Inanimated things I hate is the covered walkway outside of Ion along the main stretch of Orchard, the name of which is the dumbest I have heard in a while. Now I walk out of the other MRT exit from behind the back of Wisma as much as possible because it’s less crowded.

“Orchard Road used to be a place of familiarity and childhood……”.

Yep! and what made Orchard Road popular in the first place?

In the early days, Fitzpatrick, Robinsons, A&Ws and the food stalls were the main attractions. I remembered accompanying a Mexican yoyo world champion around as a young schoolboy showing off our yoyo skills at these places.

Later, after I left school which was not too far from OR, I met a friend who lived there and we were practically hanging out there on most weekends. The laid-back nature of Orchard Road then was the main attraction. It’s one of the reasons why the Manhattan Transfer came up with the song ‘On a little street in Singapore’.

The modern day Orchard Road is literally living on its laurels. There is nothing worth going there for for most part of the year. It only comes alive before Christmas with the hoohas over the annual light ups.

What else does it offer that reflects the people that we are. Oh sure, there is no lack of evidence in the reflection of the country that we are – full-blown superficiality.

“8) Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, Ephesians 2:19.
How cool would this be if this were true of Singapore. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with Singaporeans and members of Singaporean’s household.”

Aren’t you ‘preaching’ intolerance with your Christian talk? So the Buddhists, and other religions can’t exist with your kind on Orchard Road? Do they stain your existence? PLEASE KEEP UR WORLDVIEW SECULAR! PREACH IN UR CHURCH! GET OUT OF MY FACE! That’s intolerance for you! ;p

Orchard Road used to be a place of familiarity and childhood.But as I grew up,the place became increasingly cold and faceless,only a poster child for “Uniquely Singapore”.

But the ice cream uncle, the blind man singing in the underpass,the busker at Borders that always makes me want to dance: this really puts a face to Orchard Road for me.

And so what if it’s a pasar malam? That’s far better than being a cluster of concrete buildings selling really expensive stuff.

Basically – many Singaporean have become heartless, cold and uncaring symtomatic of deeper root issues in our society.

The 5 C have been replaced with

Coldness

Condemnation

Critical Spirit

Contempt

and

Class Consciousness

*Give me a break – these people are flesh and blood just like you and me. How dare we treat them otherwise!

You think these poor souls feel glamorous showcasing themsleves if they are given an opportunity to work in an office like most of us do? IT is hard work and needs loads of courage to do that. So, please be a little more compassionate to your human kind.

I am saddened by the fact to see people who rant so much on those supposedly “poor souls” who lost their investments in the minibonds and yet so discriminative in your remarks. What a shame. But heck, I do not expect grace from “frogs” who live in a well.

Though having fliers shoved up your nose averaging ten per minute is not pleasant to say the least.

I have been wrong about you. Please accept my humble apologies.

Agree with your points but for only one. Actually one does not need to travel far and wide to see similarities in the behaviour of human beings.

It is whether we want to see them or not. We can go travel all over the globe but if we are disinterested in social readings of the countries we visit, we will still end up thinking we are Uniquely Singapore-ans.

we should never forget that, once, a long time ago, people used to live in Orchard Road.

orchard road is a space after all.

I believe most who have lived or studied in other countries for extended periods of 1 year or more will agree that a lot of the problems in Singapore are not unique to Singapore. Most countries have similar problems and debate on FWs , cost of living etc etc.

For those who have not lived in other countries, please.. when you go on tour.. picked up the local newspaper and read it every day while you are on tour. Going to foreign countries is not about sight-seeing only. It’s also to know the culture and the local news brings out how its citizens see their own country.

This is not uniquely Singaporean. This is uniquely Human Nature around the world.

we have a great world class shopping establishment and plenty of other cities’ zones are commonly compared as the “orchard road” of perth etc. shopping @ orchard road still remains one of the better ones if we’re comparing against the world

Yes, just like what SM Goh advocated, I should welcome the Filipino Lounge hostesses (some whom bare their breasts in pubs without getting caught) with open arms. Nevermind that they are here to break up our familes. They make our men spend their hardearned monies on them rather than on their wives and kids.

I should also welcome the China girls who prey on our retirees in Chinatown. They make our retirees think Singapore is a fun place to retire in.

How refreshingly pleasant an experience!

How cool would this be if this were true of Singapore.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with Singaporeans and members of Singaporean’s household.

I was in Canada for 5 years and every foreigner is treated with equality and justice so that they can prosper irregardless of color, race language or religion.

Remember – WE WERE ONCE FOREIGNERS TOO. Most of us cannot stake a claim on being the original people of Singapore. Let’s be humble and welcome with unity the diversity within our midst. They have brought the dynamic creativity and life we so needed!

Intolerance – for small minded people should be thrown out of the window.