Vanishing Trades
Singapore is developing so fast and if you haven't been back to some restaurants or a place in three months you had better run a check just to be sure if they are still there. Suddenly, you may even see a new building that sprang up from nowhere.
Landscape, places and shops can vanish, so can your trade, jobs or businesses. Even our way of life can vanish. Even more deadly than that - our principles and moral values can vanish. So what can we do? If you are afraid people help themselves with the money, you pay them more? What about sex? Scandals are everywhere. The world's oldest profession never vanished. They just come around in different forms. Be wary. The whole world is changing rapidly and Singapore is always in the forefront too. When we get our principles and moral values right, the whole world around you can change but you won't. Don't even budge and don't call me old! I "wong" you hor" (I warn you).
Recently, a few friends celebrated their birthdays and some of them said they are 28. When you are a child you wanted to celebrate your birthday the sooner the better. You wanted to grow old fast. So when friends said they are 28 I know how they feel because I just turned 20 and I already feel their age. Sigh.
So we put in statues at strategic places to remind the younger ones but do people listen? Well, have a heart for the older folks always for many may find it difficult to cope. The statues here showed how people buy and sell live chickens in a market place in the old days. I have not seen this myself, not my time. People are growing up in a very different world.
Chickens were in cages when delivered to the market then slaughtered there during my time. I would go to the kampung to collect eggs at a relative's home.
Children today may grow up thinking that chickens grew up in plastic bags in a super market. The "chicken trade" is still there today but you don't see these things no more. It is cleaner.
The trishaw riders are still around but they will probably be taking mostly tourists. Back then, trishaws were an optional mode of travel. Before the trishaw was the rickshaw. Here it is with yours truly.
This was the bridge beside the once ice works factory Jie Shuang Qiao or "Kek Sng Kio" 结霜桥 as popularly known as the "Thieves Market" where you will find old men displaying and selling all kinds of interesting things on the street.
Go further up nearer to Rochor and you can witness a hive of activities. Those who complain about going to work should come down here to watch how many Malaysians have to come over to Singapore to work by bus or taxi. This is also the place where folks gather to hitch a bus or taxi ride to up north country.
There is still an old world charm about the place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE&ob=av2e
At this small make shift office they issue taxi or bus tickets. Have you ever seen how a bus ticket look like? Our buses used to have a bus conductor who will issue you a ticket after collecting payment and they will punch a hole in it. All tickets are different in colour and he will regularly shout "masok dalam" as nobody seemed to move inside the bus preferring to stand near the door way. As the buses were mostly full in the morning, many a times we would squeeze in by just standing at the entrance's door steps and enjoying the breeze without realising the danger.
Ah, the Pasar Malam or night market. It used to be a lot more interesting as more things were being peddled. They used to have even the "koyok man" or medicine man peddling all kinds special ointments. They will demonstrate their "kung-fu" by chopping bricks or drilling coconuts with their bare fingers, etc. There were also a lot of food stalls too.
Today's pasar malam are always selling the same few things.
I saw this whole panel of a vehicle on the road. Even the panel-beating business has taken a toll. People no longer beat their cars back into shape. They just change things so when anyone tells me that their car air con is not working, I'll them to change their car.
I came across this shop in Beach Road. There are not many like this around. All your pails, mobs, pots and pans can be found here.
They have very good clay pots too.
Can you beat this? A bath tub for your baby. Remember to take note that you should not throw the baby out with the bath water.
This was how my six-pack used to look like - yes, a washing board with that little chair to boot. Anyone still do washing like that? When I was joking about what I have written while in the shop, the old uncle started laughing and joined me in the small talk about my six-pack. He spoke quite impeccable English.
I told him my six-pack like washing board after years of usage has worn out like a real worn out wash board. He liked it, it was face to face and not like in face book.
Cobblers - Can you imagine many of us younger folks are making faster money sitting in an air-conditioned comfort of an office while old men toiled away at some inauspicious corner along a pavement pounding away to save your leather footwear for a few bucks.
He will heel you, save your sole and even dye for you.
Just like a carpenter once upon a time by the name of Jesus!
Many of us may have seen how coffee were roasted by coffee shop owners when we were younger usually at the back of their shops. Now, they are all supplied to them from a wholesaler.
There are a few coffee powder traders around, one of them a very old and established one called Lam Yeo is located along Balestier Road near Whampoa. The other is Sin Bee at Amoy Street.
Do you know your coffee? Like the difference between Arabica and Robusta? Their price, taste and body are different. Arabica has a wider taste range while Robusta is neutral to even harsh. Arabica is fruity while Robusta is more oat and grain like. Arabica is more expensive than Robusta because Arabica is more delicate and require special conditions to grow and also in handling while Robusta is more hardy.
The best coffee and highest quality blends are mostly Arabica and they are the priciest while your instant coffee are mostly Robusta. However, do note that a low quality Arabica compared to a high quality Robusta means that the Arabica is inferior in this case. Arabica by itself does not mean quality as over 70% of coffee grown all over the world is Arabica. Robusta tend to have a stronger body therefore making your cuppa tastes stronger because it has more caffeine. Your preferred taste for coffee is personal. I prefer mine mixed with Arabica and Robusta. This gives the coffee a stronger body and yet a more aromatic, fragrant and fruity taste. It will cost you around $16-17 per kg.
The most expensive coffee in the world is the Kopi Luwak,eaten by civet cats and then defecated, farmers would gather, wash, dry, roast and brew them. It is very aromatic and less bitter.
Nasi Lemak is a very popular food and though the origin was Malay, many Chinese are doing the business. I still love it how it was done during the old days. It is quite simple - a fish (kuning), a slice of omelette, some ikan bilis (anchovies), a slice of cucumber and lots of nasi lemak chili. Food wrapped up in banana or opeh leaves are wonderful.
Remember the barbers of the good old days? They will even dig and clean your ears by placing a standing light bulb near your ears, trim the hair in your nostrils, etc. Today, some people do not even trim their own nails, they pay for manicure and pedicure services. Another dying trade is in sales. This is part of my team of very dedicated people! The world's best team!
A man who uses his hands at work is a labourer. One who uses his hands and mind is a craftsman. A man who uses his hands, mind and heart is an artist. He who uses his hands, mind, heart and feet is a sales person. Respect them!
The music industry is still there and will be forever there but there will never be another Whitney Houston. I mean no one can sing "I Will Always Love You" the way she did. Only she could do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU&ob=av2n
Another One Bites The Dust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0xsRgivU4M
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