|
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2013 22:27:05 GMT
Obviously, I never saw old Singapore since I never even got there until the 1980's. However, I did see some of the buildings of old Singapore before they were torn down. I think that all of the ones in these photos are probably gone now, but at least a symbolic number of the old buildings were saved at the last minute, when the urban authorities finally realized that there was a reason to save at least a tiny bit of history. The Raffles Hotel, where I had the privilege to stay three times, is still there, but now the rooms start at about US$500 per night, unlike the US$30 or so that I used to pay for a 3-room suite. Oh, what a wonderful place it was in its majestic decrepitude! The Long Bar and the Singapore Sling, the billiard room where Kipling found a tiger...
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Aug 8, 2013 6:48:48 GMT
Lucky you for having been there even then. I would have liked to see Singapore in the old days too, but certainly have no desire to go there now.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2013 20:49:28 GMT
Frankly, I very much like "new Singapore" because it is an excellent example of development in Asia, even if too much of old Singapore disappeared. A little bit of the old architecture has been saved (no, not enough) but at least they finally realised the importance of this.
Many of the other cities of Southeast Asia are still demolishing and rebuildng everything.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Aug 13, 2013 23:21:50 GMT
Wow, $30 for a 3-room suite at Raffles?! That is an unbelievable steal.
Thanks for this glimpse of Old Singapore. It's frustrating when historical buildings and architectural gems are bulldozed over. There was a lot of that going on in NYC in the past. For example, the original Penn Station, a beloved masterpiece, was demolished despite public outcry.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2013 23:42:18 GMT
This was the tallest and most modern building in Singapore when I made my first trip there. Now it looks like a dwarf in the financial district.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Aug 18, 2013 9:15:22 GMT
Do you have an idea of how many of those old houses still remain? I imagine it's the climate that made them look rather mouldy?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2013 11:34:22 GMT
I would say that no more than 10-20% of the old buildings are left and more are being torn down every day. This old article from CNN mentions the problem but also says that 7000 buildings have been preserved. That's not very many for a country with a population of 5,300,000. When I think of some of the well kept but older buildings that were still in Singapore when I started to go there, I really regret that I didn't take more pictures, but I had no idea that they would disappear. I never took a picture of the train station upon arrival when I took the train from Kuala Lumpur and now not only is the train station gone, but they have also ripped up the train tracks.
|
|
|
Post by anshjain97 on Aug 19, 2013 16:53:49 GMT
It's been a long time since my visit to Singapore and I would like to go back but no one in my family is interested. Maybe will visit a few years later.
I like the development too. However I don't appreciate the government control in keeping private cars off the road, however refreshing the lower traffic may make it.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Aug 20, 2013 6:56:39 GMT
If anyone wants to see Singapore before it changes even more, hurry up.
In today's paper I read that the Singapore govt has a plan to double capacity at the airport, build a sprawling new waterfront city, move the port and relocate a military airbas to free up land for development in Tanjong Pagar, next to the central business district.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2013 10:57:52 GMT
I think that Singapore has decided to compete with Dubai and Doha, after serving as a model for them and then being passed up.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2014 7:34:20 GMT
Here are two photos from my hotel room in 1992.
|
|
|
Post by tetsyd on Feb 1, 2014 13:54:53 GMT
You may have missed the opportunity to play on the old billiard table at Raffles but I played there, after checking underneath the table. I never stayed the night at Raffles but in the old days as I remember them (forty years ago) it was possible to hire a room for a limited period of time during the day (I've forgotten how much the room cost). I also photographed the old station, the tracks and a real train. If I ever master the technique of posting (film) pictures here, I'll do so.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Feb 2, 2014 6:49:36 GMT
If I had to choose between Changi or Dubai/Doha for a long stopover, Singapore wins by far. If your stopover is more than 4 hours you get a free city tour in a sealed bus so no immigration stuff needed. I also like the gardens, free sleeping sofas and massage chairs.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2017 12:45:45 GMT
This old thread is worth a look if you have looked at the photos on my new thread.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Mar 23, 2017 18:32:37 GMT
Indeed it is! In fact, as I enjoyed the new thread I was wondering about the changes in the past 30 years.
|
|