A truly authentic Singapore icon is about to be demolished to make way for modern buildings and be banished from our sights and thoughts forever.
Blocks 1 to 14, straddling between Hougang Ave 7 and Hougang Ave 3 are earmarked for demolition at the end of the year. These blocks have stood for around 35 years and the government probably felt they are somewhat of an anomaly in an estate surrounded by relatively new buildings.
I am powerless to change its fate, but I have attempted to take some pictures here for posterity. I hope these pictures (not exactly first grade, given that I took them with my Nokia 6500, slide) can provide poignant memories to anyone who ever stepped foot in the area; and I am quite sure there are many out there.
One day, many years from now, when I walk on the new soil and admire the new buildings in its place, I can flip through my collections and reminisce the old charm and mood of a place that once was, from the pictures that I have frozen for eternity.
On weekends, a motley crowd of laid-back visitors settles in the area for a leisurely breakfast from the many mini-stalls selling local fare.
Quaint and almost surreal, only metres away, the wet-market stalls bustle with activities as every stallholder has his/her endless stream of regular customers. Drowned in a cacophony, an overpowering smell, an overly-wet floor, one could pick out from among the confusing noise our Singaporeans' favourite art of price haggling, which these Hougang "marketeers" practise to a fine polish.
Some trades and practises are hard to find now in our modern society, such as this worker grating coconut from his old trusted coconut-grating machine.
My children, who have been to the market place on various occasions, can look at these pictures one day and reflect on the area's earlier existence. They would even be able to tell stories to their own children and grandchildren.
I grew up near this market area and still live a short distance from there. In fact, I once fought with someone in the area, or rather more accurately, I was beaten up by some guys there.
I will truly miss the market, which I regularly visit, when the inevitable happens at the end of the year. In fact, I am sadly missing it already.
Blocks 1 to 14, straddling between Hougang Ave 7 and Hougang Ave 3 are earmarked for demolition at the end of the year. These blocks have stood for around 35 years and the government probably felt they are somewhat of an anomaly in an estate surrounded by relatively new buildings.
I am powerless to change its fate, but I have attempted to take some pictures here for posterity. I hope these pictures (not exactly first grade, given that I took them with my Nokia 6500, slide) can provide poignant memories to anyone who ever stepped foot in the area; and I am quite sure there are many out there.
One day, many years from now, when I walk on the new soil and admire the new buildings in its place, I can flip through my collections and reminisce the old charm and mood of a place that once was, from the pictures that I have frozen for eternity.
On weekends, a motley crowd of laid-back visitors settles in the area for a leisurely breakfast from the many mini-stalls selling local fare.
Quaint and almost surreal, only metres away, the wet-market stalls bustle with activities as every stallholder has his/her endless stream of regular customers. Drowned in a cacophony, an overpowering smell, an overly-wet floor, one could pick out from among the confusing noise our Singaporeans' favourite art of price haggling, which these Hougang "marketeers" practise to a fine polish.
Some trades and practises are hard to find now in our modern society, such as this worker grating coconut from his old trusted coconut-grating machine.
My children, who have been to the market place on various occasions, can look at these pictures one day and reflect on the area's earlier existence. They would even be able to tell stories to their own children and grandchildren.
I grew up near this market area and still live a short distance from there. In fact, I once fought with someone in the area, or rather more accurately, I was beaten up by some guys there.
I will truly miss the market, which I regularly visit, when the inevitable happens at the end of the year. In fact, I am sadly missing it already.
26 comments:
Hi there, i hope u are reading this..is it possible u can try to look thru ur collection and see if u got more photos for this place. It's my childhood place and i missed it so much. my email tripleh_6@hotmail.com
My childhood memories. I found my fav mutton soup of blk 9 relocate to 309. But still cant find the black carrot cake at the corner stall relocate to where. Saddd
do u have any more photos ?
The market's carrot cake stall is now at Blk 327 hougang Ave 5 coffeshop. Murton soup cum wanton mee has since ceased operation.
Hi anyone know where the market famous kwap chap still in operation and the address pls. Thanks 😊 n advance
@killerloop77 - The famoue kwap chap is still in operation. They are located at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 Blk 127. 大成 kwap chap. Still operating by the same family..
There's a fish soup stall at the hawker last time by a old couple with the son.
Anyone knows where they have moved to?
Hi if you have any more photo can u email me at chuakengling@gmail.com
Thanks
Do anyone knows the orchid cake shop next to the coffeeshop, where it have moved to?
The block 10 Oyster Omelette and Char Kway Teow is 435 Hougang Ave 8 now if you all are looking :)
does anyone knows where yong dao fu stall went
is it a simple egg. Vegetable and fish soup in the hawker centre?
I am also looking for it
anybody know wheres is the chicken rice stall in the hawker near the prawn noodle stall ?
Can anyone remember a teochew duck rice stall at the Blk 10 coffeeshop? Think was run by a couple and their daughter. Their braised duck and yam rice was the best! Not sure whether are they still in operation ...
two of the photos contain my mom and my 4 of my dad's friend
I remember eating here until I was 9 years old... i remember the coffee shop opposite Blk 11 there was this lady who sold carrot cake for just $2...
Anyone know whether the main chain kway is still selling somewhere, the small semi circle type.
The Uncle Selling Char Kuay Teow in the coffee shop selling outside of the hawker center located at the coffee shop next to Punggol Prima try school.
There’s two uncles selling Bak Kut Teh in Hougang Hawker Center , they shifted the location to Lorong Ah Soo Hainanese Hawker Center.
Thank you so much for sharing this. Lost my mom to cancer recently, it's nice to reminisce on old photos where she used to bring me around when I'm still a young boy.
Last saw them at 210 lorong 8 tpy
Hi, does anyone know the hawker center nasi lemak?
I used to leave at block 10 which was right in front of this wet market. I was in my primary school days then (Parry Pri School, anyone? ;-p) Your pictures brought back many nostalgic memories. I remember witnessing live chicken being slaughtered and sold in this market. Playing hide & seek/catching along the corridors. Not forgetting those arcade coin machines hidden at the back of some of these HDB shops.
At amk 409
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