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| My city |
9th of August commemorates the 47th year of independence of my nation. What better way to celebrate the event than to cycle with your friends around the island throughout the night and experiencing first-hand the night life of this cosmopolitan city? I was awestruck by how the city remained active throughout the night but was taken aback by the downside of human society that presented itself only when much the nation fell into a blissful slumber.
We were greeted in every corner by drunkards as we cycling through the city, muddleheaded, yet fully aware of the several cyclists around them. The thrill, danger, and perhaps even amusing experience cycling past clubbers who appeared seemingly threatening on first impression (which soon turned out to be a fluke since they were all drunk) was unforgettable. Leaving the city and taking a quick break at a neighbouring playground after leaving the city only led me to discover that these children's hangout served as residence for homeless foreign workers at night. City life at night didn't turn out to be as romantic as people tend to think after all.
Of course, I am aware that such situations are present across the world and I bear no hard feelings for my society. I am also fully aware of the ugly side of city life (after midnight) but had never realised its prevalence and never experienced it first-hand having lived in the suburb region of the island. My impression of the city as a place where its dwellers could enjoy its picturesque scenery and have a quiet time out with their loved ones was a far cry from reality. Gone was my notion that a country as rich and secure as that of mine would be at least nearly completely free of people without proper residence. I tend to see this as a depressing and appalling aspect of human society. It was truly an eye-opening experience that many of my peers, having buried themselves in their notes would not experience.
