long years of experience as arsenal. My self-esteem came from believing that since I have done great in my previous assignments, no matter how new they were at first, I can as well be successful in this highly technical industry.

So far so good.

As expected, there are days that I seriously don’t know what to do but collect all the guts to ask my boss (keeping my fingers crossed that he wouldn’t think of me as an idiot) a lot of questions about a project or about the nitty gritty details of a product. There are days that I would just bury my head in prayer for the much needed divine intervention as to how to perform an assignment. Some days I just sit, sigh, and savor the unknown.

I am stressed, like everybody else. But my current stress is not because of the deadlines, nor the pile of tasks to be completed. I am stressed because of a deep desire to earn the respect of the people who hired me. My core is deeply motivated by accomplishment, which I can only envision in my mind as of the moment. But I guess before that vision becomes tangible, I must endure/enjoy the discomfort zone I am in now.

And still, as long as I don’t let what I do define who I am, I am safe.

Well, let’s see what happens.

Where God guides, He provides.        - Vance Havner