1965 Movie is a nice show for the whole family

We won six tickets to watch the 1965 Movie through our KDK contest.
SG50 NDP is just over, and 1965 is still fresh in our minds.

Video: Lim Kay Tong plays Mr Lee Kuan Yew in the movie. And I dare say he really portrayed Mr Lee well, the mannerism and charisma.

Kids celebrate Racial Harmony day every year.
They might be too small to understand the unique feature of Singapore, where so many religion, culture and race stays together in harmony. To them, dressing in their traditional costumes and playing traditional games might be fun, but there is a message to bring home.

Topics involving Religion, Race, Language can be sensitive and divisive. I believe we are mature and sensitive enough to joke and tease each other. At work or in school, we embrace, respect and we give and take. Our kids in Indian, Malay and Chinese costume.

I would recommend 1965 Movie for school going kids. The show presents to them a totally different scenario which could evolve post 1965.

What if our leaders were not strong enough to pull the people together?
What if the separation from Malaysia turns ugly?
What if hidden forces (Konfrontasi) managed to tear our fragile society apart?

There might not even be a SG50 to talk about!

A whole generation has grown up in peace, expecting entitlements and ipads.
Although I did not went through war or tensions in Singapore’s history, I remembered clearly Dr Mahathir constantly threatening to cut off Singapore’s water in the 80s. Our Indonesian neighbour also gave us the now infamous “Little Red Dot” tag. Singapore is a small city state of 5 million, why should our neighbours, or even the world own us a living?

It is getting harder to remind the kids not to take Singapore’s peace for granted.
I hope there will not be a day when race and religion pulls Singaporean apart again.

Where can I find Pig, Chicken and Fish?

Where can I find Pig, Chicken and Fish?
Not in the Zoo, but try your neighbourhood wet market (湿巴杀).

Boon Yee caught buying himself, I meant pork.
Our boy is born in the year of the zodiac pig 🙂
Boon Yee buying pork

I told Boon Yee that my own wet market experience was literally wet! Floor was wet, and I hated the poultry section as it stinks! Back then, chickens were still in coops and they were slaughtered on the spot (not in an abattoir).
Market trip with child

Pity all the fish and poultry are lifeless but it was still memorable to see a busy bustling wet market.
Boy watched in amazement as 奶奶 poked the fish, select the cabbages and bargain with the hawkers haha.

In our home, the womenfolk do the grocery and market runs.
Fresh fish wet market

奶奶 did not take much effort to pick up bundles of green leafy vegetables. Vegetable and fruit stalls are usually the most colourful and brightest.
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Dried sundry goods, ikan bilis, 虾米 (hae3 bee4 ie shrimps). You can spot all sorts of spices too.
SengkangBabies wet market

Boon Yee’s brothers have already done wet market trips before (Read here). This was supposed to be Boon Yee and Boon Xin’s first trip to wet market, but princess decided sleep is more important… zzz …

All of them love the stall selling guppies and terrapins 🙂

Boon Yee looks forward to pushing the trolley, he is happy to contribute and play a part in our morning shopping excursion. He now understands poultry and vegetables come from Malaysia, while fish and prawns are distributed at Jurong Fishery port (click for our experience) in the wee hours.
20150628 Wet Market Yee2

The unique feature about Singapore’s hawker centers. One side Shopping, the other side F&B, and both sides are always crowded. Most of the stall owners are very friendly, and they will even remember regular’s preference.

I tell my foreign friends that markets and hawker centers will be where you get to mingle with real heartlanders, not Orchard Road or Clarke Quay.
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Cheng San Market & Cooked Food Centre at Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, this is 奶奶’s favorite wet market.
Cheng San hawker centre

Breakfast and coffee aroma from 天天, the coffee queue is worth it 🙂
Boon Yee has discovered the source of our Sunday breakfast (Roti Prata, Bee Hoon, Nasi Lemak).

Although we had to wake up early for the market trip (which 奶奶 does every Sunday rain or shine, 谢谢奶奶!), I believed it was an eye opening experience for Boon Yee.

The questions came fast and furious. Why is the chicken black, why is the pork chilled in the freezer. Where does Singapore import their poultry?

You can find 人情味 in the markets 🙂
20150628 Wet Market Yee

This post is part of the ‘To Market, To Market’ Blog Train hosted by Life’s Tiny Miracles. To read about other local markets in Singapore, please click on the icon below.
to market to market

Introducing the other Daddy on this Market blog train, Eddie can cook while I fumbled in the kitchen 🙂

He is the founder of Stranger in Bangkok. Eddie is a Malaysian born in Singapore and is currently based in Bangkok. He blogs about his everyday life in Bangkok and shares his joys and struggles raising a young family without external help in a foreign country. He will be showcasing a typical wet market in a residential neighbourhood in Bangkok where he does his groceries every week.
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To Market, To Market Blog Train (August 2015)
3 Aug Mon – Angie, www.lifestinymiracles.com, Ghim Moh Market
4 Aug Tues – Dotz, www.apancakeprincess.com, Bedok South Market
5 Aug Wed – Michelle www.mummyweeblog.com, Bukit Batok East Market
6 Aug Thurs – Pamelia, www.lilacpetal.blogspot.com, Tiong Bahru Market
7 Aug Fri – Summer, www.ahappymum.com , Rivervale Plaza in Sengkang

10 Aug Mon – Pamela, www.tanfamilychronicles.com, Mayflower Market, AMK Ave4
11 Aug Tues – Andy, www.sengkangbabies.com, AMK Cheng San Market
12 Aug Wed – Eddie, http://strangerinbangkok.blogspot.sg, BKK Market
13 Aug Thurs – Debra, olimomok.livejournal.com, Shunfu Market
14 Aug Fri – Vera, www.lifeisinthesmallthings.com, Empress Road Market
15Aug Sat- Shirley & Audrey, www.sayshappymums.wordpress.com Chinatown Market

17 Aug Mon – Debs G, www.owlswellblog.wordpress.com, Commonwealth Market
18 Aug Tues – Lyn, www.lilbluebottle.com, Fengshan Market
19 Aug Wed – Karen, www.mumscalling.com, Tekka Market
20 Aug Thurs – Diana, www.thedomesticgoddesswannabe.com, Bedok North St 1 Market
21 Aug Fri – Jiahui, www.mumseword.com, Toa Payoh Vegetable Night Market
24 Aug Mon – Danessa, prayerfullmum.net, Potong Pasir Market
25 Aug Tue – Mrs Kam, www.thekamfamily.com, Chong Pang Market
26 Aug Tues – PC, www.scrapmumloft.com, Admiralty Market
27 Aug Wed – Mei, www.finallymama.wordpress.com, Pek Kio Market
28 Aug Thurs – Meiling, www.universalscribbles.com, Pasar Bella Market