Droplets of Wisdom

Today, I'm trying out this new kopitiam in my neighbourhood. Over the past 2 decades, I've seen many neo-kopitiams sprout up everywhere. They usually try to provide the comforts of a Western cafe like Starbucks, but serve local Malaysian fare like nasi lemak, kaya toast and half-boiled eggs. 

The traditional Chinese kopitiams of old are quite charming but they are rather uncomfortable places. There's no air-conditioning, and the hygiene standards are questionable. Their saving grace is that, they serve excellent hawker food at very reasonable prices. The regular Nanyang-style cuppa in these establishments has never been surpassed.

The one that I'm patronising today is not air-conditioned but it aspires to be slightly above the traditional ones. The selection of food available is not as appetising but I'm alright with that. I just need a clean and quiet place to read and write (reminiscent of Hemingway's Clean, Well-Lighted Place).

This is what I do too whenever I visit a new place. I'm not one who's interested in shuttling from one tourist attraction to another, gawking at beaches and bird-pooped statues. I much prefer to loiter in the streets, absorbing the vibes of the city and sitting at the local cafes, observing how ordinary people lead their lives.

I munched on my toast and sipped my milk tea while writing these lines today, with my battered but trusty Oppo (a free contract phone from Maxis) providing data connection, for me to roam the far reaches of cyberspace. 

I've written a lot of software from cafes, usually in places like Starbucks and CoffeeBean. The advantage of working in public places is that you are not too comfortable. That's a good thing. You can't put up your feet on the table or work in your pyjamas, which you would have been tempted to do at home.  In a public place, you simply create your own island of concentration, by 'blurring out' everyone else. You become an anonymous individual in a world of strangers and the only thing that you could do is: work.

Each work session of mine usually lasted 3 hours. I would take a short break after 3 hours, sometimes by moving to a different cafe. If I could put in three 3-hour sessions of work everyday, that would be considered a very productive day. 

These days, I don't do software projects, so I don't have that kind of work routine anymore.  When I was a freelance worker, I disliked weekends because my favourite cafes would be too crowded and I would welcome the arrival of Monday, when everyone will be sucked back into their offices.

My current work-from-home job is a holdover from the pandemic days. I could theoretically work from cafes too but unfortunately I have to join too many online meetings, which require more quiet surroundings. I've learned to lead a more 'normal' routine now, where work is strictly reserved for weekdays only. 

Weekends are for precious moments like this, where I get to reflect and write rambling articles on my blog. I love these weekly rhythms of work and rejuvenation. After this I'll write a page or two in longhand in my journal, with my favourite fountain pen, distilling the experiences of the week. And hopefully, some droplets of wisdom get spilled on these pages.