For many years, I have memories and images of those 7 years. They were not that special to me, just memories. However, my aunts and mum talk about that place, probably more than they realise. My curiosity about that place grew, and I also wonder about the authenticity of some of my images. I do not know if they are real, are my childhood memories or are imaginary.
I thought of visiting there, for quite some time already, but of course it was never urgent. I almost didn't go last Monday, but now I very happy that I went.
This is the 7-storey Block-2 where my grandma's unit is.
It reads on the block sign "Dakota Close". I do not know why my aunts always call this place "Kallang Airport"
I remembered that one mid-autumn, I have a phenix lantern which was hanged on the laundry pole. Then it caught fire and burned up. I remembered the huge flame.
The pic above and the 2 below are 3 continuous shots. There were lots of birds flying around.
This may be the side of my grandma's unit which I remembered to be very hot (west sun). However, I'm not sure..
This "ancient" elevator still works!
I wonder if this tree was already here when I was young?
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This is another view that means a lot to me. If I remember correctly, there used to be a drain here, that runs behind and parallel to the bus stop. There were short, flowering trees lining along the drain. I remembered being fearful of crossing the drain (i.e. walking from the bus stop to the block) because there were huge bees in those short trees.
I don't remember this river at all
Below few pictures again means a lot to me. While I knew that those memories mentioned above (the burning lantern and the bees) are real, I have this image of a stairway, which I can't place. There was a day when my mum took leave to take care of me and my sis, when my grandma went overseas. That day, I was late for school (kindergarten). I must had been extremely upset, because I remembered this incident all my life. I remember my shock when I looked at the clock in the living room, remember rushing to get dressed (the uniform has two stripes that button up in the front), remember walking a "very long" distance, and finally getting into class (and my mum apologising for being late). But I just can't place the "erie" stairway. When I finally saw this block 12, everything suddenly made sense.
And, the distance between block 2 and block 12 is actually so short!! It was a long distance in my memory; so long to my little legs and my anxious little mind.
Block 12 is a 2 storey shop house. I always thought that my classroom was on the 2nd floor, but now, on the 2 floor are homes.
I met a guy taking photos of the neighbourhood, so I went up to chat him up. He told me he is a street-photographer, and that this estate's going to be pulled down soon. He told me that this corner provision shop at block 12 had been around for 50 years, and had closed very recently.
Finally, my black-and-white stairway memory is updated with colours!
Finally, this is the way to the market. Again, the "long" way to the market in my memory is actually a quite a short distant.
I remember that there was no divider nor traffic light on the road between our estate and the market. I remember Grandpa bringing me and my sis to the market at 5am in the morning. I remember one night when I pointed out to him the full moon in the dark sky while we were crossing this road
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