Earthchild

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Geylang - Folks, Trade, Ambience, Structure and Style, Worn-down Fabric, New Blend, Bright cum Mellow, Busy yet Laidback

I spent a good part of my childhood in Geylang. I was then part timing as a coffeeshop assistant serving drinks, sweeping and mopping floors. Customers habitually swiped their nose pickings conveniently under tabletops. Naturally, one of the extraordinary duties bestowed upon a diligent, unsuspecting worker such as myself was cleaning table "bottoms" without of course being divulged the rationality of it until much later when I finally encountered an unusually large lump of freshly dug slime. Disgusting and revolting as it may sounds, it is nevertheless one of my many fond memories of Geylang.

Geylang is featured on this and the following two Earthchild webpages (Pic 10 and Pic 11).

The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore announced in July 2002 Identity Plans to conserve areas in Singapore with significant heritage values. Heritage encompasses old buildings, nature areas, coastlines and popular neighbourhoods. Along with other functionalities, it is hoped that Singaporeans will be able to identify personally with these places and hence preserve in the people a sense of attachment and belonging to Singapore.

The URA highlighted Balestier, Jalan Besar, Tanjong Katong and Joo Chiat in the draft "Old World Charm" Identity Plan. For the reason that I have stronger emotional ties with Geylang than any of the four areas mentioned by URA, I am taking this opportunity, through the use of photo images, to bring attention to some of the lighter moments and sights of Geylang that I feel are worth remembering, treasuring and perpetuating.

Letter to a kin
Preparing trishaw to collect cardboard for recycling
Pushing trolley to the market for more discarded boxes
Hardwork in exchange for some subsistence income
Goldsmith electroplating jewellery
Spotlessly clean and proud of it
Scaffolding assembled with wooden poles and bamboo strips
Altars usher customers into bicylcle shop
Flattening cardboard boxes beside a busy road junction
Queuing to place bets
Inside a coffeeshop - glasses neatly stacked on tiled shelves