Ah-Ma represents the past. She still keeps chickens in the garden, practices the traditional cultural norms and speak Cantonese with her family members. she yearns to see Tanjong Rhu, which she remembers fondly and in great detail.

Mr Li belongs to the present. He does not pray to his ancestors, speaks English with everyone except for hir mother and can barely remember his childhood in Tanjong Rhu.

This themes is further illustrated in the scene at the office where each character is looking through the binoculars- Mr Li sees the ships at the harbour (presents) while Ah-Ma "sees" the port of Tanjong Rhu when they used to live there (past).

However, upon his mother's death, Mr Li realises that he misses his childhood and wishes that he could remember it more clearly.