And so I was deciding between the yellow watch and the green watch at a roadside stall.
Standing under the hot sun, trying to make a decision – which one shall I get?
Typical indecisive libra…
It was until when I started sweating so much and I was holding the queue behind me that the watch aunty suggested that if I did get both, I’d get the second one at half the price.
And so I got them both, the yellow and the green watch.
If only decision making was that easy. Just have both.
I guess I want the best of both worlds, but that’s way too much to ask for.
If only I can bring family and friends from Singapore to Melbourne,… and the food too.
The aunty then adjusted the time on the watches.
It reminded me of Tsai Ming Liang’s film, What Time Is It Over There?
Back when Effie just moved to Canada, I used to always ask her that when we meet online.
Of course, the watch aunty didn’t ask me that. She asked if I prefer 12-hour clocks or 24?
I told her that I like my digital watches on 24-hour clocks. Then I don’t get confused between days and nights.
It dawned on me when she handed me my new watches,
17:59 in Singapore is 7.59pm in Melbourne.
For that moment, all my dilemma went away. Everything was perfect. Two worlds in one.
16:00 is 6pm and 18:00 is 8 o’clock.
When I arrived here a week ago, I couldn’t be bother changing the time on my watch.
I’m not sure where to call home anyway.
But, then and there, it all made sense.
Time, our dear friend, decided I need a reality check.
It wasn’t long till the demon in my mind started whispering “What happens at 20:00? What happens when daylight saving ends?”
I was lost again.
I wish it’ll always be 17:49…
It’s just too say to say goodbye… to those in Singapore and in Melbourne.
