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At times, I do wonder whether my daily regime would be the same if I did reside in another city, another country.
Melbourne
The streets of more suburbs here seem to be oozing with more character, better architecture and more historical nuances. The bay area would be facing the winds from the Southern Ocean - and wind chill would be more pronounced in as many months.
Wardrobe layering is de rigour. Dressed up, I would visit more venues of culture, collection and culinary. The skies can often be more gray and cloudy. I would take more hot beverages, examine more murals, appreciate more of the design of the trams and take in more of the temperate climate.
Singapore
I feel the geographical smallness of the island nation - and at the same time, the boundless determination to overcome any perception of limitation.
I would not give up the Kaya toast, half boiled egg and coffee at each MRT station. I now see and realise the commercialisation of Orchard Road, but still do not get fatigued by exhibits at various institutions.
I would still minimise the sweat from outdoor afternoons and quietly seek air conditioned places. I would observe the locals from the ubiqutious food courts. I am still fascinated at places where foreigners and locals do retail.
I still relish in visiting suburbs around the Republic, each with its unique character and sameness. I would seek out the pockets of greenery and Nature which the Government has planned and developed.
Some places may seem artificial and contrived. Others are what this city state tries to maintain and grow, even if it has been given up or taken for granted in other societies.
I would not take for granted the appreciated high level of personal and public safety here. I am grateful for the orderliness, signage and organisation.
I look at the high rises of residence. I notice the discipline of putting away trays of food after people finish their meals at food courts. I am aware of the natural need to queue and the apparent fear of missing out in public behaviour.
I do realise the pressure to both communalise and yet differentiate on a personal level. There are not many private vehicles on Singapore roads relative to the population. There is intense level of competition in keeping up with the Joneses - and the Government is ever conscious of developing and enhancing the sense and reality of a united society.
Penang
I miss the compactness of my childhood island, but the increased number of vehicles running on road networks that have not sufficiently increased is a significant matter still not resolved.
Public transport remains outdated for a population easily over a million on the island itself.
The island is ideal for a metropolitan hop on hop off train line, but faces challenges in building underground lines. Flat land mostly is available on to her eastern and southern coasts, with a hilly centre and a narrow strip with cliffs and beaches on her northern shore.
I miss pleasure road drives on to the other side of Penang Island, with a more contrasting rural scenery than urban set ups in her more populated parts. The high altitude highway transversing the middle part of the island gives you a view of the Malacca Straits and the southern Andaman Sea.
Three categories in Penang exist for the foodie. World famous hawker food beckon both visitors and locals alike in taste, variety and pricing - and this is sorely missed across Greater Sydney, especially with demanding prices for essentially street food.
The diversity of migrants in Australian capital cities also mean the diversity of cuisines made available. Fresh produce in Australia can be of better quality, but cooking ingredients can be more expensive to source, together with higher venue rentals, labour payments and limited hours of operation.
Hong Kong
I would climb up and down more sloping streets. I would wriggle in and out of more crowds. I would not take the harbour for granted. I would take in my stride the humidity in summer and moderate coolness at the start of a new year.
I would enjoy the hikes along hills and bays in parts of the territory seemingly far away from the maddening crowd. I would enjoy the soybean, fresh seafood, noodles and other delicacies of a mature Cantonese cooking style.
I would take the opportunities growing from economy, trade and finance in a strengthening Bay area. The China of today is at her door step, exciting, growing, promising and yet reality already. The call of the future and the vibrancy of the present has over written and over ridden her past.
Klang Valley, Selangor
Distance in driving around is what I have still not got used to here. The number of multi laned highways and how they interconnect with endless traffic can be both fascinating and mind boggling.
I would enjoy dawn walks in the several large parks scattered around this valley. Their shopping centres are less attractive as I grow older, for most of them tend to have similar retail and look the same.
I would enjoy the "kopi tiam" regime of so many people seemingly not home cooking and eating out at any time of the day or night. I would not enjoy as much the challenges of vehicle parking in suburbs. I would immerse in the vibrancy of so many small businesses expressing themselves in the various communities.
There are things not spoken off on the streets of jarring politics - and yet I feel the vibes of ordinary people over coming things in this quiet way.
#yongkevthoughts
