Peninsula
I have written about why Plaza Singapura was a special place for me. It was a moment in time where my friends and I would frequent the place. When I try to recollect, I realised that we are all a part of history because for a moment in time, we were at places, events, meeting people where for that particular time or period of time, sometimes never repeated again because things have changed and moved on. This is why memories of old are like treasures. Create great ones and you will have great treasures when you look back.
I have been to this place many times and it now occurred to me that I should talk about it as I am sure many of us frequented the place and the vicinity at different stages of our life. For example, visiting the Capitol theatre for movies with friends or when dating and before and after the movies, we would have gone "makan" right behind. I remember the now famous "char kway teow" that has now relocated to Bedok. There was an old man who peddled "jiu her eng chye" or cuttle fish/kang kong. The drinks stall that brought us childhood favourites of lime juice and coconut drinks. There was also an old fashion air-conditioned joint where they served wonderful wan ton noodle just along the main road and the name could be "Mei Chin" or something. I have only one question - why didn't they preserve Capitol and that food place? Why oh why?
Later, as a young adult, I frequented the place because in my job I have to serve many customers there at High Street. Not many of you would recall that High Street was the high street of the time because you don't frequently shop at High Street or Change Alley as we have only one Robinson at Change Alley and one Metro at High Street. The City Hall was a revered place that you do not go to all the time.
The grandeur of our National Day on 9 August was paraded here and some of us at one time or another during our youths in school or during national service would have also participated in one of them.
These are the steps that the nation's leaders were seated during the yearly big bash.
And the pillars of ancient time which remain our pillars of strength.
I remember that Giordano T-Shirts were sold only at Peninsula and the only logo was a frog. We go there to shop because besides the movies and food, many of us could shop at Peninsula because Peninsula offered value for money products for clothes and shoes. Not only that, they were all cool and rocker stuffs abound - cowboy boots, jackets, jeans, t-shirts, accessories, hats, caps, belts, buckles and sports shops too. That was the time when "Lee" jeans were popular.
This is the Adelphi where high end hi-fi equipment are sold. There used to be a couple of CD shops where I frequented. There was once a guy from Hong Kong called Joe who ran a CD shop. Joe is someone I wish had succeeded because he provided first class service. His shop was well stocked with lots of audiophile quality recordings and music. He has top range equipment in his CD players, head phones and speakers and he encouraged you to try anything without any pressure or commitment. He would also serve you warm coffee to go along. Best of all, Joe did a write out and advertised in the classified ads every Saturday telling you which were the great CDs in stock and why they are so good. I have quite many from his selection. I do not know what happened to him after that. I wish him well.
You will find the old Capitol Building at the junction of Stamford Road and North Bridge Road. Next to it is the Capitol Centre but the car park behind has been torn down. Next, you will find Peninsula Plaza. This is Peninsula Plaza where Coleman Street cuts across.
Across Peninsula Plaza and Coleman Street, you will find Peninsula Shopping Complex where the Excelsior Hotel and Shopping Centre are. The Adelphi is just opposite Peninsula Shopping Complex.
I was not surprise when I found out that quite a few old friends still frequent this place. Not only that, some young people actually like this place too. I used to have my clothes tailored at a few tailor shops here like "Dream Land", "Lord John" and "Frank" where you will also meet some friends there some times. Some of the old boys who ran the shops are amazingly still at it. Brands like "Fox" and "Lumberjack" are still around. Jeans and t-shirts are ever popular. If I remember correctly, 2nd Chance started from there?
Where Serangoon Road is called "Little India", Golden Mile at Beach Road is our "Little Thailand" then the area around Peninsula is our "Little Myanmar". There are shops and restaurants for Myanmarese food.
What I like about Peninsula is that it was never pretentious. They don't do designer or pirated stuffs. Some have their own original brands. If you are looking for skinny jeans or quirky shoes at a reasonable price, this is the place to be.
I met Mr. Uddin here to purchase some stuffs. There was also a shoe shop nearby run by two senior Chinese men who sell some branded shoes like Dr. Martens and Kickers plus some other interesting shoes like boots and semi-boots. Rugged shoes for hiking, etc. are also available.
You will be surprised that the canvas shoes here have designs as good as any other. More than that, the canvas shoes here cost half the price of some branded types and is twice more comfortable. You just can't beat that. Soccer-crazy fans can also visit to get your jerseys and memorabilia here. A very old neighbour, a Singh family from my childhood days used to own a sports shop here but I do not know where they are now.
Sport shoes are also well stocked.
There are a few very interesting guitar and music shops like Davis where you can make your purchases of the various famous guitar brands and models. Some days, you may get to see some testing or jamming sessions there around the zone. There is even one which is a guitar and ukulele handcrafter.
There is a very old tailor shop here that besides tailoring, they can do a re-fit for all your old designer clothes and restore them to your current need where current need means your fatter self. You can also bring your clothes here for alteration or when you have just purchased some garments that need alteration for just a few dollars.
You will soon need to recharge your battery and so we found ourselves a nearby canteen serving teh tarik, roti prata and mee or bee hoon goreng.
I reminisce the days of old where in your mee goreng, they would put in lots of tiny chopped potatoes with lots of onions and when taking away, they lay a banana leaf to wrap your mee goreng. This is really how a good mee goreng should be like. Potatoes, onions and banana leaf.
I don't know about Bukit Brown but please do not change Peninsula. Please do not even relocate them for the sake of changes. The place has history and soul and it rocks! Gazette it as a national monument. Increasingly, I am getting back to my youth which means I am getting younger. For those who are aging, we need something to hang on. Something familiar to rely on so that you know it is home even as your hearing deserts you or your eyes fail you.
Viva La Vida! Long Live Life! Listen to the beautiful song of Coldplay and Chris Martin:
(The song tells us to be suspicious of people in power. They can tell us to fight for freedom or in the name of religion. Looking at history, you will have many examples or even in your working and business life. Even when they started with good intentions, they are merely people who like everyone is subject to temptation and eventually corruption when in power for this is the nature of man.)
I just wanted to borrow the words of Viva La Vida to say Long Live Life!
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