标签： singapore

A life grounded on destiny and love

Actions defines a man (1928-2022)

By Foong Pek Yee

The teenager survived the perilous journey and landed in Singapore.
First trip out from his village in Ipoh, Perak, Tung Sam Chee – my third maternal uncle – was only armed with the determination to survive.
That was shortly after the end of World War 2 in 1945 and, life was simply harsh and unpredictable.
His parents decided to send him to Singapore after losing  two older sons in the crossfire between the Japanese and communists earlier.
But the end of  World War 2 only saw civilians  caught in the confrontation between the British colonial government and communists in then Malaya.
That was life in a turbulent era.
Last goodbye:  Leaving Ang Mo Kio, Singapore on July 29, 2022 –  his home for about five decades.
The 17-year-old never looked back after landing in Singapore.
Perseverance, hard work and,  encounters with good people saw him settled down in Singapore.
He met and married the love of his life, Wong Wai Kwan, and they were blessed with three children; sons Kum Choon and Kum Cheong and daughter Sow Mun.
By then he already had his company on tooling business.
Life was a bliss for the family until fate dealt a cruel blow.
His wife passed away from kidney failure in 1974.
She was 34.
Third uncle stayed strong for their children – a promise he made to his wife- and to love them no matter what.
In 2005, he  lost his second son, 39-year-old  Kum Cheong, to brain tumour.
Again he remained strong for his children, and had kept a brave front as Kum Cheong battled with the disease.
Seventeen years later, on July 25,  third uncle who was 94, passed away peacefully in Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore, leaving behind Kum Choon, Sow Mun, their spouse and five grandchildren.
And his loved ones found consolation that he finally reunite with his beloved wife and Kum Cheong whom he missed dearly.
They were laid to rest side by side in the columbarium in Kong Meng San Buddhist Temple and Monastery in Bishan, Singapore.
Rest in peace: Prayers at Kong Meng San after the cremation on July 29, 2022
A proud son of Singapore, third uncle was forever patriotic and grateful for the opportunities he got as the nation evolved from a struggling post war island to a major global financial hub.
A  filial son and a  loving and caring  husband and father, he had stayed strong whatever challenges life threw at him.

A place to cherish, explore and reflect

An island with a story to inspire .
By Foong Pek Yee
THE cranking sound from the bumboat’s  engine triggers a feeling of anticipation inside me.
It is June 11, 2022 and we are on our way to Pulau Ubin – the treasure trove of Singapore’s rich heritage.
The 1,020 – hectare island promises a glimpse of Singapore in a bygone era, bringing to focus how the city state has evolved over time into the most competitive economy in the world.
According to Singapore’s Economic Development Board,  Singapore which  marks 57 years of independence this year ranks first in Asia for quality living and, first in Asia for expatriates to live in.
A journey :  It is just a 20-minute boat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to Pulau Ubin.
Hot spot: The little commercial hub in Pulau Ubin is often the meeting point for visitors
In the mood for discovery : Pulau Ubin offers a different kind of experience for kids from urban areas.
Show time:  The stage for opera shows during festive seasons like Tua Pek Kong Festival since time immemorial
Old is gold:  The signboard showing the way to Fo Shan Ting Tua Pek Kong Temple which is perched on a hillock.  The temple was built in 1869.
Taking in the  sights:  Bicycling is popular on  the island.
That’s the way:  The road leading to Butterfly Hill.
Relaxing: And watching the world go by.
On the spot :  Information on tropical plants. This is assam or tamarind fruit which is widely used in Asian cuisine.
Of significance: Little red shrines are common in predominantly Chinese areas.
Big crowd:  Good business during weekends .
In demand: Bicycle rental is good business on the island.
It was in 1824 when the then Second Resident of Singapore, John Crawfurd landed on Pulau Ubin and declared the island a British Territory.
In 1942, the Japanese Army occupied the island which was known for granite mining in its heyday.
Other economic activities on the island in the old days included rubber planting and prawn rearing.
With education always close at heart, the Chinese residents on the island raised money to build Bin Kiang School in 1952 and, dwindling enrolment saw the school closed  in 1985.
The 1990 population census reported less than 200 residents on the island.
Today  Pulau Ubin  is a tourism destination  and  popular among natural and cultural heritage lovers in particular.
For elderly Singaporeans, it is a place to take a walk down memory lane.
An elderly man in our bumboat recalls his younger days at the Outward Bound School that was opened in 1967.
He reckons that it is good for young people to get to know more about the island.
The beautiful and well kept island is certainly more than meets the eye.
One for the album:  A  photo montage on activities on Pulau Ubin
Interesting and useful : Information and guide on Pulau Ubin  for visitors
It is a showcase on the public and private sectors’ efforts  to preserve the country’s rich heritage.

Rainbow and roast pork makes the day

Natural wonder : The Rainbow Waterfall in Sungai Lembing is popular in the wake of increasing interest in  eco tourism worldwide
By Foong Pek Yee
6 March, 2022
THE tourists get more than roast pork for lunch.
For most of us, that is the first time we see the roasting done in a traditional way –  using firewood inside a huge concrete stove.
Happy together:  At the roast pork lunch in Sungai Lembing New Village after the  Rainbow Waterfall tour.
And the freshly roasted pork (siew yoke in Cantonese) is real good – taste and texture – compared to the ones we have in eateries.
This “siew yoke” lunch is cultural tourism and very popular  in Sungai Lembing New Village.
During the lunch, I met a family of three generations from Johor and Singapore –  grandmother, her children and  grandson.
They say they decided to holiday in Sungei Lembing in Pahang, a popular destination among Singaporeans.
Between 2,000 and 3,000 tourists visited Sungai Lembing over weekends prior to the pandemic.
And the young boy who lives in  Singapore also gets to take a closer look at life in a new village.
Cultural tourism/food tours that promote the traditions of a community is increasingly popular among foreigners and locals alike.
All excited: Tourists getting ready to trek up  the Rainbow Waterfall.
Today, many  Malaysian Chinese and Singaporeans have  their roots in new villages in Malaya dated back to the 1940s
They are the descendants of half a million Chinese in then Malaya whom the colonial government uprooted and re-settled in 452 barbed wire settlements named new villages during the Emergency (1948-1960)
The exercise had saved the Chinese from an impending deportation by the colonial government who deemed the community as communist supporters.
There are still about two million Chinese living  in the new villages to date.
In Sungei Lembing New Village, its popular Rainbow Waterfall tour also tells a story  of  life in a new village.
The youngsters from the  new village and nearby roamed around and discovered the rainbow long ago.
According to a tour guide, the rainbow cast on the waterfall is the effect of sun rays shining through the cascading water.
They called it Rainbow Waterfall-  their favourite hangout.
It was only many years later that the villagers’ search for a living saw them coming up with Rainbow Waterfall tours.
They started off using lorries to ferry tourists to the base, about 12 kilometer from their village.
The half-day tour starts at 5.30am.
The trek up  Rainbow Waterfall involves about two kilometers of jungle trekking and rock climbing after crossing a small stream.
And tourists cheering the moment they spotted the rainbow is not without reason though.
For instance, the rainbow may not appear on a cloudy day.
Note: The tour in Sungai Lembing was before the pandemic.