My Queenstown 我爱女皇镇

On this date 16 years ago, a famous American citizen called Michael Fay, was brought into Queenstown Remand Prison. One of the residents, Mr Tan, who lives in Margaret Drive, recollects the beeline of reporters hovering outside the remand prison as though the Prison is "offering some goodies for discount".
Michael Fay was kept in Queenstown Remand Prison on 31st March 1994
For younger Singaporean who did not know who is Michael Fay. He was an American teenager who stirred a media frenzy after he was sentenced to six stroked of the cane for vandalising 18 cars over a ten-day period in September 1993. Besides vanadalism, he was charged for the illegal possession of stolen items like the Singapore flags and road signs! He shot to fame and attracted international scrutiny on Singapore's judicial system and ex-American president Bill Clinton had even pleaded for leniency as he believed the corporal punishment was too harsh. A diplomatic crisis follows. Critics launched scathing attacks on Singapore's judicial system as barbaric and archaic and gave terrifying descriptions on how the corporal punishment would do to the body. They considered the corporal punishment as one of Singapore asseting Asian values towards "western decadence" and portrayed the teenager as a victim of human rights abuse! (What crap!) However, that was only the wishful thinking from the American government. A poll conducted by CNN subsequently revealed that the Americans were against their leaders on interfering with Singapore's judicial system and an overwhelming 91% appreciate Singapore's low crime environment was made possible by its strict laws. Some of the public even suggested that Bill Clinton should learn from Singapore and adopt corporal punishment.

She is fluent in Cantonese, Malay, Chinese, English, etc.. She is an active volunteer at community events. She is confident, matured, pretty and witty. And she's only fifteen! Yes, who is this multi talented girl living in Tanglin Halt in Queenstown? 
She's none other than...
Poh Ee... Enjoying herself on a trip to Taiwan!
Hi Poh Ee, how did you know so many languages?

Recently, a resident in Queenstown, Ms Tan, 34, mentioned, "The railway is my playground. My neighbours would bring me to Portsdown, the other side of the train tracks to explore those colonial bungalows! I was young and those foreign expatriates would actually rear fierce and big dogs. They would chase us all the way! There was once I got bitten by a dog!"
KTM tracks beside the row of flats in Commonwealth Drive

The queues were exceptionally long and I was told that the uncle had the opportunity to "close his shop" pretty early into the night. Some residents, like us, took their cameras out to take a photograph of the man who had served us for the past 40 years. 
Final pictures of Hai Kee Teochew Cha Kua Teow
He explained that he did not bother to pass on his unique skills of frying kuay teow to his children because he knows that it is a difficult and tough trade which requires a lot of time and effort. There were days that he would return home with a back pain that is so severe that he cannot stand or sit comfortably. "I'm old already and I guess I will retire if I feel that I cannot continue one day."

It's pretty weird for a youngster like me to be writing obituaries so frequently. It's pretty impossible to summarise a life full of wonderful and heartrending memories into a short post like this. In 2 years' time, this neat row of chap lau chus located at the corner of Commonwealth Drive, will be making way for SERS, a familiar acronym for many old folks in Queenstown. Today, we met one of the occupants at Blk 74. He is Mr Ho.

It was pouring this afternoon and I thought that we may have to cancelled the haunting session today. However, looks like the mok mok is determined to let us discover them tonight. For disclaimer purposes, we just took random photos about our trip and sometimes we are unable to see them with our bare eyes. If you manage to see some weird photos, please do let us know! It was a successful trip for 2 reasons! First, the rain is scared of us! Second, we managed to connect with the online residents of Queenstown! 

Mei Chin Market was a popular market that drew crowds during its heydays in 1970s and 1980s. Before the market was constructed, many of the hawkers would install makeshift markets along Mei Ling Street next to the Long Hwee Book Store (It's a Multi-Storey Car Park now). As more and more younger generations moved out of Queenstown and the closure of Mei Chin Secondary and Primary Schools, the market now entertain older residents with a considerable lower purchasing power. Today, MyQueenstown went to the market to understand why there are comparatively smaller crowds in this market than other markets in Queenstown.

Alexandra Canal Linear Park is unique as it is built on top of a covered canal. The canal is widely believed to flow to the Singapore River although some of the residents that I've spoken to disagree. The vast array of fitness and play equipment, catering to all ages, are located near housing estates and schools, providing endless fun for the young and old. The iconic mini skate station, which includes ramps and railings, provide challenges and an endless stream of adrenaline rush for avid skaters. One of these residents who was running along the track is Mdm Mardiana, who lives at Forfar Heights.

This dimsum stall has been around Queenstown for 20 to 30 years. Opened from Tuesday to Sunday every week, it sells the ultra delicious fried dumplings, fried noodles and rice cakes. It's a ten minute walk from the MRT station and it's located at the corner of the second floor in the Cooked Food Centre which we have featured early on in the blog. As we trek along our way to the cooked food centre, we met the stall owner, Mr Woo at the sheltered walkway next to the Fairprice.

Do you feel happy to have a guest in your house? Today, we strolled along the nostalgic colonial houses along Commonwealth Drive and discovered some of these houses were being rented to students from the National Univesity of Singapore. As you might have known by now, MyQueenstown is a group of nosy and kaypoh people, we knocked on the door of one of them and met Dominic, an exchange student from Munich, Germany.
The colonial flats along Commonwealth Drive

Food centres and wet markets have always been locations for residents and friends to catch up with each other. We can also make new friends and find out more about the latest gossips among the heartlanders. Today, we met 4 muskeeters who frequent Tanglin Halt Market.
Names From Left To Right ( Photo ) : William, Gabriel, Yang, Tan
Hi Do you live around the area?
William: Yeah, four of us live nearby. Tanglin Halt, as well as Commonwealth Drive area.

Go Sports! has been located at the corner of Blk 6C, facing Margaret Drive for the past 22 years. Dedicated to selling skate boards and accessories, it was one of its kind in this district. Sadly to say, as this article is being posted, this shop might have become a piece of memory for many students and skating enthusiasts who have patronised the shop or venture into its mini skate park outside the shop. Today, we speak to its founder and owner, Mr Eddie Goh.

For many years, Madam Liu and her family have to trek a long flight of stairs before crossing a rickety bridge and climbing up another long flight of stairs to reach Mei Ling Street. Otherwise, she would have to pass by the perimeters of Queensway before turning left into Mei Ling Street to buy her groceries at the Mei Ling Street Market. If she feels lazy on her day, she may have to settle on whatever that is offered at the petrol kiosk nearby. She was a relieved and happy person when I saw her cross the Skybridge at Queen's Close.