While everyone was traipsing round the world during the holiday season, I stayed home and watched the world go by, in posts, reels, streams and stories; When did the world become such a stage where everyone is an actor in their own movie?.

In between these bouts of voyeurism, I visited local places, read books and watched movies, made by professionals.

In the interests of being on-trend, and I apologise for taking more than 15 seconds of your time – which is the gold standard for video content these days – I will attempt to summarise my thoughts gathered over the holidays in three bullet points.

Be The Standout, Not The Standin

One day, I decided to explore “rural” Singapore. I shared this desire with my friend in New Zealand, who promptly rolled about the grass, laughing. “Is there any rural left in Singapore?”

Well, turns out there is one last “kampong” (village) left standing. It’s called Kampong Buangkok. It’s really easy to miss. Sandwiched between highways and HDB high blocks. A gravel path. Wooden houses. Fruit trees spilling over fences. A rooster crowing in the distance.

High-rise housing blocks can be seen from a plot of land co-owned by Madam Sng Mui Hong (pictured). It is located in Buangkok off a section of Yio Chu Kang Road. (Photo: CNA/Nuria Ling)

It somehow feels out of place, yet in sync, like it has always had a right to be there. It’s been there since 1956, founded by Sng Teow Koon, who leased land to families at low rents.

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