Good Morning Yesterday:- Today is Children’s Day and there are lots of advertisements and dedications in the media. It makes me think about my own time growing up in pre-independent Singapore in the 1950’s and 60’s. Life certainly was very different then. In the first place, I am not sure if we even had a Children’s Day back then. I think we did.

Pasir Panjang Stories:- Post by Quek Kiah Shen

Sin Tua 神坛 in Singapore:- From first to the ninth day of the Ninth Lunar Month, Singapore comes alive with celebrations or commemoration in honour of the Nine Emperor Gods or Jiu Huang Ye (Kiu Ong Yah in Hokkien) all over the island. From East Coast at Ulu Siglap to Bukit Batok, some 12 temples/sintuas organise this massive events.

Good Morning Yesterday:-

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- It is the 9 days of the 9 Emperor Gods (Jiu Huang Ye) and it is also the 9 days of Navarathri. Right in Chinatown where the oldest Hindu Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, is, there will be nights of programmes to celebrate Navarathri.

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- To the oldies, the strain of Yam Kim Fai might bring nostalgic memories of Chinatown.

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- Once upon a time, puppet shows were popular. They not only entertained, but they also impart the Chinese values as well as the Chinese history.

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- As I was coming home one day, I had to slow down to allow this man to take his time to walk down this narrow road. At first I thought he was using the four-legged gadget to help him walk, as is the case with older people where a walking stick is not enough.

Good Morning Yesterday:- As mentioned earlier, last Saturday, I went to check out the remains of the Jurong Line along AYE (Ayer Rajah Expressway) opposite the Tang Village. Since Icemoon has also visited this place and will be putting up his photos soon, which I am sure are of superior quality to mine, I shall not be showing photos of the Jurong Line. Instead I want to show you some unrelated photos that I took on that day – some pleasant some not so.

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:- 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' to readers of this blog. With the start of a brand new Lunar year, here are some of the buildings that I will be visiting this year. Those interested can write in to me and we can arrange a date to do the 'templing' together! Here's the list:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:- Thank you for visiting this blog on the History and Architecture of Chinese Temples in Singapore. I have uploaded pictures of about 47 historic Chinese temples & buildings on this blog todate. Please go to the various monthly archives to see the entire collection. For a list of old temples to visit in Singapore, click on the December 2004 archive. If you have any other juicy info about any temples, please leave your data on the comments at the end of each article. I update these pages when I am free and in the mood, so do drop by once in a while to see updates. Happy templing !

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore:-

Good Morning Yesterday:- This guy is really daring.

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- On 31 Aug 08, songs, dances, and noises of the fireworks brought Chinatown back to its old days when every night was a bustling nite. In those days, it was of necessity that one stays out late to make some money, have late supper or stay cool, away from the congested rooms in the old pre-war houses.

Good Morning Yesterday:- Last Saturday, I decided to check out the remains of the Jurong Line along AYE (Ayer Rajah Expressway) opposite the Tang Village. I had noticed lots of construction work going on there and feared that the railway tracks would be removed. I parked my car near the Far East Flora Nursery and walked there. On the way, I passed the Tang Village and saw that it was being demolished. The guard at the entrance told me that by the following week, it would be gone.

bullockcartwater 牛车水:-

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- Yesterday, I had a short opportunity to walk up memory lane.

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- A couple of weeks ago, I watched a VCD of the China TV documentary series on Cheng Ho's (Admiral Zheng He) voyage to the western seas. Marvelling at how the Chinese built the huge wooden boats, I could not help remembering the days before I went to school. (My daughter was asking me how come I did not go to kindergarten) Yes, I must have been only 4-5 years old when Grandpa (my mum's adopted father - that's another story tied to the World War II) used to bring my brother and me on a trishaw to Siong Peck Kuay (I found out that this was Nankin St), where his coolie-keng (the coolie's clubhouse) was. We were alway looking forward to go...

Good Morning Yesterday:- Let me continue from where Chun See left off in the previous post with a story about how we benefited by "walking all over Singapore" when doing NS in the early 70’s.

Good Morning Yesterday:- It’s been many years since I last applied for a job. I don't know if people still pasted a passport photo to their application forms, or do they just email a digital form to their prospective employers nowadays.

Pasir Panjang Stories:- Penrod Vance Dean, R. I. P.

Pasir Panjang Stories:- "The world remembers ... but when will Japan?" By Dr Takamitsu Muraoka. TODAYonline, Monday, 24 Oct 2005. The writer is retired. This is an abridged version of a speech delivered at the Trinity Theological College.

Pasir Panjang Stories:- "The Alexandra Massacre." By Jeff Partridge. Nesa feature, 08 Mar 2001.

Pasir Panjang Stories:- As the 60th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War approached, the heritage trail guides bounded into action to present the Heritage Trail special 60th Anniversary Edition! As you may know, the Heritage Trail is normally conducted every year on the 12th Feb, which is the anniversary of the start of the Battle of Pasir Panjang, also famous for being one of the bloodiest battles ever fought in Singapore during World War II. The other time we conduct this trail is in July, which is part of the Heritage Fest activities.

Pasir Panjang Stories:- Refresher Course 2006 (before Commemorative Walk)

Pasir Panjang Stories:- [1] NUS FoS Family Day

Pasir Panjang Stories:- "Footnotes in Life" reflects on our 2006 Commemorative Walk for the Battle of Pasir Panjang (not the fall of Singapore). Seems incomplete but the fact he learnt abut the Ridge's original name is reassuring for us guides!

Pasir Panjang Stories:- The MIA Trail 2007 was made up of 2 sessions, one at 5.30pm and another at 6.30pm. The revision of timing was made as the last year's event ended rather late (12-1am!) and both the participants and the guides were worn out. Manpower, however, was more of a problem this year. With many of the guides unavailable for various reasons, Ooi Yee, Airani, Wendy and I set out bravely to bring a total of 80 participants on a trail that they (hopefully) would not forget!

Pasir Panjang Stories:- From: Singapore: A Country Study

Pasir Panjang Stories:- "WWII shell unearthed." The Straits Times, 04 Jan 2006.

Pasir Panjang Stories:- During my efforts to secure a copy of Dol Ramli's History of the Malay Regiment 1933-1942, I found this resource:

Pasir Panjang Stories:- The Battle of Bukit Chandu

Pasir Panjang Stories:- Trey tm at Mind's Eye has a photoblog and on 13 Feb 2006 he remembered the "Malay Regiment - The Last Stand"

Pasir Panjang Stories:- "Pasir Panjang means "the sandy stretch, long beach". It became a popular resort like Tanjong Katong towards the end of the last century, which accounts for the many seaside residences,notably Haw-Par Villa and Labrador Villa. What DIsneyland is to the Occidentals, Haw-Par Villa is to the Orientals. It is a special tourist attraction, like its Hong Kong counterpart."

Pasir Panjang Stories:- On the 26th of May 2006, the Raffles Museum's Pasir Panjang (PP) guides, in collaboration with the National Heritage Board's National Archives of Singapore, conducted the MIA Night Tour. What is MIA? It represents both Museums In Action and Missing In Action! This activity involves a trip to three members of the Musum Roundtable: The Public Gallery of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR), Reflections at Bukit Chandu (RBC) and the recently opened Memories at Old Ford Factory. "In Action" aptly describes the turnout by staff and volunteers of NAS and RMBR that night for event. As for other dual meaning, Missing In Action is the theme of this event, that was revealed along the way.

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- Or is it? The flowers remind me of Spring. (^^)

Sin Tua 神坛 in Singapore:- Shin Min Daily has launched the second book on Chinese Temples on 1 Feb 2007. In this second book, about 40 Chinese Temples were featured. The book, priced at S$5 each, is available at newstands and in major bookstores.

Chinese Temples:- The second book on Chinese Temples has been launched by Shin Ming Daily on 1 Feb 2007. Costing S$5 a copy, this book covering some 40 Temples are available in newstands and major bookstores.

Good Morning Yesterday:- Ours is not exactly the Garden of Eden. In fact there isn’t even any fruit tree left. This beautiful guava tree that I used to see outside my window died recently.

Good Morning Yesterday:-

bullockcartwater 牛车水:- Two Sundays ago, looking for something more Chinese, or rather, more Cantonese for breakfast with a visiting Chinese, a friend suggested Red Star Restaurant. It was ages - decades - since the last time I was there. The last time could well be a wedding dinner, and that must be more than 20 years ago!