Sunday, May 7, 2017

Why It Matters: The disappearing kampung spirit



The final episode
PHOTO: The final episode "The Disappearing Kampung Spirit" brings us to the early days of Singapore, reminiscing the good old days when the neighbourhood used to be like one big family. The older generation who were familiar with kampung life most certainly would have fond memories of their childhood, living in wooden attap houses, drawing water from wells, catching spiders, chasing after snakes and other creatures.
PHOTO: The Straits Times
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD1pcQ4Ams5_T7nELhAn09IUeqm0jawuFNAcJoPQNm2cbAxlGC8OGKrPggPEg3TgDClGT0PRMt8p3G6ljIzkyGnK6PyVzRcLgPFmyvbApHqdwqW_2MaDYo9Y85wpeifgPxrhR8yiX3Po8/s1600/20170422_kampung.jpg
http://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/styles/640x360/public/original_images/Apr2017/20170422_kampung.jpg?itok=pVysnGls
http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/why-it-matters-disappearing-kampung-spirit
 
Is the kampung spirit dead?

The final episode "The Disappearing Kampung Spirit" brings you to the early days of Singapore, reminiscing the good old days when the neighbourhood used to be like one big family. The older generation who grew up in a kampung most certainly have fond memories of their childhood, living in wooden attap houses, chasing chickens in their backyards, leaving their doors unlocked...


Singapore's last traditional village, Kampong Buangkok
PHOTO: Singapore's last traditional village, Kampong Buangkok
The land in this area is worth millions but some of the landowners are refusing to part ways. Built in 1956, this is the last kampong left. [3]
That was a few years ago, fast forward to present 2017, the bread trees have grown and the empty pathway is covered with jungle vegetation. There is a PCN (Park Connector Network) in front the Kampung, planted with trees on both sides of the track. It is really wonderful to combine our healthy walking lifestyle on the PCN and at the same time has the classical view of the last kampung in Singapore. The kampung is only 400 meters long with about 28 families residing in lush greenery. If we have the steps tracker, it is about 550 foot steps along the PCN.
Picture posted by Belmont Lay, motherShip.sg on 17 June 2014
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HZ5bXFf3qYGMrai9aS60TQHTuB-PYIeGCSfKyLo_qkydgvBp28toYxrlqmthG0DIWgNU1rh2nlt_AcuP_TqrGYYRVubE3Nu7WBXKUYFQdLoNDWBgM7XUJOGkVtfvGmAihT7IN1VIFe39/s1600/kampong-buangkok-1.jpg
http://mothership.sg/wp-content/uploads/aws/mothershipfiles/Unexplored+places+Singapore/kampong-buangkok.jpg
http://mothership.sg/2014/06/11-places-in-spore-you-said-youd-explore-but-didnt-because-excuses/


Map of the Park Connector Network and the location of the kampung at Lorong Buangkok.
PHOTO: Among the first kampung house at the begining of the Punggol PCN leading to Sengang Riverside Park. It has now (May 2017) more banana plants and other fruit trees to its plot of plantation.
Picture posted by Stephanie on 10 August 2010
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8aVPf9M6eYnbWFz8AeqmKdc_blGRQhP9mVVqPPNfaSA5hlp3pUXVxZKa345GG_YamC_57L4Q-TpGu6JF4AWLtVtA3bs2LineV-wN8_V1gp9zNiy7hU_CzWF3qgc00HViluuVzDO8Iozg/s1600/img_8895e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_8895e.jpg
PHOTO: Sometime there is aroma of traditional Malay Curry as early as 4:30 am in the morning. We can also have especially strong sweet scent of fresh jackfruits. Several kampung chickens can be seen running around under the trees.
Picture posted by Stephanie on 10 August 2010 [2]
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E0iUEQRJc5DUds6c8uslJxh0ZMADWaBprGI0afYu4tCVxemNWILlpJLDocHYtFq1mzUB8r31xjeNxY-nXSiOZDo1rVJGV0geusKlXmVNcTm6lLTWOMuyMDmb7OaFLWX33QYskyx81SqI/s1600/img_8894e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_8894e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/kampong-lorong-buangkok/


Timeless beauty.
PHOTO: Timeless beauty. This type of environment never fail to attract the same fond feelings of our earlier days at Lorong Renjong. We can almost hear the early morning call of the rooster and the prayer of the Muslim mosque.
Picture posted by Stephanie on 10 August 2010 [2]
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkLbRnn3QmJ91cUr0ePPPDRI6N9wt8xFrYP86SPybmr80_aWDHRKX3wM3EluSr5KDqZDE3mpolOt8r461KNijXerhPlGtxmnGgZzjv7Vmf57ySnBq5fJ-2ff0R9C2PuVdnH-HwWp72yGa/s1600/img_8786e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_8786e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/kampong-lorong-buangkok/

Nowadays, most people live in great proximity with their neighbours but very few enjoy the same kind of close bonds that once ran deep in the kampungs.

How can Singaporeans revive the kampung spirit? Watch the 2 minutes animation to understand why it matters.

About "Why It Matters":

"Why It Matters"（关我什么事 Guān wǒ shén me shì） is one of 10 SPH-produced short form digital video series as part of a pilot Public Service Broadcast initiative. This 8-part animation series focuses on the sights and sounds that are gradually disappearing from this world, including languages, cultures, flora and fauna.

This series is also available on the zaobao.sg website and mobile app.


A lovely patio that overlooks a vast of lush greenery
PHOTO: A lovely patio (a paved outdoor area adjoining a house) that overlooks a vast of lush greenery
This was the type of path which we took to go to school and back home, with no lamp post. Then, we did not know how to appreciate the beauty of the vast greenery, which we had taken for granted to be everywhere.
Picture posted by Stephanie on 10 August 2010 [2]
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7duIOqg0U30anQEvEb_XKLK0DRQibO4IVsHGAD2nsX4frs1ClOHvWzJqdufZ1-JpgqrQ1a3cZ_scSAtuv6QYVCR4oZeSORxA-GfnS8kcPE9zVC8Pf43EaEyqcGC21yKHgN2uYG3XquZQd/s1600/img_8790e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_8790e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/kampong-lorong-buangkok/


There is not much cement concrete but full of plants, fruit trees, sugarcane and topioca plants, and grasses.
PHOTO: There is not much cement concrete but full of plants, fruit trees, sugarcane and topioca plants, and grasses. All the undisturbed greenery, quiet and peaceful environment, and so nice to stay. The domestic animals will perform guard duties while we do farming activities after back from school. There is a real setback - no TV, radio or Internet but full of mosquitoes.
Picture posted by Stephanie on 10 August 2010 [2]
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQQ1j2yNA7jRawOpBoEBAL_p_EmvwQlOWr8p_a_eksCQBrfFL7pC2leCug2cSj1i7CgcsirxskKtqJsQyCfBVWzZ-wH-6Gusu3CHsHjXd17seTlBY7en8d9Kg6C9gkARF3teFN7fVWatg/s1600/img_8854e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_8854e.jpg
https://timelessbeauty.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/kampong-lorong-buangkok/

By Lianhe Zaobao, 23 April 2017



Reference
[1] Lianhe Zaobao, Why It Matters: The disappearing kampung spirit, posted on 23 April 2017, http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/why-it-matters-disappearing-kampung-spirit

[2] Stephanie, The girl at the traffic light junction (la vita e bella – life is beautiful), kampong lorong buangkok, Posted on 10 August 2010, https://timelessbeauty.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/kampong-lorong-buangkok/
Note: The National Library Board (NLB) invited her to pledge her blog to the Singapore Memory Project as part of efforts to collect memories, preserve and provide access to Singapore’s knowledge materials. Spearheaded by NLB, the SMP aims to build a national collection of content in diverse formats (including print, audio and video), to preserve them in digital form, and make them available for discovery and research.
For more, see responses to “About The Girl”, https://timelessbeauty.wordpress.com/2012-in-summary/

[3] Belmont Lay, Mothership.SG, 11 places in S’pore you said you’d explore but didn’t because excuses, posted on 17 June 2014, http://mothership.sg/2014/06/11-places-in-spore-you-said-youd-explore-but-didnt-because-excuses/

LINKS
Map - https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Gerald+Dr/@1.3842192,103.8751618,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!
zaobao.sg - http://zaobao.sg/

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