The Great Toa Payoh Central Walkabout (Part 3)
845 days agoAlright, we are going to continue with the Toa Payoh Central Walkabout which I started about 2 weeks ago. If you had read the first two parts, you would have seen several photos of the area outside the bus/MRT interchange and the area next to Courts. Now, we are moving towards the Toa Payoh library, which I might add have been in existence since when I was like a wee baby. Of course back then, it wasn’t as spanking modern like it is now. But at the very least, it was air-conditioned and had what I like most – books! When I was young, I love reading books about war and history. In fact, I subscribed to a World War II magazine which had old WW2 newspapers, propaganda photos and even badges and insignias. It was so cool back then. However, my interest was not shared with others in my family, so I was usually left in the history section of the library while the rest of my family went their separate ways.
Anyway, I was at Toa Payoh to rest and relax (and of course to take photos) at the library. But it was not yet open. Our library opens at 10am. I often wonder why? Most shops in Singapore open latest at 9am but apparently our library opens only at 10am. Probably because our library is not a profit-making organization and there is no incentive for the govt to start opening the library earlier. And it might even cost more money since air-conditioning and lights at the library have to be paid by the government. Don’t you love such a calculative government? Our country’s pride and joy.
Anyway, this is the Toa Payoh Library. Just before 10am, there will already be a crowd of people gathering outside waiting to be allowed to get into the air-conditioned heaven. Singapore is just too warm to stay outside. We need air-conditioning to survive!
I don’t know what this is. I guess it is some sort of a fountain which has a small shelter. I wonder why is there a need to shelter the fountain? And it is not much of a shelter anyway. The fountain has not started yet. Oh, on the right, is Shop N Save. And on the left is yet another food court.
600 Toa Payoh! Basically McDonalds, a food court and a snooker joint. Pathetic. And the food court is not even air-conditioned. Or at least when I entered the place, I didn’t feel any air-conditioning. Or it was not working. Or they shut it off. Whatever. This place sucks. Not much of anything.
Yes, now we know, this is a place for people to hang their cloths to dry! Singapore’s public areas is THE PREFECT place to dry your clothes. Luckily, they didn’t hang their undergarments this time. Somebody might steal them. Maybe tomorrow or next week.
Shop N Save. On the second floor is actually Fortune Restaurant. If I remembered correctly, it was one of the oldest restaurants in Singapore. But a few years ago when I ate here, the food sucks big time. And it is not cheap either. Too bad. I was expecting some really good old-fashioned Chinese cuisine from this restaurant.
Woohooo! StorHub Self Storage. Just across the street from Shop N Save. If you need storage like for your entire porn collection, this is the place to go.
On the other side, yet another coffee shop.
Hey look, there is a crowd queuing up here.
Oh, this is Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution. I believe that this is a “free” clinic. The consultation fees are waived but I think the medicine are subsidized. And it looks like Singaporeans are a sickly bunch. We see queues forming outside clinics, hospitals and places like these every day. The price we have to pay for Singapore’s success. Either that or the price of Singapore’s medications has gone off the roof and there are just a lot of poor people in Singapore. I am actually beginning to think that our medical industry is starting to show signs of breaking. Soon the medical cost will be beyond that of regular Singaporeans and we will have yet another serious problem in our hands (like the current property nightmare) that shifts the burden to the common man on the streets. I really hope that our healthcare industry doesn’t become like America’s. That would really be disastrous.
The Singapore Chinese Physicians Association. What is the purpose of this association? I have absolutely no idea. I think it should be a something good, or at least something meant for the people.
Wow, they even have a herbal garden. And we have a blue motorcycle parking right in front of it. Don’t you love the considerate Singaporean motorcyclists?
Herbs! Some of them are dying. Let’s write an email and complain about the gardener.
More herbs.
Okay, you have reached the end of Part 3. I hope that you have enjoyed this little writeup. I will continue the writeup on the Toa Payoh Central Walkabout soon. If you are interested, please read the 1st and 2nd parts here: Part 1 - Part 2. Need to fix my computer first.
