Kampong Lorong Buangkok File:
Size of Area: 2.225 hectares
Population composition: 28 households 18 Malay and 10 Chinese
Population size: not more than 200
History: The land was reclaimed from a swamp. As the area is low-lying and flood prone, most developers are not interested in developing the area. In 1976, there was a major flood and the kampong was even called Kampung Selak Kain, which means to pull up your sarong. Other than flooding, the kampong also faces threats from pythons. One villager claimed that the snake has eaten more than 20 of her chickens. Presently there is a provision shop and a home for the aged.
The provision shop has a history of more than 30 years and back in the 70s, it faced competitions from two to three more other shops. But now it is the only provision shop left in the village. The home for the aged, which houses 80, will be shifting out in July 2004.
As you walk from Yio Chu Road into Gerald Drive, you will be able to see sunflowers gently swaying by the roadsides. Amidst the bungalows, condominium and HDB flats, you will see a road paved with gunny sacks and wooden planks as well cables hanging in the mid-air. As you enter the village, you will see coconut and banana trees as well as the kampong houses.
In the 60s, there were more than 40 households but now there are only 28. Some of the villagers were former employees of the Woodbridge hospital. After they leased the land, they reclaimed it and built their houses. Most of them stayed there till retirement. Upon retirement, they lived a simple life raising dogs, chickens and birds as well as growing fruit trees and herbs. They have telephones and television sets at home but they also use the old wooden stove to cook.
Story adapted from the Chinese newspaper XinMin published on 8 June 2004.
Size of Area: 2.225 hectares
Population composition: 28 households 18 Malay and 10 Chinese
Population size: not more than 200
History: The land was reclaimed from a swamp. As the area is low-lying and flood prone, most developers are not interested in developing the area. In 1976, there was a major flood and the kampong was even called Kampung Selak Kain, which means to pull up your sarong. Other than flooding, the kampong also faces threats from pythons. One villager claimed that the snake has eaten more than 20 of her chickens. Presently there is a provision shop and a home for the aged.
The provision shop has a history of more than 30 years and back in the 70s, it faced competitions from two to three more other shops. But now it is the only provision shop left in the village. The home for the aged, which houses 80, will be shifting out in July 2004.
As you walk from Yio Chu Road into Gerald Drive, you will be able to see sunflowers gently swaying by the roadsides. Amidst the bungalows, condominium and HDB flats, you will see a road paved with gunny sacks and wooden planks as well cables hanging in the mid-air. As you enter the village, you will see coconut and banana trees as well as the kampong houses.
In the 60s, there were more than 40 households but now there are only 28. Some of the villagers were former employees of the Woodbridge hospital. After they leased the land, they reclaimed it and built their houses. Most of them stayed there till retirement. Upon retirement, they lived a simple life raising dogs, chickens and birds as well as growing fruit trees and herbs. They have telephones and television sets at home but they also use the old wooden stove to cook.
Story adapted from the Chinese newspaper XinMin published on 8 June 2004.
A group of students from the Humanities club together with some teachers from Hougang Secondary interviewed the residents of the kampong on 4 March 2005.
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