The Great Toa Payoh Central Walkabout (Part I)

853 days ago

Well guys, I had some free time the other day and so I went for a leisurely stroll at Toa Payoh Central. Actually I wanted to go to the library and have a nice nap there, away from the stress and everything. But the library will only be opened from 10am onwards. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps the staff at the library cannot come to work early or they might be grumpy. We definitely don’t want grumpy librarians right? Anyway, I reached Toa Payoh at 7am! Yes, I woke up that early, so I had a lot of free time to go around Toa Payoh Central and take photos for you guys to enjoy. Some of you who had never been to Toa Payoh might be interested, while those working or staying there will find it rather dull and boring. But actually, Toa Payoh is no longer the old town with old shophouses and full of grannies and uncles walking around in singlets and canes. It has changed a lot since the 1980s when I stayed around there. Now, they have an air-conditioned bus interchange full of boutiques and classy shops. Of course, most of the layout still remains – it would cost a lot of pull down these old shophouses. Furthermore, keeping the shophouses makes sense as it reminds us of our past. Of course, an all-in-one shopping mall would make everyone happy as well.

And you know what? Taking photos is not as easy as it seems. And people tend to stare at you when you go around and snap photos. They would wonder why is someone taking photos of them. Furthermore, since Sept 11, people tend to get suspicious when they see someone taking photos of buildings and people. They think that you are a terrorist out to get them. But of course, in typical Singaporean style, they don’t give a hoot, except when it is on TV.

The moment I stepped into the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange, I took this photo.  Yes, most of the shops are closed.

However, the small cafe is okay and we have some Malay ladies selling breakfast as well. If I had not craved McDonald’s Egg McMuffin, I would have bought from them.

Ahhh….The Cafe Lobby. Selling you local breakfast fare at extra-ordinary prices. Look got one guy stare at me taking photo.

BreadTalk and Lee Hwa Jewellery. Even Breadtalk is not open yet. Way too early for most of us I guess. Singaporeans cannot wake up early, it is in our genetic make-up. Of course, we then force our children to wake up early to catch the schoolbus to go to school. Wow, I managed to push 4 “to”s into the previous sentence. I rock!

Wuhahaha, not opened yet as well. We have Kiddy Palace, Koufu (Expensive Makan place), NTUC FairPrice, OCBC Bank and some other which I cannot see. This place will be like an oven in the afternoons.

Wow, got POSB as well. Hardly see any POSB branches anymore – thanks to our govt. It is actually kind of sad to see what was once our friendly neighbourhood bank turned into a corporate monster like the rest of the banks in Singapore. And guys, look, it is Dell!

Wait, got one bread shop open. CAKE something. But the shelves look empty though.

This leads to the other shops upstairs or to the MRT station. By 9am, this place will be crowded with shoppers and commuters. Singapore is like that one – super crowded hellhole.

Wow, got art. But of course, nobody in Singapore cares about art. We like makan and shopping. We also like mobile phones and expensive cars.

I didn’t know that there is a Hog’s Breathe Cafe in Toa Payoh! Hmm….if only I can afford eating such oily fatty food. But then I would die from some heart disease in the near future, so I guess that is a blessing in disguise eh? On the second floor, we have Pizza Hut, Sizzler and Hog’s Breathe Cafe. Singapore is currently infested with fast food joints and where once poor quality food was served exclusively at army camps, they are now served everywhere in Singapore.

Again, the art. Looks like a few kids on top of what appears to be a quarter slab of cheese. Crazy kids.

Hmm….on the other side, another piece of art. This time, another group of kids on the other quarter slab of cheese. Someone should tell them never to play with food. Furthermore, cheese is very expensive in Singapore. Ah, who am I kidding -everything is expensive in Singapore. Nowadays even Soya Milk is expensive – just ask Mr Bean.

Another view of the shopping area surrounding the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange. As mentioned, too early in the morning, there is hardly anybody.

Wow, trees and shade! Don’t you just love a little greenery in concrete Singapore. Even in Toa Payoh, such places are rare, especially since space is a premium here. Everywhere you go, you see buildings, houses, roads, shops and people. In the past, Singapore is called Clean and Green. Now, I guess that doesn’t apply here anymore. We should start a truth campaign about Singapore – Overcrowded and Dead.

Yes, a little garden. Heaven in Singapore. But come afternoon, this place will be very warm as well. And since it is surrounded by buildings, you will not get any wind. That is probably why most Singaporeans just hide at Shopping Malls if they get the chance. Yes, they have a fountain there but it is not switched on in the mornings. And if you look at the left, you will see more “sculpture” art. It looks like an old lady cradling a child.

Yes, someone left their breakfast drinks on the public seating area because they were in a rush to save a kitten trapped in a tree. My heroes. I will be glad to clear the bottles for them. Wait….wait…look there is yet another kitten trapped in the tree and I need to save it, I guess I will leave the rubbish for others to clear loh. Busy people, we heroes. If not superheroes, then they should be free to clear rubbish for us heroes. Save the kitten save the world.

Ya, is that a shopping mall we see? We Singaporeans cannot resist the lure of shopping malls. Like what a bait is to a fish. The bigger the better.

Sorry to disappoint you guys, but this shopping “mall” is small. But it has an air-conditioned food court!  The ground floor, there is a restaurant if you are into fine dining. And next it to is Courts! There is surprisingly nothing much else.

Well, this is the end of the first part. I will continue the little walkabout in the next post. Hope you guys have enjoyed it so far! Please read Part 2 here: The Great Toa Payoh Walkabout Part 2.

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