The Beauty of Free

At this point in time, money is a bit tight for me. I don’t get my first paycheck until October 12^th. I’ll be fine, but that means I can’t go splurge on, really, anything until then. In a few previous posts, I’ve mentioned a handful of the free activities that Singapore offers, in one capacity or another. This includes Night Lights, my various walking tours (I do like a proper amble), and anything else I can find.

The national park, perhaps the only true urban rainforest, has no entrance cost, but substantial trails including a suspension bridge over 75 m (~225 ft) high. The esplanade offers a beautiful view of Marina Bay and the Central Business District. Clarke Quay has extensive displays on the Chinese Zodiac for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

And then, of course, the Busker Festival. Each year(?) on Sentosa (think Disney world relegated to an island), a free busker festival is put on. Internationally renowned buskers are invited to put on their displays by the Sentosa Development Board, or the government (is there really a difference? It’s a distorted wavering line.). Due to time constraints, I only managed to watch two of the performances. In Singapore style, and perhaps contrary to true busker art, the shows are at set stages and specific times. Still, the shows were great.

Flying Colors, by John Gawdy, a native New Jersian, is half street art half show. He throws paint at a canvas, hence the flying colors. To the accompaniment of music he painted John Lenin. It took the crowd a bit to figure out who he was, but most of us westerners realized pretty quickly with the hints: dead, peaceful, gunshot, and singer/song writer.

The other show, Acromanuel, would have been banned in the United States for sensitivity issues. An acrobatic comedian duo put on an impressive show. One, feigning an idiotic Mexican, Manuel, follows the directions of the other, the so-called Green Man. The show, possibly designed for children, but entertaining to all, displays some impressive acrobatic feats mixed with a healthy bit of slapstick comedy. Who doesn’t want to see the idiot shoot the boss in the buttocks with a blow-dart? I say it would have been banned in the US because of its impersonation of Hispanics and Native Americans. The duo made blatant generalizations about both groups, much to the gaiety of the locals. No Hispanics or Native Americans were present.

My point, ultimately, is that a great deal of fun can be had without spending any money. Drinking, being incredibly expensive in Singapore, simply isn’t in the budget. My normal weekend activity being supplanted I’m finding new ways to entertain myself. I enjoy myself more and I spend less. Not only that, I find myself being enriched by the experience, not poisoned. It’s amazing what a simple search in the right context can turn up.