Alternate Routines in the Daily Life

 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

Breakfast In The Morning

 The alluring aroma of onions on toast with poached egg is what drives me to make them at home first thing in the early morning.

But I still miss the variety of options of breaking fast in my childhood days - there were light fluffy south Indian pancakes (Roti Canai), stir fried Chinese radish cubes with garlic and bean sprouts ( Cai Tau Kueh), or modest packets of coconut milk flavoured steamed long grain rice with appetising  condiments ( Nasi Lemak).

Piping hot long black coffee with various blends did the necessary awakening for sleepy heads. There was no touch of Italian varieties, no Matcha or soy milk additives - in fact, fresh diary was and still is expensive in an equatorial land.

Personally I do not miss bacon, but ham slices are a pleasure to have, especially in a well prepared sandwich or focaccia, especially with beetroot and an avocado smash spread, together with some fresh rocket leaves.

 Nicely sauteed mushrooms added to the presentation transmits me to the border with brunch time.   A bagel is a welcome  change from the usual sourdough or Turkish.

Fresh juices made from tomato seem to be offered less these days than the ubiqutious orange juice.   Eggs in whatever way you fancy are popular - but fresh fruit cuts can be so refreshing.  I love local fruits offered when overseas - examples are passion fruits, papayas, grapes of different varieties, kiwifruits or Chinese gooseberries, rambutans, mangoes or cherries.

And nothing spoothes the body or appetite on a cold morning like pumpkin soup with a slight dash of cream.

In East Asia, there is the reassuring  delight of steamed fluffy buns or Bao, with fillings of well marinated and finely cut meat, or just simply with red bean or custard fillings.  For many days in southern China provinces, light rice congee assured the welcome of another day of adventure on tour.

Baguettes are essential in European sojourns.  They form the basis of crunch, texture and body to energise and inspire, together with top ups and relishes, sweet or savoury.  Coffee in its various forms are de rigour in the Mediterranean cultures, usually taken with strong blends and in small cups.

The differences between Continental and English breakfast varieties have been promoted in countless international hotel settings for so many years.   Across Asia, cooked breakfasts are often accessible as opposed to just cereal, breads and milk.

Most of the former colonised nations as a matter of course provide both local and European items in impressive spreads from 7am, echoing history, variety and internationalism.  Breakfasts in hotels across Australia and New Zealand tend to still limit themselves to British and American familiarities, despite the nature of their societies getting more diversified.

Fast food chains across the globe have embedded breakfast options long ago - although they do not sell them after 1030am.  

At Singapore MRT stations, one offering, the combo of Kaya toast, half boiled egg and coffee stands out as a cultural imprint.  Japan has the miso soup and noodles as a common thread to expect in the mornings.  Thais start with spice even in breakfasts.

Lentils, ground into a healthy mush, plus grain based fibre strong grains like oats, can be more healthy to be taken on a daily basis, improving gut health and bowel maintenance.

Sweet based dishes like waffles, pancakes and cakes now have moved from teatimes to early mornings in many cafes. Preserves and fruit based jams have always been spread on buttered scones, breads and wheat based bakes.

Breakfast dishes are packed in takeaways for an increasingly busy market.

And tea, milkshakes, juices and more compete with coffee in the beverage scene first thing in the morning.

And finally there is the increasing concept of "all day breakfasts".

#yongkevthoughts

Navigating Through The Fog

Each of us come across various numbers of people each day.

They can be acquaintances, colleagues, passer-bys, vehicle drivers on the road, silent fellow passengers on public transport, food providers, delivery personnel, health workers, politicians, friends, relatives, neighbours, commercial workers, influencers, school mates, hobby enthusiasts, club members, cruise passengers and more.

Most times, we only have transactional conversations with them in the way contemporary society is structured.  Increasingly, no voice interaction is even experienced, as finger driven text messages provide the communication channel.

Of course, we get to know particular persons better and in more intensity depending on the relationship involved.

There are individuals who also get to understand and know you better, or purposefully in a restrained and limited way.  There is a logic, rationale and purpose behind family and friendship.

How close or far relationships become can be tied to cultural norms, the sharing of various interests, the geographical factors underpinning viability to keep in touch, the over riding benefits or challenges in emotions and bonding of the parties involved and the opportunities to actually meet up in person.

Do individuals outside of an immediate family scenario persist to keep in touch despite having busy schedules?  

Do viable friendships make it so easy to catch up even after not having not caught up for a long time?

Do friendships wilt and ride off in the proverbial sunset as no effort is made to continue the previous vibes?

Whether or not we actually keep in touch in person is now supplemented by the parameters of social media, but not everyone takes part in this on screen availability.

Relationships used to be facilitated by residing in the same village.   These days we can be still be distant with people physically residing near by - but be more close with our special someones living far away.

Unresolved matters can degrade relationships with family, colleagues and others.  Whether things work out with past or present contacts obviously depend upon individual attitudes, the degree of intensity to maintain or improve a relationship, compatibility in needs or wants and the dovetailing or dispersal of common values or practices.

In a world facilitated by easier travel and mobility, are relationships threatened or enhanced by this?  Can virtual on screen meetings  be as effective as living nearby?

When populations migrate tp such an extent as we see today, are neighbours or friends in the same locality more dependable than family living overseas?

Individuals have varying levels of behaviour and pyschological make up.  We truly cannot change anyone, even as a spouse.  People develop their character and personality independent of our influence.

The most significant skill is to recognise what drives a specific person in day to day interactions with us.

Do they whinge to get attention, not wanting to increase their level of accountability or responsibility?

Do they behave like easy knock overs, never learning to say no and always ready to help when they need not to?

Do they swirl around in negativity and not even take a break to consider the bright side as encouraged by others?

Do they only need others to listen to their thoughts and have already made up their mind?

Do they just need to bully and bulldoze their way when dealing with others - and do not realise their ridiculousness as the proverbial Little Napolenons in their sickening little turfs?

Are they truly modest, humble and generous in consistent behaviour and approach, always considering the interests of the group above themselves?

Are they not able to appreciate the level of elegance, sophistication and refinement expected by so called high society?

Do they behave in a particular way and we cannot figure them out as we do not fully know their full story?

Do they have a consistent purpose in their own journey of life?

Are they easily influenced by others and tend to follow strong personalities?

Do their expectations entrap them in attachments which they may not even be aware of?

Do they interact with us only because they have something to sell to us, even if we are not interested in what they offer?

Do they drop us quickly like a stone once they have no use of us?

Do they break and not uphold well respected family and community values due to their twisted egos?

Do we judge people by a single mistake or act of unbecoming behaviour?

Do we not assume the burdens of negative and toxic individuals, as it is truly not our business to do so?

Do we not only help others to the best of our ability, without expecting anything in return?

Do we not realise that we have limitations in our own capacity and capability in helping others?

#yongkevthoughts