Paper bags were used during the 60s, 70s and early 80s. They were then replaced by the current plastic bags. In the past, most products or companies advertisements were placed on the paper bags. Of course most of us will remember those bigger paper bags used for the mooncakes boxes.
Look at these 2 paper bags found in my mother’s house. They are probably 25 to 30 years back.
1. Chee Seng Sesame Oil;
Take note of the old telephone number and the number of digit then. Also the old address 937 Serangoon Road. This Chee Seng Sesame Oil probably has a very long product life cycle. They have been here since 1943 though started off as coconut oil instead of sesame oil. Here is theircompany history and their double pagoda logo reason.
2. Heng Kee Lemon Juice ;
This was my favourite lemon juice in concentrated form, to be mixed with water. My mother used to buy a bottle of this lemon juice when she was out shopping. Note the address printed on the paper bag - Capitol Shopping Centre, Stall No.52 and $1.30 per bottle. Stall No.52 - those who been there before in the 80s will remember how the place like. Maybe Peter and Chun See can shed some lights.
Let’s see when the paper bags were made and who made them;
So don’t you think every paper bag tells a story? In the past, I used to say to my mother why was she keeping all these paper bags like garung guni…now I’m the one keeping it haha. Now I understand when there are aplenty - it’s like rubbish, and when it’s gone - it’s like treasure!
Those who have read my previous post on the old Casio Calculator Space Invader game, may also like this.
No it wasn’t the NintendoGame Boy my son is playing, it was a very simple handheld single game type! Called it “Game & Watch”;
It’s not so expensive though but the LCD screen resolution and color is a far cry from the games nowadays. Each set has 2 games : Game A and Game B - Game B is the same but at a faster speed. At that time (in the early 80s), a lot of youngsters were addicted to this game set! Almost everywhere you can see them playing as there were many different games. Among them, my favourite was the Octopus one;
The battery was not those rechargeable type like the GameBoy now. To change to a different game then means to buy another new game set.
My son’s GameBoy - what he called the SP Advance was so expensive when we first bought it few years back and now, the price dropped like hell. It even has a carry pouch;
Even the external appearance is enough to attract one to play;
It’s resolution and color of course were much better than my old “GameBoy”;
Now to change game is easy, just buy a new cartridge (expensive though).
Any place still sell the old Game & Watch?
If you can’t find them anymore, fret not. Play it online here at Retro Remake.
Once again the Mooncake (Mid Autumn, 中秋) or Lantern Festival is coming again. And it’s time to eat my favourite 月餅 (mooncake) but not too much due to my high cholesterol…
Of course, the Mid Autumn festival or whatever name you called it, is on the 15th of August under the Lunar month. Just like the past few years, the mooncakes are already for sale even before the start of Chinese 7th Month! Can’t blame them, selling mooncakes is getting more and more competitive.
When I was just about 4 or 5 years old, I remember it was a time of reunion of family members. All would gather together in the evening and had our dinner. After dinner, the children will gather together in the open field or playground or backyard to play with their simple lanterns. The adults will prayed with their offerings and after that, we will feast on the mooncakes or other food.
The above is me holding a simple lantern in Sep 1966, about 41 years ago. Life was simple but happy then.
Later when we shifted to Haig Road in the 70s, the Mid Autumn festival was celebrated with just a simple meal without the lanterns. Probably my brother and I thought we were in our teens and shouldn’t be playing the lanterns. Lantern or no lantern, here are some food that are related to the Mid Autumn festival;
1. Traditional Piglets in basket;
Photo credit : Henley46
These plain little piglets were my favourites when I was a kid. They were usually given free when you purchased mooncakes from the stall. Now you need to buy or pay for them…and there are different designs and of course more expensive.
2. Water caltrops (菱角);
These are actually a type of water chestnut. The look of these water caltrops may not attract the youngsters nowadays, and eating them also not easy.
Photo Credit : Exif
See the inside of this water caltrop;
Photo Credit : FoggyChan
3. Mini Yam;
Photo Credit : Neowy
Not really my favourite but taking a few bites is ok. Definitely not the whole piece for me…
4. Pomelo;
This is definitely a Multi-Use Pomelo. After eating the juicy fruit, the adults will usually dry the skin. The innovative one will used the skin to make into lanterns. Of course some preferred to wear the pomelo skin as a hat over their heads.
5. Mooncakes;
Finally my favourites…mooncakes. I still preferred the traditional types lotus seed with 2 salted eggs in it.
Some of the traditional shop names related to mooncakes are Tai Thong 大 同, Da Zhong Guo 大中囯 or Da Tong 大東, etc… Remember those traditional paperbags used to contain the boxes of mooncakes;
Photo credit : Kybrdgal
The boxes used to contain the mooncakes then were very similar in design and not so beautiful compared to now.
I remember in the 80s when I was still a regular in the Airforce, I did part-time marketing in mooncake (of course not allowed officially, but the enterprising me…). I checked the Yellow Pages for big corporations and I sent faxes to their personnel department to market Tai Thong (大 同) mooncakes. I went to Tai Thong at Gay World then (now at Mosque Street) and asked them for better discounts when I placed order from them. I even managed to get orders from staffs of Singapore Mint!
The packaging of the fresh milk has undergone changes from the past. I remember it used to be triangular shape as shown above. The other popular brand then was “Daisy” right? Of cousre Magnolia or Daisy, they are both under F&N now if I’m not wrong.
Photo Credit : National Archives of Singapore during the Heritage Festival 2007
How many of us still remember that during the 70s, we used to “subscribe” for the packet of milk in school (during my Primary Sch days). I don’t quite remember how was the packaging of the milk like for students in school then, do you?
2. Condensed Milk;
One of the common brand available in the 60s or 70s then was Milkmaid and of course the other was Blue Cross. I remember how I used to keep those labels which had pictures of fishes, butterflies or birds inside them;
Photo Credit : Above 2 - National Archives of Singapore during the Heritage Festival 2007
3. Goat Milk Delivery Man;
I’m not discriminating against him but I just cannot tolerate the smell of the goat’s milk probably from his “white” robe. There was this Indian man delivering bottles of goat milk to an Indian family one floor below my house in Haig Road when I was still staying there in the 70s/80s. I tried not to get in the same lift as him but at times if I couldn’t, I would just hold my breath.
This is the type of container on their bicycles for the goat’s milk;
You can see the above at the Singapore Philatelic Museum. Or you may even find one in the wax museum in Sentosa;
Today is the 15th of July (Chinese Month) and it’s again must close windows again. Why? To avoid those burning incense “flying” into my house…
I don’t know if it’s coincidence or what, whenever during the Chinese 7th month period I used to see those “special” insects like very big moth (Atlas Moth- the edges of their wings look like snake head to scare off their enemies);
or even weird grasshopper;
Some said these are “their” transporters or “themselves” (you know what I’m talking about”. Our elders told us in the past, not to step on them or disturb them.
I’m wondering what title should I used for this post : “Getai”, “Song Stage”, “Chinese 7th Month”, “Hungry Ghost Festival” or “中元节”? Actually they mean more or less the same issues…or topics…or things….
Why the sudden interest in this Getai or Song Stage in Singapore recently? Probably it’s due to the publicity of the local movie “881″.
You may ask what so special about this festival? This is one celebrated by - I may say regardless of individuals, company, nationality and countries… many MNCs also celebrate it or at least don’t stop their employees from celebrating it. I’ve seen employees and staffs of big and small corporation making offerings during the Chinese 7th Month.
Here are some of the characteristics of this Chinese 7th Month;
1. Wayang Show;
I remember the Getai and Wayang shows were very popular in the 70s. During the day time, it was the Wayang show and at that time, the stage were made of wooden poles (nowadays it’s metal poles) and much higher.
Below shows the wooden stage for the Wayang Show;
Photo Credit : National Archives of Singapore, PICAS
As years passed by, the number of audiences watching the wayang is getting lesser and lesser. As the cost for staging a wayang show is high, and the demand is getting lesser - the wayang show somehow is disappearing from the local scene.
In the 80s when the economy was bad, some organisers made do with screening of movies at night during the Hungry Ghost Festivals instead of Wayang and Getai.
2. Temporary Stalls;
These were probably things of the past as nowadays most temporary stalls are considered illegal! Maybe what’s left are the Ice Cream Man Stalls haha.
Under the wooden stage, there were carrom board and children were playing carrom with sticks to hit the seeds! A totally different way to play carrom. Also many delicious road side food and drinks stalls then. Some of those stalls were Tikam, Toys, Swallow Drinks and Sugar Cane…not forgetting those gaming stalls. Of course, sometimes there were Puppet Shows instead of Wayang Shows.
Below shows some stalls set up during the festival in 1978.
Tikam stall;
Swallow Drink Stall;
Sugar Cane Stall;
Photo Credit : All 3 photos - National Archives of Singapore, PICAS.
3. Offerings;
Those gigantic joss sticks, and road side burning of incense especially during the night time were some related to the festival. I remember it was also a time where children helping in folding of “ingots” for the offering were put in bags and bags of plastic bags;
Photo Credit : Silentshutter.
Giant Joss Sticks;
Photo Credit : National Archives of Singapore, PICAS.
Remember I mentioned that this festival is also celebrated by the companies staffs of various nationality or race;
Photo Credit : Swami - A group photo of staffs celebrating the Chinese 7th month.
In most companies, a leader will organise such event and collect money for the offering. After the prayers, each member will get their share if they paid for the offerings;
Photo Credit : Swami
Below shows an offering by some shop owners in Tampines Mart and an afternoon prayer session;
4. Dinner and Bidding at Auction;
Night time, dinner and those noisy bidding (auction for good luck items) are the norm.
Here is a photo of the Bidding in action and the dinner during a Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival in 1979;
Photo Credit : National Archives of Singapore, PICAS.
Below are some items for the auctioning during the dinner time at the Hungry Ghost Festival in Tampines Mart;
The most popular item is the “Black Gold” which is actually Charcoal being wrapped up nicely for the offering. One thing to note for such auctioning is that what you bid this year successfully must be paid up by next year offering. Of course, there were some who default in their payment…
5. Getai;
Besides the night dinner and bidding, getai is the most popular event to be enjoyed by the young and old. As the wayang show disappearing, the getai is getting popular by the cost is even higher.
My earliest visits to Toa Payoh were for my majong sessions with my Poly classmates. I don’t think I could remember which Lorong Jeffrey Heng stayed… Every trip there brought excitement to me. I loved the big old bus interchange and the hawker centre besides it. We ate there before going to his house for majong.
- Bus Interchange
Sad that the old bus interchange was demolished in 1999 to make way for the HDB Hub (HDB shift their HQ from Jalan Bukit Merah to here). So the bus interchange relocate to a temporary location opposite its original site and then shift back after the Hub was completed.
Here is how the old bus interchange looked like in 1988;
Photo credit : National Archives of Singapore, PICAS
Below the temporary bus interchange in 2002;
Photo credit : dgf6928 (definitely not me in the photo, so don’t be mistaken - just someone off the net that I don’t know)
The new Toa Payoh air-conditioned bus interchange (first in Singapore) at the HDB Hub;
- Toa Payoh Library
Of course, the nearby Toa Payoh Library was another must visit then when I needed to borrow some books. In front of the library, there was a fountain but now it’s replaced by amphitheatre. The library together with the fountain was built in 1973;
The fountain in front of the library in the 80s;
Photo Credit : HDB, Designed For Living
The above photo you can see the cinema besides it and the old bus stop on the right hand side.
How the library looks like after a face lift;
Below the amphitheater in front of the library;
Below you can see the HDB Hub building behind the library;
Photo credit : Jakrapong - Toa Payoh Garden
Remember this was the landmark of most wedding couples having their wedding photos taken here then.
This was the Toa Payoh Garden Restaurant in the 80s;
My Pager Number is 40x xx47 …. When I first said that in the late 80s, I felt so proud of being the owner of a pager. You don’t see people wearing a pager nowadays too (or maybe not too common);
The one on the left was my first pager in 1989 when I had my first sales job. At that time, it was still 7 digits without the 9 added to the pager number. At least, mine was considered new fashion if you compared it with those long and skinny type of pagers with any display. Those were probably the first generation of pagers I’ve come across - just a simple beep with no display; when you received a beep, you just returned a call to the company (usually it’s used by the company you worked for).
Take note of that old Telecom logo on the pager. Here are the receipts I still kept, my goodness - $260 for a pager!
This year 2007, Singapore celebrates its 42nd Birthday as Singapore gained Independence from Malaysia on 9 August 1965. So is this our 42nd National Day Parade? No, it’s our 41st National Day Parade.
We had our 1st National Day Parade in 1966 at the Padang. The first National Day Parade started at 9am in the morning. There were no such thing as tickets issued for the National Day Parade so if you wish to view the parade, you may have to be there as early as 7am.Our President then was Mr. Yusof Bin Ishak - yes the face you see on our currency note.
Below shows our 1st National Day Parade at the Padang in 1966 and the third one shows the NDP in 1967;
Above 3 Photo Credits : National Archives of Singapore, PICAS.
Note : Did you see our late President Mr. Yusof in any of the 3 photos and what was he wearing then? Clue
For the next 8 years, our National Day Parade was held at the Padang until 1974 (inclusive). During the earlier years, NDP was very much simple and not so glamorous as now - maybe I should said more solemn and serious then.
For example, our first National Day activities include an official cocktail party at the Istana Negara, a special variety show staged at the National Theatre and a spectacular fireworks display at Fort Canning in the evening, besides the formal parade at the Padang in the morning.
For those who watched the parade on TV, it was then still in “Black and White” - without colour. Maybe I’m sadist, but I love to watch the soldier dropping down (fainted) while standing still on the parade;
Photo Credit : National Archives of Singapore, PICAS.
Later on in the years, improvement in the NDP were made where soldiers no longer need to stand still there and wait for hours.
In1969, we started to have our first mobile column during the National Day Parade. I was so fascinated by it. The 18 AMX-13 tanks rumbled down the St. Andrew Road at the 4th NDP (1969).
Photo Credit : National Archives of Singapore, PICAS.
I could felt the floor vibrating even before their arrival. In the past, though the National Day Parade were held at the Padang, the troops were then marched right to the heartland location. Below shows one in 1968 parade;
After those tanks or heavy armor vehicles driven on the roads during the parade, the road need to be resurfaced again. Probably because of these, the mobile column display was stopped ater 1970. It made a comeback in 1990 and then maybe once every 5 years.
We had our first Decentralised National Day Parade in 1975 and the last one in 1983. The parade alternated between Decentralised and Centralised at either Padang or National Stadium. It was probably to mark the 10th years of Independence and to reach out to a wider audience. 13 locations were selected then. Some of the locations of Decentralised parade in 1975 were Toa Payoh, Redhill, Haig Road and Queenstown.
1976 - the National Day Parade was held at the National Stadium for the very first time. It was the natural choice to stage the nation’s biggest celebration. In fact, the utilization of the National Stadium was so successful, since then, three out of every four National Day parades has been held there. The Padang, being the historic site of the first National Day Parade, now stages the parade once every four years.
Below shows the first Decentralised parade at Toa Payoh in 1975;
Photo Credit : National Archives of Singapore.
The National Day Parade was first held at the National Stadium in 1976. The National Stadium was opened in 1973. Tickets to the parade were also issued to the public for the first time as previously admission were by invitation only. Altogether the National Day Parade was held at the National Stadium for a total of 18 times and the last one was in 2006 - the final one before it demolished.
Some of my favourites in National Day Parade were;
Precision Drill by the Military Police first started in 1986 at the National Stadium.
Photo Credit : Singapore Idler in 2006 NDP Precision Drill.
The Fly Past of our fighter planes and the parachuting display by our commandos were great too. I hate the mass display and I think it’s rather boring.
In 1986, the Flashcard display were first used and I love it.
1986 was also the year where “Count On Me, Singapore” NDP Theme Song was introduced. Everyone likes this song as the “count one me” section sound like “count money”….
1986 was also the first time the National Day parade was held in the evening. Since then except 1989 and 1990, every NDP was held in the evening.
I remember in one of the NDP (but don’t remember which year), all the religious leaders were gathered and blessed Singapore before the start of the parade, do you remember? That must be a special year…
Frankly I prefer the simple but solemn parade of the past at the Padang than the much “commercialised” type of glamor parade nowadays - but this is my personal opinion. Too many road closed for the rehearsal and preview and think the cost of such events are also too excessive.
All our past NDP were held on solid ground but this year 2007, it is the first time to be held on water at the Marina Bay Front! Seen the making of it on tv.
Do you still see those advertisements for camera films of brands like Kodak, Fuji or Konica, Sakura, etc… ?
I wonder how many still remember how to load a film into a camera haha? Who knows, a few more generation and nobody knows what is a roll of film…
In the past when I buy a roll of film, at least I must verify it’s 35mm and the film speed that I want like ISO 200, 100, etc…
So where do we load this film to? Of course it’s at the back of the camera (in most cases);
Well that’s my old SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera - Nikon FA. I have already “archived” this camera for a long long time together with many other viewfinder cameras.
“Playing” photography is not a cheap hobby, at least to me. One has to buy film, develop them, and print them. Even the development fees had gone up from $1 to $2, etc… Though at times, the printing of 3R print has gone down from the norm of 30cents each to as low as maybe 15cents or 12cents, but the quality was very bad. You will see the color of the print started to fade after sometimes.
I started to have my first viewfinder camera when I was in Primary School, think probably Pri.5 in 1973. I took about maybe around $50 from my saving to buy it and my godmother discovered it and scolded me. That was a very simple “crazyman” viewfinder camera. Yes, we called it “crazyman” camera in Chinese or Cantonese for those non-focusing or auto focus and auto exposure camera.
When I was in Secondary School, I joined the school’s photography club and learned about film developing, printing, etc…
Of course my love for photography maybe passed down from my father’s gene hehe. He is also an amateur photographer and he had even a enlarger at home. He had setup a darkroom in our old house in Serangoon Road then. So developing and printing was much easier for him.
I remember in the 70s, the Kodak Instamatic cameras were really popular;
In the 80s, people who visit those tourist attraction places without camera may end up buying those “disposable” camera;
Photo Credit : Kodak
You will love this video from Kodak;
Remember those Flash Cubes you have to carry along for your flash photography in the past;
Now most advertisements you see regarding photography is digital camera and it’s accessories. You don’t see those films advertisements anymore. Here is the digital camera my wife bought - a Panasonic Lumix FX01;
Of course for Digital Camera, you will talk about how many MegaPixel. Also it’s Memory Card and not film that it used;
Credit : Wikipedia
It’s now so much more convenient to handle a digital camera that I don’t think I still want to use my film camera anymore haha. I can simply delete those shots that are no good and select those that I want to print it without developing them. Also printing can be as good using those camera printers available now - very affordable too. I don’t even need to go to the Photo or Camera Shop nowadays.
Do you still keep those old free photo albums when you print your photos in the past;
When you mention 火城 in the past, most people will know you were talking about Kampong Bugis or Kallang Junction. Specifically 火城 referred to Kampong Bugis instead of Kallang Junction. But why named it 火城 (Fire City - direct translation)? It’s probably due to the installation of the Gas Work at the Kallang Juction or Kampong Bugis.
So when Kallang Gas Work started? Maybe 1861, take a look here. Maybe it’s easier to know the Kallang Gas Works ceased operation on 23 Mar 1998. This big blue cylinder is really a landmark at Kallang. Most people will know of it’s existence in the past.
Let’s take an aerial view of this blue cylinder from an old photo;
Photo Credit : National Archives, PICAS
This was how it looked in 1961. Take note of the surrounding buildings and landmarks.
Take a look at this very old street directory;
Credit : Singapore Street Directory, Chief Surveyor
The Gasworks was shown clearly on the map. Below is another old street directory showing the Gasworks location and it’s surrounding;
Credit : Singapore Street Directory 1976 edition, Chief Surveyor
So what memories did it bring back for me?
1. Chicken shops at Kallang Junction
These are the row of shophouses located along the Kallang Road near the junction of Crawford Street shown number 2 in the above map. There were a couple of shops selling chicken and eggs. I remember my godmother and godsister brought me there to buy those eggs that were about to hatch. They used to check it by holding the egg against a light bulb. The popular coffee shop was a much later event.
2. Kwong Fook Chinese School
This was a local Chinese School where my father once studied there. Its premises were now occupied by the Tai Pei Buddhist Centre;
3. Old houses along Kallang Road
These were the old houses located along Kallang Road towards the Gasworks before the Hindu Temple shown on the left below;
Photo Credit : National Archives, PICAS
4. Hindu Temple and Trespass Sign
Photo Credit : National Archives, PICAS
The familiar red white stripes on the side wall of this Hindu temple is another landmark just before the Kallang Gasworks along Kallang Road or Kampong Bugis. This Manmatha Karuneshvarar Temple was built just after the gasworks were established.
Also you will find this no trespass sign if you pass by that place at that time;
Photo Credit : National Archives, PICAS
To others, the Kallang Gasworks may made them recall the 1964 Racial Riots;
Photo Credit : National Archives, PICAS
So what is left behind now? Here is how the Kallang Junction looks like in 2005;
Photo credit : Wikipedia
See the blue cylinder was gone (above photo). What you can see now is the remains of one of the gasholder located at the Car Park of Kampong Bugis;
Map credit : Mighty Minds, Singapore Street Directory
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