Have you thought of Chinese Heritage before...

I was with my group mates down at China town today to conduct surveys for our project. The place is as bz as we expected, but not as bz. People only looked busy, but had some sort of disappointed look. Oh before that, we went to Maxwell market to have lunch.. Lunch was wonderful, with the "Char Kway Tiao" and the "Tang Yuan", it couldn't get any better. =D After lunch we slowly walked down "Shi Ren Jie". You should read the history of this place. It used to be a place where people went there to die! Do you believe it? The poor couldn't afford coffins or places to bury themselves, so they just go to this place to die, meaning to live their last few days there. More details can be found there ya.. Our motive for the day was to get surveys done and have some interviews with the shopkeepers. Thus, we split up the work and proceeded with our work. During the survey, we noticed one thing about the people around us, we noticed that people rudely shun people who approach them no matter whether it's surveys or for sales. *Sorry if I offend anyone* It's just that, these people haven't heard the full story of our motive before they mutter something and leave in a hurry. Oh well, that didn't stop us from conducting our survey with others in the area.

If you talk to the older people there, you might get to hear a few interesting stories of old Singapore. Like this old man who used to be a coolie in the past, but because he is old and have no more jobs available for him, he collects boxes in China town. Oh but he doesn't live there, quite a nice fellow. Our survey was almost done, we had to get the shopkeepers in the shophouses to participate in the survey as well. I guessed that many students have invaded the area for years, that's why they were not too willing to participate in it. However, there was this very interesting woman who was a shop consultant, she gave very nice views on the present China town but she only lacked concrete examples. Well it was ok. Instead of conducting a survey on her, we thought it was wiser to gather more info and compile it into an interview. In fact, after talking to her, it was almost clear what we thought of the outcome of Chinatown's heritage. Well, the rest will be commented in our report... =)

With that, it concluded our tour for the day. Firstly because we were tired and secondly because some of us had to leave. Have you tried the German sausage in Smith Street? He is one funny and spontaneous guy.. I really admire him. Just imagine, the only western delicacy sold in a Chinese district. Hahaha... Yet, he is very happy with what he's doing. Even interacted with customers and made very funny sounds with delicacy's names. E.g. for "Curry Cautz" he would say it in a very Indian way. The dish may cost about SD$3 or so and with little portions but it's worth the try and it's very tasty. Do you remember in Chinese shows based on Chinese history, there used to be this three round red balls of candy stuck to a stick? If you don't know what I mean, I really can't explain it more than this. But it is STILL sold in Chinatown. Can you believe that?!!!! It's like very old yet sold there.. Very interesting indeed. Do you also know that clogs are sold there too? It's the only shop that I know so far that sells these stuff. Amazing...
Well, the rest left already, but Brenda and I wanted to take a look at the Chinese Heritage Centre located at Pagoda Street. At first it was SD$8.80 per pax but because it was under a promotion if you flash your POSB card, you'll get a ticket for SD$4 each. Yup, good price to learn more about the history of Chinatown. The place is really quiet and had very little people in it. The only sounds you could hear were your own footsteps and the videos that the centre plays in each station. You'll get to know what the Southern Hotel and The Evil Four is, not to mention the Flower Seed Girl... Haha... Well had fun knowing more of our history. It's amazing too that how Singaporeans in the past could live in small, very dark places in Chinatown. It's really scary and eerie if you think of it. Yup after viewing everything, we left the place because we couldn't interview anyone there without going through proper authorities. That concludes my journey for today.. A wonderful tour of Chinatown, to know its history, to have critical thinking of what is Chinatown now as compared to the past and to gather infomation of what else Singapore can do to reinstall the Chinese ambience in Chinatown. With that, I'm The Mixed Boy, signing off...

Tired yet Amazed
The Mixed Boy