[Local Food] Ah Hui Big Prawn Noodle

Prawn noodle stall formerly from Thomson's Long House

"Hae Mee Thng; Hae Mee Ta"

When Upper Thomson Road's Long House, a place for late night supper shuttered, some stall owners retired, while others moved to other locations such as the Balestier Market.(1)

One of the stalls is the Ah Hui Big Prawn Noodle. I had not read about this stall's whereabouts. So I was pleasantly surprise to chance upon this stall and was happy to be re-acquainted with them once again. Scouring through the internet, I found that the stall had even set up their own Facebook page. I'm truly impressed by how they have used technology to keep us abreast of their stall's happenings.

Speaking to the stall auntie, she mentioned that they'd moved here in 2014 and that the rental is better here than it was at Long House. As I'm pretty much a supporter of everything local whether food, heritage or culture, I'm just glad that they chose to continue their business.




Not Just another Bowl of Prawn Noodle Soup

Delicious, isn't it?

Indeed, prawn noodle soup is something that I grew up eating and seeing the stall at Balestier Market brought me much joy. I was feeling greedy that day and thus, not only did I ordered their Pork Rib Prawn Noodle Soup, I'd also asked for their handmade fishcake.

The soup stock was richly flavoured and definitely slurpalicious; the noodles had just the correct springy texture; and you can just taste the freshness of the prawns.

Hand-made Fishcake

Frankly, I'm no food guru but I know that the food is wonderful when it reaches my mouth!

Stall Details
Ah Hui Big Prawn Noodle (Balestier Market)
411 Balestier Road (s) 329930
Open daily : 9am - 10:30pm

The Prawn Noodle Soup Story

It is said that the original prawn noodle soup was brought to Singapore in the 1880s by Chinese immigrants from Xiamen, Fujian Province. (2)

The modern version of the prawn noodle soup is said to have been started in the 1930s by the patriarch of those who now own Beach Road Prawn Mee, Joo Chiat Prawn Mee and Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee. (3) (4)
 
The dish was so taste-worthy that local upmarket hotels such as Forum Hotels (Now Forum The Shopping Mall) and Peninsula Hotel were advertising their offering in the dailies in the 1970s and 1980s respectively. (5) (6)



References

1. Quek, E. March 31, 2014. Longhouse to live on in two locations. My Paper. Accessed on August 24, 2015. http://mypaper.sg/lifestyle/longhouse-live-two-locations-20140331

2. Tan, B. Hokkien Prawn Noodle Soup. Singapore Infopedia. Accessed on August 23, 2015. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1807_2011-03-30.html

3. Dr Tay, L. January 28, 2010. Beach Road Prawn Mee: Order your prawn mee with no Tau Gay. i eat, i shoot, i post. Accessed on August 23, 2015. http://ieatishootipost.sg/beach-road-prawn-mee-order-your-prawn-mee-with-no-tau-gay/

4. Take stock of Goh's prawn mee tradition. October 26, 1986. The Straits Times. P4.

5. Advertisement. July 14, 1975. New Nation. P12.

6. Advertisement. May 22, 1984. The Business Times. P11.

[Singapore Parks] Mount Emily Park

Signboard of Mount Emily Park

There are more than 300 parks and 4 nature reserves that come under the charge of Singapore's Statutory Board, NParks. Indeed, some parks are less well frequented than others. This can be due to their locality, its facilities or the variety of activities that are organised within the park.

Mount Emily Park is pretty much a quiet old dame of a park that offers nothing more than serenity. Surrounded by private housing, St. Margaret Primary School and the Istana grounds, the park sits on an elevation far beyond the noise of any vehicular movements. Even though the park itself is within the Central Business District.

Behind its quiet facade, the park grounds hold rich history of Singapore's past. Mount Emily was previously known as Bukit Rawa. 

Closer look at the Coat-of-Arms

One of the first structures that you will see at the park is this entrance shelter. Sited in the rock wall of this structure is an emblem of yesteryear. This emblem is a coat of arms granted to the Municipal Commission by the College of Heralds in April 1948. (1)  The colours featured on the coat-of-arms are largely intact and it's such a throwback to see this in person.

Singapore's Coat-of-Arms

It is said that this was the entrance to the former Mt. Emily Swimming Pool. This is where the part about it having a rich history begins.



Reservoir and Mount Emily Swimming Pool

Mt. Emily Reservoir (2)

Mt. Emily once held two service reservoirs that were constructed in the 1880s. But by the late 1920s, the service reservoir was no longer required. It's redundancy was brought upon by the building of the Fort Canning Service Reservoir, which the press claimed to be the largest enclosed reservoir in the East. (3)   

1954 Map from OneMap (4)

The reservoir was then converted into a swimming pool and it was officially opened by Mr R. J. Farrer, President of the Municipal Commissioners on January 10, 1931. (5) The total cost of converting the reservoir into a public swimming pool came up to $30,000. (6) To find out more about Mount Emily Swimming Pool, click here. (7)


Mount Emily Park

Panoramic view of the park

In the early 1900s, Mount Emily Park was seen as a popular retreat of those staying close by. There was a band that played in the afternoon. Parents and children would also spend time playing together. (6)  

Some of the oldest trees seen in the park

The girth of some of the trees there stood as testament of its glorious days. The age of these trees must have been more than 100 years old.

With such a rich history to this park, surely it must be made into a place of interest for local Singaporeans.



Last updated: August 19, 2015


References


1. Lim, J. November 7, 2014. A crestfallen ghost of the past. The Long and Winding Road. Accessed on August 16, 2015. https://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/tag/singapore-municipal-commission/ 

2. National Archive of Singapore. Accessed on August 16, 2015.  http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/ae41408a-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad

3. The Singapore Free Press & Mercantile Advertiser. September 17, 1929. New Emily Park. P9.

4. OneMap. Accessed on August 16, 2015. http://www.onemap.sg/index.html

5. The Singapore Free Press & Mercantile Advertiser. January 1, 1931. Mount Emily. P20.

6. The Singapore Free Press & Mercantile Advertiser. January 12, 1931. A Big Splash. P20.

7. Mount Emily Swimming Pool. December 20, 2012. Accessed on August 16, 2015. http://rememberingsingapore.blogspot.sg/2012/12/mount-emily-swimming-pool.html

[National Day] Happy 50th Birthday, Singapore

Declaration by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tengku Abdul Rahman

With a stroke of a pen, Singapore was cut free of from the reigns of Malaysia. It was not with immense joy that Singapore categorically departed from our hinterland, but one with trepidation as one can remember the tears of the Prime Minister at that time, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, that was beamed to all who had television sets that time. it was a sad day.

From Malaysia's point of view, Singapore was a spoilt child, craving for its toys and was one that made it difficult for the parents. We were asking all the difficult questions. Asking for equal rights amongst all races. Sabah and Sarawak were the more obedient ones. So in the end, Tengku Abdul Rahman had to 'disown' us. It was a "Surely you will regret it" and a "I told you it was difficult to run a government" mentality that the new Singapore government was treated to.

"...Singapore leaders have done nothing but talk politics, dream politics, and eat politics. Now that Singapore leaders have got to look after themselves they have got to be responsible for the lives of the people of Singapore. They will perhaps realise that they will have to go a little bit slower and appreciate that all these talks will only bring trouble." - Tengku Abdul Rahman (1)

Singapore became a street urchin all of a sudden and we were suddenly forced to grow up.

Grew up as giants these men did. Led by Lee Kuan Yew, a group of brave men, many of whom where thrust to the fore - took to the stage - Dr Goh Keng Swee, Mr Rajaratnam, Mr Lim Kim San, Mr E. W. Barker and Dr Toh Chin Chye wasted no time in putting together a workable plan for the country.

There were others such as Mr Ong Pang Boon and Inche Othman Wok who worked tirelessly in laying the bedrock to Singapore's success.

50 years on, we are now a modern metropolis. We have made progress beyond what the leaders could have imagined. (2)

"This was a mudflat. Swamp. Today it is a modern city. 10 years from now, this will be a metropolis." (2)

So with Singapore celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence today, I would like to wish our country a happy birthday. May we continue to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for this nation called Singapore.


References

1. The Straits Times. August 10, 1965. A dream shattered. Now a parting of the ways. P10.
2. Never Fear. March 24, 2015. Youtube. Accessed on August 9, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzYz7MWIX1s

[Singapore Parks] Punggol Point: Watching the Sunrise

A Refurbished Punggol Point

Sunrise at 7:08am

Sunrise at 7:11am

Punngol Point Jetty

Interesting rock formation found along the beach

Puggol Beach taken from the look-out

The Look-Out Point

Fish Ponds Along the Promenade

Playground for the Kids