You know, so rare it is that I'm here at Bedok Central on an early weekday morning that I have to take pictures.
To many people this area might seem regular, common, a route that they take every day.
To me, however, there's something unique, and special, about being here on a morning, a weekday, this early.
Perhaps it might be that the crowds haven't come in yet.
Perhaps it might be that the early morning wave has disappeared to their offices and factories and places of work, and here I am, between the first wave and the second wave, gazing gratefully out at a space that, in an hour or two, be filled with homemakers, senior citizens, food delivery riders, and general population making their way here to Bedok Central for whatever it is they hope, and plan to do.
Don't laugh, but over the years I've come to genuinely like this place.
Not only is there the element of space between the shops of one block and the other, there is also the plethora of bubble tea shops, bakeries, coffee shops, supermarkets and the library.
So, some of us might think bubble tea shops unimportant, and maybe they're not as essential as a coffee shop or a clinic, but they bring an element of color and cheer and it's always a pleasant sight to see posters advertising their newest concoction of brand new drinks.
Same goes too for the bakeries.
I was surprised by the number of 'hood bakeries there were in this place.
(After Breadtalk) most town centers now only have about one or two.
Here, however, there were at least four, with two seemingly the most popular, and the other with their own following of fans- homemakers, elderly and the working crowd alike.
Bread, and buns are probably a much loved snack this part of the neighborhood. Maybe it because there're a good number of elderly all whom love the ease of favorite fillings already inside their breads. Maybe it also because of the presence of factories in close proximity nearby. It has been said that shift workers on graveyard hours like to snack on delicious smooth-skinned shiny buns with various fillings during their break.
I wish I had gotten a few packets of these buns.
They had the most interesting fillings.
If the popular ones were red bean and kaya and curry and tuna and sardine and cream, in recent times there were buns with more unusual breads and fillings like taro, pumpkin and even more varieties of cream.
So popular are the bakeries here at Bedok Central that you cannot go past a particular block without seeing one.
Not only might there be one or two in one block, even at the bus interchange- on both ends- whether you be going towards the back, or at the front heading out- there's one on each side.
The highlight of Bedok Central, however, has to be the supermarkets.
Seldom is it, I tell you, that town centers have not just one, but three supermarkets all within a 5 minute walking distance of each other. It would be no surprise to find two supermarkets close by (we locals like our groceries) but here there're three.
In the mall there is Fairprice Finest.
Outside, in the town center itself, a short walk away from where I'm seated here on this early morning, is the regular NTUC (2-storeys) and behind, on my left side, after the hawker center, is Sheng Siong, also a 2-storeyed affair, all of which have literally all the groceries you can need, and find.
Best, the NTUC, and the Sheng Siong both, are 24 hour.
Maybe for the graveyard shift worker, maybe for the hungry one coming here to wait before heading to the airport, I don't know, but a well-stocked supermarket open day and night is a magnificent draw to everyone else too.
Coming here to Bedok the first thing that strikes me is the wideness of space they have. It's not difficult for people to move about, whether they be outside under the open air, or under the five foot walkway that is often filled with people making their way in all directions to and fro. It's like, you can decide to squeeze, you can decide otherwise.
The routes are generally straightforward, no cross-traffic, no needing to swerve and siam this person or that person.
Amongst the shops there're a good number of hair salons, clinics and heartland shops that sell household barang barang and simple clothes and stuff that you don't usually look for but occasionally will need.
I always look out for the medical hall at the corner- their signboard is yellow, they carry a huge host of skincare and toiletries, and the fragrant scent of boiling-over herbal tea eggs always gets to me.
On the opposite side, in direct contrast to the medical hall, is the fruit shop which attracts buyers with their gorgeous price and heart-thumping techno. Their variety of fruits are not to be missed out, so it seems, and at any time one gets to see customers choosing boxes of grapes, rambutans, mangoes, oranges, pears, even kiwis and durian.
But perhaps the anchor of Bedok Central (to me) is the library.
I tend to gravitate there whenever I'm in the area, even if I happen not to have time, even if I happen not to be able to drop in for a read or a borrow.
I actually get pensive when I don't get to visit the library.
Of course, that doesn't mean it's the same anchor for everyone.
To someone it might be the hawker center near the main road opposite the bus interchange, well known for breakfast foods, lunch and dinner.
To someone else however, it might be the other hawker center that also serves as a wet market and is closer to Bedok North Road.
I've so far only written about one side of Bedok Central.
There are, in fact other sides, like on the other end, where there is an Arnold's, famous for its signature fried chicken, coleslaw and mashed potato.
I guess Bedok Central means different things to different people.
Very soon I will be missing this place, but hopefully there might be opportunities for more occasions, happier occasions, and maybe even more times, to come those days.