New Paper Big Walk

There is a common preconception that Singaporeans are averse to walking - lest the popular Great Singapore Sale shopping strolls down Orchard Road and Marina Square.

Every mid-year on a chosen Sunday, however, streams of folks - young and old, singles to families, students to clans, will be seen streaming both lengths of Nicoll Highway in the rising morning sun. The route for this year's Big Walk on 21 May commenced from the Indoor Stadium out onto the Nicoll HIghway, U-turned at Esplanade Bridge and backtracked all the way back to the Indoor Stadium. This monotonous 10km distance might have manufactured a sore bore, but the distribution of free goodie bags to all participants provide a self-actualizing reward to compensate for those weary legs at the finishing point.

You get to see many interesting sights that are predominantly rare in urban Singapore. There was a clique of teenage students chanting a succession of pop songs ala Jay Chou style - thanks for the live music, kiddos! A Liverpool fan club hogged the roads with the badge "Champions of Europe" on their arguably authentic jerseys (sorry guys, but I thought the trophy had flown to Spain?) There was even a Falungong contingent making their presence felt with their striking yellow banner and trademark palm-aligned medidation. Balloons of all shapes and sizes as well as self-sacrificial folks as mascots also featured in this year's Walk.

I am glad to be a part of it - the T-shirt alone was worth it (although June does not think so).