Quote:
Originally Posted by disley
I was in Singapore for 3 months in 1973.
It was a great place. I had my 22 birthday on Bugis Street, great times.
I stayed in Tanjong Paga, the seamens quarter, great bars, very Shanghai 1930.
There were no high rise, they were building the first one on the shentonway which was a lovely grass/park area with a huge rubber tree I think. Right by Collier quay. Food markets opened for lunch and at night I'd drink Tiger beer and eat satay.
There were building sites everywhere, old Sikhs slept outside banks as security guards, it was a wonderful place. The smell of curry powder from the Indian spice shop where they made it.
When I went back of couple of years later and it had changed, become like a mini New York with skyscrapers along the harbour.
The Shentonway had disappeared under a multi lane highway, with ultra modern banks lining the road.
Where was the Chinese youth hostel I stayed at, gone.
Cops everywhere, like a police state. The people were still friendly but the happy vibe had gone.
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You have an excellant memorie for detail.
The places you have described, I have only seen in pictures, or history books.
From my discussions with folks in the over-50 yr crowd, Singapore was a very cool place to be .
However modernisation has transformed this tiny island into a spinning 'Mini-Manhattan', that nevers stops, never slows down 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days out of the year.
Bugis St. is the farthest edge of the old Malaya villiage area. There, and in Little India, you can still smell the curry being made, and get a sense of old world charm/nostalgia.
The Polisi are not very evident these days..too busy escorting high profile Government official's to and fro. Mostly their activity's are quiet,covert,undercover.
The locals are still freindly..but very reserved in most cases involving a person they do not know. It just takes approaching them slowly, and in short intervals. But once that has been established they will usually take a pilgram under wing.
The only good vibe these days is when one has a meal, goes shopping, takes a holiday.