11 Aug 13
Some time ago, I came across Katie’s visit to Kampong Buangkok. It is Singapore’s remaining kampong (or village) and one of those things I’d wanted to do since forever. Initially, I thought it was gonna be a bit of a trek to get there (think Pulau Ubin) but who knew, it’s just across the road from a petrol kiosk! I included directions on how to get there at the end of the post too.
As with most things associated with the olden days, once you step into the kampong, time really stands still.
Can’t help but adore the colours these homeowners picked out
This is the original road sign from the heydays!
See how there are modern apartment buildings in the background? This was like a vortex to the future and I’m standing in the past. Imagination much?
TV trivia: The new show “Mata Mata” on Ch5 filmed some of their scenes here. I recognized this blue door!
Imagination still rolling… mmm rainbow, gay pride? That ode would be really cool if it were true.
This lone chair-swing is right outside the entrance to the kampong. It looked morbid and gave off suicidal vibes, at first. Partly induced because we didn’t see a single soul inside the kampong. But we could hear the tv on in some houses, so people were probably indoors because it was afternoon and hot.
The kampong is also pretty near our future home (in Sengkang) so hopefully it will still be around then. I’d love to re-visit again and see if anything changes or if time really stands still there. If you’re thinking of going and you’re driving, get to Gerald Drive off Yio Chu Kang Rd. Turn left and you’ll see the first house with the address 8 Lorong Buangkok on your right. Go forth another 100m and on your left, you’ll see a makeshift sign that says Surau Kampong Lorong Buangkok. Park and begin!!
| Tags: 50mm/F1.8, kampong buangkok, last kampong in singapore, nikon FM10
6 Aug 13
Hi! Wanted to say I’m happy some of you enjoyed the post about Fatboy. In turn, also sharing bits of your own tales of fur-family. Thank you! I love hearing personal stories. Wished we all could get a conversation going!
Here’s one of us together. Chilling before bed time.
| Tags: fatboy, iPhone 5, vscocam
27 Jul 13
The truth is, I never thought I was a cat person. We had dogs growing up, I hardly ever played with a stray cat and no relatives or friends of my parents had cats. As far as I remembered, cats belonged on the street and no one had them as pets. I lived under this impression till I was 17, the year I enrolled in design school and met a whole different world of people. At 18, my family’s pet dog, Westie, passed away. Some time later, one of my friend’s cat gave birth to a litter and I jokingly said I wanted to adopt one. Fast forward three weeks and she told me I could drop by her place to choose a kitten. I was both horrified and nervous because 1. I really was joking and 2. my mom would kill me if I brought a kitten home. I called my mom in between classes and she firmly said “No.”. My mom can be pretty monosyllabic over the phone. And not a big animal lover. If I make her out to sound like a cold person, she’s not! She shows her affection in different ways.
So it must have been because I was 18 and ‘rebellious’, or so I choose to recall, I went ahead anyway. I went to choose a kitten! There were 6 or 7 kittens altogether, some sleeping together, others roaming around the legs of chairs. Fatboy wasn’t my first pick. Surprise, surprise! My heart fluttered for one of the sleepy kittens, it had a full white coat of fur. It looked so pretty and pure. But my friend who accompanied me pointed out this kitten that was walking around and had a white mark on its forehead. It looked like a curious kid wanting to venture away from the pack. I can’t say for sure how I decided to take this curious creature home. Either I didn’t want to wake the sleeping kitten or I subconsciously knew a ‘pretty and pure’ animal wasn’t for me.
4 weeks old, prancing around in my bedroom
I’ve always joked among my friends that ‘I was a teenage mom when I had Fatboy’. I bought his food and paid for his visits to the vet. We slept together every single night. I take a gajillion photos of him. And while he was a kitten and drinking milk, I had to rush home from school everyday to a screaming kitten begging for milk! Sure sounds like I didn’t have the support of my folks but they by and large leave me alone unless I ask for help. My pop has gone as far as calling me ‘Hermit’ at one point.
I clearly remember the day I could afford cat food better than Whiskas after I started working. What a milestone that was. The growing years were hectic. Learning more and more about living with a cat each day ā pre-Google days. The first time Fatboy hissed at me, my heart broke into a million pieces!
5 weeks old, learning to climb the stairs
8 weeks old, introducing solids to his diet
10 weeks old
3 months old
Turned one!
Two years old
Three and always hanging outside. Every night, he would wait under a lamp post for me to return home from work
Five years old and one of the turning points when he became my rock to lean on when life got complicated sometimes
Six years old and the two of us had moved four times by then
Seven years old with Ada in this picture
Eight years old and being my little buddy boy. He still has his curious nature about him till this very day. Always checking out every corner, any new thing in the house, or new person dropping in, doing his rounds which earned him the nickname “security guard”.
Between Ben and I, I always say Fatboy is my #1 and Ben has to be #1.5. I don’t know how that sounds to you but it’s how I feel. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I’m so thankful to be able to spend most of my days with him at home. Because he really does the funniest things sometimes and I don’t want to miss it. And if there’s one thing he has taught me, is to look up. Because this cat is always looking up and making me wonder what’s up there. (Not a lizard if that came to your mind!).
| Tags: happy birthday fatboy
9 Jul 13
Some random photos today.
This is Sprmrkt. Such a great space, food’s alright.
Zion Road
Favourite Fieldguided tote
Goodman Arts Centre
An outtake of my pom pom crowns
Current favourite coffee shop
No longer news now but we’re engaged! Ben proposed on 16 May š As usual, the blog tends to lag one or two months behind real life.
The ring is a custom job by Caitlin of Mociun. I love its geometric shape so much, it’s perfect! So obviously wedding plans are underway. Pinterest is my new best friend ā some days I drown in it, some days I thank the internet gods for its existence. Also, I know most of you would be reading this from a rss reader and not have noticed the slight re-design of the blog. Just wanted to point it out š And say thanks to Ben for his everlasting blog support-help. Haha, love!
| Tags: 50mm/F1.8, nikon FM10
2 May 13
Took a walk around Gillman Barracks and these were some of the quiet spaces I saw.
The Naked Finn, looks like a great place to hang.
A standalone loo.
A little update on what I’ve been up to, I’ve been working on new products ā hair accessories! ā which I hope will be ready for sale end of May. I’m really excited and also a bag of nerves. It’s been a while since I last sold handmade work, and I miss it so much. I know people say it all the time but now that it’s happening to me, I can truly say I love making things with my hands.
Now, Ben & I are off to Hanoi for a week. Halong Bay, here we come!
| Tags: 50mm/F1.8, gillman barracks, kodak 400, nikon FM10
