The Lighter Side of Singapore In Pursuit of Everyday Joys
by Sandy Harford
Go Wild on the East Coast I was recently pleasantly surprised to come out of my building and see a new mural being created by urban artist, Sam Lo. While Sam took a much-needed shade break, I inquired about the story behind this vibrant three-story mural and its companion piece soon to be completed on the opposite side of the building. According to Sam, “these murals tell a romantic story of a pair of love birds separated by circumstance. Back in the day, wealthy Chinese businessmen and
Sandy on a Nature Walk with Dipsea
highway and thrum of cargo ships offshore, birdsong, cicadas, families flying kites and TikTokers are your seaside soundtrack. Here, you can find a place to recharge and commune with nature as there’s plenty of wildlife along this pretty stretch of coastline. This park land and others like it, have successfully reunited other birds who mate for life, like the whimsical hornbills. Thanks to the efforts of cleaning up Singapore’s waterways and coastal areas, as well as reforesting lands, otter families have made a
Otter Crossing Warning
Malay fishermen used to live side by side in the same community, in beachfront bungalows and wooden thatched houses respectively. As modernization and industrialization took over, more roads were built between the people and the sea, and many of them were relocated. The two lovebirds are separated due to this change, and thus are seen on the same building but never meeting.” Sam’s lovebird heritage murals are indeed a cautionary tale of what can happen when rampant urban development takes over a mega metropolis like Singapore. Particularly on the East Coast, where condominiums are sprouting up and a new MRT line is under way, our green areas are dwindling before our eyes. On a brighter note, all you need to do after marveling at Sam’s masterpiece, is cross under the ECP to the East Coast park where over 15 km of bike trails, nature walks, lazy lagoons, serene stretches of beach, picnic and recreation areas, and various places to wine & dine await. If you can tune out the whirr of the 36
AWA Magazine March/April 2022
Whimsical Hornbill
