My Long-Lost Friend, Mohan

In 1998, I was transferred to Marsiling Primary School, and during that period, I had the privilege of making a cherished friendship with Mohanansundram s/o Vengalastevi, commonly known as Mohan. Our bond was formed not just by shared geographical origins in Johor, but also by our daily commutes to school, navigating the Causeway to avoid the morning congestion. 

Mohan quickly became my best friend. We often journeyed home together, and on occasions, I accompanied him to Woodlands Swimming Complex, where my father was employed. It was during these moments that our friendship strengthened.

Mohan's academic prowess shone brightly, as he consistently ranked among the top students in our Class 4E. What set him apart, however, was his willingness to help classmates struggling with their studies. I was fortunate to benefit from his kindness, as he patiently stayed back after school to revise lessons with me, ensuring I grasped the material thoroughly. 

Regrettably, after a year, Mohan's family made the decision to transfer him to Swiss Cottage Primary School. Since then, we lost contact, and despite my efforts, I have been unable to locate him.

I am reaching out to anyone reading this blog who is aware of Mohan's whereabouts, to help facilitate our reunion. 

My Long-Lost Friend, Hemaraj

Magic: The Gathering playing card is not just a playing card, but it reminds me of a long-lost friend whom I miss so much to this day. 

This is my heartfelt request for assistance in reconnecting with a dear friend whom I have lost contact with over the years. 

My paths with Hemaraj s/o Barathan diverged after we graduated from Marsiling Primary School in 2000. Hemaraj resided somewhere at Woodlands Avenue 2 (Blks 890s) with his father Uncle Barathan, mother, older sister and younger brother, Sasi. 

During our school days, Hemaraj and I shared a close friendship. After classes, I used to accompany him to Woodlands Swimming Complex, where my father worked, and we would enjoy swimming together. 

Subsequently, we would spend our afternoons at his house, where his mother, a warm and kind lady, would prepare Halal meals for us. I cherish the memories of those days, and I consider myself fortunate to have been treated as part of their family. 

Hemaraj's sister would often join us to ensure we completed our homework and engaged in a bit of revision. 

I would stay at their home until after dinner, and Uncle Barathan, upon returning from work, would generously drive me back to Woodlands Swimming Complex safely with his prime mover. This extended kindness made me feel like a part of their family. 

Now, after 23 years, I find myself yearning to reconnect with this family. Unfortunately, my attempts to locate them have been unsuccessful. If, by any chance, those who read my blog here have information about Hemaraj or his family, I would be immensely grateful for your assistance in facilitating a reunion. 

Reconnecting with Hemaraj and expressing my gratitude to his family would mean a great deal to me. 

The Daylight Crawler

Hill 180 (the single tree on top of the hill)

Close-up of the single tree at Hill 180

This is a peculiar and unsettling experience I had in 2000 on what used to be Hill 180, now occupied by Marsiling Greenview flats.

The hill was also popularly known as Batu Gajah during its heyday back in the 70’s to 90’s. 

The hill was situated at Marsiling Avenue (expunged) and that slight incline of a hill used to also lead in the direction of the former Marsiling School (later occupied by English College) which had been abandoned for quite some time. 

Hill 180 (red arrow)

Former Marsiling School

Former Marsiling School

KD Malaya flats

Marsiling Greenview Blk 182A (Woodlands Street 13) now stands on the former hill. 

There were two blocks of what looked like HDB flats on the right side of Marsiling Avenue. 

These two blocks of flats remain quite fresh in my memories is that in subsequent years, when I traveled along the present Marsiling Road, I often saw these two blocks of flats. 

A few years back, when I went there, I did not expect to see them anymore. Hence, I was happily surprised to see them still there in an open field, but fenced up. 

The two blocks of flats belonged to KD Malaya, or Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) and were the housing quarters for staff of TLDM camp which used to be located on Admiralty Road (near the present Riverside Road). 

Hill 180 can be seen from Blk 101 Woodlands Street 13

Blks 120 to 137 of Woodlands Street 13, were part of the original Hill 180. Blk 123 was formerly a terraced vegetable plot at the foot of Hill 180. 

Over the years, many changes have taken place in Marsiling. A whole new Woodlands housing estate has emerged, and I had assumed that Hill 180 had long vanished from the face of this earth. 

Although almost one-third of Hill 180 has been flattened, at least part of it is still intact. 

The left over of Hill 180 was located in what is today Woodlands Town Park East. 

There are lots of granite boulders on the hill. I think this could be one reason why the government has not flattened the entire hill in the late 90’s. 

Where large granite boulders are present, the only way to remove them efficiently is to use explosives. For example, explosions can be heard when contractors were clearing the hill to build the Singapore Sports School at Champions Way. 

In the case of Hill 180, maybe because of the proximity to schools and public housing, they may have found it not worth the effort for such a small piece of land. 

This spooky incident occurred on the hill near the abandoned Marsiling School, a place that had an ominous aura due to its deserted state. 

One day, after school, my friend Halimun and I decided to explore the hill. We settled near the one and only tree on the hilltop. 

It was there that we heard an unfamiliar lady's voice chanting prayers, unrecognizable in Mandarin or Tamil.

As the voice approached, our curiosity turned to fear when we witnessed a pale-faced lady with long hair and a flowing robe crawling up the hill using her bare hands and legs. Her eerie laughter intensified our panic, prompting us to flee downhill, resulting in a fall that landed us behind a bus stop (it is still there; infront of Blk 182A).

Seeking solace from an old Malay lady and a Chinese uncle waiting at the bus stop, we shared our experience. To our surprise, they offered the same advice - avoiding the hill, especially the area around the single tree.

Upon reporting this incident to my father, employed at Woodlands Swimming Complex, he affirmed the eerie reputation of the hill. 

Subsequently, whenever we traveled by bus from Woodlands Swimming Complex to Old Woodlands Bus Interchange at night, a glance toward the hilltop revealed a haunting sight: a white robe hanging from the tree.

I share this account not only as a personal anecdote but also to bring attention to the mysterious and unsettling occurrences around Hill 180. 

Now, the other half of Hill 180 (Woodlands Town Park East) is what remains - a peaceful park offering not just lush greenery, but a beginner-friendly hiking trail that cuts through the park and leads up a hill. The bouldered pathways with tarmac-ed roads make it easy to trek up. It'll take 15 minutes to reach the peak, plus you'll be rewarded with scenic views of the estate from up here. 

Scents Of History

 

Chandrika Ayurvedic and Parrot Botanical soaps hold a special place in my heart.

These soaps, often found in various shops, serve as a nostalgic reminder of my childhood. My paternal grandmother, a cherished figure in my early years, used these particular soaps during my bath time. The distinct fragrances and unique qualities of Chandrika Ayurvedic and Parrot Botanical soaps bring back cherished memories of her love and care.

As I navigate through shops in Singapore, spotting these soaps evokes a flood of emotions, connecting me to a time filled with innocence and warmth. 

I hope these soaps continue to be available in Singapore shops, allowing others to create their own special memories with these timeless products.

The Lost Gem Of The North

Former site of Old Woodlands Bus Interchange

The Old Woodlands Town Centre was closed on 30 November 2017, after 37 years. 

The small town centre, with six blocks of low-rise flats, was situated only 500m away from the Causeway. Hence, for decades, the Old Woodlands Town Centre acted as the bustling transition town between Singapore and Malaysia, where its booming businesses such as the money exchangers, retail shops and eateries benefited from the large number of travellers and workers commuted daily between the two lands. 

The Woodlands Bus Interchange at Woodlands Town Centre was completed in 1981. Designed with 17 berths, it provided, at the start, five bus services in 169, 178, 181, 204 and 208. 

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this area, the place is essentially a gem, considering how developed Singapore has become. 

Once hailed as the Gem Of The North, the Old Woodlands Town Centre boasted a bustling bus interchange, 24-hour eateries, a Shaw Brothers-owned cinema and a huge department store. However, one by one, they have all slowly disappeared over the years: the bus interchange relocated to Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange at Woodlands Square in 1996, while the cinema ceased operations in the mid-2000s. 

When Causeway Point opened in 1999, it precipitated a decline for the old town centre. 

Like many other estates in Singapore, Woodlands have gone through various rounds of redevelopment, with its latest being the new Brown line that connects us to Malaysia as well as the Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange. With all these new changes that are in place, it also sparks off certain sense of nostalgia in us as we see the estate transform to fit into the modern image of Singapore. 

In 2018, we bid goodbye to the Old Woodlands Town Centre and Old Woodlands Bus Interchange as it makes way for the Woodlands Checkpoint’s plans for extension and a spanking new regional centre.