The first photo; in black and white, is the original wayang stage. It shows a side view. The lady in the photo was a visitor to Eng Leong’s house. This was probably in the early 1970s.
The second photo – the colour one - was taken in the late 1970s, a few years after my family had moved out. It shows a front view. If you look closely, you will see that there are actually 2 wayang stages; one in front and one behind. The one in front is actually a temporary makeshift stage, whilst the one behind was the original wayang stage. What happened was that the original, permanent structure was damaged. The kampong folks probably did not want to spend money to repair it as our kampong land had already been acquired by the government, and they would have to move out soon. So they constructed a temporary one.
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But actually the land lay vacant for many years before the government finally constructed the Central Expressway over it. During those years, whenever I drove past Lorong Chuan and saw our former kampong land lying idle, I could not help feeling some resentment against our government. Still things worked out well, and the rest, as they say, is history.
For more stories about the wayang activities in my kampong, please read my book, Good Morning Yesterday; Growing up in Singapore in the 1950s and 1960s (chapter 4). Available in major bookstores at only $18.65.
11 comments:
the past....
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Chun See, where exactly was your kampong in today's context? If the CTE is over it, it would be before the bend of Lorong Kinchir to the west. Before the bend (after Stamford American Int School) the road aligned north-west.
In the case of my kampong, we were evicted in the late 80s, its been 25 years now but the land where it was sited was left to fallow even till now. A whole new generation could have grown up there. Had they not destroyed the old estate, it would have been a heritage site today. Wonder what they were thinking then?
James Tann, where is your kampong?
OK Icemoon. You open up your Google Map and follow my explanation.
First. Notice the stretch from Braddell Rd to the sharp bend. Lets call this part Section A. This stretch runs parallel to CTE. Before Lor Chuan as constructed (approx 1963), this was part of Chui Arm Lor. It was a dirt track. It continues straight after the bend (the rest of Lor Chuan non-existent at that time), and crosses the Kallang River (tributary) then it passes my house on the left side, and the row of shops (see photo on top of this blog) across the road. Distance from my house to this bend, maybe 300-400 m. This dirt track continues all the way until Upper Thomson Rd. Exactl route, I do not know. I only know the other end is near where present Kallang River crosses Upp Thomson Rd.
After 1963, when Lor Chuan was constructed to join to Serangoon Gardens, Section A becomes part of Lor Chuan. Chu Arm Lor is now called Lor Kinchir, and it starts from the bend; instead of from Braddell Road. At the same time, another section at right angle to it, just opposite my house, next to Shop #4, also joins to Lorong Chuan after the bend. It joins Lor Chuan just before the St Gabriel’s Pr School. This short stretch is also called Lor Kinchir.
Exactly where is the boundary of “my kampong”, I myself has no idea.
Can you follow? I should have provided a sketch in my book.
The Kallang River tributary is still there but as a drain, you can see it in google aerial. If your house is on CTE, it would be before Lorong Kinchir bends to the left and then skirts around a ridge that is AMK Ave 1 today. Many rubber trees on the slope to the north of your kampung, am I correct?
Actually, I never tried to work out where exactly where my house would be on today's map. In my book, I said that as you turned from AMK Ave 1 into CTE towards Braddell Rd, you would see a patch of land on your left. This was where I lived.
But now that you raised this question of the exact location of my house, I would say that it was near the Australian International School. If I can see the bus stop where my dog Nappie was knocked down in Gooogle map, then I would probably able to pin-point my house's exact location.
You are right that north of my house, there were many rubber trees. Around that area, the road bends to the left and heads towards Upp Thomson Rd. probably cutting through CTE, Bishan MRT Depot and Bishan Parks. It was probably near to today's Kallang River because this road was also called Kau Tiaw Kio, meaning there wer 9 bridges where it crossed Kallang River and its tributaries.
To the right, in the NE direction was the Chong Boon Primary School. There used to be a deserted track that could lead to Serangoon Gardens; but it was difficult even to cycle on that path. Narrow and hilly.
BTW, I cannot see the drain you mentioned.
The drain is here. But this would not be the tributary you crossed since it is after the American School. This might be one of those nine crossings of Lorong Kinchir over the Kallang River.
Icemoon. James Tann's kampong was at Princess Elizabeth Estate. James and his PEE neighbours posted an unbelievable 281 comments to an article written by my friend Chuck Hio here.
James has subsequently started a new blog devoted entirely to PEE. See link on right side.
I don’t have one single photo of Chequers, nor can I find anything on the Internet. It would be interesting to see it today, and to see if any of the original building has been preserved.
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