Saturday, February 09, 2013

Then and Now – Lim Chu Kang Jetty


The first time I visited Lim Chu Kang Jetty was on 29 November 1969. My friend Simon Chu and I had cycled to this place from my home in Lorong Kinchir, off Lorong Chuan. We started at 8.30 in the morning and arrived at this jetty at around noon time where we rested and had lunch. I took 2 photos of this place.



This bicycle trip was a memorable experience. In fact, it was the first thing I wrote about when I started this blog. I have also included it towards the end of my book Good Morning Yesterday as I rounded up my memories of growing up in Singapore in the 1950s and 1960s. Here is an excerpt from page 182. It summarizes my thoughts about the places that we saw that day, and the Singapore that I dearly miss.

“It was indeed a memorable trip. We were pretty proud of our achievement. Today my friend has migrated to Scotland but we still remember fondly that arduous bicycle trip that we took more than four decades ago. I miss the places we saw that day. The landscape was very very different. I wish our children could enjoy such a bicycle ride and see the rural landscapes that once covered much of Singapore.”

Recently I visited this Lim Chu Kang jetty with my wife and my friends Peter Chan and James Tann. Below are two photos taken that day.



2 comments:

korina said...

Hi Chun See. It's Paul Warner again. Interesting piece on Lim Chu Kang - as are all the articles.
However, what has just crossed my mind in this. Why are three major roads in Singapore called Chu Kang?
There is Lim Chu Kang, Choa Chu Kang and Yio Chu Kang, which I know well. Does Chu Kang mean something in Chinese? Just curious.
Regards,
Paul

Lam Chun See said...

Glad that you asked. My friend James Tann has in fact given a very informative and interesting explanation here. Many Sporeans, including myself never knew this.