On the other side of the glass at Library@Harbourfront
It was balmy, the palm trees that lined the bank swayed idly; the bewitching emerald waters was adorned with endless tiny crystals, glinting and beckoning me to go closer. Airplanes cruised purposefully across the cerulean blue sky, drawing white trails on the seemingly blank canvas. In the span of five minutes, there were ribbons of white streaked from edge to edge, like streamers fluttering in the wind. I could get lost in the masterpiece.
In the horizon, the verdant man-made tropical island of Sentosa framed a whimsical scene. To the right, cable cars glided in a mechanical fashion through the air. I imagined that it was a conveyor belt delivering a stream of fresh coconuts out from an elusive, futuristic coconut harvesting factory, destined to revive the parched and the listless.
The sight was quite like when you amble through an electronics store where an array of impressive technology is displayed – ultra vibrant, high resolution screens, portals to your desires summoned with a remote. Except, everything is on mute.
On this side of the glass, there’s no rustling of palm trees to put you to sleep; no sputtering of bumboats or blaring horns from cruise liners even though you see them; no blistering radiation could be felt and no roar or hum of the airplanes above.
On this side of the glass, I was perfectly insulated. The relentless sun bleached the wooden deck outside but my eyes were shielded by the perfectly designed fins and overhangs of the building. The arrows of light stopped short of penetrating the glass to hit me at this time, leaving a perimeter of shadow on the deck.
In here, I could pretend that I was having a perfect day on my deck chair – perfectly insulated from the mundane for as long as I liked – cradling a good book to continue the adventures in my mind.
P.S.: When you do visit Singapore, you may want to step into our national (public) libraries. Highly recommend these two: Library@Orchard (Orchard Gateway at Somerset) and Library@Harbourfront (Vivocity at Harbourfront). Both are easily reached by the MRT. The one at Orchard is tastefully designed with reading nooks. I especially enjoy reading by the tall glass panels that overlook the busy streets below. Spend some quiet time here after shopping and pigging out at the nearby Takashimaya, Ion Orchard, Paragon or the Apple Store.
As for Vivocity, it’s a mall with everything you need. But the highlight is the roof deck. Pretty romantic at night. You can always grab a drink or have a picnic on the expansive decks. You may even enjoy the delightful scenes of children waddling through the ankle deep ponds. Perhaps you wish to join them! There’s a washing bay to rinse your feet after!
