tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167609362024-03-19T17:15:54.912+08:00Good Morning Yesterday"Good morning yesterday. You wake up, and time has slipped away. And suddenly it's hard to find, the memories you left behind. Remember. Do you remember?" - Paul Anka, Times of Your LifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger760125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-20520816491408983722023-12-10T22:23:00.003+08:002023-12-10T22:29:39.080+08:00Remembering Liu San Jie (刘三姐) the movie<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Do you remember that immensely popular 60s movie </span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: DengXian; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">刘三姐</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">? Besides the enchanting music (</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: DengXian; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">山歌</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">), what else do you recall about this
movie? For me, it is the beautiful scenery.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Recently, I
was able to relish the beautiful waters and mountains seen in the movie for
myself when I visited Guilin with my family. At the town called Yangshuo (</span><b><span lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: DengXian; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">阳</span><span face=""Microsoft YaHei",sans-serif" lang="ZH-CN" style="background: white; color: #202122; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft YaHei"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">朔</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;">), we were treated to a
spectacular show titled Impression Liu San Jie. Choreographed by the famous
director Zhang Yimou, the show involves some 600 performers, and is held at the
confluence of the Yulong (</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: DengXian; line-height: 107%;">遇龙</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">) and Li (</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: DengXian; line-height: 107%;">璃江</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">) rivers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tv_Heg0Riah0sidY7XqvyL0JIYl1jK20GJfj9EyMkAJgBs8doGSlnMOX_qk4yjCOo42eIJ12bsMJfs0GsCIrDO8c7pP7SLVpTwwz05GZ_1yaDJGAscslG_LWakJ88EJ32a7F9ey7JXxjrZOMRQ58zSuwQww-J5NMqdwzQX1uLE8KNMF7cqcF/s4000/20231109_151730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tv_Heg0Riah0sidY7XqvyL0JIYl1jK20GJfj9EyMkAJgBs8doGSlnMOX_qk4yjCOo42eIJ12bsMJfs0GsCIrDO8c7pP7SLVpTwwz05GZ_1yaDJGAscslG_LWakJ88EJ32a7F9ey7JXxjrZOMRQ58zSuwQww-J5NMqdwzQX1uLE8KNMF7cqcF/s320/20231109_151730.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Took this picture enroute back to Guilin from Yangshuo</b></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8pQ2xuu3kAvxsmGFacBQ8mx9NYyPy_pmT4k47EUQ_ZBB8YVbNx8Wn7lKEIZFApUA2D1hGGz6AEaHt-YjVMy0aTisoW9nfEgzpioc3v8mRziIsBJhYYmVhm4WHaqb1PlJqO7unzmVbfrBpMYSy546MED94d88i_ab8msBwoY6thozvMuhKwEs/s2400/IMG_2395.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8pQ2xuu3kAvxsmGFacBQ8mx9NYyPy_pmT4k47EUQ_ZBB8YVbNx8Wn7lKEIZFApUA2D1hGGz6AEaHt-YjVMy0aTisoW9nfEgzpioc3v8mRziIsBJhYYmVhm4WHaqb1PlJqO7unzmVbfrBpMYSy546MED94d88i_ab8msBwoY6thozvMuhKwEs/s320/IMG_2395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr93NQwHAFiC_7sBs_zaQoZEFBY7dJZgM-K9-IvAwC6OZuey9QzG_7xkkAyhfCJTYcutdoKLSuNn-jHRID2nYfWCIdUttwqY6MAZGGnswe-tDRJqxjakhHs_6tqrINut8cPY8N-_IB0n1JmS32_GxSDzxvkTxKBibeUFR8LsXyC6iix2KYTmH/s5472/Li%20Jiang%20River%20Cruise.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr93NQwHAFiC_7sBs_zaQoZEFBY7dJZgM-K9-IvAwC6OZuey9QzG_7xkkAyhfCJTYcutdoKLSuNn-jHRID2nYfWCIdUttwqY6MAZGGnswe-tDRJqxjakhHs_6tqrINut8cPY8N-_IB0n1JmS32_GxSDzxvkTxKBibeUFR8LsXyC6iix2KYTmH/s320/Li%20Jiang%20River%20Cruise.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>This is during the Li River Cruise (漓江) from Guilin to Yangshuo</b></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-eeIdh7kCm98XH7Pur0oJQyIRH2kjk6wbh6xQEjahRIBkFRfsg3XrRtRz9BV86K4XStPMa26xp1jCxoZ0I0TMUaejcUs7RTZ5wHuKtsBYsA6-7ileLJlsdNbVnlDvlFwy8rs13FzUNqwsGvnCfpUaG3DEHJMYpGxGQIyaHlNlbnQHVWfIJZt/s4000/Liu%20San%20Jie%20%20show.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-eeIdh7kCm98XH7Pur0oJQyIRH2kjk6wbh6xQEjahRIBkFRfsg3XrRtRz9BV86K4XStPMa26xp1jCxoZ0I0TMUaejcUs7RTZ5wHuKtsBYsA6-7ileLJlsdNbVnlDvlFwy8rs13FzUNqwsGvnCfpUaG3DEHJMYpGxGQIyaHlNlbnQHVWfIJZt/s320/Liu%20San%20Jie%20%20show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>This is the backdrop of the Impression Liu Sanjie (刘三姐) Night Show</b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1F459GZZEk9EmGkg4sxeKyPdgPSfVDE0e_q7mTV_oHqXOA6cWs9_SSOBkLcGqAG7XfrLTo8WQE3nWnJbkaAKgf9n1oehvB2pgVokwGj6qtxmHj-EU5IPj4jZQj9YBkN6ysPAkLp8HZxEGpZ8NXervkNe9AHjV3v3TMsPwclahZqOUnYuXQOZ/s4000/Longji%20Rice%20Terrace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1F459GZZEk9EmGkg4sxeKyPdgPSfVDE0e_q7mTV_oHqXOA6cWs9_SSOBkLcGqAG7XfrLTo8WQE3nWnJbkaAKgf9n1oehvB2pgVokwGj6qtxmHj-EU5IPj4jZQj9YBkN6ysPAkLp8HZxEGpZ8NXervkNe9AHjV3v3TMsPwclahZqOUnYuXQOZ/s320/Longji%20Rice%20Terrace.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-oc2KpkW360x0radX2CJN5A7tnRlgdrlq2YPCBjCimxax7MiJaAy7Hoxo-W4Y3abg_TRNiscul5xm_9uG5AlkGHgQeqGPYC-E-HEKTcBlExQypoHwENv6Hz1Erg7Oun05SrmTWTugP3XfAlJJTRbYh3LsM4SnG-FUW4SIWvXchyphenhyphenHw0Lsg13u/s2400/Near%20Moondance%20Hotel.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-oc2KpkW360x0radX2CJN5A7tnRlgdrlq2YPCBjCimxax7MiJaAy7Hoxo-W4Y3abg_TRNiscul5xm_9uG5AlkGHgQeqGPYC-E-HEKTcBlExQypoHwENv6Hz1Erg7Oun05SrmTWTugP3XfAlJJTRbYh3LsM4SnG-FUW4SIWvXchyphenhyphenHw0Lsg13u/s320/Near%20Moondance%20Hotel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>This is near our hotel in called Moondance Hotel in Yangshuo.</b></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_Ol4LXAP0Bv5H4MWy0vGfqSvm0se55yTVwBxpQelWbyNNoQ0_hbug0_jbeLITbqRAd_DQls32iJcIYtvYVEBK4a4kM-neUoHyCEOnOauAEcIPom3V7dzW2g4NamQ-lYmaAxtbj2xH5IDvLKy4WYa9LobpxQxU8xdKqm8rcwSl2dRkgX_Txfl/s4000/Yulong%20River%20Rafting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_Ol4LXAP0Bv5H4MWy0vGfqSvm0se55yTVwBxpQelWbyNNoQ0_hbug0_jbeLITbqRAd_DQls32iJcIYtvYVEBK4a4kM-neUoHyCEOnOauAEcIPom3V7dzW2g4NamQ-lYmaAxtbj2xH5IDvLKy4WYa9LobpxQxU8xdKqm8rcwSl2dRkgX_Txfl/s320/Yulong%20River%20Rafting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>This is the river rafting that I was not allowed to join because I exceeded the age limit of 70</b></span></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> years.</b></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcut4P1WjvZRRZv3-OawtYqIIdZDEncOlG4jsjI7ZHozDtkWYRK7ZqYl8TxfqJpO3WqpByK63MeQ9KyoYwNWkoQ0cLqttfDmzmW8eCb6PMbQhhOUopqoaixF7CQxnvX0hpvdW2DRPZ0pjUJO8f9lYkPxFtZexKBXURl-0cNe3bnBbA6EKC7r2Q/s4000/Yulong%20River.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcut4P1WjvZRRZv3-OawtYqIIdZDEncOlG4jsjI7ZHozDtkWYRK7ZqYl8TxfqJpO3WqpByK63MeQ9KyoYwNWkoQ0cLqttfDmzmW8eCb6PMbQhhOUopqoaixF7CQxnvX0hpvdW2DRPZ0pjUJO8f9lYkPxFtZexKBXURl-0cNe3bnBbA6EKC7r2Q/s320/Yulong%20River.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-47146769853873199732018-07-12T17:48:00.000+08:002018-07-12T17:48:30.456+08:00Interviewed for a school project<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday, I presented a copy of my book to this poly student, Aisyah
who interviewed me about Gillman Barracks for her assignment. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBfxKw-UBmGe6hIE0xH6tZurp3NIc5MZYUCNqK2TGXKvpBkdc9JdqX4hMqZItKwS5OwfMp_Et33VbS3Kq5tjqxwC46_Gg8RssWEKgs-6xF1usDhBnBdbVEv3anDKX6gYXTekB/s1600/%25282018-07-12%2529+With+Aisyah+at+Gillman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBfxKw-UBmGe6hIE0xH6tZurp3NIc5MZYUCNqK2TGXKvpBkdc9JdqX4hMqZItKwS5OwfMp_Et33VbS3Kq5tjqxwC46_Gg8RssWEKgs-6xF1usDhBnBdbVEv3anDKX6gYXTekB/s400/%25282018-07-12%2529+With+Aisyah+at+Gillman.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact, 2 weeks
ago, another student interviewed me about Toa Payoh for the same assignment. He
told me a third student wanted an interview about Beauty World. I told him if I
said Yes, their lecturer would probably conclude that I do this for a living.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lol. Thanks to all these poly and uni lecturers, who
like to give assignments which require the students to interview oldees like me
and Jerome Lim (actually he is much younger), I have been kept busy these past
few years. I have lost count actually. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The most time-consuming ones are video projects; like
the recent one by a team of Ngee Ann Poly students who filmed me at my home, Kallang
Riverside Park and Chuan Lane – where my kampong house once stood.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do not mind helping the students. But I have decided
not to accept any more requests for tv documentaries. You spend hours with them,
and in the end, you appear for a less than half a minute. The most disappointing
<a href="https://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.com/2012/12/appearing-on-tv.html" target="_blank">experience</a> was with a company called Oak Tree Films who came to my house to film
me for an episode of Project Neighbourhood. After spending the whole morning
with them, I appeared for just a few seconds in the final product. Makes you feel
as if you are so hard-up to appear on tv.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides such assignments and projects, I have also
given talks at Spore Poly, RI and recently, my alma mater, NJC.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com137tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-47345200472339422772018-05-26T14:42:00.000+08:002018-05-26T14:42:45.286+08:00We follow orders or people die<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two days ago, the Straits Times carried a report on the
measures that the SCDF (Singapore Civil Defence Force) is introducing to
prevent accidents like the one that led to the death of NSF Cpl Kok Yuen Chin. Meantime a board
of inquiry has been convened to look into this incident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEuUzkM1x3P6bsPd2g13jpcB6myxVT1m0sC6jCLE89A33Bgs4Oy0kqn1jBGi0RGfq3JubLGd96OjuFLuqTeSJwc_OFnfGkakx0iLU1fGmGg8JJRWnET0TNNmyKNrb5k8zq9xh/s1600/ST+articl%25282018-05-24%2529+on+SCDF+accident+prevention.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1524" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEuUzkM1x3P6bsPd2g13jpcB6myxVT1m0sC6jCLE89A33Bgs4Oy0kqn1jBGi0RGfq3JubLGd96OjuFLuqTeSJwc_OFnfGkakx0iLU1fGmGg8JJRWnET0TNNmyKNrb5k8zq9xh/s400/ST+articl%25282018-05-24%2529+on+SCDF+accident+prevention.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This article reminds me of the famous courtroom <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_frM44bBMfA&t=193s" target="_blank">scene</a> from
the movie, A Few Good Men. In this scene, Col. Nathan Jessep, played by Jack
Nicholson said something that I thought was very relevant to the tragic incident
at the SCDF, as well as the Pasir Ris MRT track accident in 2016 and even the Bishan
MRT tunnel flooding incident last year. He said; “We follow orders or people
die!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These accidents happened simply because people ignored
orders or did not follow procedures. Hence, I believe that any investigation
into such accidents has to go beyond looking at procedures and human actions.
They have to look at the work culture in the organisation. Do the people there
have a “you can do anything; just don’t get caught” mentality?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have to get to the root cause. If the main cause is
people ignoring the orders of their superiors, or not following safety procedures,
then we have to understand why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Were they simply too lazy; and ‘bo chap’?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do they have no fear or respect for their bosses?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are they exhausted with too much work, and think that these
procedures were a waste of time? If this was the case, then wouldn’t adding
more procedures make matters worse?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember a case from my own NS days in the 1970s. To the
best of my recollection this was what happened. There was an accident involving
a soldier who was sleeping under a three-tonner; and he was killed when the
vehicle moved off before he could ‘escape’. After that, one of the new
procedures that was implemented was that the driver had to check under the
three-tonner each time he was about to drive off. Needless to say, very few
people followed that procedure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also feel that our newspapers ought to carry out some ‘investigative
reporting’ when it comes to such a serios matter. They should review past
accidents and results of the BOI enquiries. Just how effective have their recommendations
been? I am not being cynical, but judging from the frequency of these tragedies;
I suspect they have not been very effective.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com109tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-12675579152483313322018-05-23T10:49:00.000+08:002018-05-23T10:49:44.202+08:00I remembered wrongly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn5YoEBb0f3x4h2__EC6tKwo9jci6KX7JF6WS0IIaeZfHuEuQMFKGFDRS-YSF7WSDZCoeHd2lzCZYokYifWmSv7LTGtL4bReGyn0UOEic4B_pq9kNHqv3zeNdFmGZAvHgUqbV/s1600/GMY+intro+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1379" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn5YoEBb0f3x4h2__EC6tKwo9jci6KX7JF6WS0IIaeZfHuEuQMFKGFDRS-YSF7WSDZCoeHd2lzCZYokYifWmSv7LTGtL4bReGyn0UOEic4B_pq9kNHqv3zeNdFmGZAvHgUqbV/s400/GMY+intro+page.jpg" width="343" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sigh … I
realized that I made a mistake in the very first sentence of my book </span><span lang="EN-US">☹</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I wrote in
my Introduction that many years ago, I saw a Taiwanese movie by the title of; </span><span lang="ZH-CN">一个平凡人的故事</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, or An Ordinary Man’s Story. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think
this is incorrect. That movie, whose title I still cannot recall, was about the
struggles of a man who tried all his life to achieve something extraordinary.
Finally, he realized that that was unrealistic and it only made him and those
closest to him miserable (something to this effect). In the end, he wrote a
book with that title I quoted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope
someone can confirm my recollections. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-45679638464835150182018-05-19T12:25:00.000+08:002018-05-19T12:29:14.165+08:00Return to Blogging<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yesterday,
I was invited to give a talk to a group of Secondary 1 students at NJC
(National Junior College), my alma mater. They were attending a seminar on
Place-Writing and learning how to write essays and poems about places they
remember. Although I know nothing about writing poetry, that topic was covered
by two professors who came after me. My task was simply to share my experience
of writing about the places that I remember.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so I
shared with the children my experience in blogging about the Singapore that I
grew up in. Due to time constraint, I focused mainly on the schools I went to
(click on the label “schools” in the column on the right of this page);
especially NJC, seeing that I was in the pioneer batch in 1969. Gave them some
details of the old campus and shared about how we had to trudge across a big field,
which is today’s Nanyang Girls School, and climb 103 steps to go for lunch at
the Dunearn Secondary Technical School during the first few months when our own
canteen was not ready. The irony is that the ground that DSTS stood on was the
very same place that today’s NJC occupy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FWWnpxTD8QVIR8A1K9BNeVX7MThAWMzjbN2_2ZNUZ1UMS-NbisIDrXMnARoAvbkNQztsfRsajum56JbDdC3obdb2DBflO1OCE8toyfCSVcIjdugEYyIzwNRiCChUzfMre_MO/s1600/1981+Map+of+NJC+vicinity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1408" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FWWnpxTD8QVIR8A1K9BNeVX7MThAWMzjbN2_2ZNUZ1UMS-NbisIDrXMnARoAvbkNQztsfRsajum56JbDdC3obdb2DBflO1OCE8toyfCSVcIjdugEYyIzwNRiCChUzfMre_MO/s400/1981+Map+of+NJC+vicinity.jpg" width="385" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">1981 Map of NJC and vicinity</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also shared
my fondest memories of my two years in NJC. Showed them some photos of our
Adventure Camp in Pulau Tekong in April 1969. Not surprisingly, the photo which
most intrigued them was this one of me standing in front of a tobacco farm. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGSNt4vzVWT35GdvODJ98Kx2mFT2q1hNU1j2_T_HBqsKl2GkuTRE0II7lO10twCQpuhpNiFmLPtKb7fE6QGk3bHNCAhiMcifuDWYJ-q5D5QrrSafcgyqLeCPl3Vtvv6-kBeAm/s1600/1969+photo+at+P+Tekong+tobacco+farm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="967" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGSNt4vzVWT35GdvODJ98Kx2mFT2q1hNU1j2_T_HBqsKl2GkuTRE0II7lO10twCQpuhpNiFmLPtKb7fE6QGk3bHNCAhiMcifuDWYJ-q5D5QrrSafcgyqLeCPl3Vtvv6-kBeAm/s400/1969+photo+at+P+Tekong+tobacco+farm.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I should apologize
for neglecting this blog - which had given me my much satisfaction and even a
bit of fame – for so long. I haven’t blogged regularly since I discovered Facebook
in 2014. Anyway, I have decided that I would try to resume my blogging here,
even if it’s on a less regular basis. So do keep tuned.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-79766640769827892452016-06-24T22:01:00.000+08:002016-06-24T22:01:12.158+08:00The Moon Between the Coconut Palms (by Edmund Arozoo)
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKIpjaKQa0hNvCGs_3rCq3KznWBddYNHzKldKl8IUNB4WKi3RdzlEhocaU6nsW1Qa-PJyCgB5I8cwdmzJInTskq6kWPKQaPf5VFDeyR0kbPmhyphenhyphenxwaBLTXwnnHOycualxW-qGh/s1600/Moon+-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKIpjaKQa0hNvCGs_3rCq3KznWBddYNHzKldKl8IUNB4WKi3RdzlEhocaU6nsW1Qa-PJyCgB5I8cwdmzJInTskq6kWPKQaPf5VFDeyR0kbPmhyphenhyphenxwaBLTXwnnHOycualxW-qGh/s400/Moon+-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Digital
Photography has indeed simplified the task of producing quality images of the
moon. The ability to mount my old 600 mm manual mirror lens to the body of my DSLR
has allowed me to capture some good images indeed. However to push the
challenge further I have for past few years been a keen “Moon transit”
photographer i.e. capturing aircraft as they fly across the face of the moon. I am fortunate that where I now live the
Moon’s orbit and most of the commercial flight paths make it easy for me to set
up my gear in my back balcony or backyard to achieve this. In addition there
are many on-line apps that allow real time monitoring of flight paths. However
this quest requires lots of patience and luck. Often there are long periods of
waiting in-between flights. During these breaks I find myself staring at the
moon and my mind wanders back to my kampong days in Singapore. I start thinking of the significance the moon
played then and the beliefs both religious and superstitious of the various
races and groups of people in my kampong.</span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlI7BwZFntHEHBOIyvpRhkwEiaaLmeUTU6ZzSzR4bscv2fDvuoFzMDUC_mb96S9IgsFhDetvkyqjf6DH_RtBUdglyZWgOWMHoLxrNFbJRLHoPPqItSqRVNIDZnTL7J-N-SPBp/s1600/Moon+-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlI7BwZFntHEHBOIyvpRhkwEiaaLmeUTU6ZzSzR4bscv2fDvuoFzMDUC_mb96S9IgsFhDetvkyqjf6DH_RtBUdglyZWgOWMHoLxrNFbJRLHoPPqItSqRVNIDZnTL7J-N-SPBp/s400/Moon+-2.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Copy of an old slide image taken in Jalan Hock Chye digitally post processed</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One colourful
memory that I always chuckle when I think about it is the ritual that my
Chinese neighbours undertook during the eclipse of the moon. I remember as a kid suddenly hearing the din
of pots and pans being struck constantly. Even the large kerosene tins would be
brought into play. Most of the Chinese households would be involved and I
learnt that the belief was that a Dragon was swallowing the Moon and the noise
created was to scare the dragon from completely removing the Moon from the sky.
This ritual did go on regularly whenever there was an eclipse for most of my
early years but as society became educated the practice faded away.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I relate
this to some of my friends a few remember this practice but others think I made
it up. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The significance
of the moon is central in Chinese culture. Most if not all festivals are tagged
to the lunar calendar </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likewise the
Indian celebrations are also pegged to their own lunar calendar. The two main
ones Deepavali which occurs during the New moon of Ashvin (Hindu
calendar) and Thaipusam which is celebrated during the full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the past the
Malay Hari Raya dates were determined by the sighting of the new moon by local
religious authorities. During those pre mobile phone years the method of
relaying the successful sighting was by the use of carbide cannons. Carbide was
mixed with water in the hollow of a bamboo cylinder and when the fuse was lit a
small explosion took place and this could be heard for miles in the quiet of
the evenings. When this was heard in a kampong one of the Malay families would
then in turn fire a cannon and the message would then spread from kampong to
kampong until the entire Malay community across the island would be informed to
start celebrating the following day.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the Eurasian
and Christian households the main festival linked to the moon was Easter which is
held on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the
vernal equinox. The other Holy days of Lent are adjusted accordingly. As kids
when we were brought by our parents for the traditional “visitations of
churches” on Maundy Thursday we often noticed the bright nearly full or<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> full moon as we walked along the Queen Street / Victoria
Street area. The significance of the moon was unknown to us or rather we were
more focussed on the treats that we were rewarded with for being well behaved.
Treats like freshly baked Hot Cross Buns from the two well-known bakeries
around the vicinity “Ah Teng” and “The Red House Bakery”. The other treat would
be the Kueh Putu Piring (or Kueh Tutu as it is now known as).</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Similarly </span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the dates of </span></span><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ascension Thursday and Pentecost Sunday vary each year. The former
celebrated forty days after Easter, and the latter ten days after the Ascension
(50 after Easter).</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Armstrong
landed on the moon in 1969, you can just imagine the reaction from the
different families in the kampong. There was disbelief, taunting and scepticism.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The full or
near-full moon was often a blessing if you came home late at night because it
lighted your way home. There were no street lights in the lanes leading to our
houses. With the moonlight we could avoid the portholes and on rainy days the
resultant puddles that were ever so present. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However the
moonlight also did cast numerous shadows from the trees and bushes. With movies
like “Pontianak” on our minds combined with the fragrant scent of the newly
blossomed frangipani flowers walking home usually turned into a quick paced trot.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess these
days in Singapore, the Moon between coconut palms is only a recollection of
some of the older generation. Moonlight between high-rise would be the norm.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-13923460845717973542016-04-16T21:17:00.001+08:002016-04-16T21:35:36.964+08:00LESSONS FROM THE TUCK SHOP (SCHOOL CANTEEN) – by Edmund Arozoo<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Greetings from Adelaide!<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">I started to write my memoirs of life in a kampong
more than fifteen years ago but had put it on the back burner numerous times.
However through Facebook I was fortunate to become friends with persons with
similar interest in Singapore’s nostalgic past. On my visits back to Singapore
I was privileged to meet and chat with two bloggers who have inspired me not
only to contribute with posts and comments on fb but also rekindled my interest
to finish what I had started. I like to extend a big THANK YOU to Jerome Lim
and Lam Chun See. I also found Chun See’s book “Good Morning Yesterday” an
inspiration. Here is a snippet that I penned recently that I like to share on
their blogs. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ce2z2dm899a09AXSPxz4LzGq8OKP31-HJjSs6Em0Kxdhfnx84rUVCXKAR5RBwSBcegl2DbJuEhqeV7aJtOJammug2M2wJrCYO2IqgSGkkgoUyYGfzOhK-CM5A8tu2sOwj8vS/s1600/%25282016-04-16%2529+LCS+With+Edmund+Arozoo+%255B2013-12-17%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ce2z2dm899a09AXSPxz4LzGq8OKP31-HJjSs6Em0Kxdhfnx84rUVCXKAR5RBwSBcegl2DbJuEhqeV7aJtOJammug2M2wJrCYO2IqgSGkkgoUyYGfzOhK-CM5A8tu2sOwj8vS/s400/%25282016-04-16%2529+LCS+With+Edmund+Arozoo+%255B2013-12-17%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>With Lam Chun See when I visited Spore in Dec 2013</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the past
month or so I have been watching an interesting TV series – “The Brain”. This
series from China showcases the unbelievable potential of the mental abilities
of the contestants. Witnessing their
mental recall capabilities was jaw dropping for me! Fast approaching seventy my memory recall does
pale in comparison – only a slight fraction of theirs indeed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Often I do
question my memories of the “old days”.
I deliberately left out the adjective “good”. I acknowledge that life
was simple but challenging then, especially for those of us from humble
beginnings. Reading the many posts and comments on the various Facebook group
pages, I realised that there are many out there who remember their own “rustic”
years. However nostalgic emotions sometimes do tend to colour our memories.
Maybe we were young and saw things through childhood innocence. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps too as
kids we were protected by our parents, who in their little ways tried their
best, as we were growing up, not to make us feel that we were poor. I may be wrong but I also feel that the
society then was different. I don’t recall being snubbed by “the rich”. Maybe
we knew our places and accepted each other. A leveller at that time if I recall correctly
was the beach. The rich would drive their
cars right up to the beaches like Tanah Merah, Changi etc . The other families
would arrive by bus with their home cook meals and simple unchilled drinks
etc. But all the kids would have the
time of their lives till it was time to return home either by car or bus, all
sunburnt. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having spent
twelve years in the same school I should have more vivid memories of my school
days. But all I have are snippets here and there and a few photographs as
reminders. But what I clearly remember is that the majority of my schoolmates
came from similar “rustic” backgrounds. Personally I was taught not to feel
sorry for the limited “pocket money” I took to school each day being often
reminded that some of my classmates had to contend with so much less. Looking
back I often chuckle when I recall that if you dropped your coins through the
holes in your pocket that were caused by the marbles you carried – the response
would be “tough”. You learnt the hard way to cherish the few coins you were
given. When the time came for school fees to be paid, the notes were carefully
wrapped in a knot tied at the corner of a handkerchief. This was to ensure we
did not lose the money easily.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For sure there would have been more memorable
moments of those carefree schooldays but I cannot recall as much as I would
like to. However there is one incident that has always been dominant in my mind
and I am reminded of it whenever I witness poverty either first hand or on TV.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This occurred while
I was in primary school. It was a normal “recess” break and the “monitors” or
prefects were diligently performing their duties to ensure order and that we
were safe in getting our hot meals to the tables in the tuck shop / canteen. We were all having our meals when suddenly
there was a shout followed by a commotion.
Looking out we saw the prefects running out and chasing a student. They
soon caught him and brought him back to the canteen. Then we realised what had
happened.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The student was
a classmate and his family, if I remember correctly, had a farm in Ponggol. On
that day he did not have any money for a meal and probably did not even have
breakfast at home. Unknown to us, this perhaps could have been the norm for him
for most of his school days. But on that day the pangs of hunger overcame him
and drove him to snatch a large triangular “curry puff” from the Indian stall
that also sold bread, Indian cookies and of course our favourite “kachang puteh”.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As he was brought back to the
canteen I <b>witnessed</b> the humiliation on his face and that expression I
will never never forget! He was made to face the Indian stallholder probably to
apologise and perhaps make arrangements for reimbursement for the curry puff.
This was witnessed by everyone in the canteen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU"></span><span xml:lang="en-au">What ensued always stands out from this unfortunate incident. I
witness compassion. The Indian kachang puteh man, who possibly was by no means
rich, looked at the poor unfortunate boy and saw the anguish on his face. Then
in a typical Indian manner with a slanted twist of his head and a wave of his
flat palm rolling at the wrist he signalled that it was okay – he did not want
any payment and allowed the boy to keep the curry puff. The boy was then
marched to the principal’s office and what happen after I cannot recall.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These are two
striking lessons I learnt from this unfortunate incident that I will always
remember. Firstly how hunger can drive good
persons to do things in desperation. I can understand when I read about people
doing things they normally would not do, when they become desperate especially on
seeing their children crying in hunger. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the other
side I also learnt that day that you do not have to be rich to be
compassionate, understanding and benevolent. Perhaps this is in fact the
essence of the “kampong spirit” that in our memories was prevalent in those
days. I must confess that I often chuckle when I read of attempts to recreate
this spirit which I feel was lost with the eradication of kampongs. It was the
environment of the rustic surrounds and firsthand observation of the everyday
struggles of most families that were the basis of this spontaneous compassion. Observing
the elders of the household – our parents, grandparents etc. and their empathy
for the neighbours perhaps <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>also does flow down and shape
our own behaviour towards others. In addition experiencing the kindness our
neighbours extended to our own family completes the cycle of goodwill.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The whole world
has changed and with the current abundance of affluence and affordability the
plight of those in need are often not obvious. The average person cannot relate
to this and thus perhaps the spontaneous responses that were around in the past
are not forthcoming. These are my perceptions. I may be right or completely wrong
so I will leave you, the reader to make your own judgement. In my heart I will
always cherish the lessons I learnt in the tuck shop.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-78678527906908574362015-04-13T16:40:00.002+08:002015-04-13T16:45:20.794+08:00My Queenstown Heritage Trail – Dawson & Alexandra Tour<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last Saturday, I was invited to the Media
Preview of the newly-launched Dawson + Alexandra Guided Tour. This tour is part
of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Queenstown Heritage Trail</i>. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97eyVIoZhAwD_MKW67S8k5nwQSuXvY9pNP6L_t_SZ-xAfn9PbEudthKGS4UcDWNndiql7W7HyPpZWHykAPt5OhztezMT7qEM14xnpjJws8fwrSLZ6WdFok7QCt56NkBNIBEWw/s1600/Image+1+-+My+Queenstown+Heritage+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97eyVIoZhAwD_MKW67S8k5nwQSuXvY9pNP6L_t_SZ-xAfn9PbEudthKGS4UcDWNndiql7W7HyPpZWHykAPt5OhztezMT7qEM14xnpjJws8fwrSLZ6WdFok7QCt56NkBNIBEWw/s1600/Image+1+-+My+Queenstown+Heritage+Trail.jpg" height="400" width="242" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM1X4POUnlua8h_q_s2N99BwfkFRL_HqMm_ZroQ0rX3epylUD657eahT2jswkthSHnzLbY1sYoEVIfYH2LO7WR8ge8Z7JgtE35iRnxrm_yuhZoQ-qg4_vl57JQqkYowXw2_Pf/s1600/Image+2+-+Dawson-Alexandra+Tour+info.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM1X4POUnlua8h_q_s2N99BwfkFRL_HqMm_ZroQ0rX3epylUD657eahT2jswkthSHnzLbY1sYoEVIfYH2LO7WR8ge8Z7JgtE35iRnxrm_yuhZoQ-qg4_vl57JQqkYowXw2_Pf/s1600/Image+2+-+Dawson-Alexandra+Tour+info.jpg" height="640" width="416" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We assembled at the Queenstown MRT
Station at 8.30am. I was happy to see several Foyers (Friends of Yesterday.sg)
like <a href="http://oceanskies79places.blogspot.sg/2015/04/dawson-and-alexandra-guided-tour.html" target="_blank">Pei Yun</a>, <a href="http://blogtoexpress.blogspot.sg/2015/04/mystery-of-gold-rush-at-queenstown.html" target="_blank">James Seah</a> (Thimbuktu), <a href="http://pchew-nostalgia.blogspot.sg/2015/04/dawson-alexandra-tour.html" target="_blank">Philip Chew</a> and <a href="http://navalants.blogspot.sg/2015/04/queenstown-dawson-and-alexandra-tour.html" target="_blank">KL Lee</a>. After the usual
greetings/briefing by the organizers, Kwek Li Yong and Mr Jasper Tan of My
Queenstown Community, we were divided into 2 groups led separately by volunteer
guides, Mr Choo Lip Sin and Huang Eu Chai. We were each issued with a copy of
the very well-produced My Queenstown Heritage Trail booklet which contained 67
pages of photographs and historical information about Queenstown. We were also
handed a very cool gadget called Vox Radioguide. This device enabled us to
listen to our guide’s explanation via normal earphones even when he was some
distance away. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yMKE0-1BODc49vFD5ZHHc7EacFknD2D9NSvou5RLyUGh69x18DjCbqaoJg0jU91QiUmfNU8vpzSYd2l3HjKzL0UwF8dJzDOJDXNQZSOdBa5PW-bXUfM6YKh0qxCCaDfY3CjQ/s1600/Image+3+-+Foyers+@+Queenstown+MRT+stn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yMKE0-1BODc49vFD5ZHHc7EacFknD2D9NSvou5RLyUGh69x18DjCbqaoJg0jU91QiUmfNU8vpzSYd2l3HjKzL0UwF8dJzDOJDXNQZSOdBa5PW-bXUfM6YKh0qxCCaDfY3CjQ/s1600/Image+3+-+Foyers+@+Queenstown+MRT+stn.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Briefly, the itinerary of our tour
was as follows: (Due to time constraint, we did not cover all the places listed
in the official flyer).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) Church of the Good Shepherd at
Dundee Rd<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) Former Forfar House at Strathmore
Ave<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3) Princess House at Alexandra Rd<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4) Walk along Dawson Rd, Margaret Dr
to Bunkers at Kay Siang Rd<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5) Take coach to Tiong Ghee Temple
at Stirling Rd<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6) Butterfly Block (Blk 168)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7) Walk to Alexandra Hospital,
passing the Alexandra Fire Station and Queensway Shopping Centre<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">8) Back to Queenstown MRT Station by
coach.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s my brief report on
some of the more memorable places for me.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;">1) <u>Queenstown Driving Centre</u>.</span></b><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although
this was not part of the tour, this place was highly visible from the MRT
Station. It held special memory for me as I took my driving test here more that
40 years ago when I was still an undergraduate. I blogged about it <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2007/02/learning-to-drive.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I was
quite sad to learn recently that this place will be demolished soon to make way
for yet another condo. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQQbBr3jtMUAPet9nHQo-q3JvuEw8peX2h2qJydvkEZdwxfBpVhyfQUtJ3wJiBSN5uPS0Dds8B9YAjmELxcMfBTddjHQxz5kaDMaNsQ_wNnu85IvYbR_SvhVtc9DwOfpOST8F/s1600/Image+4+-+Former+Queenstown+Driving+Centre+%5B2007-02-23%5D+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQQbBr3jtMUAPet9nHQo-q3JvuEw8peX2h2qJydvkEZdwxfBpVhyfQUtJ3wJiBSN5uPS0Dds8B9YAjmELxcMfBTddjHQxz5kaDMaNsQ_wNnu85IvYbR_SvhVtc9DwOfpOST8F/s1600/Image+4+-+Former+Queenstown+Driving+Centre+%5B2007-02-23%5D+copy.jpg" height="310" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;">2) <u>Former Forfar House</u></span></b><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, I am
not familiar with this place or its history, although the name Forfar House was
quite well-known in the old days. I came to know about it from a book titled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">From the Blue Windows</i>, written by a
former resident, Tan Kok Yang, who I met at the My Queenstown Symposium held at
the Queenstown CC on </span><span lang="EN-SG">26 May 2013.<span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>3)</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Princess House</u></b>. Our next stop was the Princess House. This
building is a prominent landmark along Alexandra Road. It was gazetted for
conservation in 2007. Besides the information given by our guide, my friend
Philip Chew also shared some of his memories from the early 1970s when he worked
at the Ministry of Environment which was housed here. He also told us about the
nearby Consumer Co-operative Club.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUuzMv6bAC9hRJjbhzOrffGePuQ62pFzyfoXFBnTVFo5M3-z3QZMNzOnwsOFMg0wzNVeq6Bp3qJemrJDroZhdxycq1QF2BYHqJ-bNAFuqRi-ROMMxliWTlXCFjqKjw3L7wJ6A/s1600/Image+5+-+Princess+House+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUuzMv6bAC9hRJjbhzOrffGePuQ62pFzyfoXFBnTVFo5M3-z3QZMNzOnwsOFMg0wzNVeq6Bp3qJemrJDroZhdxycq1QF2BYHqJ-bNAFuqRi-ROMMxliWTlXCFjqKjw3L7wJ6A/s1600/Image+5+-+Princess+House+copy.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>4)</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>World War 2 Bunkers at Kay Siang Road</u></b>. The next event on the
itinerary was to see two World War II bunkers at Kay Siang Road. They were
hidden amongst the thick vegetation just next to the former Hua Yi Secondary
School. To get here, we had to walk along Dawson Rd and parts of Margaret Drive
and Kay Siang Rd. It was sad for me to see that Margaret Rd has been changed
beyond recognition. It has recently been realigned to join Kay Siang Rd.
Previously these two roads were not linked as you can see from the 1981 map
below. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd68rj8wi3ZtF9KkAW4Z6sZlZ0gzJxnwxzGR23lI0DVu7nEKHjq3kwiHyMXR6MFmnpMQExOqL9ozFQFKFdDRqpxyR5fvxi-EhqZTvD1rHDWf1OvcPdEn2_tkbc_YU-0A_2pBab/s1600/Image+5+-+1981+Map+of+Margaret+Dr+&+Kay+Siang+Rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd68rj8wi3ZtF9KkAW4Z6sZlZ0gzJxnwxzGR23lI0DVu7nEKHjq3kwiHyMXR6MFmnpMQExOqL9ozFQFKFdDRqpxyR5fvxi-EhqZTvD1rHDWf1OvcPdEn2_tkbc_YU-0A_2pBab/s1600/Image+5+-+1981+Map+of+Margaret+Dr+&+Kay+Siang+Rd.jpg" height="322" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was also saddened to see that
the Hua Yi School had been completely demolished although we could still see
remnants of the school field and running track. I had driven pass this place
many times, and had often wanted to stop and take some photos. But as usual, I
kept procrastinating, and now the opportunity is lost forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was interesting to note
that there are still some black and white bungalows along Kay Siang Rd although
they are not visible from the main road. By the way, mention of Kay Siang Rd
always brings to mind my first visit to the MOE (Ministry of Education) in 1968
to obtain the application forms to enrol in the Singapore’s first junior
college, NJC, which opened its door in 1969. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NvJboxYx-7DqQ0W3-3fO_UNr7MJ35ofPwyDxrwNtqkwAbej3G2tprZbOPvh4a3-GaZO94fvfHF_Z7hym-KVthenpNjZQbCNBsBYB_YCu7sINBYy7KRBXvzU94_FC-DsehFCM/s1600/Image+6+-+Bunker+@+Kay+Siang+Rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NvJboxYx-7DqQ0W3-3fO_UNr7MJ35ofPwyDxrwNtqkwAbej3G2tprZbOPvh4a3-GaZO94fvfHF_Z7hym-KVthenpNjZQbCNBsBYB_YCu7sINBYy7KRBXvzU94_FC-DsehFCM/s1600/Image+6+-+Bunker+@+Kay+Siang+Rd.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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</span><span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">This does not look like a
bunker to me. I suspect it’s an ammo dump; probably to service the nearby Buller
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camp. Buller Camp was built to house Japanese
prisoners of war. It was located at Buller Terrace (see map)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>5)</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Tiong Ghee Temple</u></b>. Our next destination was the Tiong Ghee
Temple nestled among old HDB flats at the top of Stirling Road. Did you know
that this used to be a hill known as Hong Lim Hill because the land originally
belonged to philanthropist, Cheang Hong Lim? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met two elderly former residents who shared
their memories of life in this part of Singapore. As expected, this used to be
a kampong known as Boh Beh Kang. Across the road were Singapore’s first point
block flats.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>6)</strong> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Butterfly Block</u></b>. A stone’s throw away was the famous
Butterfly Block of Queenstown. This is Block 168, which is easily seen from
Queensway, a road I have travelled frequently for decades. Here we met Mr
Fernandez who had been living here for 45 years. I was happy to hear him
confirm my memories about the Rumah Bomba Circus which lay at the junction of Queensway
and Alexandra Road. I remember going to having my haircut at a road barber shop
which was located at the edge of this roundabout. We also shared fond memories
of the attractions at Queensway Shopping Centre, especially Jumbo Coffee House.
I too have blogged about Queensway Shopping Centre <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2014/11/memories-of-queensway-shopping-centre.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbDkyop9NWn4yDU4wF_OMsQwSQC1YlFUsc87O7WCCyDJUgo0CI8x19AIqjuJG8KEDf2v7-C0GdL6u3akrn9Iox9tdivbmY_0LE-52AivvrCXxo6sxM_0wWsSZ6ijpkv9Abu0t/s1600/Image+7+-+Stirling+View+aka+Butterfly+Block.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbDkyop9NWn4yDU4wF_OMsQwSQC1YlFUsc87O7WCCyDJUgo0CI8x19AIqjuJG8KEDf2v7-C0GdL6u3akrn9Iox9tdivbmY_0LE-52AivvrCXxo6sxM_0wWsSZ6ijpkv9Abu0t/s1600/Image+7+-+Stirling+View+aka+Butterfly+Block.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">Butterfly Block at Stirling View</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue;"></span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYHW0mcBE029_1wgW7kTgV9LW-B0i7-W97hyRX2kYfhr1GL7_BENQDpsJ6vdYokp-m_YjxxOFC6kgb7OTiM1Bz9aUJzs3mMH8rWGAjGikmW63dGnuyw7-SUa_ddHIbgvVeCKw/s1600/Image+11+-+with+Mr+Fernandez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYHW0mcBE029_1wgW7kTgV9LW-B0i7-W97hyRX2kYfhr1GL7_BENQDpsJ6vdYokp-m_YjxxOFC6kgb7OTiM1Bz9aUJzs3mMH8rWGAjGikmW63dGnuyw7-SUa_ddHIbgvVeCKw/s1600/Image+11+-+with+Mr+Fernandez.jpg" height="365" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">With Mr Fernandez - resident of Butterfly Block</span></strong></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;">7) Alexandra Hospital</span></b><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;">. We proceeded on foot to our final destination - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alexandra Hospital. On the way, we passed the
busy traffic junction where the Rumah Bomba Circus used to stand. Of the four
landmarks that surrounded this junction, Alexandra Village, Safra Clubhouse, Archipelago
Brewery Company (which I used to know as Anchor Brewery) and Queensway Shopping
Centre, only the last one was still standing. It will be a sad day indeed, when
the bulldozers come along and do what they are so good doing in ever-changing Singapore
– tear down memories of the Singapore we grew up in.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF0S2mO5sCCzTASqwxMx6WtBinu760V64etiYwg5Xjy3HvqDYH6G-o8xNzbfcyTLGr-Jgh7U9hPDC3AZotM99oWT8hB_FVJWwsT8sLvCYoxbzGc4wkUakAG2mHJGUupAj262b/s1600/Image+8+-+1963+Map+of+Rumah+Bomba+Circus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF0S2mO5sCCzTASqwxMx6WtBinu760V64etiYwg5Xjy3HvqDYH6G-o8xNzbfcyTLGr-Jgh7U9hPDC3AZotM99oWT8hB_FVJWwsT8sLvCYoxbzGc4wkUakAG2mHJGUupAj262b/s1600/Image+8+-+1963+Map+of+Rumah+Bomba+Circus.jpg" height="400" width="376" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At Alexandra Hospital, which
was originally known as the British Military Hospital, our guide gave a lengthy
explanation of history and events that took place in that area during the war; such
as the massacre of British troops by the invading Japanese army. I was happy to
see that many of the old buildings have remained untouched externally; but my
attention was drawn to what lay across the fence; an open piece of land that
used to be home to several blocks of SIT flats. This was Queen’s Crescent.
During my NS days, I used to date a girl who lived here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyY1yX5uDSPGJQ71ZxoWC-Q6D8ksCVWFR9qYsNPw5GvT69JWP_Md-9NvOSzdMfzz9aJ8Vw-dIgxJ-GaTdVL2T57BkOm0_Xfh6kfLVvOXq85rKxyVpVzegQa4NeQlxvM2fzIum1/s1600/Image+9+-+Alexandra+Hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyY1yX5uDSPGJQ71ZxoWC-Q6D8ksCVWFR9qYsNPw5GvT69JWP_Md-9NvOSzdMfzz9aJ8Vw-dIgxJ-GaTdVL2T57BkOm0_Xfh6kfLVvOXq85rKxyVpVzegQa4NeQlxvM2fzIum1/s1600/Image+9+-+Alexandra+Hospital.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="5yl5"><span lang="EN-SG" style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have enjoyed this tour very
much. I thank My Community for organising this tour and advise our who are
interested in Queenstown to sign up of this and other tours in the My
Queenstown Heritage<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trail series.</span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDtU2O8ww3FPKROX1HAyyhYWpnnhb5QbB1H8WI1xkmIbwsDiSYAitK96pW6KAbCjho24OOxaiHSS53ZJ3sHv7cazUjMwFg-i5hgcwbBcSTcVC7Cma_x-_IdgZBZIsYpZ_TJTS/s1600/Image+10+-++Tours+info+@+My+Queenstown+Heritage+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDtU2O8ww3FPKROX1HAyyhYWpnnhb5QbB1H8WI1xkmIbwsDiSYAitK96pW6KAbCjho24OOxaiHSS53ZJ3sHv7cazUjMwFg-i5hgcwbBcSTcVC7Cma_x-_IdgZBZIsYpZ_TJTS/s1600/Image+10+-++Tours+info+@+My+Queenstown+Heritage+Trail.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-56706279059202050392015-03-25T15:11:00.000+08:002015-03-25T15:30:17.332+08:00Remembering Lee Kuan Yew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Egdjs3f231c2ixGfeAL_Sd4upMWvF-_3LY-3ttO3jJxS49ijgMY4hSkRscYR3SxxQO_2ZutGeCcUWbcckhBXKOnL7DjJDjkpBwhUIiSdysGLtMRaJmwECD2oyOvNa8w8zL5/s1600/LKY+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7Egdjs3f231c2ixGfeAL_Sd4upMWvF-_3LY-3ttO3jJxS49ijgMY4hSkRscYR3SxxQO_2ZutGeCcUWbcckhBXKOnL7DjJDjkpBwhUIiSdysGLtMRaJmwECD2oyOvNa8w8zL5/s1600/LKY+pic.png" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow I plan to do something I rarely do - I am going to
join thousands of Singaporeans in bidding farewell to our first prime minister Lee
Kuan Yew at the Parliament House. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one quality that I admire most about Lee Kuan Yew is “perspicacity”.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the ability to judge and understand
people and situations. To me, it includes the ability to see into the future. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think it was Confucius who said; “If a man takes no thought
for what is distant, he will find sorrow close at hand”. I believe that, had it
not been for Lee Kuan Yew’s perspicacity and his constant preoccupation with
Singapore’s future, we Singaporeans could be facing a very different kind of
sorrow today, as we mourn the passing of this great man.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lee Kuan Yew was a great orator. As a young man, I listened
to all his speeches. The speech that I remember best was the one he made in
1971 in Helsinki at the General Assembly of the International Press Institute. (Actually
it was not so much his speech as his handling of the reporters’ questions after
the speech that impressed me). I recall that at that time, we were facing much
criticism by the Western press because of our government’s perceived suppression
of press freedom. Many advised him not to accept the invitation to speak at
this event as he was bound to be thrashed by the hostile gathering of his ‘enemies’.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But as this Chinese idiom goes; “</span><strong><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">明知山有虎,偏向虎山</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: SimSun;">行</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: SimSun; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: SimSun;">”</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(to venture into the mountain knowing that there are tigers lurking there),
he went anyway. And instead of being mauled by the fearsome tigers, he had them
eating out of his hand like docile pussycats. Such was the persuasiveness of
the man and the strength of his arguments. Watching his masterly performance made
me feel proud to be a Singaporean.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-27701537908175001862015-02-27T00:28:00.000+08:002015-02-27T00:28:46.222+08:00Return to Batu Maung<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtDUyg9i_lfzC7rMbYVfIaPAYUGARY922CleSZaDI_OkFlG8ZGnEUPRNZCzDnnqUf5isFkDDeLEgdVDqgSe4yqIlCVAbPsNQHviQchvJmosf881HDQorJsjiBncNXUojf9fTu/s1600/Batu+Maung+1970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtDUyg9i_lfzC7rMbYVfIaPAYUGARY922CleSZaDI_OkFlG8ZGnEUPRNZCzDnnqUf5isFkDDeLEgdVDqgSe4yqIlCVAbPsNQHviQchvJmosf881HDQorJsjiBncNXUojf9fTu/s1600/Batu+Maung+1970.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a photo taken during my
first holiday in Malaysia in December in 1970. This was just after I had
completed my HSC Exams – the equivalent of today’s A-levels – and waiting to be
enlisted into the army for my full-time National Service. All these years, I
had assumed that this photo was taken in Malacca. It was not until relatively
recently, when I shared this photo with members of a Facebook group in Malaysia
called Down Memory Lane that I discovered this place was actually in Penang. Through
some clever detective work, readers there managed to figure out that this place
was Batu Maung, near the southern part of Penang.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4nMbPpUmHpEDRSnANO0V-C27LouNPBcn_Eu47xW_RJ93TvbKzHIojcbYc9zIF4NjUxC8Xm_Sv4W322LicK-vomWYPJNdPFoX9_LShdbZaGLe0HWtIJOLnCPeC55_hyYQ3fKD/s1600/Batu+Maung+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4nMbPpUmHpEDRSnANO0V-C27LouNPBcn_Eu47xW_RJ93TvbKzHIojcbYc9zIF4NjUxC8Xm_Sv4W322LicK-vomWYPJNdPFoX9_LShdbZaGLe0HWtIJOLnCPeC55_hyYQ3fKD/s1600/Batu+Maung+2014.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
</span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In December last year, I visited
Penang with my wife and some relatives and decided to revisit this place. Thankfully
this stretch of the beach is still there as you can see from the photo above. It
was just next to a Chinese temple known as the Sam Poh Footprint Temple.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other places that I revisited in this trip
down memory lane were the Snake Temple, Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si and a Thai
temple at Burma Road which had 2 huge fearsome-looking idols in front of it. I
was surprised to see that the temple has remained practically unchanged. Unfortunately,
of the four persons in this photo, I am the only one still living.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz0MVXDQeYsUQz0Tt9ekKKCMxwmwoKISgyeXuhIYPdidlf8lIN3y0THO4IkWm-Qrjm25bW-4pHHz5qvaIv1ESc-JY120l5qK62S9OSzoUUk8kOvS597Q2-z6RYBfmSfqShj8B/s1600/Thai+Temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz0MVXDQeYsUQz0Tt9ekKKCMxwmwoKISgyeXuhIYPdidlf8lIN3y0THO4IkWm-Qrjm25bW-4pHHz5qvaIv1ESc-JY120l5qK62S9OSzoUUk8kOvS597Q2-z6RYBfmSfqShj8B/s1600/Thai+Temple.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the trip back, we decided to take
the ferry instead of the Penang Bridge even though the latter was faster. I was
hoping to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunset which I saw in December 1970,
and which I blogged about <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2005/11/about-my-photos.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Unfortunately the scenery I saw in December
2014 was quite disappointing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-65361925499978177632014-11-29T14:14:00.004+08:002014-11-29T14:14:49.646+08:00Bus stops quiz
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like to
take pictures of bus stops in Singapore. Here are 5 from my collection. Nos. 1,
2, and 3 are fairly common. But how about 4 and 5? Have you seen them before?
Do you know where I took them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No. 6 is a 1970s bus stop at Bukit Timah 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
Mile, near Beauty World. This photo is from the National Archives collection. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUOofDWiq6gZnXWeCwZFJuJSDm1m16s6Oxlo0wbJeJHLiH692_GGCBOO2kS3A34jINb71PONcu9vpGr1PIoO-5_AyYR0-7EegfEePS8XDT4DUqiBOzdnNvG9vPgvrgiAyyosn/s1600/1+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUOofDWiq6gZnXWeCwZFJuJSDm1m16s6Oxlo0wbJeJHLiH692_GGCBOO2kS3A34jINb71PONcu9vpGr1PIoO-5_AyYR0-7EegfEePS8XDT4DUqiBOzdnNvG9vPgvrgiAyyosn/s1600/1+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguojXUSznJV402zFUfjfpFSyVOQGFsLLaJCBYrjTO7701y1wvTnmJSRAUTnFmndZ7cNaa95nfVK1XatTpy9C4KQRhJoXl4RhEMKww9FS-boVDw5uPGCSoGmSbbO-loGgvq63c-/s1600/2+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguojXUSznJV402zFUfjfpFSyVOQGFsLLaJCBYrjTO7701y1wvTnmJSRAUTnFmndZ7cNaa95nfVK1XatTpy9C4KQRhJoXl4RhEMKww9FS-boVDw5uPGCSoGmSbbO-loGgvq63c-/s1600/2+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM9uOI89nFea5EJizx_A5pDGnNWappGvitVr7Ir90A4hkwi9_Kh2ZQzxRYmKUv_75EwJ6eD_0iImmiIALsRNmA-_xwA4sRJTHkvK7UD-XwIUkir1C0kJ7uK6c0I1UNPsT6n-Q/s1600/3+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM9uOI89nFea5EJizx_A5pDGnNWappGvitVr7Ir90A4hkwi9_Kh2ZQzxRYmKUv_75EwJ6eD_0iImmiIALsRNmA-_xwA4sRJTHkvK7UD-XwIUkir1C0kJ7uK6c0I1UNPsT6n-Q/s1600/3+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Margaret Drive</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yfTtyXrtSs-GfvD-8IWcWpNhl7d3DPxsX74qjtjfV1HHv3XsWlsDiRVoFd4atgYJOrGr4XBknGGCMg1JPdvns4U6IZa8cd2r1xBDkJRK_q4ZOG7tPHLjzdJeQ-kOMzwMnL1E/s1600/4+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yfTtyXrtSs-GfvD-8IWcWpNhl7d3DPxsX74qjtjfV1HHv3XsWlsDiRVoFd4atgYJOrGr4XBknGGCMg1JPdvns4U6IZa8cd2r1xBDkJRK_q4ZOG7tPHLjzdJeQ-kOMzwMnL1E/s1600/4+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuVr5AA6XJx2LiFtoyA57iXiSos9WrMxffXtClbHO_-kd7uORzS2lZO-wK7-7bR1pW5JoG9aBKLjPJhv3Z5BpTNUm2SC9nmm6pNYXOhHlsaIVXxrSGQ7jK7EpUVw5r815AJV-/s1600/5+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuVr5AA6XJx2LiFtoyA57iXiSos9WrMxffXtClbHO_-kd7uORzS2lZO-wK7-7bR1pW5JoG9aBKLjPJhv3Z5BpTNUm2SC9nmm6pNYXOhHlsaIVXxrSGQ7jK7EpUVw5r815AJV-/s1600/5+Bus+stops+of+Spore.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXtztAbpDXYUkZEB4cBwamJkmD8qpKo5qjeAy4R5UFmEeYFbHO8k7c0WLrfgfA47JUBFRZsMduWMnDcsx4zIgz66pfObW3RUYbojWKmRcY3XykctOp2X3X1ShIqe5J38HBc3P/s1600/Bus+stops+of+Spore++(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXtztAbpDXYUkZEB4cBwamJkmD8qpKo5qjeAy4R5UFmEeYFbHO8k7c0WLrfgfA47JUBFRZsMduWMnDcsx4zIgz66pfObW3RUYbojWKmRcY3XykctOp2X3X1ShIqe5J38HBc3P/s1600/Bus+stops+of+Spore++(6).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have seen
another unique design in Jurong Island. But I dare not stop my car to take a
photo for fear of being questioned by the security personnel. If you have such
a photo, please share with me. There’s another one at Old Choa Chu Kang Rd that
I have seen on Facebook. One of these days, when I am in the area, I will take
a photo. Hope I’m not too late.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-62584464475902548332014-11-12T22:43:00.000+08:002014-11-13T10:44:12.940+08:00Memories of Queensway Shopping Centre<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is sad
to see many parts of Queenstown that I have been visiting for decades disappear
one by one. When I was living in Farrer Road, I often went to Queenstown for my
shopping and leisure needs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even after
I got married and moved to nearby Sixth Avenue, my family continued to go
there regularly. Among the places that we frequented were the wet market at
Tanglin Halt, Queenstown Library, the NTUC Fairprice Supermarket and Big
Bookshop at Margaret Drive, Margaret Drive Hawker Centre, Tah Chung Emporium,
the BP petrol station at Queensway and Queensway Shopping Centre. Most of
these places have disappeared but Queensway Shopping Centre is still a landmark
in that part of Queenstown; but I suspect that its days are numbered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiITfWPoNifVqF0bEJlQgTdx5nko4h2w4FRlhnvZVX5IRr1egTPmY446iXCiHU0KK7wEspop77V7aOTJlnbhti9Mu5aFb2UjgtX31SO8iFWOSPF96aL-aDQdA4PdQODinJhQf/s1600/1+Queensway+Shopping+Centre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiITfWPoNifVqF0bEJlQgTdx5nko4h2w4FRlhnvZVX5IRr1egTPmY446iXCiHU0KK7wEspop77V7aOTJlnbhti9Mu5aFb2UjgtX31SO8iFWOSPF96aL-aDQdA4PdQODinJhQf/s400/1+Queensway+Shopping+Centre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeO3aUb9-jLMucd9yJ5X0h_3VMOc2cinyLtlmSCXfxcRudc2lOOby_pcKLtzguTWojr12uoD0wFm_M6nFKsMZdJBWX-dwu68Iv8CRmttv9V97cVVQRusB61ypi_Pb2lBgMEeT/s1600/2+Queensway+Shopping+Centre.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeO3aUb9-jLMucd9yJ5X0h_3VMOc2cinyLtlmSCXfxcRudc2lOOby_pcKLtzguTWojr12uoD0wFm_M6nFKsMZdJBWX-dwu68Iv8CRmttv9V97cVVQRusB61ypi_Pb2lBgMEeT/s400/2+Queensway+Shopping+Centre.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My earliest
memory of Queensway Shopping Centre was in the mid-1970s when I was still doing
my National Service. I remember going to a Malay barber who was operating from
some makeshift stalls at the fringe of Rumah Bomba Circus just before returning
to camp on Sunday evening. I think, at that time, Queensway Shopping Centre had
not been built yet. Subsequently, after Queensway Shopping Centre was completed,
these stalls moved into the complex and I continued to patronize the Malay
barbers there. But when my favourite barber, a quiet, gentle old man by the
name of Din retired, I stopped going.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmArgZfMUtk4QiHLy9Onad-w3h6kJE_zak4EPlx9pLWUNU6jljdN6yBq-TLwo7uGFhagLB3D_y-nJbPtqmr2QYbqMEEYGpqKmMzDks-UzyZB-rafn-IOE75GJyBfICc4VBd1cW/s1600/Benz+tailor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmArgZfMUtk4QiHLy9Onad-w3h6kJE_zak4EPlx9pLWUNU6jljdN6yBq-TLwo7uGFhagLB3D_y-nJbPtqmr2QYbqMEEYGpqKmMzDks-UzyZB-rafn-IOE75GJyBfICc4VBd1cW/s200/Benz+tailor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides the
barbers, I also became a regular customer of a tailor there called Benz Tailor
until today. I cannot recall how I came to know this shop which is run by a
gentleman by the name of Simon. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During my NS days in Mandai Camp, our S1
(Manpower Officer), a Lieutenant Tay introduced us to a spectacles shop there
run by his relative. Other than that, there are the famous photocopy shops on
the third floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCsYUqXM6FXpRNPa79bExzFvUA6cx-WpiHlCvkH9xQ9bTul-HRrfL1kP7nj2AuITCj-XPKPPhIK7Q9KwygFSN2hqoW4DBhNvvbwslQusBsN2u-_zOnQ2_9ab42p9_T7W3LrEk/s1600/breadcd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCsYUqXM6FXpRNPa79bExzFvUA6cx-WpiHlCvkH9xQ9bTul-HRrfL1kP7nj2AuITCj-XPKPPhIK7Q9KwygFSN2hqoW4DBhNvvbwslQusBsN2u-_zOnQ2_9ab42p9_T7W3LrEk/s200/breadcd.JPG" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At one time
when LDs were the rage, I signed up a membership with a video rental shop at
the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor. Subsequently, the shop closed and moved out before I
could redeem all my coupons. Also on the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor was Christian
book store. I bought some books and CDs here. And I also bought some CDs from a
shop on the ground floor; including this Bread CD.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was
also a Jumbo Coffee House on the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor which served pretty good
western meals. You can see the name of the restaurant in big letters on the
glass window facing Queensway. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was working at the National Productivity Board
in Bukit Merah Central, I had to pass by the Queensway Shopping Centre on the
way home. Sometimes, I would stop here to buy some kueh tutu and muah chi for
my children to snack at night. It’s fun
to watch them prepare the snack. Makes one feel like a kid again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another
thing I remember about the Queensway Shopping Centre was the basement carpark.
The layout of the parking lots were rather strange, like in concentric circles.
The entrance is from Queensway and the exit is at Alexandra Road. Exiting the
carpark is rather difficult especially if you drove a manual gear car as you
have to stop for a long time for the heavy traffic at Alexandra Road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, I
seldom go to Queensway Shopping Centre. I feel out of place there with the many
shops selling sports goods and shoes and the loud funky music. Still I will
miss the place when they finally demolish it.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-5381654846429345982014-11-01T22:35:00.000+08:002014-11-01T22:49:11.400+08:00Here one day, gone the next (Braddell Rise School compound)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s finally happened! They’ve completely
demolished the buildings that once housed my beloved primary school – the
Braddell Rise School.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0cm;">Although Braddell
Rise School itself had ceased to exist for a number of years now; having moved
to Toa Payoh and adopted a different name, the old buildings had been retained
and housed a number of different welfare homes such as the Minds Tampines Home,
and the Society of Moral Charities. Hence, over the years, whenever I drive
past this place; especially when I was on the MacRitchie Viaduct, I could catch
a glimpse of my alma mater where I enjoyed many fond childhood memories.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-s0Kef3U9c8olyOHMlrqHGfnzvPaHtrKClvwYBNFBQJg5q4Vx_zG1ZRBQkwwvZhXGZblDLWAl3Sl-j2S9z-Nqt90lhFdguOCK1KsKoUSg9jSp44k50RfxC9oDszR3Aw43-eec/s1600/BRS+in+2005+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-s0Kef3U9c8olyOHMlrqHGfnzvPaHtrKClvwYBNFBQJg5q4Vx_zG1ZRBQkwwvZhXGZblDLWAl3Sl-j2S9z-Nqt90lhFdguOCK1KsKoUSg9jSp44k50RfxC9oDszR3Aw43-eec/s1600/BRS+in+2005+(2).jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSSvuj3fNWjmjxD755_T9rcZk7EDwJmhw0TIuwujO18rBm5iw2GvA7ek96AupbBXigOIz_pi6mpKsjVVLRFYNG1ggT-FqQ6d7LaiDoJrwqCMj_rJlgUE9g_yErHpjbNxLMkkc/s1600/Site+of+former+BRS+%5B2014-08-29%5D+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSSvuj3fNWjmjxD755_T9rcZk7EDwJmhw0TIuwujO18rBm5iw2GvA7ek96AupbBXigOIz_pi6mpKsjVVLRFYNG1ggT-FqQ6d7LaiDoJrwqCMj_rJlgUE9g_yErHpjbNxLMkkc/s1600/Site+of+former+BRS+%5B2014-08-29%5D+(1).jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj907MKlzGioG_fhEaEFFG7Xa3J_9bq143j1OTzuLQJfqIre2jZpMSSwfJ3EGhw_o9mhi1ObDd64JjldRax_ojaNqw_NCBNZze2HRKZgXp5lLpf2MYOKrzOMhsH15ExmcRcupM7/s1600/Site+of+former+BRS+%5B2014-08-29%5D+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj907MKlzGioG_fhEaEFFG7Xa3J_9bq143j1OTzuLQJfqIre2jZpMSSwfJ3EGhw_o9mhi1ObDd64JjldRax_ojaNqw_NCBNZze2HRKZgXp5lLpf2MYOKrzOMhsH15ExmcRcupM7/s1600/Site+of+former+BRS+%5B2014-08-29%5D+(2).jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-indent: 0cm;"><b>Sorry, the date on the new photos should be 29/8/2014</b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still I am comforted by two facts. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">One, the buildings were not torn down to
make way for another condo; but for the expansion of its neighbour, the Assisi Hospice. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">Two, they had not done this earlier. When I
first blogged about BRS in November 2005, I speculated that when they started building
the MacRitchie Viaduct, they certainly would have to clear this piece of land.
But to my pleasant surprise, they did not; and over the years, I was able to
visit it a few times. And in fact just last year, I was there with my friend
James Seah for a photo shoot for an article in the Straits Times.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU8lx-wNFZYDW30NlOMTr2oyzryNZ2JibBHwSLZCJ09SImqPvhn5CCumBllMiN9BSDCRouLKjmIURoLlVCOi_gxke7UB8itS4ExB-D6Oxkh8GrfeTElplxSgcXUfE-2bke4AG/s1600/With+James+Seah+in+Straits+Times+%5B2014-03-24%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU8lx-wNFZYDW30NlOMTr2oyzryNZ2JibBHwSLZCJ09SImqPvhn5CCumBllMiN9BSDCRouLKjmIURoLlVCOi_gxke7UB8itS4ExB-D6Oxkh8GrfeTElplxSgcXUfE-2bke4AG/s1600/With+James+Seah+in+Straits+Times+%5B2014-03-24%5D.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 36pt;">Still, I cannot help but feel a tinge of
sadness when I pass by this place now and take a habitual glance towards where
BRS once stood and realize the harsh reality of life in Singapore. We simply
have no room for sentimentality on the little island ‘paradise”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>PS – You can read more about my memories of
BRS, as well as those of my classmates Kim Aii Chan and Lee Sock Gek in my
book, Good Morning Yesterday.</b></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-43353702692951799742014-05-22T22:52:00.001+08:002014-05-22T22:52:42.517+08:00The Golden Hairpin<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">When I was
very young, our family’s favourite pastime was watching black and white
Cantonese kungfu <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2005/09/to-movies.html" target="_blank">movies</a> at the South Country (Lam Kok) Theatre in Kampong San
Teng. This was in the 1950s. One movie that I cannot forget is The Golden
Hairpin (</span><span lang="ZH-CN">碧血金钗</span><span lang="EN-US">). After more than half a century, all I
remember about this movie, other than the title, is that the lead role was
played by a popular Hong Kong film star by the name of Cheong Ying Choi </span><span lang="ZH-CN">(张英才)</span><span lang="ZH-CN"> </span><span lang="EN-US">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the
reason I cannot forget this movie is that I never got to know its ending. You
see; this movie was a bit like the Lords of the Ring trilogy. Hence, after
watching the first episode, we had to wait patiently for months before the next
episode became available. I remember that after watching 2 (maybe it was 3) episodes,
I was waiting eagerly to catch the grand finale …… but it never came! I waited
and waited; but I never learnt how the story ended. How frustrating! (But,
actually, it was not difficult to guess the ending, because it was one of those
typical “kill villain and avenge si-fu’s death” type of story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway,
thanks to YouTube, I am now able to find ‘closure’ because I discovered that
somebody has actually uploaded all 4 episodes. In fact, in the comments
section, one viewer expressed his gratitude because like me, he too did not see
the final episode. Unfortunately, after more than fifty years; I have totally
forgotten the story. And hence, if I wanted to know the ending; I have to go
back to the beginning. Well, like we Singaporeans are fond of saying; “Where
got time?”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Nevertheless,
out of curiosity, I did watch a few minutes of the beginning and was thrilled
to see the names of many actors that I had not seen for ages; such as Chan Hou
Kow (</span><span lang="ZH-CN">陈好逑</span><span lang="EN-US">) and Si-ma Wah Lung (</span><span lang="ZH-CN">司马华龙</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">). Anyway, if you have more patience than me; here
you are. Enjoy.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Ljn6a6_rHz8" width="420"></iframe><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-10270200223950560782014-05-12T12:05:00.000+08:002014-05-12T12:07:56.012+08:00Remains of my kampong<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have often been
approached by students; usually from NUS or NTU, to assist them with their
projects. Usually they found me through this blog or my Goodmorningyesterday
Facebook Page. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Much as I enjoy speaking to young people about the Singapore of
my childhood, I usually turn down their requests because I simply could not
afford the time. Besides students, my fellow nostalgia/heritage bloggers and I
also get requests from media professionals and documentary producers. Usually,
I would tell them that the information they are looking for; for example what it
was like to visit the New World or Great World Amusement Park, can easily be
obtained from their parents or older relatives and neighbours. If for certain
reasons, they are not able to do that, I would accede to their requests. Here
are two recent examples.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The first was a Malay boy from NUS who wanted an oral
interview about the Chinese operas that used to be organised in our kampongs. The
second was also from NUS. He </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">interviewed
me for his project about the everyday life of Chinese kampong folks. As part of
his assignment, he produced a short video of the place where my home once
stood. I share it with you here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div id="fb-root">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<script>(function(d, s, id) { var
js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js =
d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src =
"//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script',
'facebook-jssdk'));</script><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152312010052931" data-width="466">
<div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152312010052931">Post</a>
by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/angbinmarist">Yang Sheng
Syamsul</a>.</span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PS - One thing I have always wanted to
tell anyone who approached me for such assistance; but was too shy to say so
openly, was this; if you want me to spend a few hours of my time to assist you
with your project, shouldn’t you at least show your appreciation by purchasing
a copy of my book? Even if you don’t read such books, you could give it to your
parents as a gift, right?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-24027887897533790612014-04-16T19:36:00.000+08:002014-04-16T19:47:27.276+08:00A story Lee Kuan Yew told<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB3bT4Bdf7EwT2MtkdMLvS43k_gex6eraAlABsC514mADEZxRoCWu4c15vIDAcNYfo2tAvX1EnlULEMw6E49RKppvxdGdyQ1LJUwmaEihNOyR7-Xy13h3TQjuErijJnojPL1a/s1600/1+-+ST+Bilibual+Collection+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB3bT4Bdf7EwT2MtkdMLvS43k_gex6eraAlABsC514mADEZxRoCWu4c15vIDAcNYfo2tAvX1EnlULEMw6E49RKppvxdGdyQ1LJUwmaEihNOyR7-Xy13h3TQjuErijJnojPL1a/s1600/1+-+ST+Bilibual+Collection+book.jpg" height="200" width="142" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I cannot
recall for sure; but I think he told this story to a bunch of foreign
correspondents at an event in Helsinki. Anyway, this story is based on a
Chinese idiom; </span><span lang="ZH-CN">塞翁失马,安知非福</span><span lang="EN-US">*. This story can be found in The Straits Times
Bilingual Collection, Vol 1, page 86, under the title, <i>Fortunes and misfortunes</i>. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">But
when I was telling this story to my children when they were young, I titled it,
<i>The Story of Sai Weng</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGVN_29C42b_zkHy6jwVmQPfRumvux2DTekZcPjuFlEEbJLsIhIShomfz77KiO1PiiHjOnNV21lp_R4DpBYR7GYTGwyevOJff8DjF7yFgoKaXe-rmRVwOpRH7tN6BeH_k_Cqp/s1600/2+-+Sai+Weng+idiom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGVN_29C42b_zkHy6jwVmQPfRumvux2DTekZcPjuFlEEbJLsIhIShomfz77KiO1PiiHjOnNV21lp_R4DpBYR7GYTGwyevOJff8DjF7yFgoKaXe-rmRVwOpRH7tN6BeH_k_Cqp/s1600/2+-+Sai+Weng+idiom.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: blue;">* Sometimes written as <span style="background-color: #f9fff3; font-family: 宋体; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">塞翁失马,焉知非福</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Long ago,
there was an old man who lived at the border. His wife had died more than 10 years
ago, leaving him with a son, whom he brought up. The old man had a mare which
he took good care of. When the mare became pregnant, he became very busy and
happy. He planned to sell the colt when it had grown so he could use the money
to get a wife for his son.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Unfortunately, when the mare was
about to deliver, it suddenly disappeared. The old man and his son searched everywhere,
but could not find it. The old man was very sad. After some time, however, he
was himself again and behaved as if nothing had happened. His neighbours came to
comfort him. The old man, moved by their concern, said: “I do appreciate your
concern. However, do not vex yourselves over my problem. Although I have lost
my horse and cannot afford to have a daughter-in-law now, no one can say for
sure if this is good or bad.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Several months passed; and on one
clear and windy night, the old man heard the familiar neighing of a horse from
his bedroom. He hurried out and saw 3 horses coming towards him. When he
realized that one of the horses was his very own mare, he shouted for joy.
There was also a small horse which apparently was the mare’s offspring. He
hastily brought them to his stable. When the neighbours, who had been awakened
by the noise, learned what had happened, they came to congratulate him. The old
man was extremely happy. After some time, however, his face darkened briefly
and sighing, he said calmly; “Let’s not be too happy. This could be a
misfortune.” His words caused laughter, and everyone said he was
over-suspicious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The old man’s son loved the young
colt and rode it often. One day, while galloping along a mountain track, he
fell and broke his leg. Many surgeons were consulted, but he could not be
cured, and eventually became a cripple. The neighbours came to comfort him.
After thanking them for their concern, the old man said: “Though my son has
become a cripple, there is no need to grieve, for who knows what good may come
out of this incident.” The neighbours were puzzled by what he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> One year later, the imperial
court decided to wage war against a neighbouring state. All the able-bodied
young men were conscripted into the army and most of them never returned from
the battle field. The village became deserted and quiet. Only the old man’s son
who had been disqualified because of his disability escaped conscription. Thus
even in the midst of the chaos of war, he got married and soon had a son. The
old man and his family lived in peace and happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Many people
who witnessed this admired and said of the old man: “When the old man of the
frontier loses his horse, it may be good fortune; when he gains another horse,
it may be a misfortune.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The End</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilOYras2eSRpwsHKNkTbtk0hxn-KTIBwgKopW-8F10USdtyrcriUHmRwEyfttHeGLSpjeSQ3wMnRP1YB3HS1aHzFq6psv-fK3VmTW1w1miHVoco7LcSQ6XSKKFJ_Du5qkI7uo/s1600/3+-+Chinese+saying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilOYras2eSRpwsHKNkTbtk0hxn-KTIBwgKopW-8F10USdtyrcriUHmRwEyfttHeGLSpjeSQ3wMnRP1YB3HS1aHzFq6psv-fK3VmTW1w1miHVoco7LcSQ6XSKKFJ_Du5qkI7uo/s1600/3+-+Chinese+saying.jpg" height="95" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">At
the end of every story, there’s a language tip like this. I learned my <i>hanyu pinyi</i> partly from here.</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>“And we
know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)</b></i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-89757402743193891242014-03-24T12:10:00.000+08:002014-03-24T12:15:13.877+08:00Never too old to blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y3gvIBYEIjnDenUxPDdBiNQU3pDeEI3AR2yuP30iJ3cYAchPQD1RJ3db28hx-KxTaXqRjeG-rnA3aJfOxZWZ39xL-cy_1kJuWUygggddEdP9js86hqu5ufMb53AZHj2MHieJ/s1600/Photo+1+-+ST+(2014-03-24)+-+Never+too+old+to+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y3gvIBYEIjnDenUxPDdBiNQU3pDeEI3AR2yuP30iJ3cYAchPQD1RJ3db28hx-KxTaXqRjeG-rnA3aJfOxZWZ39xL-cy_1kJuWUygggddEdP9js86hqu5ufMb53AZHj2MHieJ/s1600/Photo+1+-+ST+(2014-03-24)+-+Never+too+old+to+blog.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you see
the article in the Straits Times today, where I was featured together with my
fellow senior nostalgia bloggers, Philip Chew, James Seah and Victor Yue? There’s
a photo on page A4 of me and James. And do you know where this photo was taken,
what’s that thing that I am holding in my hand?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Answer. I
was holding my primary school report book. The school, as regular readers of my
blog, as well as those who have read my book, would know, was the Braddell Rise
School. The reporter wanted to take a photo of James and me as a location that
could be linked to our fondest memories of the old Singapore. For James, it
would be Bukit Ho Swee; whereas, for me, it was my kampong at Lorong Kinchir
off Lorong Chuan. Unfortunately, both these places no long exist, and so I suggested
we met at Mount Alvernia Hospital and took our photo at the site of the former
Braddell Rise School. I told her that I had studied in BRS from 1960 to 1963,
and had literally seen the hospital next door sprout from the ground. The BRS buildings
are slated for demolition soon to give way for a new wing of the Assisi
Hospice. Fortunately, the demolition works had not started yet and so we could
sneak in for a photo-shoot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I requested
that the report make mention of my book <i>Good
Morning Yesterday</i> ….. for obvious reasons. Many people know me to be a
blogger, but many do not know that I am also an author; and even fewer people know
where to purchase it. I myself am not sure, since it has been two years since
the book was released, and many bookstores no longer carry it; but I am quite
sure that the Kinokuniya branch Orchard Road does – at least that was what my
distributor says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another
place where you can purchase my book, at least for this weekend, is at the
50Plus Expo organized by the Council for Third Age (C3A). The expo will be held
from 28<sup>th</sup> to 30<sup>th</sup> March at the Suntec City Hall 401-404.
For the 3<sup>rd</sup> time in a row, I have been invited to speak at the Forum,
and so has my friend James Seah. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My book will be on sale at the Booth C27 (Spring Publishing Pte Ltd). </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you would like to attend the 50Plus Expo, please
register at the C3A </span><a href="http://www.50plussingapore.com/index.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">website</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So here
again are the <a href="http://www.50plussingapore.com/forum-talks.html" target="_blank">details</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzzVKkKlg5gLk2QXQjCDKl24MjMIy60L3iI2VrNsvDZZUS8R7pa1lMi9DkjQnu4fAxYL0FQipwJX8oaM-oFMs7Anz_VnOMJ1kPhQsZTMKawIWfPGNLjCWdKMa9WCsUWjRzZ2z/s1600/Photo+3+-+50Plus+Expo+announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzzVKkKlg5gLk2QXQjCDKl24MjMIy60L3iI2VrNsvDZZUS8R7pa1lMi9DkjQnu4fAxYL0FQipwJX8oaM-oFMs7Anz_VnOMJ1kPhQsZTMKawIWfPGNLjCWdKMa9WCsUWjRzZ2z/s1600/Photo+3+-+50Plus+Expo+announcement.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-50919510874123591462014-03-11T23:54:00.000+08:002014-03-11T23:54:01.957+08:00Meeting my new old friend Judith Johnson<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last month,
I met another of “my new old friends”, <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2013/10/from-my-inbox-judith-johnson-remembers.html" target="_blank">Judith Johnson</a>, and her husband, Robert.
I brought them to see two places that held strong memories of her years in
Singapore, the Changi Airbase in Loyang Avenue, where her school, the RAF Changi
Grammar School used to be located; and Chiltern Drive when she used to live.
She gave me a CD of old photos of Singapore, a few of which were from my former
kampong in Lorong Chuan. I have been very busy these past weeks and have not
had time to organize them and share them with readers. She also gave me a DVD of
her dad’s cine films, segments of which contain scenes of Singapore in the
early 1960s. Finally she also gave me a CD containing photos of the Joint Air
Traffic Control Centre at Paya Lebar Airport, which her dad helped to set up, to
hand over to the relevant organization.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEP0X2UK_y8zVW2e1DqgqtvMmSnE5hpiVYOQ35h7x8o_p_CHtAxRoFR-muF9QsUeypqaO7cqe2KY_u3iCaWBcMWpGCtJ6dEjJg5yaP9kEWPXXjn6a9W1-PQWOKdqvWhb_GjNc/s1600/1+-+With+Judith+outside+Changi+Airbase+South+%5B2014-02-20%5D+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEP0X2UK_y8zVW2e1DqgqtvMmSnE5hpiVYOQ35h7x8o_p_CHtAxRoFR-muF9QsUeypqaO7cqe2KY_u3iCaWBcMWpGCtJ6dEjJg5yaP9kEWPXXjn6a9W1-PQWOKdqvWhb_GjNc/s1600/1+-+With+Judith+outside+Changi+Airbase+South+%5B2014-02-20%5D+copy.jpg" height="231" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our first
stop was the Changi Airbase West in Loyang Avenue. Although she was not able to obtain
permission to enter the premises, we were, nevertheless, able to view the
buildings close-up from the nearby golf course. She shared with me many stories
of her time in this school; especially of how naughty the boys (<a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2008/01/school-days-in-1960s-singapore-one.html" target="_blank">Brian Mitchell</a>,
are you reading this?) used to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a
short drive around the Changi Village vicinity, we proceeded to visit the house
that Judith lived in at 10 Chiltern Drive in Braddell Heights. Judith was
fortunate in that the house was still standing, and did not look very different
even though it had undergone major renovation. Unfortunately, there was nobody
home, and we were not able to enter the compound for a closer look.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOK0PXiCF87X-IKH3aMJ8O1Xho1wDGoIY2kIbRJ2y1U_nDiDHAltGhjHbZdMmrnqdQmN7RQAayKTJUtI6drS4MEPgBVim22s_ifc5j9JN8y37cCtpx2P6y1Qv0CUfbkedK2-h/s1600/2a+-+Judith+Johnson's+house+at+10+Chiltern+Dr+in+1961+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOK0PXiCF87X-IKH3aMJ8O1Xho1wDGoIY2kIbRJ2y1U_nDiDHAltGhjHbZdMmrnqdQmN7RQAayKTJUtI6drS4MEPgBVim22s_ifc5j9JN8y37cCtpx2P6y1Qv0CUfbkedK2-h/s1600/2a+-+Judith+Johnson's+house+at+10+Chiltern+Dr+in+1961+copy.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1961 photo of Judith's house</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqr2IZmylHl_MKHSbEbc7ej3POs8eMhs0v243Xs36bLMAMvZFczyDVnLlW4gittF2otFBm7SBdRtOuvGpbDS4AOdSJXp-SAO4vmU-yYZVgdCJaUchYt232zceXNi6NqqN8Vyu/s1600/2b+-+Judith+Johnson's+house+at+10+Chiltern+Drive+in+2014+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqr2IZmylHl_MKHSbEbc7ej3POs8eMhs0v243Xs36bLMAMvZFczyDVnLlW4gittF2otFBm7SBdRtOuvGpbDS4AOdSJXp-SAO4vmU-yYZVgdCJaUchYt232zceXNi6NqqN8Vyu/s1600/2b+-+Judith+Johnson's+house+at+10+Chiltern+Drive+in+2014+copy.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2014 photo of Judith's house</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judith
showed me the place opposite her house where there used to be an “ugly square
cement structure” from the top of which she could see </span><a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2005/10/our-kampong.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">my kampong</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. She brought
out her iPad and showed me photos that her dad had taken of our kampong. I was
a bit disappointed because I could not recognize the place in the photos.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see from the map below, it was
probably quite a distance from where I stayed. From her description of the
farms and ponds that she saw; including the trellises where the gourds were
planted (described in detail in my book, Good Morning Yesterday), I concluded
that she was referring to the area presently occupied by St Gabriel’s Primary
School. Nevertheless, I am truly thankful to be able to get hold of these
precious photos of my kampong. These photos were taken around 1961, which was
prior to the construction of the </span><a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2006/11/places-i-remember-4-lorong-chuan.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Lorong Chuan</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in 1963. This new Lorong Chuan
linked Braddell Road to Serangoon Gardens; and separated my section of our
kampong from the section shown in Judith’s photos.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpFmkweyrqcTSSSxVmeRb_1N3LoJ01FLhgNpr7B6oDgSGuYTrNJbzS5He3D-VBg9w_KG7l8pEFEvmCGl3eIulqER_6rH6GhIDnYLWblWyANVHQa18ZmNWeGSSYAl4xPhOaviS/s1600/3a+-+Opposite+10+Chiltern+Dr+(1961).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpFmkweyrqcTSSSxVmeRb_1N3LoJ01FLhgNpr7B6oDgSGuYTrNJbzS5He3D-VBg9w_KG7l8pEFEvmCGl3eIulqER_6rH6GhIDnYLWblWyANVHQa18ZmNWeGSSYAl4xPhOaviS/s1600/3a+-+Opposite+10+Chiltern+Dr+(1961).jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "ugly cement structure" opposite Judith's house in 1961</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fy3BEUauVJf9FR5XUtCKx36tbXr1_1SfEvFK0y9wK8guWjL3SY8kg595L10ubetZmcysnNp0AD_hiKOWUk5d32M-b3rxUXZPUG8s74T6GtxwizSj3yqb62tpyI5exde0VXXZ/s1600/3b+-+Opposite+10+Chiltern+Dr+(2014).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fy3BEUauVJf9FR5XUtCKx36tbXr1_1SfEvFK0y9wK8guWjL3SY8kg595L10ubetZmcysnNp0AD_hiKOWUk5d32M-b3rxUXZPUG8s74T6GtxwizSj3yqb62tpyI5exde0VXXZ/s1600/3b+-+Opposite+10+Chiltern+Dr+(2014).jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This place is now a playground. The building in the background is St Gabriel's School, I believe.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZS7btqCLFiIkVcOJsyCaWaneKyVYV-WrCiaq-tRms-9poQz1ptcLwaQ0KtRgmBgefV63_2uDESPyF2xWluNI6vSwm1_nzFMzZNx5EBEXXMfAWUPF62I6sNUkKXKSDTEc7JUn/s1600/4+-+1963+Map+of+Braddell+Heights+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZS7btqCLFiIkVcOJsyCaWaneKyVYV-WrCiaq-tRms-9poQz1ptcLwaQ0KtRgmBgefV63_2uDESPyF2xWluNI6vSwm1_nzFMzZNx5EBEXXMfAWUPF62I6sNUkKXKSDTEc7JUn/s1600/4+-+1963+Map+of+Braddell+Heights+copy.jpg" height="400" width="390" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">The Lorong Chuan in this 1963 map is a dirt track
which we kampong folks referred to as Chui Arm Lor (Water Pipes Rd) in Hokkien.
Actually it continues all the way to Upper Thomson Road (refer to my book for
details). X marks the spot where my house stood; and Y is the area shown in
Judith’s photos. I can tell by referring to an old topographical map of this
area which showed the ponds and the streams.</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After
taking several photos of Chiltern Drive, I brought them to the entrance of the
Australian International School at Lorong Chuan and pointed out to the spot
where my house probably stood. From there we drove to the Saddle Club
travelling along stretches of Braddell Road and Thomson Road that Judith would
have traveled on her way to her riding lessons. We proceeded for lunch at Toa
Payoh before I brought them to their last destination at Geylang East Central
where they had arranged to meet the family of her <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2014/01/tracing-my-amah-judith-johnson.html" target="_blank">amah</a>, Ah Moy, who
unfortunately had passed away just two years ago. I understand that they had
quite an emotional meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am glad to have met my “new old friend” Judith
Johnson. I am glad to have played a small part in helping her recall found
memories of her childhood years in our little island; and I have been richly
rewarded by her gift of many precious old photos (of very high quality) of the
Singapore of my childhood days; including a few of my kampong. I share some of
them with you below. I will upload others to the Good Morning Yesterday
Facebook Page.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-73939316005385498822014-02-08T17:11:00.001+08:002014-02-08T17:11:41.571+08:00Tracing my amah Chew Joo Keng (Margaret)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Like <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2014/01/tracing-my-amah-judith-johnson.html" target="_blank">Judith Johnson</a> and <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2014/01/tracing-my-amah-rukiah.html" target="_blank">IngridKivikoski</a>, Shona Trench would like to contact her amah Chew Joo Keng (Margaret).
Shona writes:</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hello, I am a British expat,
living in Singapore now for four years, with my husband and two teenage
children. I was born here in 1961, as my father was a photographer in the RAF
and was based at RAF Seletar. I just wondered if you would be able to help me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Would you know how I might be
able to contact my Amah? Her name is Chew Joo Keng but we knew her as Margaret.
It would be nice to meet her after all these years (50!) if she is still living
in Singapore.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXfyPcCDlF7f9OPUyeFFTIMjqIDcqjiLv4QwGTQD7-heG6j8jCtaRoO7s57V3RihHqlQE2oLcLeY4FN1cnpnmAziuBH04whJEbgQoG0R88K3ExjCelCNpQ5hUP9x9giN10xg-/s1600/Shona+Trench+with+her+Amah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXfyPcCDlF7f9OPUyeFFTIMjqIDcqjiLv4QwGTQD7-heG6j8jCtaRoO7s57V3RihHqlQE2oLcLeY4FN1cnpnmAziuBH04whJEbgQoG0R88K3ExjCelCNpQ5hUP9x9giN10xg-/s1600/Shona+Trench+with+her+Amah.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This photo is of Margaret, my
sister Karen, and me (I'm the baby)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We lived at Seletar Camp, 13
Oxford Street. I had an older sister Beverley too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My parents names are Campbell
Bryan, and Irene Bryan. Our house is still at Seletar Camp, it's a B&W
terraced house. We love being here, and exploring Singapore, Dad too, although
it obviously has changed in the last 50yrs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shona Trench"</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-54705296169525845352014-01-28T14:03:00.000+08:002014-01-28T14:03:11.622+08:00Gotong Royong<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not
long ago, I came across a book entitled, <i>Citizens, Conversations and
Consultations</i>. I think it was published by the Peoples Association to
commemorate the institution known as the Citizens Consultative Committee. In
it, I saw some photos of soldiers helping out in a gotong royong. They reminded
me of the time I was involved in a similar project when I was serving my
full-time national service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH7AJirUrB5_dJfJD7DOz3u9dlDKYRkCF9BRW-vJSKOdBkdr4PgIwu01C5WBoP8bKghrsbmVEv2JCPUi60wUv5U3IW0UBSia-LzkDL66Bw1haKz_Ldqk4Qh_0fI8SRE3G2nql/s1600/Gotong+Royong+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH7AJirUrB5_dJfJD7DOz3u9dlDKYRkCF9BRW-vJSKOdBkdr4PgIwu01C5WBoP8bKghrsbmVEv2JCPUi60wUv5U3IW0UBSia-LzkDL66Bw1haKz_Ldqk4Qh_0fI8SRE3G2nql/s1600/Gotong+Royong+1.jpg" height="380" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukLvlY1aGz-TmxnqGcmr14w4B4fq0BhqYEcctcF-QFDEBnSGVTTAUdjMwCE468VQWkGSIYVblsTltmYANc1xSVcxTsWqW-o71nflG5wilEPrtx982cM19iEtIYIOgOs-91t3i/s1600/Gotong+Royong+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukLvlY1aGz-TmxnqGcmr14w4B4fq0BhqYEcctcF-QFDEBnSGVTTAUdjMwCE468VQWkGSIYVblsTltmYANc1xSVcxTsWqW-o71nflG5wilEPrtx982cM19iEtIYIOgOs-91t3i/s1600/Gotong+Royong+2.jpg" height="315" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQs0_IR7GQMmhE5WlxJg1A6drFlczGlvXyJZUbD7psysxgKgYM_7QDU9MOxEluEBFrDRjJJ1-Dd1pCHZoyjWm7OgjTNOjC6udATnMMJ1nDEBID639YEPgrBAZIjdMpAWQEtRb/s1600/Gotong+Royong+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQs0_IR7GQMmhE5WlxJg1A6drFlczGlvXyJZUbD7psysxgKgYM_7QDU9MOxEluEBFrDRjJJ1-Dd1pCHZoyjWm7OgjTNOjC6udATnMMJ1nDEBID639YEPgrBAZIjdMpAWQEtRb/s1600/Gotong+Royong+3.jpg" height="325" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What
is <b>Gotong Royong</b>? It is a Malay term for an event where the members of a community
put their hands together to carry out a project for the benefit of that
community (my own definition). Typical projects involve building a road, or clearing
a stream and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
year was probably 1977 and I was a platoon commander in 30 SCE in <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2007/10/i-remember-mandai-camp.html" target="_blank">Mandai Camp</a>.
Our project involved building a short stretch of road to join Kranji Way to Neo
Tiew Road. At that time, Neo Tiew Road was a thriving kampong. We often passed
through this kampong when we went to Area D (Sungei Gedong) for our training. Our
combat engineer battalion was an appropriate organization to help out in such a
community project because we had both the manpower and the equipment for such
work. For example, in our battalion, we had a heavy plant company. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It
was quite a common practice in those days, when there were still many kampongs
in Singapore, to involve the army units in such gotong royong projects. However,
it is very unlikely that our army boys today, would be called upon such a
project. Firstly, Singapore is so well-developed now, and our government
departments are well-equipped to carry out such work more effectively.
Furthermore, the population of NS boys has decreased considerably. And with
full-time NS reduced to only 2 years, the army camps themselves are facing a
labour crunch and have to outsource many non-combat functions like transporting
of troops and cooking. Still, I think they would benefit from occasional
involvement in such a project.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgRUgtLdx0jifRUG354O3-3b_AY3w3iF__SBSftB41ehgfUeirRCAcj6vYMl-PV3CwdPtjYxx4Z0v1b6_ON6yzQV2oB4fjQkEeFdhV439d-aFY-sOLJXCJv2WdlC-qW5zmWTp/s1600/Operation+Broomstick+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgRUgtLdx0jifRUG354O3-3b_AY3w3iF__SBSftB41ehgfUeirRCAcj6vYMl-PV3CwdPtjYxx4Z0v1b6_ON6yzQV2oB4fjQkEeFdhV439d-aFY-sOLJXCJv2WdlC-qW5zmWTp/s1600/Operation+Broomstick+1.jpg" height="400" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Operation Broomstick. Source: <span style="text-align: start;">Citizens, Conversations and Consultations</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr-uTo79HQAEMVDrbmqwH5QFMBd0dhhlx_rniHkX_ZWDlCw9JhOoPldxkYviNd5_jSYegLjwI5pzezECaIDppV-IqAr2cBuYdyvL5USEq2XqWYrw6ghMhWny2B8Y-dCgxBpug/s1600/Operation+Broomstick+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr-uTo79HQAEMVDrbmqwH5QFMBd0dhhlx_rniHkX_ZWDlCw9JhOoPldxkYviNd5_jSYegLjwI5pzezECaIDppV-IqAr2cBuYdyvL5USEq2XqWYrw6ghMhWny2B8Y-dCgxBpug/s1600/Operation+Broomstick+2.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Operation Broomstick. Source: <span style="text-align: start;">Citizens, Conversations and Consultations</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below is an example of a gotong royong project at Bukit Panjang. Description and photo from
the </span><a href="http://archivesonline.nas.sg/search" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">National Archives</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Picas collection dated 28 June 1973.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpkP5hZc2bW7xeZHQJCcatJ74qlBXPBPNe3QHfH7IUMVcEkBjsNLQiLUyaCs9ASUNuHejviLTsEE-7XyLlLlmAS9-hYfnlsKvedtD92W6ycH9l9ICa8BhkXOff_ExnkolE9kq/s1600/Gotong+Royong+@+Bt+Panjang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpkP5hZc2bW7xeZHQJCcatJ74qlBXPBPNe3QHfH7IUMVcEkBjsNLQiLUyaCs9ASUNuHejviLTsEE-7XyLlLlmAS9-hYfnlsKvedtD92W6ycH9l9ICa8BhkXOff_ExnkolE9kq/s1600/Gotong+Royong+@+Bt+Panjang.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Singapore’s “Keep Our Water Clean” campaign got off to a good
start when 300 young men began a two-day operation to de-silt the Sungei Pang
Sua in Bukit Panjang. Joined by Member of Parliament for Bukit Panjang, Lee
Yiok Seng (on the bank with rake), the men, 200 of them national servicemen,
spent eight back-breaking hours shoveling mud and weeds from the river which
carries rain water to Seletar Reservoir.</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Related
<a href="http://remembersingapore.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/kampong-spirit-and-gotong-royong/" target="_blank">article</a> on Gotong Royong in Remember Singapore.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-90965628729050363562014-01-23T09:38:00.002+08:002014-01-23T10:12:59.787+08:00Retracing the Iceball Trail - Edmund Arozoo<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRYLAaLpQv_6fKQScpfyFMdko3DqcDQT-EC4zcTqT7Q22VQbYHfoqNZQyVRSuLgsaBLNWhUQuknzMyhQlgpV5AGVI0240C2lvgDexjbPmCdos2YgPh_Nij4H7GtWYlU8uDgiX/s1600/1+Edmund+Arozoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRYLAaLpQv_6fKQScpfyFMdko3DqcDQT-EC4zcTqT7Q22VQbYHfoqNZQyVRSuLgsaBLNWhUQuknzMyhQlgpV5AGVI0240C2lvgDexjbPmCdos2YgPh_Nij4H7GtWYlU8uDgiX/s1600/1+Edmund+Arozoo.JPG" height="290" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last month, I had the pleasure to meet with another 'new old friend'. He is Edmund Arozo. Like me, Edmund
grew up in a kampong and we shared many common memories. Like me, he too
received a 30-cts allowance a day during primary school to pay for bus fare and
recess. He recalled how he sacrificed his bus fare home one day in order to
enjoy an ice-ball; and walked the few km from school to home. Here is his story.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*********************************************************************</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your whole life flashes in
front of you when you experience a near death moment. Memories come flashing
back. Memories of all the good times and bad – and times that one had forgotten
or chose to forget come back vividly. Having been in that position almost two
years ago there is one strange memory that strangely stood out in my mind and
often came back to me after that.</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It takes me back fifty or more
years ago when I was in primary school at the then Holy Innocents School (which
later became Montfort School). Those were the days when the Ponggol Bus Company
or aka the “Yellow Bus” Company serviced routes in the Serangoon and Ponggol
District. My generation of users of this service would remember the wooden
louver windows these buses had in those early days!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, the average daily “pocket
money” for school kids our age then was 30 cents. 10 cents for bus fare to and
from school, 10 cents for a plate of Char Kuay Teow or Mee Siam etc, 5 cents
for a drink and 5 cents for Karchang Puteh or sweets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On certain days after our morning
school sessions when the urge for a “cool” after-school treat was high a group
of us, living close to each other, would decide that if we walked home we could
use the 5 cents saved to buy the refreshing “ice ball” – shaved ice shaped into
a ball (like a snowball) and sweeten with various coloured sweeteners and a
dash of evaporated milk. This was handmade and looking back was pretty
unhygienic but it was a special treat for most of us to quench our thirst.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well the walk from our school,
which was next to the Church of the Nativity, back to our homes in Jalan Hock
Chye, off Tampines Road, covered a distance of about a mile. We were usually
hot, sweaty and thirsty by the time we reach the “kaka” (Muslim Indian) shop
that sold iceballs. However walking the last few yards home sucking on an
iceball was simply “heavenly” then.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was in Singapore recently and
a strange urge came over me – I wanted to walk the iceball trail again! (I did
not think it was the progression of a second childhood coming on).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoFbcFsGk3JC9RfI7r1_fyXwvrsvx9ohHOYmy3KCU7dnYtgbSyDPF78WavB-dOwpIE3vAtNd9OoVcW6trR5GOUqGo_LZscyIAiK82c1pFKXE7gufN5n-rDFWE5rCczPsFIWk6/s1600/trail3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoFbcFsGk3JC9RfI7r1_fyXwvrsvx9ohHOYmy3KCU7dnYtgbSyDPF78WavB-dOwpIE3vAtNd9OoVcW6trR5GOUqGo_LZscyIAiK82c1pFKXE7gufN5n-rDFWE5rCczPsFIWk6/s1600/trail3.jpg" height="381" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well on 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> August
2012 I and my wife caught a bus from Upper Thompson Road to Houggang Central to
do the trail. Sadly my old school is no more there but the Church of the
Nativity is still there and that was my starting point. With camera in hand I
recaptured memories of various roads and lorongs that were landmarks then.
Fifty years has seen lots of improvement on what was then on a whole a rural
environment. Some lanes like St Joseph’s Lane have gone but it was nostalgic to
recap what was and still is present. Very few landmarks of old remain. I knew
we were getting close to our destination on approaching Lim Ah Pin Road. By
then we were thirsty and welcomed a cool soya bean drink at a shop opposite Lim
Ah Pin Road before heading for Kovan MRT station. This station used to be the
terminus for the STC bus company that ran services into town and other parts of
the island in those days. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly too Jalan Hock Chye is no
more around, being replaced by Hougang Avenue 1. However other landmarks are
still there to pinpoint precisely where we used to get our iceballs. The Kaka
shop used to be directly in front of the start of Jalan Teliti which is still
there; and where my old home used to be is where Block 230 now stands and
diagonally across there was a small lane that is now the present Jalan Hock
Chye. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDvOs1d2zNcptYZqNDEAtUpovNaNESDLLx8HKx49B7hZjnD4OWTZu0LOYghn7-JQXKm89Caw1CmMXVTxKVEcvrMC7j7lj95wKsJ_PdL1V1aqRueUiq0BKru7HrCCvAxaY56IA/s1600/Rd+signsa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDvOs1d2zNcptYZqNDEAtUpovNaNESDLLx8HKx49B7hZjnD4OWTZu0LOYghn7-JQXKm89Caw1CmMXVTxKVEcvrMC7j7lj95wKsJ_PdL1V1aqRueUiq0BKru7HrCCvAxaY56IA/s1600/Rd+signsa.JPG" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well fifty years on I am glad I
still could do the ice ball trail again and to all the old Monfortians who did
the walk with me then – life was very simple then but very much cherished. However
no ice ball for me at the end of the walk this time – had to settle for an ice
kachang as a substitute!</span></span></div>
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Related post: <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2006/12/ice-balls.html" target="_blank">Iceballs</a></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-63618097466312483152014-01-16T21:11:00.000+08:002014-01-16T21:49:28.585+08:00Tracing my amah Rukiah<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2014/01/tracing-my-amah-judith-johnson.html" target="_blank">Judith Johnson</a>, Ingrid
Kivikoski would like to contact her amah Rukiah and her daughter, Senipah. Ingrid
wrote in her email:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“<span style="color: #333333;">I lived in Singapore from 1958 to 1968. I
lived on 214 Dunearn Rd when it was flats owned by K.P.M/R.I.L (Dutch Shipping
Company) which then became Orchid Inn in the late 60's. I went to school at
"De Hollandse School" on Orange Grove Rd (which is now the Tennis
Pavillion of the Shangri La I believe) & frequented the Singapore Swimming
Club every weekend as well as The Dutch Club (which are both still there!!!).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would dearly love to find our
amah, Rukiah or her daughter, Senipah - or their children. I only have their
first names though. I think they lived in a kampong near our flat but I don't know where exactly. Below are some photos of Rukiah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingrid Kivikoski (nee Schroder)"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2PeBv3tuB6Mupe9piL4aV50PzP3EOs30HhsSPzm0a_Ls9adxef1Bp0U84ZB1e2gAM5DlyZ1hIf1EKMbl8OrrTqqosspLjbXF3dc9gofmAS_0bCLGojJ30RP4uauCXv7yuRv0/s1600/+Rukiah+&+Senipah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2PeBv3tuB6Mupe9piL4aV50PzP3EOs30HhsSPzm0a_Ls9adxef1Bp0U84ZB1e2gAM5DlyZ1hIf1EKMbl8OrrTqqosspLjbXF3dc9gofmAS_0bCLGojJ30RP4uauCXv7yuRv0/s1600/+Rukiah+&+Senipah.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rukiah and her daughter Senipah</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HZ5dovuogXD4fcAAh9yZh3NGRxgJnCt1wF2aLIDLeT9auzVnf0IYLQ5WZk7jfXne5sV1bn11PkEsrql_6pq8kQhQ7HI0JgvqadZA7FXOsRTV6XCYvD24ElxXb_h3L3p7NwFu/s1600/senipah+wedding+1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HZ5dovuogXD4fcAAh9yZh3NGRxgJnCt1wF2aLIDLeT9auzVnf0IYLQ5WZk7jfXne5sV1bn11PkEsrql_6pq8kQhQ7HI0JgvqadZA7FXOsRTV6XCYvD24ElxXb_h3L3p7NwFu/s1600/senipah+wedding+1966.JPG" height="305" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Senipah at her wedding in 1966</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn46WlMo1Y9PvZ6-lxlzXJ1uuFIKEcabXFJyzMxde18Yln0IFgjsThD7jCQH8Hq3VP5v-yJoib-44LvDQkHPQ7x-2PbRAKSkD1gHYX7wxBeOxmJxJ8kRflYjo6oUbrjXCW2L2/s1600/senipah+wedding,reception+1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn46WlMo1Y9PvZ6-lxlzXJ1uuFIKEcabXFJyzMxde18Yln0IFgjsThD7jCQH8Hq3VP5v-yJoib-44LvDQkHPQ7x-2PbRAKSkD1gHYX7wxBeOxmJxJ8kRflYjo6oUbrjXCW2L2/s1600/senipah+wedding,reception+1966.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Senipah at her wedding in 1966</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrwXzeJl7N8FsbwMKLTftV7tnc2jp3tAw-3k2RLvwli-LBy_rz4JvkRA_INTWCw5IYeNZQhzR8ts5YDTiZgKBO6hBbwBUPk7djqUr4bMgYZHHmUZ9rw-eUQknMH_d6kw2BEGB/s1600/ijs+fiets+paul+rukiah+1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrwXzeJl7N8FsbwMKLTftV7tnc2jp3tAw-3k2RLvwli-LBy_rz4JvkRA_INTWCw5IYeNZQhzR8ts5YDTiZgKBO6hBbwBUPk7djqUr4bMgYZHHmUZ9rw-eUQknMH_d6kw2BEGB/s1600/ijs+fiets+paul+rukiah+1958.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rukiah with my brother in 1958 at the back of the
flats at 214 Dunearn Rd</span></span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-68018233834656068442014-01-01T11:27:00.000+08:002014-01-01T11:27:00.280+08:00Tracing my Amah – Judith Johnson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNHJG2bBLkWkWWU7kQ-A7xgV2pkJzkwIAs7eK1XDD_sPeov7PA6fXYPtn9H8MTlP-x0ZxcKDbpXdt4NFlXlXGF-5rTYlEwHgyuUpIZ7VXEclEoX_V6VDIPNiGNlBtrt3G9FYQ/s1600/01+Judith+and+Ah+Moy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNHJG2bBLkWkWWU7kQ-A7xgV2pkJzkwIAs7eK1XDD_sPeov7PA6fXYPtn9H8MTlP-x0ZxcKDbpXdt4NFlXlXGF-5rTYlEwHgyuUpIZ7VXEclEoX_V6VDIPNiGNlBtrt3G9FYQ/s400/01+Judith+and+Ah+Moy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judith Johnson, who shared her
memories of Braddell Heights <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.sg/2013/10/from-my-inbox-judith-johnson-remembers.html" target="_blank">here</a>; has approached me for assistance in tracing
her amah, who was with them during the 1960s when she stayed at this house in 10 Chiltern Drive,
Braddell Heights. If you have any information, please contact me. Thanks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUoyseCqj_x_364Qw1n-RN90SFBfW8sY-LLgEO4XlbR44laIH7QgpDyE4aZfMxI53BAo6WSDzweP0ZQ5zj342nX2uF2g1ga7qTw2_vwURD7CKJ7kyVnHpXLK3oA5hCzpzB7-r/s1600/02+Judith+Johnson's+house+at+10+Chiltern+Dr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUoyseCqj_x_364Qw1n-RN90SFBfW8sY-LLgEO4XlbR44laIH7QgpDyE4aZfMxI53BAo6WSDzweP0ZQ5zj342nX2uF2g1ga7qTw2_vwURD7CKJ7kyVnHpXLK3oA5hCzpzB7-r/s400/02+Judith+Johnson's+house+at+10+Chiltern+Dr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Her name was <b>Ah Moi</b>, but
unfortunately I don't know her maiden name. After we left, she married
Tan Jee Yong who used to work at the Sea View Hotel (during a notorious strike
and eventual liquidation). Ah Moi and he used to write to my parents in
England - I have some of the letters. He eventually found work, after the
Sea View Hotel's closure, at the Singapore Recreation Club in 1965 (formerly
Eurasian Club). They had a son, Tan Kia Heng, born 18th June 1964. Their
last known address was 63, Jalan Daud off Jalan Eunos, S'pore 14.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWDcxxBkC14ZHTU_UXRN00js0vL2rL68Mtjdpkg4DjNO7A3e4_k5MBCjzxKsbN4UOamlmz-U2BHm1CfXb4mJzaOVP9ioyhm-fN9OLipmJOKNUwZv-ZvK129NuuJQGRDb7RVKH/s1600/03+Ah+Moy+and+Tan+Jee+Jong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWDcxxBkC14ZHTU_UXRN00js0vL2rL68Mtjdpkg4DjNO7A3e4_k5MBCjzxKsbN4UOamlmz-U2BHm1CfXb4mJzaOVP9ioyhm-fN9OLipmJOKNUwZv-ZvK129NuuJQGRDb7RVKH/s400/03+Ah+Moy+and+Tan+Jee+Jong.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judith’s father, David James Cutts (Sqn Ldr), was
in charge of the Joint Air Traffic Control Centre at Paya Lebar Airport.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcnvq909QCtK_QUM86yZjuDk476Nfg3t270tC3q3V7BuRy7JHjMG_LfOKYJMclxrrN-sv8rTtShpCsHkfe43Q5fUJVgO6lMscqccbltIcEFmCuL_ukUgFQak8kdBaYmgcMk4W/s1600/05+Judith's+father.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcnvq909QCtK_QUM86yZjuDk476Nfg3t270tC3q3V7BuRy7JHjMG_LfOKYJMclxrrN-sv8rTtShpCsHkfe43Q5fUJVgO6lMscqccbltIcEFmCuL_ukUgFQak8kdBaYmgcMk4W/s320/05+Judith's+father.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuff0VyBZKoXg2gCMjm4XnaXB8KiDS9mQFrhCH5XLDA3Dk4T4IUckZzMqV9DMYhLdtJin7GSf9n22NmbSjOis3OBU4NGGhCgTzwai82hc_pahRsSmOmdpRpBQvtrrD3Qop9x90/s1600/04+Judith+and+mother+and+brother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuff0VyBZKoXg2gCMjm4XnaXB8KiDS9mQFrhCH5XLDA3Dk4T4IUckZzMqV9DMYhLdtJin7GSf9n22NmbSjOis3OBU4NGGhCgTzwai82hc_pahRsSmOmdpRpBQvtrrD3Qop9x90/s400/04+Judith+and+mother+and+brother.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Judith, with her mum,
Margaret and brother, Jeremy</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-68157938690626704192013-12-28T11:42:00.002+08:002013-12-30T12:36:28.366+08:00Old Buildings Quiz #19<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are 2
buildings built in the 1960s.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>ANSWERS</u></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>No. 1</u> </b>used to house the <b><span style="color: blue;">Singapore
Family Planning and Population Board</span></b> located at the junction of Dunearn Road and
Gilstead Road. When I was studying in ACS in the 1960s, I often walked past
this place to get to Newton Circus from where I would take a Tay Koh Yat bus to
my home at Lorong Chuan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>No. 2 </u></b>was a cluster of
buildings which housed the <b><span style="color: blue;">SAF Married Quarters</span></b> at Upper Jurong Road. Located
near the junction with Benoi Road, it is today a dormitory for foreign workers –
judging from the laundry hanging out to dry when I took that photo a couple of
weeks ago. But back in the early 1970s, it was the only sign of civilization in
that part of Singapore. For us NS boys serving in SAFTI at that time, the sight
of this place and the bright lights of Safti, would cause our spirits to sink
right to the floor of the Green Bus no. 175 as it turned the corner of Upper
Jurong Road and brought us back every Sunday night to begin another week of
drudgery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend and regular guest
blogger, Peter Chan, recalls doing guard duty here – which for some strange
reason, I never did.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“The <b>SAF</b> <b>Married Quarters</b> guard duty was less exciting except that when it came to food we
had this coffee-shop at one of the unoccupied four blocks. There was one
Hokkien Mee food vendor and so you had little choice except to eat many bowls of
Hokkien Mee soup. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Doing prowler duties at Married Quarters was boring. I still can
remember one Sunday during SSL I was assigned to Married Quarters duty.
The only sound I could hear by day was our radio set. By nightfall, there
was no sound except crickets. In our time, the blocks were totally
unoccupied so the silence was to be expected. There was nothing much to
do except to read the newspapers over and over again. The arrival of the
lunch ration land Rover from SAFTI only temporarily brought cheers to us.
The one sickening part of doing guard duty at this place was the long walk
along old Upper Jurong Road because Married Quarters was outside the SAFTI
compound. We took a good 15 minutes to march in single-file back to SAFTI
main gate because of the narrow 2-lane road and on a busy Monday morning at
0700 hours was certainly a bad start to a new week.”</i></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16760936.post-9082661841489236112013-12-21T21:07:00.002+08:002013-12-21T21:20:38.478+08:00The Ying Fo Fui Kun building at Telok Ayer Street<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7rWzAcnn5dj449zE3dcsGH10icOtBnjtcdUjMYXk6mDyWFfL4cd7ak1Y3kdO_iVNNYqC962lBEMdqrs0o1AeB8clgsINxiRpYonDUQ4cdtcZEaoebfQcaeu2nJ4HKTSI1pnH/s1600/01+Ying+Fo+Fui+Kun+bldg+%2528ST+news%2529+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7rWzAcnn5dj449zE3dcsGH10icOtBnjtcdUjMYXk6mDyWFfL4cd7ak1Y3kdO_iVNNYqC962lBEMdqrs0o1AeB8clgsINxiRpYonDUQ4cdtcZEaoebfQcaeu2nJ4HKTSI1pnH/s400/01+Ying+Fo+Fui+Kun+bldg+%2528ST+news%2529+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was reported in today’s
Straits Times that tunneling works for the construction of the Downtown Line
had caused cracks to appear in the walls of the Ying Fo Fui Kun building at
Telok Ayer Street; a building which was gazetted for preservation as a national
monument under the Preservation of Monuments Act in 1998.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYNsmheTTSNfoYjSZJwq1okPNds92Dq6JYA8UkIJxSWCoqwTyrTpH41gYhLHPhAOCqBpPvn6vKitdYKVLyyOtsJioVViw6sMDFDUfdED9NBQpwxWhyNTy6qP5iytA0pI8K3ef/s1600/02+Ying+Fo+Fui+Kun+@+Telok+Ayer+St+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYNsmheTTSNfoYjSZJwq1okPNds92Dq6JYA8UkIJxSWCoqwTyrTpH41gYhLHPhAOCqBpPvn6vKitdYKVLyyOtsJioVViw6sMDFDUfdED9NBQpwxWhyNTy6qP5iytA0pI8K3ef/s400/02+Ying+Fo+Fui+Kun+@+Telok+Ayer+St+1+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGiI9suqVHGa2j55XiU_VxWukfS20kY_PztRgyKXePoiXYCHrWAtQJMQMRPPLuWgOfjCpeRNKvqlsgkSu2eL32507-LlPe-RID3nO6GA-6nw8e1irAqR8sGtsyYjfvuw0JgnH/s1600/03+Ying+Fo+Fui+Kun+@+Telok+Ayer+St+2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGiI9suqVHGa2j55XiU_VxWukfS20kY_PztRgyKXePoiXYCHrWAtQJMQMRPPLuWgOfjCpeRNKvqlsgkSu2eL32507-LlPe-RID3nO6GA-6nw8e1irAqR8sGtsyYjfvuw0JgnH/s400/03+Ying+Fo+Fui+Kun+@+Telok+Ayer+St+2+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAU-d8MeGBirYVqb4XfGJN_QOnNQKPf-5QoP8Afo13tlTvlhJCypsgAu6_Y30m-jD2-TgCmrgDpKk0lcsy0C-glNEZXzPqy3_CNc5RxYYjsKLd4Dg8nIBCPKdCrXhjWhCaXuOH/s1600/04+Ying+Fo+Fui+Kun+@+Telok+Ayer+St+3+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAU-d8MeGBirYVqb4XfGJN_QOnNQKPf-5QoP8Afo13tlTvlhJCypsgAu6_Y30m-jD2-TgCmrgDpKk0lcsy0C-glNEZXzPqy3_CNc5RxYYjsKLd4Dg8nIBCPKdCrXhjWhCaXuOH/s400/04+Ying+Fo+Fui+Kun+@+Telok+Ayer+St+3+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Did you know that this
building used to be a Chinese school? As it happens, I have a neighbour, Mr
Yong, who is a retired teacher; and he graduated from this school in 1954. The
name of the school was Ying Xin School (</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun; line-height: 115%;">应新学校</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">).</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Mhmz8DdeR3imFdUfAZ3YS00GJWbqz3BflYmgooBVxZDpsKOQ1XXvT5-1pewyFH_k4i0g_pwOmzn-XlV4I8CfHahmXRsEQfyu95DAD_uzr7h9gEh9pJL0zIxfdG5D-THRhZSW/s1600/05+Mr++Yong's+Ying+Xing+school+cert+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Mhmz8DdeR3imFdUfAZ3YS00GJWbqz3BflYmgooBVxZDpsKOQ1XXvT5-1pewyFH_k4i0g_pwOmzn-XlV4I8CfHahmXRsEQfyu95DAD_uzr7h9gEh9pJL0zIxfdG5D-THRhZSW/s400/05+Mr++Yong's+Ying+Xing+school+cert+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Mr Yong's (at age 13) graduation certificate</span></b></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I was unable to find out much information about
this school until, by a stroke of luck, I stumbled upon an article in an old
book that I happened to possess. The book was The Straits Time Bilingual
Collection, Vol 1, which I bought in 1982. In it was an article written by Tan
Ban Huat entitled, <i>Mandarin becomes the
lingua franca of the Chinese here</i> (</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun; line-height: 115%;">华语学校,源远流长</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">). The article traced the teaching of Mandarin in
Singapore up to the time of the Japanese Occupation; and ended with these
words:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“The Japanese Occupation of
Singapore saw the temporary setback of Chinese education. However, during the
post-war period, Chinese schools mushroomed and by the 1950s, Mandarin had
become the lingua franca of the Chinese-educated. By the same token those who
could not converse in it were considered uneducated!”</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAgNzxS312JEWYwp7qLhe0KfD-6tfwoRHDBZwmZ5D1Hz0UFBMn6TVxhlja27dA8-dTUjX9AzMzqvd83jTjwhyYjI7yeQKN03KqkSI9AqyG28t6-WKveR1bjPY4jIZVZh179eM/s1600/06+ST+Bilibual+Collection+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAgNzxS312JEWYwp7qLhe0KfD-6tfwoRHDBZwmZ5D1Hz0UFBMn6TVxhlja27dA8-dTUjX9AzMzqvd83jTjwhyYjI7yeQKN03KqkSI9AqyG28t6-WKveR1bjPY4jIZVZh179eM/s400/06+ST+Bilibual+Collection+book.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Although the article made no
mention of Ying Xin School, it was accompanied by this gem at the end.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSemVI0Dcc1IZawICHafpCI5iqh3-3J1pJLFMpnnjsroOkOmvb1FUZ4SvEamL_qJFMwZ150fQ37fqdq8qIlgIhu8CNMqqRe_GqsvGPDBejvRfGqhccoTu-bx1DTzQfkBvwOT0f/s1600/07+Mr++Ying+Xing+school+%2528from+Book%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSemVI0Dcc1IZawICHafpCI5iqh3-3J1pJLFMpnnjsroOkOmvb1FUZ4SvEamL_qJFMwZ150fQ37fqdq8qIlgIhu8CNMqqRe_GqsvGPDBejvRfGqhccoTu-bx1DTzQfkBvwOT0f/s400/07+Mr++Ying+Xing+school+%2528from+Book%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Yin Sin - one of the earliest schools to teach Mandarin</span></b></td></tr>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2