Pre-war charMs From an old cemetery to a vibrant area where 50-year-old hardware stores sit alongside chic and modern cafés, Tiong Bahru is arguably Singapore’s quirkiest and most dynamic neighbourhood. With its mishmash of old pre-war conservation flats, artisan cafes and fashion boutiques, today’s Tiong Bahru is Singapore’s capital of quirk. In contrast to the bustling streets of downtown Singapore, Tiong Bahru stands out like an oddly dressed cousin at a family gathering. Its old-fashioned coffeeshops and conserved pre-war apartments provide an interesting backdrop to the area’s eccentric fashion boutiques and eateries, adding to the offbeat and idiosyncratic vibe of the neighbourhood. in The beGinninG Tiong Bahru, as its name suggests, was an area dotted with cemeteries and illegal …show more content…
The thatched roof slums have been torn down, the neighbourhood gangsters have been removed and the air raid bunkers have been sealed (with some sections preserved as a war relic and opened for visits). Yet, some of the familiarities remain – bird-lovers still gather to admire each others’ prized pets, the spiral staircases, though weathered around the edges, still adorn the alleys behind the apartments and the famous Tiong Bahru Hokkien Mee still serves its customers after six decades. Even though some old establishments have made way for the new in recent years, the kampong spirit of Tiong Bahru is very much alive. Ng Siew Tock, 90, has lived in the area since 1980 and is optimistic about where the neighbourhood is headed. “[Tiong Bahru] used to be very quiet, but now it is very lively. We need such new blood in the neighbourhood.” The Tiong Bahru of today is quaint and sophisticated; a place where history buffs, artists and young professionals form a unique subculture that is as rooted in the spirit of the community as the people who have lived there for
“The Sambia: Ritual, Sexuality, and Change in Papua New Guinea” is a book written by Gilbert Herdt. It is based on a case study Herdt did during the 1970’s of the culture of the Sambia people. His study took place in Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. He didn’t know much about their language, however through out his time there he was able to learn their language and customs. As he settled into their village, he mostly slept in the clubhouse with the other Nilangu villagers; however, eventually they built a house for him to stay at. Herdt had a great interest in gaining new knowledge about the Sambia culture.
The street I will be focusing my essay on is West Main Street in Armadale, West Lothian. This street is a lot like City Road in Cardiff in terms of the businesses of which it is made up. Family run businesses dominate West Main Street, like Coia sweet shop, Peking House Chinese take away, Talking Heads hairdressers and Allure beauty salon, as well as bigger, more established businesses like the Co-operative, Lloyds Pharmacy and Ladbrokes. Other similarities to City Road are the variety of people from which the community is made up. During the day the street seems to be overrun by the elderly and mums with young children who may be there to run errands, while at night the only businesses open are the take aways and public houses and so the majority of people using West Main Street change.
Standing on the street corner, eyes closed, head tilted skyward, my ears consumed the sounds of the day. Cars whizzing by, dogs barking, wind swirling dried leaves across the sidewalk. A faint greeting, “How’s your mom and ‘dem?” I did not immediately realize it was directed towards me. The second time I heard it, “How’s your mom and ‘dem?”, the volume had been turned up. Peering through the maze of azalea bush branches, I see a weathered old man, straw fedora sitting percariously atop his slightly tilted head. I fear the wind, that whips my hair, will claim the hat as its own. It only slightly rises, quickly stayed by a long-fingered, weather-wrinkled hand. We share smiles; a tip of the hat, and a nod end the encounter. Sunglasses raised, I squint into the glaring afternoon sunlight – shuitters tap the cypress siding, protesting the intrusion by the breeze, on the side of the Queen Anne cottage. I realize I am channeling the essence of the Historic District of Thibodaux, LA – “Where yesterday welcomes tomorrow.” (City of Thibodaux, LA)
A new phenomenon happening in our city is the rebirth of many of our older and rundown areas. One of the best examples of this is the "Soulard" area of town, which now has an established nightlife as well as exquisite historical antique homes. Lafayette Square has also enjoyed the same type of success as Soulard. It is still in the middle of a high crime area, but is populated by upper-class people with beautiful homes with elaborate wrought iron fences and intricate security systems. This trend of fixing up old flats is spreading out from the areas of Soulard and Lafayette Square to neighboring communities at a rapid pace. The Compton Heights area is coming back with rebuilt old Victorian styled houses and private gated streets that contrast the French styled flats of Soulard. The Shaw and Tower Grove area are also following the lead of revitalization similar to these charming old neighborhoods.
To appreciate a row house neighborhood, one must first look at the plan as a whole before looking at the individual blocks and houses. The city’s goal to build a neighborhood that can be seen as a singular unit is made clear in plan, at both a larger scale (the entire urban plan) and a smaller scale (the scheme of the individual houses). Around 1850, the city began to carve out blocks and streets, with the idea of orienting them around squares and small residential parks. This Victorian style plan organized rectangular blocks around rounded gardens and squares that separated the row houses from major streets. The emphasis on public spaces and gardens to provide relief from the ene...
Meanwhile, businessman Nof Al-Kelaby provides examples of making and remaking on City Road, in relation to connections and disconnections between people and places. Having arrived...
It was a beautiful Saturday evening when I decided to walk the neighborhood known as the melting pot of many diverse cultures and social groups. South Street, located in the city of Philadelphia, is home of over 400 different small shops, restaurants, and galleries. Unlike other neighborhoods, South Street isn’t spread over numerous blocks, instead, it takes up one long street that is miles long. This lively and vibrant neighborhood sure does have a personality of its own and examples of modernity are shown throughout this Philadelphia neighborhood in very distinct ways.
“one of those cross streets peculiar to Western cities, situated in the heart of the residence quarter, but occupied by small trades people who lived in the rooms above their shops. There were corner drug stores with huge jars of red, yellow and green liquids in their windows, very brave and gay; stationers’ stores, where illustrated weeklies were tacked upon bulletin boards; barber shops with cigar stands in their vestibules; sad-looking plumbers; offices; cheap restaurants, in whose windows one saw piles of unopened oysters weighted down by cubes of ice, and china pigs and cows knee deep in layers of white beans.”
I grew up on the waterfront of the Columbia River. The quaint, picturesque town of Kalama Washington was my hometown from before I can remember. The damp small town emulated a coastal environment, complete with heavy rainfall and dim daytimes. Tired, worn down buildings clad in paint chipped walls and climbing ivy dot the streets and hills. Scenic post-card worthy views of the river stretch out before wide front windows. Tourists stampede through musty antique shops and 50’s themed diners, breathing in the retro town in all its vintage glory; only to discard its significance once entering the freeway. Umbrella carrying locals paint their aging homes pastel shades to combat the grey, gloomy veil blanketing the town. Everyone living in Kalama
I glanced around the dimly lit dining room of our neighborhood Jack-In-The-Box at the collection of adolescent girls and boys gossiping about their absent friends, urban families enjoying their weekly treat of chicken fingers with exotic dipping sauces, and a teenage employee attempting to grasp a carpet sweeper with her fry-greased hands. As each of their gazes wandered the room curiously observing the quaint surroundings, their eyes conveniently skipped over the socially unacceptable figure in the corner, but I saw him clearly.
However the amazement won’t stop there. As you enter the lobby you will find that the lobby is styled with authentic Javanese decoration, with typical ‘Joglo’ roof, where you can see the structures of the roof from inside the building, as no ceilings are installed under the roof, to allow more air to circulate around the building. You will also notice that the lobby is fragranced and its walls are full of wooden flowery motifs (it’s called ‘batik’ art). It’s one of the most artsy lobbies in the
When you associate anything with New York City it is usually the extraordinary buildings that pierce the sky or the congested sidewalks with people desperate to shop in the famous stores in which celebrities dwell. Even with my short visit there I found myself lost within the Big Apple. The voices of the never-ending attractions call out and envelop you in their awe. The streets are filled with an atmosphere that is like a young child on a shopping spree in a candy store. Although your feet swelter from the continuous walking, you find yourself pressing on with the yearning to discover the 'New York Experience'.
When I leaf through the old photo albums, I cannot help recalling the experience when I met an old woman on a hiking trip with my parents. Because it was very attractive to watch the spectacular sunrise at the top of the mountain, the resort area provided a variety of mountain huts for tourists to live in. When I reached the foot of the mountain, I saw many people with baskets on their backs standing in front of the gate. Through the tour guide’s explanation, I learned they were porters who helped lodgers carry the baggage up to the huts. Even if it was a manual job, they only earned a little money.
Cambodia’s ancient Angkor temples are architectural wonders of the world. The Angkor Wat, is the largest religious building in the world. Another popular temple is the Ta Pohm, which is partially covered in jungle. Inside the temples everything is usually very quiet except of the hushed tones of visitors. Handicrafts are also produced in Cambodia; some people go to Phnom Penh to learn the skills, while others learn from artisans in their villages. Some of them make items out of food and stone while others use copper and silver.