Sentosa Express, Fort Caning Tunnel and A Special Bus
I went to joy-ride the Sentosa Express today, which was opened on 15 Jan. I was first stunned by friendly ushers who said "Hello Sir" or "Hello Mdm" to everyone who alighted from the train. I felt very awkward seeing locals being friendly to another local. If only I could hang a sign around my neck that says 'pls ignore me because I'm a Singaporean'. The irony - Singaporeans complain of service 'double-standard' but refuse friendly service in the first place. SIGH SIGH. I'm just another typical Singaporean.Saw that Sentosa has changed a lot since I last went, when the Sentosa Express' predecessor was still crawling over the island at 10km/h... the days where I equated Sentosa = Fort Siloso/Asian Village, and Monorail = Hard seats = No air-con = yes for tourists, no no for Singaporeans like me who are afraid of the heat. I was impressed by the development of the 'Beach Centre' (I don't know what's the exact name). In contrast to my impression of Sentosa as a ulu island, I saw familiar names like CoffeeBeans, 7-11, Delifrance on Sentosa - stores that you usually patronise on mainland. And yes, to my relief, the days of only-one-ATM-at-Ferry-Terminal was a thing of the past. There are now ATMs all over the island to promote consumption. Shouldn't it be like this all along?!
Now the activity is at the Southern part of the Island - Siloso Beach. The Ferry Terminal looks antiquated as sighted from the bridge. I was thinking about jumping over the less-than-a-metre gap at the ex-Ferry Terminal Station left after the demolishment of the old Monorail Track. But I guess they sealed it up. The Garden was empty, ready to be transformed into an Integrated Resort. Steward's Riverboat berthed elsehwere. WaterFront Station would open three years later. Man I can't wait...
Then, for something else, the wait was over - Fort Caning Tunnel. The piece of prime land, size of a soccer-field, was finally freed up after Stamford Rd was re-aligned. Hmm what would they build there? I walked in the middle of the old Stamford Road, thinking that, if I'd done the same thing one week ago, I'd have been killed by the oncoming traffic.
I bought Snow Patrol's Eyes Open, Songs from Musicals and a pair of retractable Philips Earphones. Spent $63. Apart from Chasing Cars, I have no special liking for Snow Patrol's other songs. Maybe I'll take some time to change my music mood into Rock.
