Travelz And Eatz!: My Decade In Singapore : 1993

Being pampered by parents since young, I experienced my independent life in Singapore. It was a tearful parting when parents dropped us and headed home. During the days of fixed telephone lines, there was a suspenseful few hours of incommunicado as parents drove home and when mother called (to the rental flat's phone) to say that they've arrived home safely, I was relieved.

And so began my 3 years of studying, followed by another 7 years of working in the country down south. As we stayed in Toh Yi Drive, Bukit Timah, our dinner was had at Beauty World shopping complex which was about 300 metres away and it's our almost daily activity with fellow Malaysian students, to get our S$2.00 mixed rice meal. It was a wholesome dinner as we gathered for chats and updates within our little community.

Since I began photography with a film based Canon compact camera (purchased with salary earned from the part time job after the major exam while waiting for results), I progressed to borrowing the photography club's camera and accessories, to advance my interest in the hobby. Developing rolls of negatives required money (S$0.25 cents each photo and S$4.00 developing charges), I controlled myself and that's why the camera's settings were embedded in my head as it's important as a guide to know if the camera was measuring the light level accurately. Singapore Plaza was the reference place for photographic equipment. Indulged a bit in music by joining the violin club and supported the Chinese Orchestra by playing the cello.

Our favourite haunts were Sim Lim Tower where there's so many electronic and electrical items to check out and Sim Lim Square is for shopping. Bugis Junction arrived later. My first movie was Stargate and I was amazed with my first experience with surround sound. CK Tang was the premium shopping centre before Takashimaya SC took over as the venue of choice for shopping. Boat Quay and Clarke Quay had restaurants and pubs while it's always the East Coast Park for black pepper crabs

For hikes, it's Bukit Timah Hill and Fort Canning while for a game of pool, I always have it at the basement of Bukit Timah Shopping Centre. On a few occasions, walked across the bridge to Sentosa Island, after a few games at the arcade at World Trade Centre. I was particularly good at the skeet shooting arcade game (Bandai - Shoot Away) and I'm now in the process of applying for a Carry & Use permit to have a go at shooting a real rifle at the shooting range. Sega Rally is also a game at which I was quite good at. However, I'm a total clutz at Daytona USA's intermediate and expert chapters.

To add to my colourful range of social activities, I had barged into a Catholic Church's meeting, where my friend was a member and joined their community services. The pastor said it could be due to my calling but I would think it's my way of connecting with fellow humans. The most memorable trip was the day we brought aged residents of an old folks home to the Botanical Gardens. Took a shot of the nurse with her aged friends from their back, holding hands together as they trudged slowly around the park.

There's a nice swimming pool in the tertiary institution and thus, during my final 3rd year, I made it a point to learn swimming. By myself. No classes. No money. By copying other swimmers, I was my own coach, motivating myself to move inch by inch, lap by lap, breast stroke to free style to 30 laps in about 50 minutes. I guess if I put my mind into something, I can really do it

To serve my scholarship bond, I worked in a shipyard as that's my field of study. It's dangerous, dirty and demanding but it was fun. It's nice when you're in a new environment, learning new things. I had a bicycle to cycle from ship to ship for morning meetings and inspections. It was 7 days weeks except when I took the weekend off to return either to Malacca or KL. And that also, was a rush as it's either a 3.5 hours bus ride to Malacca or 4.5 hours to KL. After a short night's stay, it's back to Singapore. During CNY, I had to buy the bus ticket at least 1.5 months in advance, before it's sold out.

Shifted to a rented room in a terrace house at Toh Tuck Road. Work starts at 0730 hrs and ends at 1630 hrs, although we'd stayed till 2130 hrs on most days. Yes, it's very long hours but since I'm single, it was all taken in stride. Got myself an Aprilia RS125 motorcycle (S$11,500) and rode back to Malacca and surprised mother, who never bought me a bike as she thinks it's dangerous

I promise to ride safely ok? And I practise safe riding till today, 28 years later. Don't worry too much about me. After work, I'd just ride around, connecting the roads. There's no GPS maps those days.

The MRT and bus service is very reliable and cheap. A ride from Jurong to Changi by MRT will only cost about S$8.00. From money machines to fixed value cards, there's progress on how payments were made. On buses (SBS or TransitLink), they started with buses with conductor where tickets were issued after cash is deposited into the container beside the driver. The bus companies overcame the problem of cheating by passengers (who paid the least fare but travelling the furthest) by making passengers board from the front and scanning, and exit was only allowed through the rear entrance after scanning, thereby ensuring accurate fare payment each time for every passenger.

When I'm taking the bus, it's always from Larkin, Johor Bahru, as there's more choices and timing available. Marybrown started in Johor and I really enjoyed the alternative to KFC, being a home grown brand. Ramly burger was also a staple dinner before boarding the bus, just as the tomyam soup

There's even rabbit meat Ramly burger those days

The journey from Woodlands to Larkin is a hectic one, struggling with thousands of other pedestrians. I walked across the Causeway as it's faster, to catch bus 170 on the Johor side, to reach Larkin.
Early personal communication began with the pager and mine was from the Motorola brand, costing about S$200, if I remember correctly. When it buzzed, I will have to return the call through the public phone. That was the technology then. My first handphone was Ericsson GH388, costing about S$800. It's analog and the polyphonic ringing melody is a proud sound to hear, because someone's calling me

Calls received and made are charged. So, there's not too many phone calls and SMS messages were composed by pressing the keys, once or multiple times, according to the character assigned to the each keypad. Contact numbers were saved on the SIM card and it's limited to 250 contacts only. Unfortunate contacts were deleted to make way for more relevant ones

I always make it a point to call home every Sunday. To save money, International Calling Cards were purchased where charges were subsidised. Mother's voice often replied at the other end and sometimes, father would answer the call. It's to allay their worries over their son being in Singapore, especially mum who thinks a lot for us.

Weekends after work would mean a bus trip to town and on Sundays when I'm not working, I'd walk from Bugis to Orchard Road. This walking habit, started from the studying days. It may seem far but it's a good exercise and a good way of discovering and getting to know the city state. Branded clothes are cheap e.g S$30.00 for a pair of Pierre Cardin, Crocodile or G2000 shirt. My first Levi's 501 jeans was had at S$100.00 a pair and so was my first Nike shoes at the same price.

Having enjoyed various branded goods in Singapore, I no longer look for branded goods back in Malaysia as the price is exorbitant. Food is cheap e.g chicken rice costs S$2.50 (you may want to debate but chicken rice in Singapore is better tasting than Malaysia's

). The premium coffee scene started with Coffee Bean and it's only S$5.00 a cup. A pint of Haagen Daaz costs only S$10.00.

Nasi lemak in Singapore is just plain Malay mixed rice and don't you go queuing in Hougang to get it. However, there's one food which I can't find in Malaysia and that's the unique mutton soup at Bukit Timah market. It's so simple but delicious and satisfying. The market was demolished last year and I don't know if I'll ever find that mutton soup anywhere anymore

Bukit Timah holds a special place in my recollection of my Life in Singapore. Bukit Timah market, Bukit Timah Plaza, Bukit Timah Shopping Centre and Beauty World Complex. Not forgetting the charcoal boiled chicken porridge treats at Boon Tong Kee Restaurant, located opposite Bukit Timah Shopping Centre. An MRT station now occupies what was a field before, where fun fairs were held.

My 10 years in Singapore summarised but words can only do so much to compress the memories and experience. Thank you, Singapore, for adding to my Life's learning

Note : Was going through the old photos which were printed on film, in my attempt to lock the colour before they deteriorate further. Used software to revive the photos and since I'm at it, decided to post it for everyone's scrutiny/enjoyment since otherwise, the photos will just remain hidden away