Fog, smog, or haze

Fog : noun

Condensed water vapor in cloudlike masses lying close to the ground and limiting visibility.

I always have romantic visions of fog.

This was especially so when I spend a winter in London with my wife during our courtship days. It was cool and refreshing at the same time. Sure it may detered vision and at times block the scenery, but nonetheless, taking a stroll on a foggy day or night with your love one clinging close will be a romantic gesture I can tick off my list. The memory of eating fish and chips with the London eye half covered by the FOG at the background still lingers in my memories.

Ahh.. If only we have the same FOG back home.

Smog : noun (Reference : Google Search)

A form of air pollution produced by the photochemical reaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides that have been released into the atmosphere, especially by automotive emissions.

Recent years during my trips to Jakarta , another smokey encounter happened. This time there was no wife beside me but the company of the local taxi driver. After spending 1 hour on the road just to travel 1 km. you exit the taxi to the smell of petroleum fumes. It is best you don't take a deep breath and head for the entrance of the building in a jiffy. If you look out of the hotel window in the city center, you would notice the city is clothe in grey hues, 50 shades of them. Colour is a rare sight with the air polluted by the over populated car and motor vehicles. No sane tourist walks on the street even though the building is across the street. This is SMOG at is best. 

Thank goodness we had COE I thought. An expensive thought, but clean air comes at a price.

Haze : noun
A slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles from fires

Remembering my encounter with FOG, I secretly wish we could experience the same in Singapore. Alas , sometimes you have to be careful of what you wish for. Instead of a cool FOG, we have the heated Haze. One that blinds you on sight , burns your throats and set your mood to a mixture of anger , fear, disgust and sadness. Joy is nowhere to be found.

I hate the Haze, it makes me sick, at least for the past 2 weeks. It is harmful to my family especially my young boys. It restrict us to what we can do over the weekend. Let's not mention the soaring electricity bills because of AC and the visits to the doctor for a constant scratchy throat. The possibility of school closure also terrifies me, especially when my leave days are left to what you can count with one hand.

Nontheless, I have to be thankful for the 11 months of fresh crisp air the forest of Indonesia provided for our little red spot.. For now I guess we just have to suck it up and bear with it. Life goes on, haze or no haze.

Damn. Give me back the clear blues skies!