Football And Food Culture in Singapore
Taking you on an introspective photo tour
Personal essay
Football And Food Culture in Singapore
Taking you on an introspective photo tour
photo by author
I have a buzzing low key anxiety all the time. I attempt to write to clear my mind and perhaps in the process I can feel lighter.
I am relieved that it’s Monday, meaning we don’t have to jostle with the weekend crowd.
But there’s the office crowd. They start emerging at around noon and only start dispersing at 1.45pm.
Still, I feel a lot more stressed out on the weekend as that’s when you truly feel you live in a seriously overpopulated place. On the bright side, in terms of safety, you’ll never truly be alone, even at odd hours.
We went to an old mall called Ang Mo Kio Hub, we don’t usually frequent. Just needed a change of scene. The purpose always is to get in our steps in air conditioned comfort but constantly walking through the same space, can make it mind numbingly boring. We tend to go to places with the cheapest parking.
There was a food festival of sorts called Kick Off Food Fest with stalls set up at basement level. Those in marketing must have thought let’s not let the soccer World Cup fever go to waste. Things are often commercialised like this in Singapore. Perhaps some do buy food to take away for home soccer watch parties.
photo by author
World Cup 2026: Norwegian Striker Haaland Has Taken the Internet By Storm
I am not a true soccer fan but have been captivated by the Norwegian player Haaland who has taken social media by storm. Both my partner and nephew are slightly baffled. My nieces don’t seem interested at all in soccer. So yeah, that’s life currently.
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It’s his unusual gentle giant childlike demeanour and humility that has won people over. Many clips show him being nice to children, his wife and just people in general. For that reason I changed allegiance to root for Norway to win, and am sad they didn’t get into the semi finals.
Currently the teams in the semi finals are France, Spain, England and Argentina. All the matches will be at 3am Singapore time.
France will play Spain on Wednesday, 15 July (Texas)
England will play Argentina on Thursday, 16 July (Georgia)
The finals will be on Monday 20 July (New Jersey)
Haaland did well scoring 7 goals in previous matches, but in the crucial quarter finals match no one in his own team seemed to be passing the ball to him which goes to show that in football only a team effort counts. It’s not an individualistic game although some stars emerge.
Currently I am hoping the team my partner is supporting will win and that’s England. He has watched the Premier League all his life and has been a fan of Manchester United. To me it seems weird that in Singapore, the men especially, are so passionate about English soccer. Could it be our colonial heritage?
Most support one of these three teams (Liverpool, Manchester United or Arsenal) and they buy the jerseys and watch the matches live on tv.
When I was in a girls’ secondary school I was surprised when two of my classmates argued over soccer. One supported Liverpool and the other Manchester United. I thought they were being so silly.
But perhaps now I get how you can become a fan. It definitely adds some joy and humour to life and it’s good to know a bit more about the sport my partner and nephews are pretty crazy about.
I never knew the Norwegian striker Haaland was a player in Manchester City so I may have to start supporting that team, to my partner’s and nephews’ horror. They are rivals to my partner’s as well as nephews’ chosen team. They seemed upset by their team’s bad performance lately and that Manchester City beat them to get to the top of the English Premiere league one time. I don’t really keep track of it all. I just know based on what they tell me.
I Welcome Rain But Not the Crazy Crowds
Yesterday it rained and with the focus on the raindrops on the windscreen I liked how the background looks almost misty.
photo by author
We tried out this Japanese restaurant for the first time although it’s been around for years.
The mall called Vivocity was so crowded you were constantly trying to avoid people but it was impossible. Not surprising as it was a Sunday. It’s much more pleasant everywhere on the weekdays before lunch hour.
I saw people swiping and tapping on their phones and crowding in certain areas so u realised it was a Pokemon Go event. They truly all looked like zombies. I was one of them when the game was first introduced and super popular a decade ago. Now I’d rather spend my time on Duolingo. At least I’m learning a language no matter how slow it has been.
Often population density alone tires you out. The swerving to avoid the throngs. The harsh sound of our local accents all mingled together. Screaming children and even louder parents. But to stay home would mean being sedentary which is not good.
After we queued up at the restaurant called Aburi-en which specialises in Japanese grilled meats especially pork. It was a relief to get a seat and with the illusion now of being away from the throngs of people. By the time we sat people had finished their lunch and were leaving.
photo by author
We have been passing by this chain of restaurants for some time but have yet to try it. This particular outlet opened in December 2018 and it’s taken us almost 8 years to finally check it out.
We have always noticed the pig lanterns as they specialise in roasted pork rice here called donburi (rice bowls).
The meat was a bit on the hard dry side but that’s because it’s very lean and I guess healthier than other cuts like pork belly.
I was trying to eat some red meat on purpose as I suspect I may have an iron deficiency as I hardly eat meat. Been super fatigued lately and wondered if it was more than just long term effects of chemo, early menopause and being in my mid fifties.
I hardly eat rice either as I’m trying to avoid food that spikes my insulin but it was such a comfort to have the Japanese rice after such a long period of abstinence.
I always need to have Japanese chilli powder added to it or it would be too bland for me. I have a need for spice. My mum got me to appreciate it as far back as I can recall. I have never complained that something was too spicy ever. I love it so much.
If not for food, life would a lot more boring here. In Singapore our food culture is what sustains and unites us the most as a multicultural non homogenous country. So it’s both food and soccer that are big here.
Even shopping seems to have moved online with many stores having closing down sales or with head quarters moving to KL in Malaysia instead. This is why food kiosks, cafes and restaurants tend to be dominant at our malls.
I Constantly Crave for Cool Weather And Nature
Honestly I would prefer if the weather was kind enough for nature to play a bigger role. Nature is what makes me feel most at peace.
For indoor activities it would involve literature, good tv and film. I also enjoy board games that are more like ice breakers or perhaps luck rather than strategy, but not much of a chance to gather and play these days. I’m not obsessed with winning, I just enjoy the laughter that emerges as we play. It’s fun that some are keen to win though as it adds to the element of excitement.
What about in your country? What predominates in terms of culture?
Grateful for the stories you share at TIMOC
I am so happy that we have 1112 followers at TIMOC currently.
Some recent stories about the unique culture and life in your country, that have captivated me. I wouldn’t have such great insight if not for these incredible heartfelt stories.
[embed]Eggs on Sundays What one euro can’t buymedium.com
[embed]Rainbow Connection Seattle Pride Parade 2026medium.com
[embed]Humanity: One Ride at a Time Little Angels in the Concrete Junglemedium.com
[embed]How I Recovered From Jet Lag Returned to normal life in Singaporemedium.com
I am learning so much about your unique heritage.
And how I wish I could teleport to where you are. Oh the beauty.
[embed]The Most Copied Church in the World St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, Londonmedium.com
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