#Bugiis Markets

[paisleycollabz]

Day 1 – Arrival

Today would be the 7th of June, where participants of this study program would arrive. For me, it was merely a free day, since I arrived early. I spent most of the day in my room working on some stuff for a different unit at uni and some stuff pertaining to this study program, prior to arrival. It was a small task was given to us and that, from what I could recall or to my understanding during the trip briefing, was to think about and come up with some ideas based on the subject of healthy aging, prolonging a positive life.

For me, I had an immediate idea formed from thinking about the climate of Singapore and its gardens and a personal love for plants, specifically orchids. The idea also ties with how to keep the aging engaged with something and nurturing a living thing, I believe, is engaging whilst developing sense of mindfulness and satisfaction. Gardening simply!

However, there are a few factors that may interfere and these include the likeliness of impeded physical movement, residential living space and lifestyle implementation upon a garden bed. Taking these into consideration, it would be simple solution of ‘Let’s grow and pot plant’ because its compact and portable but that’s dependent on the pot size and is a tad messy due to the need for soil. My ideal solution is to replace that pot plant with…wait for it…..an orchid!!

An orchid!!The Singaporean national flower is an orchid and one can find orchids nearly everywhere in Singapore.

(Source - Vanda Miss Joaquim)

The Singaporean climate is perfect for the plant to thrive in and the plant doesn’t grow in soil but rather a chunky bark or airy medium, which is light weight and not very messy, and the climate accommodates a better chance survival for the plant so it won’t die so easily.

Touching on that, the plant comes with its own little challenges, which is engaging both physically and theoretically and comes with a splendid reward of blooms that last for weeks.

Summing it, it’s a orchid growing kit but as a engaging ‘product’ for the aging. Personally, I find growing orchids therapeutic and a bit more challenging to grow given the Australian climate but in Singapore, it would be quiet easy and the orchid plant is compact and light weight.    

In the evening, I took a walk to explore the ‘Bugis Markets’. I just love getting lost on that place XD