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

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

By my queenstown on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 with 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 corridor was once our playground

The potted plants - removed

I wanted to take some photographs of the beautiful sceneries around Queenstown that day. I dashed up the crooked stairs to the lift lobby. However, I realised that the noticeboards were gone. 

The lift took me to the 15th floor. There were no familiar faces at the porch in front of the lobby looking over the skyline. I remembered that residents would place their sofas, undried laundry and coffee tables at the porch. Some older folks would even match up among themselves over a game of chess! Neither were there boisterous commentary on the singers' abilities and etiquette on the popular 黄金年华 singer competition. Suddenly, the corridor seems bigger. The potted plants were taken away too, except for some wilted plants I assumed the families had chosen to discard.

Empty corridor of Block 39A

Some of the windows along the corridors were visibly opened. I peeked into the windows of the apartment flats and saw an empty living room. I thought to myself and I began to comprehend that all the residents had shifted away. Most of them were lucky to be given the priority in the new blocks of flats at Dawson. 


The Empty Room where we once cried and laughed...

The long living room where we once spent time with our family

I made my way to the 17th floor. The scenery in front of me was simply majestic. The different districts of Queenstown, in their unique and defiant contours, stood proudly in front of me. The historical Tanglin Halt and Stirling Road were inspirational whereas the youthful Strathmore and Dawson were vibrant and energetic. I believed Block 39A was the only place where our heritage and our future intertwined closely together. 


My priceless memory of Block 39A




This image was unforgettable. This was where I spent countless hours reflecting on my stubborn approach to life. The sweet scent of natural breeze was what that motivated me to move forward whenever the going gets tough. Whenever there were setbacks, I could draw on the immense potential of our future to make myself believe that I could overcome obstacles. 


The evening sun shone brightly across the edges of the sky and it was time for me to go home. The metallic gate was to close for the very last time today. I am truly thankful for the new friends made from my continuous interactions with the residents and the new insights gained through my hours of silent reflections. The majestic Block 39A was once our home, sheltering us from the torrential rains and enduring those tumultuous period with us. The old grand lady had to pass on. It leaves us with a undeniable legacy of memories and aspirations for the future. 


Farewell my home. 


Farewell my memories.


Farewell Block 39A...


In memory of Block 39A


POST COMMENT

8 comments:

Anonymous said...
April 7, 2011 at 9:54 AM

Great reflective post that will help us to remember this moment of lost many years from now.

What technology has enabled in the span of 10 years. Unfortunately, block 6a and 6b have not survived long enough until the digital media has become popular to enjoy the same tribute like the one done here for block 39a.

Does anyone has photos of block 6a and 6b to share? It will be great if this reporter could research and collect photos for an article on block 6a and 6b.

Thanks for the good work.

yeecheng said...
April 18, 2011 at 12:23 PM

I too have gone through the pains of leaving my en-bloc flat in Clementi. It is quite heart-breaking to leave the home you've been in all your life. Margaret drive is another haunt for me to always goes to the hawker center after my swim for a yummy meal en route to the library. Now even this area is plagued by the en-bloc fever. It hurts every time small places which marks our past have been uprooted and demolished. Why can't we flourish amongst the past rather than bull-dozing everything then build ridiculously high and cramped flats and monotonous malls?

Anonymous said...
April 19, 2011 at 10:14 AM

The authority has all the good intentions to provide new flats for residents in old estates. But they may be overlooking the point that no amount of efforts to foster national identity could match the sense of belonging that arise out of the connection that people have with the place that they grow up in with their family, and all the memories that they all share of their homes.

When the home that a person grow up in is no longer there, a deep branch of the root is being chopped off. While enbloc is good, it is also worthwhile to ask if that is really what the residents.

Anonymous said...
July 12, 2011 at 11:11 PM

I stayed on a top floor unit for almost 35 years. Wished that all housing would have the luxury of orientation like Blk 39A - North-South facing, totally unblocked view, overlooking scenery (including seeing a helicopter landing near private property many years ago), countless NDP fireworks in full view.

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Anonymous said...
August 16, 2014 at 2:58 AM

I have known this place since my childhood days. It might not be the only place to shop and watch movie shows, but it was a great memory to me as a child. The Emporium or 大众 was the place where I got my first Hello Kitty pencil case. The mosaic swan that used to spout water from its mouth was long gone. The kacham puteh and the old drink vending machines that filled paper cups with sugary drinks. The Limco's Pacman, Space Invader and the tabletop racing cars for 4 players game machines somewhere atop the old NTUC mart. Yes, how can I forget those olden days.

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