Life's full of surprises. Anything can happen in the next second.
15.12.2014 Monday.
I did not go in to the office on this day, only to have read the news about the siege slightly before noon. It left me with a mixed feeling. Martin Place is where I pass by most if not some of the days on my way to and from work. Would I be one of the hostages if I were at Martin Place this morning? What are the hostages going through right now? What's in the terrorist's mind? When and how would this end?
I felt a tinge of comfort when messages came from people across the state, asking if I am fine. It means a lot to know that I've crossed their mind in times like this. Thanks Jessey, AN and RK. :)
The siege ended with 3 casualties including 1 terrorist.
17.12.2014 Wednesday.
On my way to work, flowers for the siege victims started piling up at Martin Place. People were seen carrying bouquet of flowers into the area. 11 hours later, on my way back from work, the amount of flowers doubled up.
The usual hustle bustle at Martin Place during peak hours has transformed into a rather slow, calm, and peaceful scene - except for a sad cause. People were usually seen fiddling with their phone, looking down on their gadget, talking on the phone or the mate beside them, jaywalking, and dreading the long walk from George to Elizabeth - vice versa. Today, their pace has slowed down, there was no talking, no laughing, no honking, no knocking into another person because 0ne was looking at his phone, no sound of those business shoes 'klik-klok-ing' on the tiles...
I felt quiet, silent, calm, and...sad. The place was scented with smell of fresh flowers. It felt like everyone was at the 'present moment', all having the same feeling, all mourning for the loss of the innocent lives.
23.12.2014 Tuesday
The flowers were removed due to impending bad weather for the coming days.
The usual hustle bustle at Martin Place during peak hours has transformed into a rather slow, calm, and peaceful scene - except for a sad cause. People were usually seen fiddling with their phone, looking down on their gadget, talking on the phone or the mate beside them, jaywalking, and dreading the long walk from George to Elizabeth - vice versa. Today, their pace has slowed down, there was no talking, no laughing, no honking, no knocking into another person because 0ne was looking at his phone, no sound of those business shoes 'klik-klok-ing' on the tiles...
I felt quiet, silent, calm, and...sad. The place was scented with smell of fresh flowers. It felt like everyone was at the 'present moment', all having the same feeling, all mourning for the loss of the innocent lives.
23.12.2014 Tuesday
The flowers were removed due to impending bad weather for the coming days.
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| 17.12.2014 7:44 AM - Flowers piling up at Martin Place |
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| 17.12.2014 6:01 PM - Amount of flowers doubled up |
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| 19.12.2014 - More flowers |
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| 23.12.2014 Flowers removed by volunteers |
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| Notice on the removal of the flowers |
Flowers grow and wither.
What's left is the life lesson for us to not take people around us for granted. Hatred leads us nowhere, be kind whenever possible.
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