Thank you for the sms-es, all inquiring whether I’m okay. I didn’t realise that there were major earthquakes in Indonesia, until I watched the news in the evening. No wonder that there were some Standard Chartered Bankers milling around my old office, Plaza By The Park in Bras Basah Road. I thought that they were doing a fire-drill or something … The earthquakes were felt in Singapore as well and many highrise dwellers were forced to evacuate because of the swaying.
It was quite sad as well when I learned this morning that there was another plane crash in Indonesia. It seems like a sickening series of tragedies – starting with the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004, Indonesia has endured numerous earthquakes, mini tornadoes, mudslides, plane crashes, sunk ferries, and flood. I feel very helpless – and I’m sure those living in Indonesia at the moment are feeling that way too. Although, being back in Indonesia made me aware how resilient Indonesians are – yes, the circumstances seem bleak and hope is something that most of the people are clinging to in spite of their harsh day-to-day life. Rice, petrol and other necessities are getting expensive; education is also getting to be the next battleground: whilst those from the middle class and upper class are educating their children in International school and giving the kids lessons in English, Mandarin, Mathematics, Piano, and all sorts of knowledge from the early age, I feel really sorry for the bright kids born in the slums all over the nation, who are born without such advantage …
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