Friday, January 20, 2006

Back in UK

Now back in UK. After 2 and a half months in Singapore it is quite refreshing to have this change of scenery. Back here life is toyally different. I will have to adapt to this UK life again. The adaptation comes back quite naturally. After to-ing and fro-ing between these 2 countries for the past 4 or 5 years, it comes quite automatically.

No more foodcourts and my favourites such as laksa and the yong tow foo, but on the plus side I have my cuppas. No more congestion at Fairprice but the roomy Tesco. However, paying high prices here at the supermarket as opposed to the fairly cheaper prices of NTUC Fairprice.

No more squeaky clean streets of Singapore but the messy streets of London. Fortunately being out of the city we have comparatively clean streets in our area.

It is a pleasure to drive here in UK, compared to the rudeness of the Singaporean drivers.

All in all, it all balances out. Some good and some not so good. I love both countries.

9 comments:

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

is london that dirty now? when i knew it, it was still quite clean except the air.

and the beautiful little towns, everywhere like a garden. i think that is where lky got his idea of a gardern city.

yes daffodils. so enchanting. and the giant english roses.

you need to post some pics on your site my friend.

Speedwing said...

Will certainly do the pics.

London streets sre getting dirtier because of tourist trade. However the air in the city is cleaner due to the congestion charges, hence less cars in town. You have the ERP, we ahve congestion charges. The Underground is now smoke free and all industies that produce smoke have been moved out of town.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

i was there in 69/70. just how long that was. i still remembered swiping my hankie in my nose after returning and it turned black.

will it still turn black today?

Speedwing said...

I too remember those days when the underground was very dirty, black nose, face and worst of all was the white shirt collars.

Fortunately the underground is now a no smoking zone and it is much cleaner. No more black nose, face or collars.

1969/70 is a long time ago. Come over again and see the difference.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

with the influx of so many asians, i am not sure if the brits can continue to keep the place as good as it was.

Speedwing said...

Yeah, London is a real melting pot of many cultures and religions. It is a good thing really. Just walking along Oxford Street, you will realise the vibrancy of a truly global city.

Unfortunately for people like me, it is also a city for the young. To be young and in London, the world is at your feet, so the saying goes.

I like London for the art galleries, theatre, chinatown, Piccadilly, Leicester Square, Trafalga Square.......Nad moet important, the Speakers Corner. I believe there is also a Speakers Corner in Singapore too??

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

yeah, oxford street. used to walk that road up and down many times. it is not different here at orchard road. i really feel out of place at orchard road. look out of place too. only young people.

spent many mornings at hyde park speakers corner. not sure it is still that vibrant with fiery speakers. those days they talked about freedom, anti colonialism and all the isms.

today probably about gays? but with iraq, maybe there is a renew interest in politics.

Speedwing said...

The Speaker's Corner at Hyde Pak is still as vibrant as ever. It is a pleasure just to spend a few hours listening to some of the participants. Some of them make no sense at all, while there are some who ahve some very strong points to make. It is quite refreshing just to know that one can have the freedom to speak ones mind, even if no one agrees with you.

The best thing about this freedom is that you know you will not be sued.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

you know you won't be sued. very comfortable thought. over here there is always this unease of mind.

very unhealthy. very third world.