Dear readers, this morning, I was in a food court having a budget $3 toast set meal which comprises 2 eggs, 2 toasts and 1 cup of Kopi Gao.
After a busy and hectic work week, this is one of the best ways that I destress myself in a uniquely Singaporean manner and best of all, one which does not cost much!
I like to lim kopi (drink a cup of coffee, usually coffee Gao or thick kopi) on weekends at hawker centres (and is in food court today). As I sipped and partaked the coffee, I like to contemplate on the week that is about to pass and also contemplate life in general.
Unlike my colleagues who like to head for lunches together and dine in nice and fanciful restaurants but usually with below-average to average food and spend time during dining laughing and cracking jokes, I try my very best to avoid them and at same time without appearing anti-social. Teamwork is important and I can socialize if needed but not in such instances. I dine in staff canteens and usually just spend $5 at most on meals.
My avoiding of group lunches is not to just save costs. It is to preserve whatever sanity and mentality that can be had in a very noisy world. Lunch time gossips and meaningless banters only sap me of my precious energy capacity for the day. During lunch time, I prefer solitude and like to walk alone.
Walking in solitude itself is meditative. Walking alone in nature is even more meditative. In an already noisy world, exacerbated by mobile phone and where everything and everyone is always ON, it is important to find some time to “switch off”.
Switching off from social media where only the most glamorous side of all stuffs (Power, Money and Beauty) are highlighted (and make most feel lousy).
Switching off from toxic conversations: most people talk about people and events, one should talk about ideas which can only enrich one’s life.
After switching off, one always find creative solutions to day to day problems. For example, the universe always provides me with the spark to solutions to problems at work after my jalan jalan (walk walk).
Okay, so sorry for digressing so much. Here I was, this morning at a food court and was about to tuck into my toast set when before I could do so, I was interrupted.
Interrupted by two packets of tissues tossed from nowhere to my table.
I lifted my head and saw an old uncle pointing to one of his bandaged legs and signaled for my monies to buy his tissues.
I politely declined and this was another encounter in a consecutive week where people came to solicit from me some monies or donations for tissues. My encounter last week was at a hawker centre but with a pair of women (one in wheelchair and one whose hand was amputated).
While such soliciting for donations from selling of tissues is quite common in hawker centres, I was shocked that this happened at food courts, and especially when it was still early morning and the food court was still quite empty.
I am sure at peak hours, when the food court has more diners, the old uncle will be there to try to bring in even more monies for his tissues.
From what I observed, the old uncle was quite cautious in his modus operandi, always keeping watchful eyes lest authorities seek him out. Apart from his bandaged leg, he seems like a normal person on an outing with a plastic bag (that contains packets of tissues).
It is not that I don’t feel empathy or sympathy for the old man. It is just that I think he should seek long-term assistance from our relevant government agencies. Beside, these days, there are reports of syndicates which exploit the hearts of fellow Singaporeans for donations.
As I pondered on these thoughts, I tucked into my $3 breakfast set and started my weekend on a reflective mood. I hope those segments of our community who need help seek help and get the help they need.
After partaking in the fulfilling $3 meal, I set off for the next destination for the day.