Singaporeans bored of Singapore

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I took 4 taxi rides in and around Singapore.
3 of the drivers were exceptionally chatty
and revealed a lot of themselves to me
Showing the people's warmth,
and their affinity towards me as a Chinese.

Not only were they all Chinese,
they were able to speak to me in either language (English or Chinese),
they would also ask what was my ancestral origin,
​and I would ask theirs in return.
They spoke of their boredom and criticism of Singapore
- that which only rightfully come from those who live and love their own city.
The conversation often centred on the smallness of Singapore.
1 asked me of my opinion of Singapore ,
I didn't of course give him the judgmental opinion he probably hoped for,
because I don't wish to be critical of others in front of them,
and it's certainly not their own choice that the city has become how it is,
whether it's the good or the negative side of development, but overall there is not much I can criticize ,
Singapore is a pioneer in many respects in so many fields of development,
so all I said was something more personal ,
that being here reminds me of my own hometown,
that it looks like my hometown and it makes me think of home a lot.

All 3 conversations touched on the subject of going on holiday
All 3 drivers seem to have a love of travel,
and they certain all share the yearning for travel.
And all of them also have the best passport in the world,
they certainly can travel anywhere they want to.

They all said to me that Singapore is too small,
Which is why people wouldn't travel inside the country,
They'd travel out.
The last driver also made a valid point that going to the airport for them like this is literally, and quite accurately , going to the other side of the country !
That explains why a lot of taxis prefer not to take passengers who need to go to the airport. 

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My last conversation on the way back to the airport ended up being about water, the cost of water and the cost of power.
It was a good-humored driver,
And as he offered to drop me off at the Jewel, where my bag was being kept at Baggage Storage,
I wished him luck in being able to go on to a trip to a tropciap beach soon,
His wife on contrast likes cold climates, while he loves lazing on beaches.
He laughs, and says,
most people from Most countries would look at their passport and think,
"oh, he's from Singapore, it's such a small country,
​he poses of No threat. Welcome."
​
I wish I would have such a privileged passport.
So much money lost, so much anxiety and worry, just because of the passport I hold.

It's been a dream come true visiting Singapore.
It's one of those places I've always wanted to move to.
And rightfully so,
​I think I may like it here.

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