A Trip Down Memory Lane

Had dinner at Jalan Kayu today, decided to walk down the road (from the old camp gate) to my old camp, Seletar Camp, after that. As I walked down that long road, I realised that this stretch of road and Jalan Kayu held quite a bit of memories for me

I remembered the first day i was posted to Seletar as a private fresh out of Tekong. I thought to myself then, “Hey, this area is not too bad, looks quite tranquil with the colonial houses and everything”. Of course, life was totally different from that over a 6 months period. Remembered doing 20 push ups in the rain at the car-park the moment I got past the camp gate, haha!

I remembered walking past the colonial houses and wishing I could stay in one like the house below.

I remembered walking along the road and seeing young kids at the driving range, practising their swings, and i toyed with the idea of asking the coaches there to teach me the fundamentals of golfing.

I remembered feeling a sense of excitement, joy and eagerness whenever i saw that road when i booked out, as i would be meeting my friends.

I remembered taking away prata, wanton mee, soy milk and bean-curd from Jalan Kayu for my camp-mates.

I remembered complaining whenever I had to walk the long road out to the bus-stop at the old gate as I wanted to save the bus fare from taking 103 and the sun seemed much brighter than usual.

I remembered running down that stretch of road as I was going to be late for book in, lugging my bag full of tidbits and food, haha!

I remembered brisk-walking up that stretch of road so that I could make it in time for service at Expo after finishing my weekend guard duty because bus 103 just left.

I remembered the time a kind soul stopped his car to give me a lift out to the bus-stop outside, so i did not have to walk the long road out.

And haha, i remembered the time i took the workers’ lorry to the bus-stop outside.

I remembered walking up that stretch of road to meet a very good friend who came to find me, watched her get chased by a Jack Russell Terrier (who’s nicknamed Milo by the way)  and just enjoying her company after  that.

I remembered that one time I went out of Seletar Camp to a ‘place for naughty soldiers’ and seeing that stretch of road after I came out of that place, man, did it feel good. Felt as if I was going home.

And on the day I ORDed, I faced the road again. Knowing that my NS chapter was closed, and boy, did it felt good!   Of course, I didn’t trudged up the road then, my bags were too heavy, took a cab, haha!

I’m looking forward to that road again, it’ll mark a new chapter in my life, my first Reservist training in June. Another set of new memories.

Its amazing what memories 1 year and 9 months can bring, or maybe, I’m just being sentimental. Either way, I’ll see you soon Piccadilly Road