So Many People, So Little Time...

I may have mentioned this before, and most of you who know me know this too.

I hate crowds.

No, no. Really. I hate crowds.

This is probably the single most determining factor in me not liking such festivities as clubbing and shopping.

I hate crowds.

Lately, this problem has grown worse, with the onset of the year-end holidays. Khadi wanting to go to town to get stuff or do something aggravates it as well, of course. Let me tell you how it's like.

Take a walk along Orchard Road, Singapore's pride and joy when shopping is the key to your existence. Oh wait, you can't. Can't walk, that is. Yes, there are too many people. Rain or shine, the streets will be packed. That's a guarantee. Zara, Mango, Tangs, Nike, Forever 21, Lee Hwa, Topshop, every single outlet on our little island seems to be packed with shoppers, which is a relief seeing the angry mob outside each shopping centre.

It's a well-known fact that Singaporeans can't resist the allure of a sale, and old saggy aunties with varicose veins can be seen sprinting during the worst weather when a random brochure of 10% off some trivial item is thrust into their jade-fingered hands.

One week to Christmas. You know what that means, don't you? Last-minute Christmas shopping. And even more "Christmas joy" in the central business district. This actually makes the whole situation worse. I know whoever set it up means well, but it's just not practical.

I'll take a moment from my babbling to explain myself.

Recently several booths or stall-thingies have been set up along Orchard Road. Now, that in itself isn't anything new, there have always been booths set up there, but rarely have so many been erected in such close proximity to one another. And labelled the "Nativity Village" if I recall correctly.

What exactly is the "Nativity Village"? Well it's a series of booths and stall, as you might have guessed already, set to the theme of Christmas. Now, that's alright, I suppose, but like I said, they make the problem of overcrowding in the area much, much worse. Firstly, the sidewalk isn't all that wide to begin with, and when half of it is taken up by these things... during peak hours... you can't even swing a cat in there.

That, and the whole idea is a little tarnished by the fact that little old women are playing "children" and pimply schoolkids are dressed as Greco-Roman soldiers, broom-helmet and all. Oh yeah, spectacles too. Can't forget the glasses!

Sigh, I hate crowds. At least I won't have to deal with the town crowd this weekend, seeing as how most of us will be busy with a common prior engagement.

And I do mean engagement, eh? Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.