Guess

Where could this place be? This place would remind the residents of yesterday and share with the children of today what it was like yesterday.

Eng Aun Tong Building

This building standing on the prominent corner of Neil Road and Craig Road was built by Aw Boon Haw in 1926. This was the factory of the famous Tiger Balm. In the 1950s, when I was still a kid, I would be sitting on the watchmen's "charpoy" (punjabi word for the rope-bed) watching the ladies dressed in light blue samfoo leaving work at 4pm.

It was said that the top of the building was to resemble the cap of the Tiger Balm bottle, but the architect persuaded otherwise. The top of the building has since been renovated a few times.

Once it was occupied by the French Business Centre. And now, EBay stands out prominently with its logo although I heard that it does not occupy the whole building. To the residents around this building, this was part of their economic activities. Since then, many of the residents, if not all, had moved out from Craig Road, Duxton Road and even Tanjong Pagar Road.

Ack: SingaporeHeritage List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/singaporeheritage

Austrian Wurst Anyone?

Nested between two stalls, in front of the Chinatown complex and facing the Da Dong Restaurant, nearer to the Smith St-Trengganu St junction, is a mini Austria. During the Chinese New Year shopping days this year, it attracted a lot of Chinese to try the Austrian sausages.

And now, by that small stall, is a mini stand where German speaking people are gathering for the sausages! Was! Ein klein Stammtisch! This must be the Austrian version of our Sarabat Stall which has made its way to the "Red Alert Book" of "Going to be extinct" makan relics of Singapore.

A jovial guy, the chef of the stall sure will make you "feel at home" when you drop by.

Chinatown Light-up for Mid-Autumn Festival

The usual part of the Chinatown, along New Bridge Rd and Eu Tong Sen St, on the part that stretches from the People's Park Complex to Yue Hwa Department Store, was lighted up tonight with illuminated Chinese images. The roads were cordoned off for the "parade" where the performers were to perform at two points, as I observed.

Save these two places, along the route, there was hardly any onlookers. There was nothing to see except the performers walking. Well, at least the enthusiastic NUS students would pose for anyone with cameras. It should have been a parade with performance all the way. After all the route is not so long. In this way, more tourists can see, and not just the VIPs.

The stage outside the Chinatown Wet Market was a more traditional place where the locals sat and enjoy the Chuan Opera from Sichuan, China.

As the fireworks took off, the shoppers along Pagoda street began to look at them, taking out their handphones. One poor stallholder was calling out, "Look at my watches leh."