Blog To Express: 3D Blog: Bugis Street (People)

Bugis Street in 1960s. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

When looking at the PICAS photo above, we must be wondering "What were the young children doing at night at Bugis Street in the 1960s. Were they studying in schools during those days?"

Bugis Street was renowned internationally from the 1950s to the 1980s for its "happening street" as Singapore's top tourist attraction during that period.

This "Third Dimension" (3D) blog features on Bugis Street "Then and Now".

Same Place. Different Times. Different Journeys and experiences to share the photographic journey categorised as People and Place.

I checked with Online Dictionary Reference for the definition of "place".

I would prefer "place" as "a particular portion of space, whether of definite or indefinite extent" to refer to "a place in the homeland, in my heart, in my mind, in my memories...in the context of this blog.

I could remember "Where Time Stands Still" by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Baby where's that place where time stands still
I remember like a lover can
But I forget it like a leaver will
It's no place you can get to by yourself
You've got to love someone and they love you
Time will stop for nothing else
And memory plays tricks on us, the more we cling,
The less we trust
And the less we trust the more we hurt
And as time goes on it just gets worse
So baby where's that place where time stood still
It is under glass inside a frame
Was it over when you had your fill

And here we are with nothing but
But this emptiness inside of us
Your smile a fitting, final gesture
Wish I could have loved you better

Baby where's that place where time stands still
I remember like a lover can
But I forget it like a leaver will
It's the first time that you held my had
It's the smell and the taste and the fear and the thrill
It's everything I understand
And all the things I never will

Not about "Baby" in this reference though ;)

"The Third Dimension" of a place beyond my memories of a place has a character, the 'look and feel of an area', an identity, in particular a country can be both descriptive and prescriptive, inevitably impact upon the way a place is used and what it feels like to be there, along with a range of other social, cultural, ecological, physical and economic factors that shape human settlements.

It doesn't matter whether it is Chinatown, Bugis Street, Geylang Serai, Little India, Punggol, Toa Payoh, etc, "same place just different time" (as Icemoon's theme aptly used) to blog the various places of Singapore in this series of "The Third Dimension" (3D) blogs. All are welcome to share as guest bloggers who lived at various places in Singapore. My personal experience about the places I lived are very few. In fact, my friend "Chinatownboy" said: "Born in Chinatown, grew up in Chinatown, Married in Chinatown, will die in Chinatown, God Willing".

Chinatown as a place for home has gone through rapid transformation over 45 years of nationhood. "Chinatownboy" have interesting stories at Bullock Cart Water blog to share with us. The place in my selective memories where I grew up and remember always in this lifetime (where next I don't know) as one of the "Street Urchin of Bukit Ho Swee Kampong".

My kampong buddies would have lived through various places of abode after the tragic Bukit Ho Swee fire in 1961.

The built of Singapore since its birth as a nation on 9th August, 1965 and the changes of its its place and landscape was attributable to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) with "Prudent land use planning has enabled Singapore to enjoy strong economic growth and social cohesion, and ensures that sufficient land is safeguarded to support continued economic progress and future development" and Mission: "To make Singapore A Great City to Live, Work and Play In" and Housing & Development Board (HDB) with its Remaking Our Heartland Plans .

In the meantime, please join me on with the 3D blog - Bugis Street :Then and Now":

"Bugis Street - Then"

A hawker stall at Bugis Street in the 1950s. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The following are the interesting blogs on Bugis Street at:

Lost Images Of Bugis Street On Film by Peter Chan.

Peep! Peep! Bugis Street….Peep! Peep! Bugis Street by Peter Chan.

Where exactly was the Infamous Toilet in Bugis Street? by Icemoon at "Second Shot - same place just different time"

"Dance Of The Flaming Arseholes" Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Veterans recall that the notorious drinking section began from Victoria Street west to Queen Street. Halfway between Victoria and Queen Streets, there was an intersecting lane parallel to the main roads, also lined with al fresco bars. There was a well-patronised public toilet with a flat roof of which there are archival photos, complete with jubilant rooftop transwomen.

One of the "hallowed traditions" bestowed upon the area by sojourning sailors (usually from Britain, Australia and New Zealand), was the ritualistic "Dance Of The Flaming Arseholes" on top of the infamous toilet's roof. Compatriots on the ground would chant the signature "Haul 'em down you Zulu Warrior" song whilst the matelots performed their act.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Labels: 3D Blog Bugis Street (People) - Then

6 Comments:

lim said...: Fascinating place. Must have been the no. 1 tourist attraction in those days. I remember a very nice Wanton noodle stall I had patronized in the 70s. Wonder where is it now.; December 30, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Philip Chew said...: Thanks for the pictures of old Bugis Street scenes. They reminded me of the place I frequented for yummy food half a century ago.; December 30, 2010 at 10:10 PM
Anonymous said...: Great Historical Archive sharing of wonderful streets of Singapore. For many generations to come, the story continues...

Peace & joy
Alfred; December 31, 2010 at 8:55 PM
Thimbuktu said...: Hi lim, most of the stalls at Bugis Street in the 70s have be relocated all over the places.

Appreciate if someone know the Wanton noodle stall latest location. I also want to patronize it. Thanks.; January 4, 2011 at 8:07 AM
Thimbuktu said...: Hi Philip. Those of our yummy food fans at Bugis Street as shown in the old pictures on the blog would be disappointed. I visited the "Now" Bugis Street on new year eve and only a few restaurants there, but not the original stalls.

Pls check out the latest photos of Bugis Street when I post the blogs.
Thanks.; January 4, 2011 at 8:14 AM
NiningHand said...: Bugis street is the famous place to buy souvenirs; July 11, 2015 at 4:56 AM

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Dec 29, 2010

3D Blog: Bugis Street (People) - Then

6 Comments: