This is gona be a very long and wordy post on my #LKYqueue experience. I dont have the photos to post thus its just words and more heartfelt word. So much to write but so difficult to express this grieve.This is just for my memory sake
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Yesterday 27 March 2015, We decided to join the queue at City Hall to pay our respect to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Was suppose to go on Wed, but had too much work, and thurs i had class. So the only day i had left was Friday.
Met the boyf at his office, and went home to prepare, out for dinner and we geared up to queue. We parked at Suntec and made our way over to City Hall, reached there about 8.50pm? so we started walking from City Hall towards Padang, there was already alot of people walking with us.. But the queue was smteady and the walk was smooth. until we reached the Padang, we were like.. WOAH this is the real deal. Volunteers seen carrying boards stating a 8 hours queue time ahead.
But it was very orderly, we got into the queue and waited in line. then slowly we got ushered into the snakey queues after say 20min? the SAF boys let in waves which i thought it was quite awesome, so that there was no overcrowding etc. When in the snakey line, we were told to spread ourselves out and take a sit to wait. I expected it to be a long long wait, and given that there was totally no signal for my phone at that time. Guess there was too many people and the connection was overwhelming? idk Singtel D: its okay, cause the queue started moving again after awhile. Sat on the Padang and watched the clouds go by for say like 10-15 mins only? Was shorter than what i expected, totally!
But what we didnt know was where the queue was leading us to. We ended up walking towards the the esplanade, snaking towards the floating platform, and to or surprise we got to sit at the platform chairs, which i thought it was a nice gesture :) after standing and walking for say about 2hrs plus to get to the floating platform? Well i guess, it was Mr Lee's idea to let us sit and enjoy a moment and take a look at the fine city that he built over the years.
It was breathtaking. Singapore is small and boring, but beautiful, this i have to admit. Then they released us by batches, and then the walk back passing by the esplanade and back towards the Parliament House.
On the way back we happen to see Minister Tan Chuan Jin & also DPM Teo Chee Hean among the side thanking people. Tan Chuan Jin shook my hands and thank me for coming. Aftermath i was telling the boyfriend, they are too nice, it was about 1am in the morning? They were still around thanking people, which was not necessary because coming to pay respect to Mr Lee was one's own decision and we should do it.
People who keeps blabbering that they are not good, sometimes should stop and think and understand that these people really do not owe us anything. Why cant they be appreciative of what they are actually already doing, and trying their best for Singapore. sigh!
I guess the only time that people stop complaining was this week. Its only this week that i have seen the nicer side of Singaporeans, nice, friendly, helpful, generous and all things good.
Well, back in the queue, along the way we had so many kind hearted volunteers giving out food, fruits, drinks and being so nice.
"Eat something people, the wait is long. You need energy!" can be heard. so heartwarming these people. if i could, i really wouldnt mind volunteering myself. But i didnt know how. :(
So by the time we headed back nearing to the Padang, it was about almost 5 hours into queue, but the line was moving steadily. and then it had to start to drizzle. was so afraid it will pour, not because i will get wet or something, but there are so many Singaporeans around, what if everyone started to panic and try to run for shelter? imagine the chaotic mess it will cause. and im sure Mr Lee wouldnt want anything bad to happen to his fellow Singaporeans. and miraculously the drizzle stopped. :)
After the tunnel everything was smooth and fast. We had Krispy creme doughtnut along the way hahaha.
AND FINALLY, we stood infront of the Parliament House. It felt so surreal. the "im gona see Mr Lee soon" just that it was his casket instead :'( 6 hours of queuing just for the one moment. we walked in and the strong aircon greeted us, the only thing that felt good, and then it was solemn all over again. Went the the front to give Mr Lee the well deserved respect and bow he so deserved.
Thank him for everything and it happened in last than 15 Sec. and thats it, no more Mr Lee anymore. Solemnly walked out of the Parliament House and out of the compound. While walking out, we saw this super duper long queue, and we thought they were queuing for taxi or something, this aunty infront asked them, and to our surprise, they were queueing to get into Padang :O
Because the queue was suspended at 11+ on Friday night, and the crowd grew and ended up snaking one whole round. and the uncle was saying, wow the end and the head of the dragon met. haha how apt. While walking back to the carpark, City Hall MRT was packed to the brim with people all waiting for the queue to reopen again. Its really WHAT A SIGHT. nobody is complaining, all waiting patiently. This dosent seem, sound and look like Singaporeans at all!
Big Thanks to all the amazing volunteers and SAF personnel that gave us food and drinks along the way, making the queue so much more bearable :)
See what Mr Lee Kuan Yew has done even after death. :') Sigh!
So i asked the boyf after reaching home :
Me: bby so how do you feel after paying your respect?
Bby : its felt good, like i have done something good.
Me: No. its not something good, it was necessary.
Bby : Yeah, we have got something to tell our children next time.
:') Definitely gona let my children know about this great man!
As im typing this, i feel this overwhelming saddness because tmr is the day... the day most people dread. After Sunday, there will be no more Mr Lee Kuan Yew. & this though saddens me alot. i feel so upset. i really dont know how to describe or pen down how im feeling in words. I just cant find the right write words to describe really. Sigh! So much i wana say, but somehow I feel like whatever that im saying sounds so repetitive. Meh!
& really I have no idea why, when and how did this man, whom i do not even know personally but just by reading history and his books have slowly and unknowingly touched my life. How much his death has caused me to feel this heavy and uneasy this whole week. It felt as if he was someone close to me. So uneasy :(
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In his life, he built a nation, always thinking for the nation and its people, even in his death, he still thinks for the nation and its people, bringing the nation together as one being so united, so kind towards one another and helped us see the best in each other.
Whoever can be greater than you, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. You're definitely a Legend. Maybe more than a legend :')
Thank you Mr Lee, for being such an amazing amazing man. Your love for the nation & its people and your love for your family & wife. I have so much to learn from you.
Thank you Mr Lee, for painstakingly building up this place, this nation im so proud to call home.
Thank you Mr Lee, for making me feel so good and proud to call myself a Singaporean.
Thank you Mr Lee, for still teaching me what is perseverance, and never to give up even when times are tough even after death. For i know somehow someday, i would be able to find that rainbow.
So so many thank yous that cannot even be written down. 一切尽在不言中。感恩。
♥ Forever Loved, Forever Remembered.
Rest in Eternal Peace Mr Lee, and have a good reunion with Mrs Lee over at the other end.
XX, A Proud Singaporean from the younger generation.
