Chermaine LooiPhoto Essay
Singaporeans work some of the longest hours in the world’s most developed countries – an average of 46 hours per week. Now, are you even surprised?
According to a survey done by Groningen Growth and Development Centre, 19% of Singaporean workers work more than 11 hours daily, 9% higher than the global average and 5% more than Japan, which took the second spot.
We’re curious after a long, tiring work week, how do Singaporeans then spend their Friday nights? Chermaine Looi spent 2 Fridays out about town to look at how workholic Singaporeans unwind, if at all.
Go on a weekend getaway
On a late Friday afternoon, 47-year-old Florence and her son were embarking on a 3-day shopping trip to Hong Kong. According to Changi Airport, Hong Kong is the second most visited city by Singaporeans as of May 2013. With about 1,000 flights to over 200 different cities available each day, it has become common for Singaporeans to hop by to nearby countries for a weekend getaway after a long week’s worth of work.
Go fly kite
As I approached a young couple for a photo of them flying their colorful kite, 21-year-old Jamie Goh quipped, “Okay but our kite wouldn’t fly!”
Sure enough, 45 minutes went by and Jamie’s boyfriend Kit Kay has tried all means to fly the kite and impress his girlfriend, who by then had retreated to the benches with eyes glued to her mobile phone screen. The 22-year-old young adult ran from one end of the field to the other, tied the string of the kite around his waist and even got the help of another kite flyer.
After repeated futile attempts, they both decided to embrace in each other’s arms instead and watch the sunset.
“Fridays don’t really mean anything special to us. We’re so occupied with work and school that we hardly have time to meet up regularly. But we came today because it’s my birthday. And I’m happy to spend it with her even if this kite wasn’t cooperating,” said an optimistic Kit Kay.
Go enjoy a laser show
1,000 over Singaporeans and tourists alike gathered to watch a spectacular laser show set against the most scenic place in Singapore, the downtown skyline of skyscrapers. While the show is available twice every week night and thrice on weekends, Friday proves to be the most popular timeslot with not a single spot left along the Singapore River in front of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. I had to find an elevated ground to take a photo.
Tan Liping, who works at the nearby Gardens by the Bay, said, “I come to watch this show every Friday night because it feels good to end the week watching something so beautiful like this. It takes my stress away.”
Go sweat it out
The underground link way that connects CityLink Mall to the Esplanade is transformed into a dance studio and skating arena every Friday evening.
Ho Yoke Yin, a member of Team Freestyle Singapore, strutted his skills at an admirable speed that put this camera to shame. To the champion of the Men’s Classic Slalom skating competition, Friday meant the beginning of a long dedicated weekend where he spent up to 5 hours learning and sharing skills with other members of the team in preparation for an upcoming competition in Shanghai.
Go watch a performance at the Esplanade
Melbourne-based Pants Down Circus entertained a 400-strong crowd on a Friday night on their first visit to Singapore. The audience at the outdoor theater at Esplanade collapsed in giggles at their silly antics and clapped in awe at the jaw-dropping acrobatics that included walking on top of a ladder, using a female performer as a jump rope, and as seen in this picture, balancing on 3 cylinders.
Pity that it was only a weekend performance.
Go study
Students Hui Yan and Melissa were spotted studying at Starbucks, even up to the last Friday of the school term. The Nanyang Junior College students insisted that there wasn’t such thing as TGIF during their A-level year. They protested, “No lah, we are not nerds! But once we stop studying during the weekend, it will be hard to catch up.”
Go shop in the heartlands
If you’re looking for cheaper options to spend your Friday night, why not visit one of the night bazaars, more commonly known as pasar malam, that spring about in various parts of Singapore at different times of the year. This night market in Admiralty which I visited was patronised mostly by families living in the vicinity and offered a variety of food, clothing and housing necessities that stretched across the distance of 2 bus stops.
A stall tenant selling finger food, who only wanted to be known as Mr Tan, treasured the Friday evening crowd. He said in Mandarin, “Business is 2 to 3 times better on Fridays and Saturdays as compared to other days. Of course I’m happy!”
Go dance the night away
An array of clubs and pubs along Clarke Quay awaited the more fun-seeking and night life-centric individuals. One of the most popular nightclubs, Zouk Singapore, is also rated the 5th best club in the world.
The rain on this Friday night did not dampen the spirits of the club-goers, as teenagers and young adults waited at a nearby bus stop for the grey clouds to clear. Cassandra, a regular patron of Zouk, described Friday succinctly in one word – havoc.
“We come here every Wednesday and Friday, but of course you know what I mean when I say it gets crazier on Friday right? It’s really a night for me to just enjoy myself and not having to care about work, ” said Cassandra.