We Will Sorely Miss You, LKY

It's barely a few minutes before Mr Lee Kuan Yew's funeral procession will begin at 12.30pm.

It is indeed amazing, how the past week was free from rain showers, allowing thousands of people to queue for hours outside the Parliament. Yet, on this fateful day, the rain pours relentlessly on the people lining the streets to witness the funeral procession.

Could there be a chance that after this downpour, we will see a rainbow? The rainbow that he told us about; the glorious rainbow that beckons; the rainbow he told us to ride.

“For the young, let me tell you the sky has turned brighter. There’s a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure. And there are rich findings at the end of the rainbow. To the young and to the not-so-old, I say, look at that horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it.” 

— Mr Lee Kuan Yew (1923 – 2015)

We Shall Remain Strong, Even Without Papa Lee

Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away on March 23, 2015. It was something we saw coming, but did not expect.

The news reports have prepared us for it. They gave us the latest updates on his deteriorating health, and complications due to infections. Due to severe pneumonia, Mr Lee was first admitted to hospital on February 5, 2015, and the following timeline ensued:

It's extremely disheartening that old age got the better of him. 

To be frank, as a young Singaporean who seldom engage myself in politics, the sadness I initially felt was only minimal.

But I've never anticipated this minimal well of emotions to multiply so dramatically during the days after his death. The papers are splashed with his pictures; tentages are available at various places for tributes; the tremendously long queue outside the Parliament; and the continuous replays of his speeches since the 1970s on television.

(This is a live update on Day 5 of Mr Lee's passing: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/live-updates-passing-of/1745228.html)

I never thought I would feel so much for a person I've never met in person before. But now, I feel it in everything I see, everything I do, and I feel his presence everywhere.

I'm not one to be disgruntled by the little annoyances in life. I appreciate Singapore as she is, because I love the secureness of this country, I love how we have to be bilingual; and I love how we can indulge in the food of different cultures.

To honour our first Prime Minister, long queues snaked from the Parliament house and the waiting time to enter ranged from 8 to 10 hours. But I was willing to wait.

Yet, I didn't manage to pay my final respects to our founding father.

Why? 

My mum disallowed me to. Due to superstitious reasons, she advised against my want. I was clearly upset, but there was no way I can go ahead without going against my conscience for I love my mother dearly.

Mr Lee had so much passion for his job, he dedicated 60 over years to building Singapore. I had to do something, no. matter. what.

So I did the unthinkable. I wrote the former Minister Mentor a letter. Addressed to his home at 38 Oxley Road, I sent it out without a second thought. 

Even though he will not read it. Not because he wished not to, but because he couldn't.

"And even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I'll get up."

— Then Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, during the 1988 National Rally.

Rest in peace, Papa Lee.

Lived The High Life In Batam

I had the pleasure to share an awesome experience in Batam with my JC friend, Nellyn.

It would have been the most awkward overseas trip ever, for I tagged along with Nellyn, her brother, and his wife. But I am thankful for their hospitality, because I never once felt out of place.

We stayed at Montigo Resorts, some say it bears resemblance to Santorini, Greece.
It was a beautiful place indeed, and in the 3 day-2 nights affair, it was a massage-swim-eat-nua-massage-swim-eat-nua routine.

Words would be a waste of time. Pictures will tell it all:

Thankful for the great getaway (Friday to Sunday) after my Statistics test on Thursday. 

Thank you Nellyn.