#home

And I thought they were just trying to be cool when they put a # at the front of this year's NDP theme. # as in hashtag right? Turns out I was the ignorant millennial who missed the other more important meaning behind the #: our addresses... our physical homes.

At least 80% of the population has this in their addresses (HDB dwellers, condos maybe). In Singapore, our land-scarce island where most of us live in high-rise homes. It's that kind of thing that's so simple yet so true it makes one think "oh ya hor why I never think of that."

I've this Spotify playlist of NDP songs that I like to listen to in the lead up to 9th Aug, mostly when traveling to and from work. Sometimes 真的有 feel, especially when I walk home from the MRT. The ~25 min route takes me through Pasir Ris Town Park and along the Sungei Tampines before hitting Drive 1 and passing by Central. It's a very pretty route.

Taken last year. The greens on the slopes have since been removed but I think in preparation for the Remake.

Living in the far eastern end of the island, I'm thankful that my home is safe. Thankful that Pasir Ris isn't just some ulu dunno what kind of rundown place at the end of the MRT line. There are other cities where things are already different just outside the city centre. Here, if I so wish, I can walk home past 10pm and enjoy the cool night without having to worry about getting mugged in the park. Not to mention not having to worry about le sis who has taken to coming home late as most young people tend to do at some point. Bonus, lots of greenery and water and lights in the night that make the place sooo beautiful. There's many other things that could be said (which forms part of what I do at work), but these are the everyday things that regular Singaporeans can appreciate.

Happy 52nd Singapore! This is #home.