Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Yes. THIS shot was taken right here in Singapore.

Last Saturday, we went with a small group of friends and their kids to check out Kampong Buangkok together.

It’s known as the very last surviving kampong (read: Malay word for ‘village’) in this modern metropolitan city of Singapore.

[Follow the sign to ‘enter’ the kampong area]

Wilson and I grew up in Jakarta, and although we lived in the ‘city’ area there, we’re familiar with such kampong sights. So when we were there at Kampong Buangkok, it felt like we’re back in Indonesia!

The wooden houses, the electrical wires above us, the dirty tracks, the murky canals, the grass and trees. Everything.

[And oh, the mosquitoes!]

It’s such a stark contrast to what you would’ve seen down Orchard Road!

And this btw, was exactly THE reason why we felt we must bring our kids to check out Kampong Buangkok together.

While the kampong is still there.

[We chatted with one of the residents who’s lived there for more than FORTY years!]

Our kids have always lived in a metropolitan city. They were born in Singapore, and once a year they’d travel to Jakarta, another busy metropolitan city.

Our kids are way too familiar and comfortable with modern city life here in Singapore.

Air-conditioned buses and trains. Tall apartment buildings. Constructions and bulldozers. Cosy shopping centres.

And we felt they really should take a look and learn from different kinds of environment and lifestyle too.

[To the kids, this was probably the most fun part of the visit: enjoying the swing, made of a wrapped block of wood hung by the chains around a tree branch right above them. In the picture: Vai and his friend, Heidi]

By the time we reached Kampong Buangkok, it was around 12pm, I think. And we were there for about an hour or so.

It was glary and the weather was very warm.

I didn’t think our ‘city kids’ enjoyed the trip much.

Especially when there’s nothing much for them to ‘see’ and ‘play with’ (well, except for the swing).

Still, we felt it’s good that we brought the kids there to see a different side of Singapore.

A different kind of lifestyle, … one that’s simple and of a slower pace, that we, city people, often have forgotten.

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EXTRA TIPS:

– Bring along your camera! If you’re into photography, I think you’ll enjoy your photo hunting trip!
– Bring along your water bottle, sunblock and mosquito repellent

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[The bus stop to return to Serangoon MRT]

HOW TO GET THERE

– Kampong Buangkok is just off Yio Chu Kang Road.
– Available buses: 70, 103, 854

(you can always check out gothere.sg for directions too)

And this was how WE got there:

– We took bus no. 103 from the Serangoon Bus Interchange (near Serangoon MRT)

– On Yio Chu Kang Road, look for this landmark: St. Vincent de Paul church, and get off the bus (the bus stop is just opposite the Kampong!)

– Take the stairs down beside the Petrol Station (see picture above) and cross the bridge (see picture below), turn left, walk a little more, and voila, the Kampong area is on your right!