Escape From Singapore

It has been 8 months since I last departed from Haneda International Airport. Every time I leave Japan, it makes my desire to come back to this wonderful country even stronger. 

In a fortunate way, I'll be travelling to Tokyo again in another week's time to spend around 2 months there. Deep down inside, I find myself very attached to the country, perhaps because of the culture, manners or the unique experiences I encounter every trip. Or… maybe I just don't like Singapore that much at all. LOL.

Ever since December 2015, many long visits to Japan were made, almost like a yearly ritual, except during the pandemic when strict border restrictions were in place. Throughout the years, I have learned and mastered how to efficiently manage my company remotely. Calls, meetings and transactions can be executed via the internet, making operations so much more convenient for me.

What I am looking forward to is seeing my wife again, travelling to Kumano City in Mie Prefecture for a famous fireworks event - which I missed in 2019 due to unfavourable weather conditions - with my wife's family, as well as getting lost and immersed in the charms of Tokyo. 

Personally, I find the daily lives of locals in the suburbs more fascinating than the hustle and bustle of popular attractions along the Yamanote Line. One thing I like to do is to commute on local buses instead of trains, allowing myself to have a glimpse into the authentic side of Tokyo. 

There have been some memorable occasions where elderly women would struck up conversations with me in Japanese while waiting at bus stops. Despite my limited knowledge of the Japanese language, I tried my best to converse with them. On one occasion, a lady boarded the same bus, and to my surprise, I discovered she spoke English! We had a delightful chat during the bus ride until she reached her stop.

Another occasion was while drinking alone at a bar in the neighbourhood, an old gentleman seated a couple of seats away started talking to me after hearing my orders placed in English. He is retired and used to be stationed as a Director at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi's branch in Singapore many years ago. This came as a surprise and we chatted about how much Singapore has changed over the years. Few moments later, a young man on my left who was drinking beer while working on his laptop joined in the conversation, with Singapore being the main topic of conversation. 

Later that night, the bartender organised a Nagashi Somen party and I was invited to join along with other patrons. Feeling a little shy because I wasn't drunk enough (I would've said 'Yes' if I had consumed two more shots of whiskey), I politely declined and left as the party began. Reflecting on it, I regretted not joining and asked to stay in touch with the retired gentleman. I'm sure there are many things to share and learn from his life experiences. 

Reminiscing about these events makes me realise that there is much more to life than my daily grind. Perhaps the true measure of life lies not in its duration, but in its fulfilment. 

Separately, an idea struck me the other day while I was sorting through my camera equipment. I stumbled upon an old friend - the Ricoh GR Digital II camera manufactured back in 2007 - seemingly retired after I started using Olympus digital cameras. To my delight, it is able to turn on after inserting the battery but power seems to drain quickly after some snaps. This is not a problem as a replacement battery is commercially available. Yodobashi Camera at Kichijoji may be my first stop to visit when I arrive Tokyo next Saturday. I guess this little friend shall accompany me most of the time I am going to spend in Japan. 

Why I have sentiments for this camera is because its focal length is fixed at 28mm and it captures stunning monochrome (black and white) photographs directly without much touching up needed. It really is a fun camera to use for street photography which I have not done for a long time. 

In the months to come, you may bump into a tall and tanned person lingering in the suburbs of Tokyo with a camera… And that's possibly me. 

Have a great weekend!