lessons from an unlicensed oral historian: ----- going Ang Mo Kio? the first houses in Ang Mo Kio, you know where or not? i tell you. it was at street 31, avenue 1 there. at the swimming pool. they built the block 300 plus first, i think now demolished already. it was in the 1970s. completed in 1973, 1974 like that. how do i know? last time i working there. doing construction at the Bishan Park. we built the longkang. no, i never build. i was the supervisor. last time, no foreign workers. the majority all Malaysians. every day after work finish, we will go and drink kopi. last time, there was a lot of forest, and fish pond. a lot of farmers there, they plant vegetation. then got chased out, now build MRT. the workshop where they repair the trains. you see, where we are passing now? last time this road was two-way: one up, one down! that time we sat on, what we called it was the Electrical Bus. a lot of wires everywhere, they will push the bus forward. Piak! Piak! Piak! a lot of sparks! i remember my mother carried me to sit. last time, wooden seats! you ask your father, he will know. very risky, because a lot of wires hanging around, can catch fire. the houses all around, all wooden. no Housing Board! no, i never stay here. last time i stayed in Geylang Lorong 3. like kelong. you know kelong? below, is all water. at night, when you are sleeping, your hand can touch the seawater. because wooden floor, got holes -- if your hand is small, you can go inside. when high tide, you can feel the water. it will come up to the floor. last time the water very big, like a river. you cannot see the end. now, no more. all like longkang. if you migrate in the 70s and come back today, you will be blur. last time no hawker centre also. every one will go to Odeon theatre, squat at the roadside and eat. no table no chair! last time, no entertainment. no karaoke, shopping mall, nothing! Friday, Saturday, all go and see film show. 50 cents only. if you sit in front. sit in the back, 1 dollar. then if you want good one, you buy 1.50 -- 2nd storey. last time really nothing to do. so we all play horses. now you see, all the old people play horses. you know why. last time no football. life was simple. schooling, or sleeping. quite dull. no computer game. ah, only got one, i remember! only one butterfly then you shoot! then you shoot complete then another one will come out! SOOM! SOOM! SOOM! you put in the token and play, i think 1 cent or what. that was 1960, 1970 plus. then got another one, got tanker, you shoot the head and it will turn back... (ah, now we are on the CTE. this highway, completed 1990 like that. ECP 1980 plus also. cannot remember.) last time got good, now got good. quite hard to compare. ah, but one thing. last time, no stress. now the youngster all stress. last time you study, dont study, your parents dont care. your pasal! family, a lot of members. your father come back, sleep already. ah, last time better, you know why? wooden house, at the back got opening. you can CABUT! now public housing, you come home, your father know youre back! CANNOT HIDE! one more thing. last time, all the kids no money. every one no money, so we can play together. now, some rich, some poor. the rich dont want to play with the poor. now, got iPhone. you go to school, you carry Nokia, aiiiiyaaa! who carry Nokia! they will laugh at you and compare. last time where got compare? everybody no money one. so they can get together. last time all equal. but you cannot compare the generation. every generation got its own style. last time we carry candle. now torchlight. am i happy to be Singaporean? you tell me, not happy then what? no use! you PAP not happy, then you tell me, if got Opposition that means i dont have to drive taxi? Opposition still have to drive taxi! dont say happy not happy. just be satisfied. life not bad. healthy can already. OK, $21. thank you.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:44:50 +0000
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