That's a Nice Camera...& retro Britain
...said a
bloke and his girlfriend (not the couple next to me in the pic) from Brazil(the girl's name is Pruna...forgot the bloke's name though...ahem)
whilst I was sitting and sipping a mocha at the cafe in the background.(the
roofed building on the right.) They are here on a working visa or something and he was hoping to become a pro photographer. We chatted for a while - in the course of which I introduced him to vox to host his photographs. Anyway, I never say, 'Thank you', when
anyone exclaims, "hey, nice camera/lens", since just about anyone with the money or inclination would
be able to acquire one. The credit goes to Nikon. So my usual
response is, "yeah, Nikon is quite good with cameras/lenses". Anyway, I got more
than a few looks whilst there. The eastern europeans were especially
blatant in their looks. And more than a few could be seen constantly looking at me and chattering away about the bald monstrosity seated a fag-flick away. Then there was this one bloke of w.european origins, with a few
bulky lenses, and who looked as if he was a 'pro', who came up to me and asked if
he could take a few shots of me. Perhaps I should set up a booth with a
sign 'unofficial tourist attraction'. Well, being an unashamed exhibitionistic slut, I agreed, and he proceeded to adopt a few
'pro poses' as he began to fire away at me through the gaping eye of his camera whilst I couldn't help wondering which seedy
magazine I might be featured in. Hmm...so that's how models feel. Hard work huh. Yeah right! Anyway, that frequently happens in singapore too, especially with tourists from China. I
think I ought to be funded by the STPB (singapore tourist promotion board)
to keep me bald, shiny and new.
What I find
refreshing is the absence of laughter from observers (except some eastern
europeans) - which is a frequent occurrence in singapore (people whom are
unaccustomed to difference, or the mindless fad-imbibing variety who only value
individuality when it is fronted by pop-stars/actors/'whites, tend to do that). As for the reaction of the general observable and observing British public, I only get interested looks - and the girls tend to react very 'positively' too;). No, as I said earlier, I don't get any ego-boosts from it. The difference in reactions between singapore and the UK is most interesting though. What I always found most interesting is that being moi-self in singapore and the UK elicits diametrically opposite reactions and consequences. Here in the UK, I'm generally perceived by my acquaintances and people-i-just-met as 'confident', 'interesting', 'intelligent', whereas in 'good' ole singapore, i'm perceived as 'arrogant', 'boring' and 'talk/think too much'. I get good reception in terms of customer service at pubs, restaurants, members of the general public, etc, etc, whilst it is the inverse in singapore. In singapore, i'm generally ignored or laughed at, whilst here, i'm looked/smiled at and served most politely. Most interesting...sociologically speaking.
All in all, as it was back in the 90s when I was studying here, I'd say that civility, difference, personality, and intelligence are quite valued social commodities. I always get a sense that the people here in the UK are quite 'retro' (70s, 80s) in their perspectives. Listening to 80s music here doesn't seem to be an out-of-place thing to do here - as it is in singapore. Hey! They still play 80s stuff in some pubs here! The perspectival climate and the music, methinks, are quite congruent bedfellows. Many i've encountered or observed on the telly, ads, etc, still exhibit vibrancy, curiosity in the face of novelty, openness to ideas, and the critical spirit reminiscent of 'retro'-years - where much of the world is fast becoming little more than hologrammatic projections of american-powered billboards. I won't say that there aren't disconcerting and increasing instances of americanisation here. But, thankfully, it is not at quick a pace as it is back 'home' and other countries I have hung out in.
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