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A "recycled teenager" learning to blog.

Dec 29, 2010

3D Blog: Bugis Street (People) - Then

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).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

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).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

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Dec 27, 2010

3D Blog - First Day of School

Children attending school at Covent Garden in 1956

The "First Day of School" blog topic sounds interesting and I attempt to experiment "The Third Dimension" (3D) presentation style with a new "blog recipe".

"First Day of School" focus on kindergarten and first admission to Primary One in Singapore schools.

Although Compulsory Education (CE) was implemented in Singapore in 2003, every parents are concerned to send their children to school.

On this blog as a photographic journal, the relevant photos shared here in sequence but not necessarily in chronological order.

How do the grandparents, parents and their children experience their first day in school?

"The Third Dimension" (3D) of schoolday experience then and now.

There is also a section on school registration "then and now" as the system to attend school evolve since the early days. Not an academic research blog on education in Singapore though.

The following blogs are selected from Mr Brown and The Long and Winding Road blogs to share their experience on first day of school. Fellow bloggers are welcome to link them here on the relevant topics.

This is the new media blogs on "The Third Dimension" (3D) using different media channels of the same genre, including Facebook the social utility network.

The blog presentation with each his own style doesn't matter. Variety is the spice of life expresses the idea that it is good to try and do different things. Just as a cook uses different spices to create the flavors in a great meal, a person who tries different experiences will be able to enjoy different tastes and ways.

The blog content and resource material remains unchanged. Its kinda like "mooncake recipe". There is no moon in the cake of a "mooncake"! Just as there is no wife in the cake of "Lao Po Bing" (Wife Cake) :)

The traditional mooncake is consumed during the Mid-Autumn Festival. However, the mooncake recipe and ingredient have changed over the years. These days, mooncakes are sold in a variety of flavor, color and shapes, including mini mooncakes sizes...durian flavor, chocolate flavor, "taro sweet potato" and all sorts of filling found here .

How did the children get through the day on the first day of school?

Fancy going to school by rickshaws as the children at Tao Nan School travel in 1909 by "The First Dimension" transportation method. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

"The Second Dimension" for transportation by public buses as shown in the photos below.

"The Third Dimension" (3D) transportation when school re-opens on 4 January, 2011. Commuting becomes a breeze when the children and their parents accompany them to school by MRT mode of transportation. Fast, efficient and comfortable. That's what it is like to travel on the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and LRT (Light Rapid Transit) systems. It's the backbone of the city's public transport system, taking you to the north, south, east, west and north-eastern parts of Singapore.

On the first day to school accompanied by parents. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Mother holding the child's hand tightly to send him to first day in school. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Under the watchful eyes of the woman police constable to ensure the safety of the school children of the Holy Convent Jesus in 1970. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

A woman police constable on road safety duty. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The daily rush to school by bus using public transportation of "The Second Dimension".Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

School children were travelling on the bus step at their own's risk. However, the bus captains will now only start the buses moving before the doors are closed. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Travel to school with happiness by bus in a NTUC Comfort mini-bus...safe and comfortable. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

School children morning exercise was a daily routine in the 1960s. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Recess time on the first day of school with the guidance of the parents. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Grandma to bring food to school during recess time. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

 New primary one pupils escorted by parents on their first day at River Valley Primary School c 1969

Attending first day of school with excitement and joy to study and learn. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

School Dismissal - "Before". Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

School Dismissal - "After" with queue and guides to practise "Safety First" (Above and Below) Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

On the first day of school in 1955, I attended the Kai Kok Public School at Bukit Ho Swee where I grew up. First day of school, my mother walked with me on the muddy tracks to the wooden school building. She accompanied me throughout that day, waiting in the school canteen and brought home-cooked food for me during recess time. There was no foreign domestic worker (known as FDW) to look after me. How times changed!

Today, there are over 74 kindergartens and 177 primary schools in Singapore. More school building are under construction to cater to the education needs of Singaporeans. Who built the schools over the 45 years of nationhood? Looking back, it was a development to rapidly build and move from "The First Dimension" to the "The Third Dimension"...our experience on an educational journey to progress as a people.

Where were the school buildings to be located, the principals and the teachers to train? The kampungs and rural areas was given priority as there were fewer neighbourhood schools there in the 1960s.

The school building infrastructure and facilities are the hardware; the training courses, the educationists and the students themselves are the heartware to make the schools work and to benefit the society.

Before the child could go to the "First Day of School", how was it possible to have a school to attend, the enrolment of the children under a school registration system as we could see from the photos below.

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The school registration system has evolved over the decades. This photo shows an improvement in the 1980s. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Now, the school registration system has since been computerised.

Every parents aspire for their children to have a better life through formal school education, literacy and skill training...since the times of the philanthropist Mr Lee Kong Chian and other educational pioneers to help build Singapore.

My bus-driver friend used to tell me: "Never mind that I was born illiterate, but my two children born in Singapore in the 1980s are National University of Singapore graduates and one of them are pursuing PhD." He beamed with pride for his children to grow up in a city of possibilities based on meritocracy and opportunities to upgrade their social status regardless of ethnic group, language or religion. Like the Samsui women, my friend found the sacrifices and hardship during his early days for the sake of the future generations worthwhile.

Happy schooling to every children on their first day in school. Study hard and don't play too much on their computer games!

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