Weather forecast: The intense heat of the sun adds sweat to your palms and warmth to your heart.
That startling encounter with the bamboo pole clothes line has piqued my curiosity to explore further. We decided to go out and see what this town has to offer. I immediately noticed the serene ambience of Bukit Batok -- a far cry from the bustling city that Singapore has been known to be. It felt like we were trailing our province’s quiet roads. After all, we were staying in the far west.
As we walked the pothole-free paved roads, I could feel the intense heat of the sun permeating through my sunblock-drenched skin. Wearing aviator sunglasses seemed more like a necessity to avoid the glares than a stylish accessory to complete the ensemble. Thankfully, there were plenty of trees all around that made things more bearable.
Marie and Ruthie walked faster to avoid being toasted without consent. After crossing over a narrow road, I could hear a faint sound of children laughing from a distance. A sound that echoed in this quiet neighborhood. And although it was against my dermatologist’s advice I squinted, intently, as if I had the X-Ray scanning ability like those at the US airports. I walked a bit closer to where the sound was coming from. Carefully peeking through the verdant foliage, I saw primary school children in their uniforms running, playing and giggling. Some children looked cute in their yellowish skin, pigtails and knee-high socks. While others were decidedly charming with their dark skin, thick-framed eyeglasses spectacles and wide grin. Children were exposed to the multi-cultural society early on. >>
