I stayed in Little India for the first 15 years of my life and visited Clementi from time to time since my parents had a place there. Then I stayed in Clementi for the next 10 years before moving out when I got married. A lot of things that I remember about growing up in Little India have stayed roughly the same since it’s a conservation area. But I can’t say the same for Clementi. The McDonald’s that used to be housed in the Commonwealth Theatre is gone. The big fountain that used to be outside McDonald’s and the clock tower near the market are gone as well. I can’t even find a decent picture of those two online! The bus interchange has moved and my parents have also been moved from their original block to a new one.

So now I’m trying to take some photos of the bits of Clementi that will be gone soon (like my parents’ old block) and even the newer bits since they form an essential part of Anya’s childhood. I just wish that things didn’t always have to move and change so quickly in Singapore.

This is a tiny playground that stands outside what used to be A&W. It’s one of the few mosaic/concrete/sand playgrounds left in Singapore. I’ve brought Anya to visit the old dragon playground in Toa Payoh and the old seal playground in Dakota Crescent and this is much plainer but also a lot more special since I used to play on it. I’m pretty sure it will be gone soon because they are going to develop the area around it.