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Straits Times, 30 Jan 05 Kranji air and heat THE fruit-and-vegetable folks of Kranji who were swamped after the secret of their existence was leaked by our writers have no reason to feel bad about the commotion on visitors' weekend last week. It is the guests who should be embarrassed they even grumbled about trivial matters like the shuttle bus arrangements and the poor signage in the area. Give me a break! This was a spontaneous gesture by a group of good-natured people to bring a bit of the country into the lives of bored-silly apartment dwellers. They could have kept the treasured rusticity to themselves. They don't need the money from door sales. But being sporting people, they are laying on more buses this weekend. Visitors should show appreciation by taking a countryside outing in the right spirit. That is to say, come rough and ready and make your own fun - this is no deluxe tour. But many seemed determined to have a disagreeable time last week. This is judging from the mutterings by demanding ones who expected shuttle trips (free, for goodness sake!) to run like MRT clockwork, and the mean-tempered honking of cars on narrow farm roads. Our advice: farm visits are best enjoyed when one goes wanting to be surprised by friendly touches and charmed by the wondrousness of nature. Those urbanites who have ever pulled juicy orange carrots out of the ground in the vegetable farms of Cameron Highlands, or watched durians drop in any of the Johor orchards from the safety of a watch hut, will not forget the experience. The Kranji farmers are mainly refugees from the concrete glare of the city. They are offering a slice of life alien to Singaporeans. Unlike the zoo, reservoirs and parks, the offer is unconditional and unchoreographed. So why trudge there like you would to a table reservation? Unlax, guv'nor. Take a deep breath of the country air and grin. links Related articles on Re-creation in our wild places |
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