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

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第十一期

Posted in Chinese , News in the Dump , recent | Monday, January 31, 2011|By my queenstown
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。

Farewell MyQueenstown #4 - Gillman Village

Posted in Farewell , Places , recent | Sunday, January 30, 2011|By my queenstown
The evening sunlight shimmers through the thick canopy for the last few times in this laid back enclave. Persistent honking from those impatient drivers and hurried foot steps of the city dwellers appear miles away. Sitting down on a wooden rattan chair and sipping over a cup of cappuccino in an aroma-filled pizza house seems to be a kind of pleasure while conversing with friends whom you haven't met in years. Nearby, the birds are humming a melody and the branches are swaying gracefully with the wind. Escaping the concrete jungle and everything stressful, I felt so welcomed yet emotional. Welcomed because of the friendly and sincere people. Emotional because I have to say goodbye - to another place at the outskirts of Queenstown.

Home Sweet Home #4 - Everyday's a Beautiful Day

Posted in Home , People , recent | |By my queenstown
Sankar, 26, has simple expectations about his ideal home. Living in Blk 45 Stirling Road for the past 8 years with his parents, Sankar is happy with his current home in Queenstown. Sankar describes his place as an extremely quiet and cozy place to live in. Having moved over from Clementi about 8 years ago, Sankar and his family chose to reside in Queenstown due to its close proximity to town and also his workplace.
Sankar (right) with mom

MyQueenstown Panorama #3 - Lunar New Year Blues

Posted in News in the Dump , panorama , recent | Wednesday, January 26, 2011|By my queenstown
Lunar New Year is round the corner and many residents in Queenstown are busy stocking up goodies and drinks in preparation for this joyous occasion. Tentages and bazaars have sprouted around the estate as businesses attempt to seize this once-in-a-year opportunity to earn more revenue. 
However, as inflation in Singapore has accelerated to its quickest pace in two years in December, where the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 4.6 per cent on-year. While transport costs galloped 12.8%, housing and food were more expensive in December. Food prices increased 2.1%. As a larger portion of the residents in Queenstown are lower middle income earners, will they feel the pinch? Let's find out!

Before Dawn @ MyQueenstown #4 - Early Birds at Tanglin Halt Food Centre (Part II)

Posted in Before Dawn , recent | Tuesday, January 25, 2011|By my queenstown
Mr Teng was unloading buckets of batter from his van at 3am this morning. Heating the oven and preparing the pancake ingredients at his peanut pancake stall had been part and parcel of his life for the past 40 years. While Mrs Teng was most probably half awake and resting at the benches next to the stall, Mr Teng was roaring away, cleaning his pots and pans while clearing rubbish from the buckets.
Pushing a trolley of batter-filled buckets from his van

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第十期

Posted in Chinese , News in the Dump , recent | Monday, January 24, 2011|By my queenstown
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。
爱上古早 理发院的年轻人 
在古早 理发院 理发后,老板会给你送上温暖的湿毛巾擦拭脸蛋。这古早味理发院 (Sin Palace),今天还找得到吗? omy学生记者和两名摄影爱好者,走入这家位于联邦地铁站附近的理发院——“乐宫理发院”,回味起童年理发的唯美时光。20岁的摄影发烧友素婷认为,摄影并不需要太刻意去区别什么是自己喜欢拍摄。
新年前逛杜生坊 
新春的脚步近了,得开始办年货了。“邻里四宝”当中的Boy Boy喜欢杜生坊(Dawson Place)的冷气购物环境,这里的产品和服务,从高档到大众化. 日治时期, 杜生成为抗印度国民军基地。1953年这里的英军军营被拆除

Home Sweet Home #3 - I Have a Fish Pond at Home!

Posted in Home , People , recent | Sunday, January 23, 2011|By my queenstown
Mrs Sze, 50, was busy tending to her household chores when MyQueenstown team visited. Being the first owner of her apartment at Blk 82 Strathmore Avenue, Mrs Sze has resided in this very part of Queenstown for over 15 years. In order to take care of her in-laws, Mrs Sze chose to live in Strathmore Avenue due to the close proximity to her parents' house.
Mrs Sze
As a parent of 3 teenage children, Mrs Sze has to take care of their daily meals and necessary inventories. Besides looking after her children, she also has to juggle that and between her part time career as a tuition teacher. Only after a long day of hustle and bustle can she stop to enjoy the fresh air and feed her beloved fishes in the pond outside her house.

Farewell MyQueenstown #3 - Queenstown Poh Piah

Posted in Farewell , recent | Saturday, January 22, 2011|By my queenstown
For the past 45 years, Mr Lim Tiam Choo's savoury handmade poh piah had tickled the taste buds of many Queenstown residents. Many of us had spent hours queuing up for that elusive combination of that soft and tender poh piah skin wrapping around a thick layer of piping hot mangguang (turnip). Whether rain or shine, Mr Lim would prepare every dish of poh piah earnestly, as if he was making them for the very first time. It's unfortunate to know that he would not be around to make pohpiahs anymore.

MyQueenstown Panorama #2 - A Difficult Ride to Queenstown Polyclinic

Posted in News in the Dump , panorama , recent | Wednesday, January 19, 2011|By my queenstown
The end of January marks the end of Singapore's most iconic and historically rich neighbourhood since independence. The end of January also provides a thorough headache for residents in Strathmore and Dawson. Not only do they need to contend with difficulties in travelling to Queenstown Polyclinic and the Community Centre, they face problems finding affordable food. 
One-fifth to a quarter of Queenstown residents are aged 65 and above. Many of them would visit the 3 year old polyclinic because it is heavily subsidised.  Although the interior of the newly built polyclinic is handicapped friendly, arriving at the Polyclinic for appointments and regular checkups has been a hassle for elderly folks living in Mei Ling, Strathmore and Dawson, whether by foot or by bus. Let's find out why in Panorama today!

Top Reads This January!

Posted in About Us , recent | Tuesday, January 18, 2011|By my queenstown
It had been a great year for MyQueenstown Blog and a great time for us to fill you guys with insights on the history, civic life and aspirations of our beautiful community. New columns were introduced and a new approach was used in improving our content. Let us take a peep at some of the interesting articles posted and what other posts to look out for this January!
Before Dawn @ MyQueenstown
Let us take a peek into what goes on in Queenstown before dawn! Most of us are asleep or playing computer games in this period. Find out more about what our kids are like on their First Day in School (8842 views) and who goes for morning exercise at 4am in Queenstown Stadium (6889 views).

Before Dawn @ MyQueenstown #3 - Early Birds at Tanglin Halt Food Centre (Part I)

Posted in Before Dawn , recent | |By my queenstown
Mr Chua Ah Nan, 61, was preparing the ingredients for braising the duck meat when MyQueenstown Team arrived at 2am. Chilli sauce was poured into a traditional vat while spring onion was chopped and placed into a plastic container. Then, Mr Chua sat on the bench outside his hawker stall patiently while waiting for the duck to be ready.
Mr Chua is preparing the braised duck
Still Closed!

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第九期

Posted in Chinese , News in the Dump , recent | Monday, January 17, 2011|By my queenstown
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。
原定今年6月清空的联邦道第40A座小贩中心和附近几座组屋的商店,搬迁期限获展延至2011年2月,让小贩和店主有多八个月的时间另寻落脚处2005年底,政府宣布仅存的小贩中心、第27A和第39A座组屋以及玛格烈通道第6C座组屋和第34A座停车场也必须拆除,让路给日后兴建的新一代组屋。
当局给予小贩和店主的搬迁期限原是2010年6月30日。但据小贩中心联谊会会长胡创尊透露,他们后来获知组屋居民实际上是2011年2月才需搬走,因此请求丹戎巴葛集选区议员马炎庆代为同当局商量,让小贩也延后到同个时间搬走。他也说,小贩中心至今还在营业的摊位有46个,其中只有四个找到地方搬迁。当小贩和店主获知好消息时,他们的心情是矛盾的,因为一方面为能延长营业期感到开心,
另一方面,却始终得面对搬走的事实。在小贩中心营业了20年的粥品和海鲜汤小贩郑耀成(69岁)说:“就算延长多几个月,最终还是要搬。如果这里可以重建,我会更开心。” 问及明年有什么打算,他耸肩反问:“别的地方租金那么贵,像我们这样的老人,如何跟年轻人竞争呢?”他说,自己之前曾在环境局安排下,看过另一些小贩中心的空置摊位,但选择不多,而且有些的地点实在太远了。
另外,在第6C座组屋楼下经营Go Sports滑板店的吴龙船(56岁),原本打算在6月办一场告别会,之后再搬到荷兰弄。他笑说,告别会现在不得不展期了。另一方面,一些之前已在别处顶下摊位或店面的小贩和店主,却对这样的事态进展感到不满。据吴龙船所知,一些店主在接到消息时,正准备为新店面下定金,顿时感到进退两难。而最近刚搬到旧联邦道湿巴刹原址的一名吴姓鸡饭摊主,就觉得这对早有规划的人不公平。他申诉,搬到新地点后,租金不仅比以前贵许多,生意更比在小贩中心略逊一筹。
打假期工,走入大人的社会  
德兰中学的潘万莉(16岁)打假期工的经历,就愉快得多。她从中二开始,就在女皇镇购物中心的男性街头服装店“Fresh”当店员。两年来,每到假期都回去打临时工,是她...具有伸缩性的上班时间,适合我们这些学生。” 在专卖体育用品和年轻人服装的女皇镇购物中心工作,难免遇到一些血气方刚的青少年

Home Sweet Home #2 - My Lovely Home, for One Last Night

Posted in Home , People , recent | Sunday, January 16, 2011|By my queenstown
One might recognize the familiar faces of Mr Goh Leong Joo,70 and Mdm Mary Ang,60 when walking past the row of shop houses at block 27A next to Queenstown MRT station. The friendly couple had run Goh Leong Joo Provision Shop at Block 27A #01-276 for the past 40 years. Serving residents and commuters transiting at the nearby bus stop everyday, their provision shop was one of the mandatory drop-by shops for daily necessities or simply cigarettes or drinks among many Queenstown residents.

说了再见#2 - 联邦道熟食中心 (Part 2)

Posted in Chinese , Farewell , recent | Saturday, January 15, 2011|By my queenstown
建于1969年的联邦道熟食中心是新加坡早期的一个小贩中心。六十年代的女皇镇处处都能找到价廉物美的流动摊贩。 为了提升卫生水平,环境署在1973年强烈取缔流动小贩,并且把这些流动小贩安顿于这栋新开张的熟食中心。在上个世纪六七十年代建成的女皇镇中心包括三家戏院和百货公司,构成一幅繁华热闹的画面。但随着岁月的流逝,人口的老化,玛格丽通道的许多租屋和设施已陆续拆迁或关闭。仅存的小贩中心与级周围的三座政府租屋也必须拆除,让路给日后兴建的新一代租屋。