Xing Yu's & Huda's reflection

Xing Yu...

Prior to this heritage trail, i have known little about Balestier Road and its neighbourhood. It may have just appear to be another unknown street in Singapore where my dad would usually drive past. Or perhaps, the only information i could remember is, 'looks, thats the place where you were born - Thompson medical center' (as often mentioned by my dad when we were at the junction, at the end of Balestier road, turning into Thompson road). Or maybe even the Tao Sah Piah shop my parents would stop over to pack for tea time snacks.

The opportunity to explore the various little places along Balestier road have allowed me to view this stretch of road and its neighbourhood in a different light. In fact, its not another sleepy little quiet street, but one that has a rich history, lots of yummy local treats and colours exude from within!

I am still quite amazed with the quantity of shops selling a certain item! There were like multiple stores selling lighting, bak kut teh, roasted chicken and meat, and even tau sah piah! There seems to be great positive competitions among the shops as each claim to be better than the other! With signboards ranging from lightology to house of lights, while, the shops selling delicious local fare were collaged with new paper articles and reviews! All of these 'gems' were tucked away in pre-war shophouses that line the road.

Other then the shop houses, huda and i were also elated with the thought of seeing what we learnt in film history coming to life! We have come across 'Jalan Ampas' and Shaw Malay Film Studio, when learning about early Singapore cinema, but have always thought that the former studio would have been demolished. What's more, we have never known that Jalan Ampas is actually down a little road that is along Balestier Road!

There is also the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Villa where the Chinese revolutionist leader, Dr Sun Yat Sen's Kuomingtang headquarters in Singapore was located!

Other then its historical evidences, Balestier Road have also made its footing in the Religious area. In fact, there are quite a number of places of worship catering to the different faith in a multi-facade society like Singapore. Huda and i have personally went into a taoist temple, a burmese temple and a Catholic church. And though, we belong to other religious background and faith, we were still recieved warmly by the devotees. I am glad that we manage to participate in the little celebration held in the Burmese temple by the Burmese citizens residing in Singapore! It was to celebrate the national day of one of the Burmese state and we were invited to try on their traditional local cooking! Imagine having the chance to taste authentic foreign cuisine and be hosted by the locals themselves? I would say, it is really our pleasure:)

On the whole, it was a Sunday morning well spent! An enriching journey for us to know more about our country as well as the place we have once ignored. I've just found out that the URA have decided to conserved the area along Balestier road - a linear commercial stretch of old and new developments along Balestier Road between Thomson Road and Moulmein Road- with streetblocks comprising of a mix of 2-story pre-war shophouses as well as more recent 3- to 6- storey shop/flat developments!

Once again, i would agree, that the old and the past has its charm and beauty, awaiting for the patient heart to discover the 'gem' from within :)

Balestier Road conservation area

Huda...

Balestier? The only thing i know about that place was nothing. I thought that Balestier was so far away and is one of those dead and remote town. But i was quite surprise when Dr. Ivy gave us a Heritage Trail booklet on it, and found so many interesting places there. I was even surprise that the famous Shaw Malay Film Studio was situated there! To my amazement! 

I pass by it so many times while taking the PIE to school, i was oblivious of the gem stone in the rubble, and all it takes is for someone to sieve through it. On a very early Sunday morning, i was religiously studying the map, i was so scared of getting us lost, i don't even know how to get myself there! But, again, to my amazement, it was rather easy, i have actually past through the place so many times, to get to Balestier was to just make a left turn! That was it, simple! Of course have your own transportation makes it even easier.

I am not saying this because i am suppose to support the trail that i was on, but, i believe that one must have a go on this trail at least once, and on an early morning, the air is cooler and it's not so crowded..haha. I keep on saying this, but it is a beautiful fact that everything is conveniently nearby! And people are friendly too, and welcoming. I seriously felt like a tourist, and i usually wonder what these tourist are doing, Singapore is dull (opps...did i just said that...yes i did..haha) there is nothing to see, but am i ever so wrong. I was and still am excited thinking that all this cool places exists in Singapore!

I use to think that Singapore's effort in conservation was not such a good one, because i didn't think there was much to conserve besides all those shop houses, and believe me, i am that ignorant! I love the fact that it is not only Singapore's glorious history that has been acknowledged, but even the smaller things, like the light shops, the food stalls and even market place was brought forth as part of Singapore's history and identity. Every town creates and add on to our identity as a Singaporean, something brought from the immigrants that becomes part of us until today, and so uniquely shape itself to be who we are, our memories of eating hot tau sah piah with your family or even going to the market forms a memory and history and i am so glad that this kind of history is being recognized as important, when something becomes a tradition or a routine, it is difficult to let go and we get attached and one way or another, the history of a town or Singapore is etched in all of us.

Each place of interest that we went, had it's own unique quality, and i have to say that one other reason i can never forget Balestier was that i received my very first traffic offense in my 3 years of driving life! A history being created at every corner for us. And being able to share these experience with my good friend makes it an even greater memory and history.

I love you Xing Yu ;)