Scouty’s Weblog

Was at Toa Payoh Safra attending a 2 day course. As that place was within walking distance from my granny’s old place, so decide to walk over there after the course to take some pictures of the place and to relive the good old memories of the old place that my cousins and I partially grew up at.

Well, whats so significant about the place was that it was the few blocks of flats at Toa Payoh estate selected for en-bloc. The few blocks were feature on the newspaper recently as I think its about time all the occupants of the flats have to move out. In the report, one of the now key feature of the estate was also highlighted. That is the old type of playground that you may never get to see anymore in almost all the estates in Singapore. So reading the article kind of send the nostalgic feelings in me and before I knew it, the sentimental side of me decide to make a trip down there and take so pictures for memory sake.

So armed with my digi cam, I walked over to the flats after my course end and what greeted me was this dragon that was lying peacefully on the bed of sand. This dragon has been faithfully performing it’s duty to entertain countless kids (my sis, cousins and I included) around the estate. Somehow I guess the time will soon come for this dragon to be officially ‘release’ from it’s duty and hopefully it will remain in the memories of those kids (now adults) that were once entertained by it.

Moving on and walking along the path that was build for joggers running round the estate, I continue to make my way to my granny’s block (Blk 33). Was standing at this path that leads to the lift landing of the blk 33, this is one of the path we will have to walk when ever we are coming to granny’s flat, next to this path was what used to be an empty plot of grass (now got those foot massage stone path) that my grandpa’s wake was held. At the lift landing, can’t help but took pictures of 2 things that I believe is or will be going extinct soon in Singapore. A old type coin pay phone and the old type letter box that comes with a hatch for those that wanted to put an addition small lock over it.

Taking the lift up to the 9th floor where my granny’s unit was, I was abit excited since it was like at least a few years since I last came here. As most of the occupants had already moved out, so the whole 9th floor was very quiet to the point it does become abit eerie. I do not know if its the mind that is playing tricks, but personally I do feel abit of that uneasiness being alone there. So I took a few pictures before making my way down again. All the while having the uneasy feeling.

As blk 33 is consider as one of those earlier type of flats built, so they were also those that have units at the ground floor as well. While making my way to from the flat to the main road where the bus-stop is, walked past the stretch of coffee-shop and shops that we used to patronize whenever we are at granny’s place. Now what I see is just notices pasted on the metal grills that says State Property!

Will be putting up some of the pictures here, will be happy to share the links with whoever who wanted to catch some pictures of one of Singapore’s oldest estate. Might just bring back some wonderful memories to you, for I know it did to me.