The long awaited long weekend came and go :( . 4 days of rest ended just like that. On the last day, I was still trying hard to recall what I had accomplished. Well...at least I did something that had been on my To Do list since last month, that is to take photos at Beach Road where the old shophouses still remains and to find the last surviving kampong in Singapore! I read about Kampong Buangkok via the internet...many photographers has been flocking there to capture the last kampong remains in modern Singapore. So after our first half of phototaking session at the traditional Arab Street areas where I captured many shots of the old, abandon shophouse and the interesting narrow street (that's the exact width of roads in the past before the govern took steps to expand the roads). Really miss those times ..although I was not born yet then. But I bet Singapore is a lot more colorful and interesting then...who says Singapore doesn't have its own heritage? That used to be our own unique lifestyle. 5-foot walkways, narrow roads, roadside stalls.
An old abandoned shophouse.
Back to Kpg. Buangkok, so dear, me and my FIL set off on our little adventure. My FIL tag along as he used to live in a kampong at Pungool, so we though he might be able to direct the way better. When we reached Buangkok, the sun is almost setting. Armed with only my Nikon cam, no mosquito repellent, we ventured on our search for the last kampong in Singapore. Kampong Buangkok is actually next to Jalan Kayu. We made a few wrong turns and found an abandoned building, I believe that is the rumored Woody Lodge although there were no signboard outside. The whole place seems to be built around the 70's. Medical equipments such as stretches can be found lying around. We din stop for long as we still had to search for the kampong. After asking around for instructions and making several wrong turns again, we discovered a weed shielded road and a rusty wooden bridge across a small drain which seems to lead to some houses.
Several cars were parked outside. So out of curiousity, we got out of the car and started to venture in. We saw a huge space which looks like the courtyard of one house...skeptical of the fear of being scolded for transpassing, we decided to walk further in. To our amazement, we saw several other attap houses (attap is aluminium sheets used to make the roofs of houses in the past). Forgot to mention, all these while, two big dogs were following us, although I like dogs, but I always have fear of big and unfamiliar dogs...who knows, they might be thinking we're intruders to their territory. But luckily dear and FIL were there to keep them away from me. As we walked further in, I was sure this was the kampong that we're looking for. There are still people living there as we can see some malay kids playing at the front porch of their house. Other houses had lights. Loose telephone wires still hung from the poles just like in olden days. There were no street lamps on those streets...but the sunset against the coconut trees gave the whole place a really heartwarming feel. The houses there were all made of wood and some toilets were outside the house just like before. Not sure if they have flush toilet even. What makes me sad is, although the kampong still exists, the kampong spirit seems to have disappeared. Doors were closed and windows sealed...unlike what I heard before that people living in kampongs always keep their doors open and is always friendly. A few residents we meet there just pretended they didn't see us. As night approaches and my legs are fully attacked by mosquitoes who hated intruders (regretted not wearing jeans there), we had to bid the place goodbye...but I am sure I'll go back there again..who knows when it'll disappear just like the rest of Singapore's heritage soon.
Hehe...they seem to blend in with the surroundings huh?
I do hope the government will decide to keep it there as it is...afterall, this is probably the only place where we can reminsence the past.