Rejected but not dejected

by Yeoh Siew Hoon

Twas the night before New Year’s Day. Outside, all was dark and quiet.

Only the soft glow of the moon illuminated my face as I stepped outside my room at the Princess Resort on Inle Lake.

A soft breeze blows, sending the leaves on the bamboo plants fluttering. Flickering candles in the distance remind me I am not alone, that there are other “refugees” around.

I watch a light make its way down the river towards the resort.
As it gets closer, I see it is a boat ferrying yet more “refugees”.

Rowing the boat is a man in a lougyi, standing upright as he uses his right leg to paddle the oar.

It’s a way of rowing, unique to this part of the world, a sight I never tire of.

It’s also a way of seeing in the new year I never tire of. To spend it in seclusion, in some quiet corner of the earth with a few good friends and a handful of other “refugees”, away from the mad, modern, electric world and its frenzied crowds looking for the next fireworks party.

I breathe in the stillness of the night and savour the moment – that split second when all is at peace within yourself and all is well with the world.

Then I hear my name being called. “Hey, Siew Hoon, come join us for a little champagne.” With a little skip in my step, I walk towards the voice.

Well, that’s how my New Year’s Eve would have been if I had gotten my visa to travel to Myanmar. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

Despite personally submitting my application, filling in three forms and attaching three photos, attaching my business card and a letter of declaration that I would be in Myanmar for “pure touristic reasons”, I never heard back from the authorities – till today, I still don’t know whether my application was rejected because of what I do or whether it just got lost in the pile of paperwork.

Anyway, I waited till the day I was supposed to fly before I gave up on the idea of Inle Lake.

Sulking – I take rejection very badly – I decided not to travel anywhere and to make me feel better, I came up with a set of reasons why it was better to stay put in Singapore.

One, home is where the heart is and all that Hallmark nonsense; two, why travel like everyone else, why not be different; and three, save money. I ran out of reasons after that.

My god-daughter, who is 13 years old, tried to cheer me up by chipping. “It’s safer not to travel.”

When did kids get to be so fearful? Anyway, I told her 90% of accidents happen at home so she will now probably see home in a different light.

So what did I do on my first new year’s eve in Singapore in seven years?

I cooked for friends at home. I then joined my fellow residents up on the rooftop for the countdown and to “ooh” and “aah” at the fireworks display.

I looked ahead and marveled at the city’s changing skyline. Singapore’s new landmark, the Flyer, glowed all red for the occasion.

On Marina Bay, the new floating stage was all dressed up with nowhere to go.

I looked down and gasped at the traffic-choked roads, and we all laughed as horns blared and people cheered to welcome in the new year.

A far cry indeed from how I imagined those moments on Inle Lake but as a song goes, if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you are with.

And yes, after all, it’s just another new, old year.

Catch more of Yeoh Siew Hoon every week at The Transit Cafe