• Response to Straits Times Forum: "Active Citizenry Needs Space to Find Its Feet"

    On 26 Aug 2011 | 25 comments

    A week ago, Mr. Eric Tan, Director of the National Archives of Singapore, explained that the archives have generously acceded to our requests for photographs to be published in our website, upcoming book and newsletter. This was not the full story. Last year, we wrote in to the National Archives of Singapore, requesting them to sponsor photographs of the ol

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  • MyQueenstown Celebrates: Consecration Ceremony at Sri Muneeswaran Temple!

    On 10 Jul 2011 | 1 comments

    Tanglin Halt residents are wokened up by the vociferous wailing of nadaswaram and thavil ensemble at Sri Muneeswaran Temple this morning. More than 15,000 residents and devotees have gathered at the Southeast Asia's largest Hindu temple worshiping the Muneeswaran god to witness the consecration ceremony. A consecration ceremony is a festive occasion done on

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  • 女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十五期

    On 08 Jul 2011 | 6 comments

    女皇弄组屋 同一垃圾糟 两年3纵火  女皇弄组屋走廊垃圾糟,三度起火,居民人心惶惶,警列恶作剧纵火处理。 位于女皇镇一带的女皇弄第21座组屋8楼的电梯口,今早7时15分左右发生大火。 一名住在事发地点附近的居民,惊见滚滚黑烟从该处冒出 最高74万5000元 最低40多万 女皇镇 四房转售价 相差近37万  在热门组屋区女皇镇里,有四房式组屋最近以74万5000元的最高价转售,但也有37万8000元。 组屋溢价回升之际,热门地点如女皇镇的组屋转售价也持续攀升。今年4月,一间位于女皇镇史达拉摩道(Strathmore Ave)的四房式高楼单位,以74万5000元售出。 最后一次乘搭火车北上  火车开动了!该各就各位了吧。经过女皇镇、武吉知马、武吉班让时看到铁路旁站着许

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  • Farewell MyQueenstown #7 - Farewell KTM Tracks

    On 30 Jun 2011 | 6 comments

    Much has been written about KTM Tracks lately. A simple search on Google and Yahoo will bring you to numerous websites such as this and this. After all, this cantankerous relic was Singapore's brave new world in the early 20th century.  I have always been a believer of my secondary school's motto, "Rooted in Tradition, Equipped for the Future."

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  • 女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十四期

    On 20 Jun 2011 | 1 comments

    为了鼓励更多女皇镇的青少年阅读华文新闻,《我爱女皇镇》将推出全新单元 《女皇镇1周新闻快讯》,把这个星期观于女皇镇的主要新闻简略的描述。 写在华义中学创校55周年 40年前 华义发扬美学教育  对很多学校来说,拥有校友会是平常不过的事。但是,今年庆祝创校55周年的华义中学,却没有正式的校友会。上个世纪五十年代的华义学生虽然曾经组织一个校友会,不过并没有招募新校友注入“新血”。到了九十年代,一些会员已经逝世,校友会势力变单薄,无奈在五六年前解散。  这让许多华义校友感到惋惜,其中包括毕业40年却不曾加入校友会的黄美芬(58岁)和戴月英(57岁)。目前担任新加坡读书会发展协会会长的黄美芬受访时说:“协会经常和不同学校合作。我发现很多学校的校友会阵容都很强大,很羡慕他们,因为自己的学校连校友会都

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  • Pasar @ MyQueenstown #2 - the Provisions Shop Golden Couple

    On 12 Jun 2011 | 2 comments

    Mr Chen, 63, together with his wife Mdm Chan, has been running their dried product store at #01-16 Meiling Market. Mr and Mrs Chen lives in Queenstown, so travelling time is not a major problem for them to open their store at 6am in the morning. Having running their business for over 30 years in the same market, the couple has more or less 

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Farewell MyQueenstown

Farewell MyQueenstown #7 - Farewell KTM Tracks

On 30 Jun 2011 | 6 Comments

Much has been written about KTM Tracks lately. A simple search on Google and Yahoo will bring you to numerous websites such as this and this. After all, this cantankerous relic was Singapore's brave new world in the early 20th century.  I have always been a believer of my secondary school's motto, "Rooted in Tradition, Equipped for the Future."

永别了!女皇镇!#7 一摊油条传三代

On 30 Apr 2011 | 1 Comments

一摊油条传三代 在玛格列熟食中心,“生活公市”说得上是个客至如云的摊子。这个小摊子,不售卖任何煮炒;摊子主人则一年三百六十五天,天天在摊内起个炉炸上一条条的油条。 “生活公市”摊主李马才先生(58岁)是这家油条摊的第三代。 祖父自中国南来便炸油条为业,后来其父亦继承了祖父的业务。“生活公市”自1969年起,正式迁入玛格列熟食中心营业。李先生从小便跟随父亲学手艺,在油锅边打转。 李先生的油条,以香脆爽口闻名。在80年代初,李先生每一日几乎可炸近200条油条。李家一家五人总要齐齐上阵来应付顾客的需要。 如今,虽然李先生的摊子已搬迁到亚历山大村熟食中心,但他对玛格列熟食中心仍然十分怀念。再见了,玛格列熟食中心!

Farewell MyQueenstown #6 - The Taste of Wanton Noodle Lingers...

On 24 Mar 2011 | 18 Comments

Mr. Phoon Hon Sun, 64, and his family started selling barbeque pork from a pushcart at the terminal for Hock Lee bus service no.9 some 53 years ago. The bus terminal was located next to Blocks 6B and 7 along Margaret Close, a cluster of flats which were demolished during the 1990s. A familiar sight no more Every afternoon, residents who lived in the seven

Home Sweet Home @ MyQueenstown

Home Sweet Home #15 - A New Day Has Come =)

On 24 Apr 2011 | 11 Comments

Last week, MyQueenstown team interviewed Mdm Chan about her life in Blk 15 Holland Drive. Under SERS, she was assigned a new apartment in the newly developed blocks just a stone throw sway. Today, we visit Hisham Suni, 38, who moved over from Blk 17 to his new apartment in Blk 18C Holland Drive. Hisham Suni and his son =) Hisham is delighted by his new ap

Home Sweet Home #14 - Farewell Holland Drive

On 17 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

Blk 15, Holland Drive looked vacant and cold when MyQueenstown team visited this morning. The shop houses under the apartment block were all covered with card boards and all that was left were traces of glass panels, which could possibly be a beauty parlor in its place before. The lift was still working. Mdm Chan - a long time resident at Holland Drive A c

Home Sweet Home #13 - Commonwealth 10! Here I Come!

On 10 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

The front door was wide open when MyQueenstown team visited Mr Lee, 78, at his apartment in Blk 74 Commonwealth Drive. Feeling curious, we knocked onto the door and was greeted by a sleepy looking Mr Lee. Mr Lee who lives alone at Block 74 Retired more than a decade ago, Mr Lee is living alone as he prefers being independent to tagging along with his chi

News@MyQueenstown

Response to Straits Times Forum: "Active Citizenry Needs Space to Find Its Feet"

On 26 Aug 2011 | 25 Comments

A week ago, Mr. Eric Tan, Director of the National Archives of Singapore, explained that the archives have generously acceded to our requests for photographs to be published in our website, upcoming book and newsletter. This was not the full story. Last year, we wrote in to the National Archives of Singapore, requesting them to sponsor photographs of the ol

MyQueenstown Celebrates: Consecration Ceremony at Sri Muneeswaran Temple!

On 10 Jul 2011 | 1 Comments

Tanglin Halt residents are wokened up by the vociferous wailing of nadaswaram and thavil ensemble at Sri Muneeswaran Temple this morning. More than 15,000 residents and devotees have gathered at the Southeast Asia's largest Hindu temple worshiping the Muneeswaran god to witness the consecration ceremony. A consecration ceremony is a festive occasion done on

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十五期

On 08 Jul 2011 | 6 Comments

女皇弄组屋 同一垃圾糟 两年3纵火  女皇弄组屋走廊垃圾糟,三度起火,居民人心惶惶,警列恶作剧纵火处理。 位于女皇镇一带的女皇弄第21座组屋8楼的电梯口,今早7时15分左右发生大火。 一名住在事发地点附近的居民,惊见滚滚黑烟从该处冒出 最高74万5000元 最低40多万 女皇镇 四房转售价 相差近37万  在热门组屋区女皇镇里,有四房式组屋最近以74万5000元的最高价转售,但也有37万8000元。 组屋溢价回升之际,热门地点如女皇镇的组屋转售价也持续攀升。今年4月,一间位于女皇镇史达拉摩道(Strathmore Ave)的四房式高楼单位,以74万5000元售出。 最后一次乘搭火车北上  火车开动了!该各就各位了吧。经过女皇镇、武吉知马、武吉班让时看到铁路旁站着许

My Father and I

Former Tanglin Halt Industrial Estate

On 14 May 2011 | 2 Comments

The industrialisation programme took off in Queenstown when the Tanglin Halt Industrial Estate was established to generate employment in the neighbourhood. Initially, the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) planned a small industrial estate at Tanglin Halt to provide employment for the new residents. Measuring some 20 acres of land consisting of 38 factories

Queenstown Baptist Church

On 03 May 2011 | 1 Comments

The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) set aside seven sites for religious use and advertised for religious organisations to ballot in the 1950s. Of the ten enquiries received, four withdrew, leaving six Christian organisations. These went on to build the first churches of Queenstown; Queenstown Baptist Church, Queenstown Lutheran Church, Faith Methodist Ch

Archipelago Brewery Company (Anchorpoint)

On 22 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

Established in 1931 by German businessmen, Archipelago Brewery Company was the first commercial brewery in Singapore. It was located next to the Malayan Railway, which provided convenient transportation for exporting the beer in Tanjong Pagar. Archipelago Brewery Company One of the more popular beer produced at Archipelago Brewery Company was Anchor Beer.

Makan Shiok!

Snacks Attack #13 - Ah Luck Bean Curd

On 23 Dec 2010 | 2 Comments

Mr Chua, 25, runs Ah Luck Beancurd in Tanglin Halt market for more than 2 years. He is renting the stall from the original owner who has based his stall in the same area for more than 40 years. Ah Luck Bean Curd offers drinks and deserts such as soya bean drink, grass jelly and the residents' favorite soya bean curd (60 cents). A Delicious Bowl of Bean Curd

Snacks Attack #12 - Satay Mad in Tanglin Halt!

On 16 Dec 2010 | 7 Comments

 Ann, 46 runs the family food stall for over 10 years in Tanglin Halt hawker centre. Serving halal food for over a decade in the same place, Ann has integrated her dishes to suit the taste buds of Queenstown residents, especially the Malay community. The simple food stall offers snacks such as satay, otah and seafood dishes. As a family styled bus

Snacks Attack #11 - Almond & Peanut Paste!

On 09 Dec 2010 | 0 Comments

DessertStory, located in Anchorpoint basement one, has been serving residents tasty snacks and deserts for the past four years. Wendy, the supervisor of the cafe, introduced the various homemade desserts that they offer. A bowl of Almond Paste Hot desserts are mainly the favourite choice among Queenstown residents. Firstly, they have almond paste which is m

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #9 - 7 Funerals in 2 weeks

On 22 May 2011 | 0 Comments

7 funerals in 2 weeks. There is a flurry of "activity" these two weeks for correspondents from My Queenstown. We did not leave our traces in photographs as a mark of respect for the deceased. We did leave our sincere prayers and heartfelt condolences for those present. Quietly and fleetingly, we made our way to some of the funerals and understood that all o

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #8 - Block 39A No More (The Removal of Block 39A Part I)

On 05 Apr 2011 | 8 Comments

On a Friday afternoon three weeks ago, several Bangladeshi workers, presumably from the Town Council, took their tool boxes to the lift lobby of Block 39A. In less than half an hour, they carried a metallic frame on their shoulders and placed it on a lorry parked in front of the apartment block. Farewell Block 39A The letterboxes The stretch of corrid

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #7 - A New Coat of Paint

On 22 Mar 2011 | 1 Comments

The Point Blocks, along with 5 other blocks at Mei Ling Street were given a new coat of paint over the past week. The familiar combination of blue, yellow and orange was a thing of the past as these foreign workers toiled day and night, rain or shine to make Mei Ling Street "attractive again." White seems to be the "in" thing in Queenstown lately. Ten-store

Other Recent Articles

Response to Straits Times Forum: "Active Citizenry Needs Space to Find Its Feet"

On 26 Aug 2011 | 25 Comments

A week ago, Mr. Eric Tan, Director of the National Archives of Singapore, explained that the archives have generously acceded to our requests for photographs to be published in our website, upcoming book and newsletter. This was not the full story. Last year, we wrote in to the National Archives of Singapore, requesting them to sponsor photographs of the ol

MyQueenstown Celebrates: Consecration Ceremony at Sri Muneeswaran Temple!

On 10 Jul 2011 | 1 Comments

Tanglin Halt residents are wokened up by the vociferous wailing of nadaswaram and thavil ensemble at Sri Muneeswaran Temple this morning. More than 15,000 residents and devotees have gathered at the Southeast Asia's largest Hindu temple worshiping the Muneeswaran god to witness the consecration ceremony. A consecration ceremony is a festive occasion done on

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十五期

On 08 Jul 2011 | 6 Comments

女皇弄组屋 同一垃圾糟 两年3纵火  女皇弄组屋走廊垃圾糟,三度起火,居民人心惶惶,警列恶作剧纵火处理。 位于女皇镇一带的女皇弄第21座组屋8楼的电梯口,今早7时15分左右发生大火。 一名住在事发地点附近的居民,惊见滚滚黑烟从该处冒出 最高74万5000元 最低40多万 女皇镇 四房转售价 相差近37万  在热门组屋区女皇镇里,有四房式组屋最近以74万5000元的最高价转售,但也有37万8000元。 组屋溢价回升之际,热门地点如女皇镇的组屋转售价也持续攀升。今年4月,一间位于女皇镇史达拉摩道(Strathmore Ave)的四房式高楼单位,以74万5000元售出。 最后一次乘搭火车北上  火车开动了!该各就各位了吧。经过女皇镇、武吉知马、武吉班让时看到铁路旁站着许

The Familiar Face, The Familiar Place..

Posted in People | Thursday, December 31, 2009|By my queenstown
Some things will not change...in life
Time will pass. Humans may change. It's 2009 and Singapore is home to the world's tallest observation wheel, first F1 Grand Prix that is held at night and first Asian Youth Olympics. Would you think it's possible 40 years ago? How many 40 years do we have in life to show concern for our loved ones when time keeps catching up with our immaturity and ignorance?

The Lady Behind the Bonsai Plants

Posted in People | Sunday, December 27, 2009|By my queenstown
Along the western end of Stirling Road are stretches of terrace houses built during the colonial period. Located at the "backyard" of Queenstown, these houses are surrounded by tall, stout trees, that appears to be as old as the houses there.
Colonial Houses with Tall Familiar HDB Flats at the background
Mdm Zhu and Me
Today, My friend Jasper and I met Mdm Zhu along our trail. Spoken with distinct Mandarin, I've mistaken her for being a Chinese national! She has stayed in Queenstown for 6-7 years and had previously resided in Delta and Havelock Road. She was married with two grown up children. As there are increasing number of younger families moving into this estate, I've understood her concerns regarding the need to promote a cohesive environment and her love for nature through a short interview.

Stirling Road

Posted in Places | Wednesday, December 23, 2009|By my queenstown
The quiet stretch of road parallel to Commonwealth Avenue was infamous for its robberies and murder cases. In July 2007, an Indian woman in her early 30s was found dead with multiple injuries at the bottom of the Block 181. On 9 July 2009, an 82 year old Chinese woman fell prey to a man who snatched her gold necklace as she was walking at the void deck of Blk 48 Stirling Road.
Yet, this same quiet stretch of road is home to one of the last few blocks of colonial houses left in Singapore. Named after a borough in England, the northern portion of Stirling Road formed the boundary of the first Neighbourhood in Queenstown-the Princess Estate. Stirling Road also played host to the first vocational institute, the Baharuddin Vocational Institute dedicated to applied and manual arts in Singapore, which was subsequently absorbed by Temasek Polytechnic in 1990.

Living, Breathing Queenstown

Posted in People | Saturday, December 19, 2009|By my queenstown
The market place at Tanglin Halt Road is a hustling and bustling place where you can find coffeeshops, saloons, fashion wears, cobblers, police post, minimarts and hardware shops. Today, we've met Mr Chai, the owner of incense trader in Blk 46-2.
Mr Chai-Your familiar nice guy in Tanglin Halt Market Area
Hi Mr Chai, how long have you been in this business?
I've been around for 13 years. I used to rent a shop at ABC Brickworks Market and i rent the shop directly from HDB now.

Living at the Pinnacle!

Posted in People | Tuesday, December 15, 2009|By my queenstown
So what's the life living at the pinnacle at Blk 90 Tanglin Halt Road? Is it all windy, nice scenery and all peaceful? Let's find out from the Wong family.
First of all, let us introduce ourselves!
I'm Patrick, the Papa of the family who works as an engineer in a petrochemical firm in Singapore. I have two boys. Our family had moved in to Tanglin Halt for around a year.

Tanglin Halt Road Market on Sundays

Posted in Places | Sunday, December 13, 2009|By my queenstown
I was walking down the stairs from the Commonwealth MRT and heading towards the shophouses along Blk 46 Tanglin Halt Road. I obscurely remembered that Tanglin Halt Road was derived from Tanglin Road and the Malayan Railway. There was a train station around Tanglin Road where trains came to a halt, hereby the name Tanglin Halt Road. Bounded by Queensway, Commonwealth Drive and Commonwealth Avenue, it was a long stretch of road which many residents considered as the "backyard" of Commonwealth within the Queenstown Estate. To my right, was a multi storey carpark catered specifically for the mammoth 40-storey HDB flats where most of the residents were relocated after their original worn down buildings were torn down. Let be discover the history of the Tanglin Halt Road one day before I embarrassed myself with my miniscule knowledge.

Who Dare Says They are Old??

Posted in People | Friday, December 11, 2009|By my queenstown
I am afraid of getting old. I'd often tell my friends that my age will stop increasing after 20. Getting old means lonely, sickness and useless! I managed to change that mentality when I chanced upon two active elderlies along the void deck in Tanglin Halt Road. Mdm Zheng, 70, and Mr Tay, 65, would show us the meaning of being old and share with us their stories about Queenstown Estate.
Mdm Zheng and Mr Tay are enjoying themselves in the void deck

Tiong Ghee Temple

Posted in Places | Wednesday, December 9, 2009|By my queenstown
Once upon a time, there was a temple named Bo Beh Kang Village End Ghee Tiong Temple located in Bo Beh Kang village. In Hokkien, Bo Beh Kang refers to the stream that flowed between the former Hong Yin and Hong Lim hills which flows to Singapore River. Hong Yin Hill grows rubber while Hong Lim Hill is used for cemetery. As the locals, who were mainly Hokkien and Teochew families could not identify the source of the river, there were no tail to the stream. This stream was later appeared as the Alexandra Canal.

the Spirit of the Stadium

Posted in People | Sunday, December 6, 2009|By my queenstown
The Queenstown Sports Complex was officially opened in 1970 as one of the first neighbourhood sports facilities. The swimming pool was known for its estsblishment of Singapore's waterpolo team who had won consecutive goal medals at the South East Asian Games. The football pitch was home to Tanjong Pagar Football Club and later, a Chinese side, Dalian Shide. Located at the corner of Stirling Road, its dull and unimaginative structures may be pale in comparison to those mighty wave pools and slides at Jurong East. However, this sports complex remains a source of recreation and career opportunity for some of the residents. Today, we have met Mdm Sinag, the attendant for the Sports Complex.