10 things we all miss about the old Singapore that only 90s kids would understand

Last Updated on 2018-01-11 , 3:46 pm

Singapore is known for, and proud of, progressing quickly against all odds.

Through the years, we’ve seen technology advanced and the environment changed – so fast that if you go overseas for a few years, you might not recognize Singapore the moment to come back.

Well, 90s kids, can you identify with the 10 things we all miss about the old Singapore?

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Student fare cards

Those were the days when you slot one of those cards into the machine and simply press one button for your bus journey. The card is so thin, you can fit it in your back pocket and sit on it without worrying about crushing it.

And well, travel were made easy.

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Non air-conditioned SMRT buses

Kids nowadays would never know the inconveniences when it rained and we were in a bus. Buses back then were not air-conditioned and windows could be opened to let in the wind.

When it rained, everyone would scramble to close the windows. If the window was stuck, you would probably be soaked well enough before you finally manage to close it.

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OHP

I remember how our teachers would try to move the transparency to make sure everyone in the classroom could see what he or she was able to write on it. Having to do presentations using the projector was really exciting to us students too because we had to have one person manning the OHP and changing the transparencies while the other one presented.

If you had a habit of spitting while you spoke, your classmates would also be able to see your spittle projectile on your transparencies too.

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Fantasy Island on Sentosa

Possibly one of my favourite water theme parks to go to during the school holidays back then, so much so that it became a go-to destination for me and my cousins and friends until it closed down in 2002. I distinctly remember Sentosa having S$19.90 package deals for the theme park which we all lapped up.

My favourite ride was Subarashii and I would make sure I went on that as many times as I could before the park closed for the day. For those who never got the privilege to enjoy Fantasy Island, its site is where Universal Studios sits now.

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Those family sitcoms and dramas like Under One Roof and Growing Up

How can anyone forget these? How many of you can still rattle off the theme song for Under One Roof and remember what Moses Lim’s character, Tan Ah Teck, used to say before he told one of his life stories?

On the other hand, Growing Up was a more sobering drama that illustrated the lives of Singaporeans in the 50s and 60s. Even for that series, the theme song is firmly stuck in my head.

Nowadays, kids didn’t even know what a TV is.

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When Social Studies period meant we could slack off

Because Social Studies wasn’t a subject that has an exam back then, we all looked forward to that period. It was always the best if Social Studies was the last period of the day because it meant that we might get to end class early and thus, go home early.

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Coins and appliances that marked Singapore’s 25^th year of independence

I remember the coins with this mark. They were in abundance during that year, similar to what happened during our 50^th year of independence. And the mark was literally on everything we owned.

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搞笑行动, Liang Si Mei and Liang Po Po made Mondays so much better

Mondays have been, are and will always be a drag. But remember those days when we would all look forward to watching Gao Xiao Xing Dong as we were having our dinner? And then came the era of Liang Si Mei and Liang Po Po which made all of us forget about the week for awhile and gave us something to talk about the next day with our friends at school. Jack Neo and Moses Lim cross-dressing was too much to handle too.

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And who can forget City Beat aka 城人杂志?

Then came the younger City Beat on Thursday nights where the crazy group made up of Bryan Wong, Kym Ng, Lina Ng and Sharon Au would keep us entertained with their hysterical antics. The episodes got more and more hilarious as they went on and it really made any bad day seem alright again, even for just a little while.

Ah, 8:00 p.m. on weekdays were perfect back them (not to mention no OT in the past, too!).

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Oriental Emporium, Yaohan and Sogo

There was a Yaohan at Plaza Singapura which later became Daimaru (another relic), and subsequently Carrefour before Cold Storage took over. Oriental Emporium was located at the now demolished Queenstown site.

There was a dim sum restaurant just next to it too and it was always a joy for me to head there because my cousins stayed around that area and going there meant I would be able to meet and play with them.

Crazy memories.

Since you’re here, why not watch a video about a guy who lodged a Police report here in Singapore because he was friendzoned? Seriously. Here, watch it and do remember to share it (and also subscribe to Goody Feed YouTube channel)!

This article was first published on Goodyfeed.com