A brief history of Alkaff Bridge:
Alkaff Bridge is also known as the ‘ArtBridge’. Actually, it is a pedestrian bridge in Singapore, which spans the Singapore River at Robertson Quay. The bridge connects the Quayside (where all those pubs & restaurants are) and the Riverside (the residential area).
The Alkaff Bridge was painted in January 2004 in vibrant colours by Filipino artist Pacita Abad (1946–2004) and a team of rope specialists. The artist and her crew of helpers used 55 different colours and more than 900 litres of industrial-strength paint to transform the bridge into Singapore's first "Bridge of Art". The bridge is 55 m in length It is shaped like a tongkang (a light boat used commonly in the early days to carry goods along rivers.
Time: 4.50pm
The Alkaff Bridge’s region is not packed during that time, except for a number of joggers, tourists and strolling residents. I started walking from one end of the bridge. Using every slow move, with my feet place nicely in front of the other, I started to make my first move and the second and the third…
It was a slope up the bridge and I tried to carry myself lightly. I can smell the river water up my nostrils. As I continued walking slowly, a lot of people passed by me. All of them were walking very quickly, as if they were rushing for time. The fast-paced people and the slow me seemed to be living in different spaces throughout the time. Time seemed to pass really slow or even stop. For that time, I seemed to drift away from the heavy workload and fast paced lifestyle. However, those people not in my space cannot appreciate my ‘slow walk’ and seems to cast a few doubts at me. Suddenly, I feel like a ‘outsider’ of this location and time era. Even though, I was out-casted in my space, I was feeling good. I felt freedom and the wind breeze passing by me seems to give me wings. Next, I touched the handle rail of the bridge as I continued my walk. I felt the rail is giving me strength and supporting me up the slope. It suddenly felt like my mom’s hands, bringing me on a stroll.
Finally, I reached the centre of the slope. Leading against the rail, I looked straight at the river water in front of me. It was glittery against the sun rays reflection. It felt like diamonds in the water, so bright and pretty. Even though this was not the 1st time I came here and look at the glittering river, the feeling it gave me never went away. The river water seems so glittery; it must be refreshing to fall into the river for a nice connection with the water. However, when I shift my gaze to the corners of the river, it is not difficult to realize rubbish floating by the sides. Far end of the corner, I saw the river boat coming straight towards the Alkaff Bridge. The oil produced by the river engine was disseminated into the river water. Is the water is really clean as it seems to appear? The fact seems to differ from the glittery glamorous characteristics.
The glittery river seems to give me power, to drive away all of the troubles as the wind swept pass me and the sparkling reflection seems to give energy to my eyes as I gaze ahead. In front of the river, I feel small before the river that never gives up on flowing. The bridge is the connection between 2 different worlds. One side of the bridge is the Quayside (where all those pubs & restaurants are) and the other side is the Riverside (the residential area). When I look towards the Quayside, I could feel energy and activities going on in my head. The Quayside area is where I normally spend my weekends on pubs, clubs and restaurant near Mohd Sultan Road. With so much activities going on there, it seems colourful to me in a non-visible way.
All seems to differ from my known history of Singapore River which is the major settings for trading and port. The smelly river is cleaned up now after the previous clean up of Singapore River in the 90s. No matter how much the whole landscape seems to change, when I come here, I still can somewhere have a déjà vu of the past history by looking at the stone steps of the river side.
‘Derive’ Environment
It is 5.30pm sharp now. I am standing in the middle of the Alkaff Bridge walking path. Trying to drift using my sense of hearing, I closed my eyes and let my senses do the work. 1 min, 2 min passed by and I can gradually hear laughter nearing my left hand side. I knew this is the sound I am waiting for. I opened my eyes and turned towards body to the left. Yes, a number of working adults were walking towards the bridge. Some were on the phone while some were talking to each other. The common thing among them is they all appeared to have knocked off from work and the Alkaff Bridge is the passing point away from work. I can see the buildings behind them, which seems to be their working place. The closer they walked towards me, I can feel their smile happier, away from the place that had cooped them up the whole 8 hours. Simultaneously as they walked towards me and the bridge, I walked towards them. Why do I do so? I can feel the urge to take control of their thoughts, by just passing them. I feel a transition of our roles. As I walked towards the building, I saw a few guys talking in front of me, suggesting to each other about the visiting the nearby pubs. Afterall, it’s a Friday night. Their conversation derives me to them, and I followed them. Where I standing am the famous Singapore Clarke Quay where the later it is, the more exciting it is. As I walked with them along the path, I feel my eyes deriving away to the river again. It is the evening already. The sun rays are hitting the river water like stars on the sky. Just then, the river boat caught my attention. I followed it. The river boat passed the Oat Bridge. I know it is leading me to Clarke Quay. I went under the tunnel to get to the other side. Now, I can see the river boat again. But the river boat is moving too fast, I can still see its sight, but it is moving further from me. Now the lightings in front caught my attention. I know the dazzling lightings in front is where the crowds belong, the Clarke Quay. My eyes drew towards the lights and I walked and walked. Not long after, I reached Liang Court. Now, the lightings are all around me. The heavy metal music of the night is slowly heightening up. I walked on, and the restaurants and pubs are filled with waiting customers to be seated. I can smell the smell of food coming from my left. It is the ‘Hookers’ pub. My eyes derive to the dressing code of the waitress. All of them are wearing tank-top with skimpy shorts. My attention is drawn to them even though I’m a girl. The smell of the food one waitress is carrying in, entices my sense of smell. I suddenly realise I am hungry. I look at my watch. It is 6.05pm.
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