Tuesday, March 2, 2010
General Reflections
Punitha’s General reflections
I have always been sceptical of arguments that tearing down buildings is equivalent to the erasing of our cultural identity and heritage. I always believed that culture and heritage is within the person and that the building is just a symbol to house that identity. But this trip has taught me that history and culture hides in many unknown places. It doesn’t have to be a monument, a museum, but rather they are places where people engage in everyday activities. By bearing witness to all these events, it becomes a heritage place. To tear them down then becomes equivalent to erasing the memories that have been formed there, forgetting all those whom contributed it in some way or rather.I was really glad that this trail gave me such a great opportunity to find out a little bit more about my beautiful Singapore. It just makes you think that there history everywhere, even in our own towns, neighbourhoods. I truly enjoyed the trip with my fellow team members. Jun Jie was really funny during the trip. His occasional jokes and comments saw us through the day, along with all of our will power. We truly felt victorious when we completed the trail at the Tiong Ghee Temple. It will definitely bring us fond memories, whenever I have the opportunity to visit Queenstown next. And in Jun Jie’s words, we don’t need to feel guilty about pushing our own students to complete such trails in the future, as we had already paid our dues!!!
Jun Jie’s General Reflections
When I was given Queenstown as my heritage trail destination, I thought to myself, “What history is there in Queenstown?” I had thought that the only places of historical value will be Chinatown, Kampong Glam and town area. I was proven wrong by the richness of its heritage value and by the numerous relics of its past as I embarked on my research of Queenstown.
As it is not labelled as a heritage site by many, nor does it enjoys the reputation that places like Chinatown has as a place of rich historical value, Queenstown has been slowly forgotten by Singaporeans as a place that many significant historical event took place. One of which is the fact that Queenstown is actually where the first few flats were built, contrary to popular belief that it is Toa Payoh that was the first satellite town.
The trip has made me realize that places or items of historical values are everywhere for us to discover. It does not mean that only areas that are promoted as “tourism or heritage sites” are truly the only places whereby we can seek a glimpse into the past. Upon careful research, you will be surprised that places that are deemed as “boring or normal” might have an interesting or significant story behind it. I had always taken the MRT train line towards Queenstown but have never ever noticed the unexpected presence of a Chinese cemetery next to few blocks of HDB flats.
As I was walking down the heritage trail of Queenstown, I also had a feeling of remorse and shame that we as the younger generation of Singaporeans, have become neglectful and ignorant of our past history and culture. How can we try to become experts of other countries history if we do not even have some basic knowledge of our very own heritage? It is even more saddening to see some of thse places of historical values being vandalized by people by using spray paints. I felt appalled by the idea that the legacies left behind our ancestors have been labelled as worthless by us as our society becomes more and more materialistic.
At the end of the heritage trail, I had an impulse to visit the places where I had frequent as a kid and done ridiculous things. I’m sure that every one of us has a place like that, be it the playground that you had built you first sandcastle or the provision shop that u bought your very first kite. As we grow older and become more consumed in our fast paced life of just working hard, shouldn’t we take a break and visit these places that we used to have so much fond memories. Or do we really want to start to miss them when they are truly gone?
Jeffery’s General Reflection
Prior to this Heritage Trail exercise, I am confine with the idea that Heritage Trail is limited only to the CBD and town area. I am surprised by the fact that a heartland can be so rich in history. Growing up in the 1980s, Queenstown central is one of the places I frequent as a child. The trail is literally “walking down memory lane” for me. What saddens me was the fact that the lively town central I used to know as a child had turned into a “dead town”, which is facing the cruelty of demolition for future development.
One of the things I pick up from the trail is the pride I see in the Queenstown residents. Though the estate might not be comparable with new HDB flats we see in new town of today, the residents are proud to be part of this historical place. We had no problem finding people to give us direction or explaining to us the history of places and building on our heritage trail list. This is something you do not find in the younger generation or most Singaporean living in other parts of Singapore. In my opinion, being aware of their heritage is what distinguishes the Queensway residents. They are proud because they can identify with the place they live in. With this, I came to realize the importance of knowing our heritage.
Though walking the trail is a tiring affair to do in a hot Sunday afternoon, I felt that it was both meaningful and educational. I am determined to introduce this to my future history students in secondary schools. The trail also breaks many myths such as Queenstown being the first satellite town and not Toa Payoh (where many of us learned in school that it is the first satellite town). I am certain that Queensway is not the only town with rich historical roots. It will be great if we can extend the Heritage Trail effort to more heartlands. Imagine neighbourhood schools and residents being able to have a heritage trail right at their doorstep. Not only will it be more meaningful, it will make people more aware of their heritage. With this, I sincerely hope that more historical places in the heartland can be preserved in its original form. Sadly, I also have to admit that changes and progression is inevitable in a nation like our own,
Devi’s General Reflections
I personally enjoyed this whole experience. Though, honestly it started out very bad as we were all burning in the afternoon sun. But on the whole, going to these different places that I have never really heard or read about was very interesting. Places like the brewery which is not there anymore but holds a great deal of history with it. Having to picture the former infrastructure with the new ones today was a different experience. I liked going to the ancestral temple where I learned about the Chinese culture and the uncle who managed the temple told us several interesting pointers. Walking around the Queenstown neighbourhood itself was very different. The types of housing, the shops and the people there were all in a different world. They seemed to be living in a much relaxed world. At some instances it also felt like “hey are we still in Singapore?” Things around that neighbourhood looked very different and it allowed me to take a ride into Singapore’s past.
Nithya’s General Reflections
I feel that the conservation of historical sites in Singapore is successful to only a limited extent in preserving our historical heritage. I believe that most of the sites preserved in Singapore today are for tourism purposes and also for pride purposes such as to show off what Singapore then was capable of. As such, majority of the younger generation are clueless about the history of the places that they even reside at.
However, there are a select few sites which have been conserved with a sole purpose of preserving the heritage and culture of the site. Hopefully, more organizations will undertake active efforts in ensuring that the remaining historical sites are preserved for the future generation to have a glimpse of what Singapore was before.
I have always been sceptical of arguments that tearing down buildings is equivalent to the erasing of our cultural identity and heritage. I always believed that culture and heritage is within the person and that the building is just a symbol to house that identity. But this trip has taught me that history and culture hides in many unknown places. It doesn’t have to be a monument, a museum, but rather they are places where people engage in everyday activities. By bearing witness to all these events, it becomes a heritage place. To tear them down then becomes equivalent to erasing the memories that have been formed there, forgetting all those whom contributed it in some way or rather.I was really glad that this trail gave me such a great opportunity to find out a little bit more about my beautiful Singapore. It just makes you think that there history everywhere, even in our own towns, neighbourhoods. I truly enjoyed the trip with my fellow team members. Jun Jie was really funny during the trip. His occasional jokes and comments saw us through the day, along with all of our will power. We truly felt victorious when we completed the trail at the Tiong Ghee Temple. It will definitely bring us fond memories, whenever I have the opportunity to visit Queenstown next. And in Jun Jie’s words, we don’t need to feel guilty about pushing our own students to complete such trails in the future, as we had already paid our dues!!!
Jun Jie’s General Reflections
When I was given Queenstown as my heritage trail destination, I thought to myself, “What history is there in Queenstown?” I had thought that the only places of historical value will be Chinatown, Kampong Glam and town area. I was proven wrong by the richness of its heritage value and by the numerous relics of its past as I embarked on my research of Queenstown.
As it is not labelled as a heritage site by many, nor does it enjoys the reputation that places like Chinatown has as a place of rich historical value, Queenstown has been slowly forgotten by Singaporeans as a place that many significant historical event took place. One of which is the fact that Queenstown is actually where the first few flats were built, contrary to popular belief that it is Toa Payoh that was the first satellite town.
The trip has made me realize that places or items of historical values are everywhere for us to discover. It does not mean that only areas that are promoted as “tourism or heritage sites” are truly the only places whereby we can seek a glimpse into the past. Upon careful research, you will be surprised that places that are deemed as “boring or normal” might have an interesting or significant story behind it. I had always taken the MRT train line towards Queenstown but have never ever noticed the unexpected presence of a Chinese cemetery next to few blocks of HDB flats.
As I was walking down the heritage trail of Queenstown, I also had a feeling of remorse and shame that we as the younger generation of Singaporeans, have become neglectful and ignorant of our past history and culture. How can we try to become experts of other countries history if we do not even have some basic knowledge of our very own heritage? It is even more saddening to see some of thse places of historical values being vandalized by people by using spray paints. I felt appalled by the idea that the legacies left behind our ancestors have been labelled as worthless by us as our society becomes more and more materialistic.
At the end of the heritage trail, I had an impulse to visit the places where I had frequent as a kid and done ridiculous things. I’m sure that every one of us has a place like that, be it the playground that you had built you first sandcastle or the provision shop that u bought your very first kite. As we grow older and become more consumed in our fast paced life of just working hard, shouldn’t we take a break and visit these places that we used to have so much fond memories. Or do we really want to start to miss them when they are truly gone?
Jeffery’s General Reflection
Prior to this Heritage Trail exercise, I am confine with the idea that Heritage Trail is limited only to the CBD and town area. I am surprised by the fact that a heartland can be so rich in history. Growing up in the 1980s, Queenstown central is one of the places I frequent as a child. The trail is literally “walking down memory lane” for me. What saddens me was the fact that the lively town central I used to know as a child had turned into a “dead town”, which is facing the cruelty of demolition for future development.
One of the things I pick up from the trail is the pride I see in the Queenstown residents. Though the estate might not be comparable with new HDB flats we see in new town of today, the residents are proud to be part of this historical place. We had no problem finding people to give us direction or explaining to us the history of places and building on our heritage trail list. This is something you do not find in the younger generation or most Singaporean living in other parts of Singapore. In my opinion, being aware of their heritage is what distinguishes the Queensway residents. They are proud because they can identify with the place they live in. With this, I came to realize the importance of knowing our heritage.
Though walking the trail is a tiring affair to do in a hot Sunday afternoon, I felt that it was both meaningful and educational. I am determined to introduce this to my future history students in secondary schools. The trail also breaks many myths such as Queenstown being the first satellite town and not Toa Payoh (where many of us learned in school that it is the first satellite town). I am certain that Queensway is not the only town with rich historical roots. It will be great if we can extend the Heritage Trail effort to more heartlands. Imagine neighbourhood schools and residents being able to have a heritage trail right at their doorstep. Not only will it be more meaningful, it will make people more aware of their heritage. With this, I sincerely hope that more historical places in the heartland can be preserved in its original form. Sadly, I also have to admit that changes and progression is inevitable in a nation like our own,
Devi’s General Reflections
I personally enjoyed this whole experience. Though, honestly it started out very bad as we were all burning in the afternoon sun. But on the whole, going to these different places that I have never really heard or read about was very interesting. Places like the brewery which is not there anymore but holds a great deal of history with it. Having to picture the former infrastructure with the new ones today was a different experience. I liked going to the ancestral temple where I learned about the Chinese culture and the uncle who managed the temple told us several interesting pointers. Walking around the Queenstown neighbourhood itself was very different. The types of housing, the shops and the people there were all in a different world. They seemed to be living in a much relaxed world. At some instances it also felt like “hey are we still in Singapore?” Things around that neighbourhood looked very different and it allowed me to take a ride into Singapore’s past.
Nithya’s General Reflections
I feel that the conservation of historical sites in Singapore is successful to only a limited extent in preserving our historical heritage. I believe that most of the sites preserved in Singapore today are for tourism purposes and also for pride purposes such as to show off what Singapore then was capable of. As such, majority of the younger generation are clueless about the history of the places that they even reside at.
However, there are a select few sites which have been conserved with a sole purpose of preserving the heritage and culture of the site. Hopefully, more organizations will undertake active efforts in ensuring that the remaining historical sites are preserved for the future generation to have a glimpse of what Singapore was before.
2:33 AM By PUNITHA