Grew up during the 90′s? I read a thread about the 90s in Singapore.. and decided to come up with a list of things that I remember from my childhood. I’m sure you can identify with some of them. I had fun looking up forums and threads for ideas and pictures, and I hope you have as much fun reading the list.
1. Remember the days of sand, swings and slides? last few remaining playgrounds that haven't yet been usurped by plastic modern imports.
This dove-shaped design debuted together with the dragon playground and this particular one is found in the estate of Dakota Crescent. Together, they marked the beginning of an era of locally designed playgrounds
Fancy a bumboat ride? just come by Elias Mall in Pasir Ris. This playground is one of the designs that reflected local themes.
A clock-shaped playground design that is found near Bishan bus terminus. This is one of the many designs inspired by common objects.
The dragon design is so iconic of Singapore playgrounds that it was recently included in an issue of local stamps featuring playgrounds. This one is found along Toa Payoh Lorong 6.
Play amongst a pelican, rabbit and tortoise at this playground in Dover Vista Park .
2. You grew up watching He-man, MASK, Transformers, Mickey Mouse, Digimon, Doreamon, Power Ranger, Not to forget, Ninja Turtles, Captain Planet, Tom & Jerry too.
3. You grew up brushing your teeth with a mug in Primary school during recess time. You will squat by a drain basin with all your classmates beside you, and brush your teeth with a coloured mug.The teachers said you must brush each side 10 times too.
4. You pay 40 cents for Chocolate or Strawberry MILK every week in class.
5. When during recess you queue up at drink store, to buy VITAGEN just to get the toys.
6. SBS buses used to be non-airconditioned. The bus seats are made of wood and the cushion is red. The big red bell gives a loud BEEEP! when pressed. There are colourful tickets forTIBS buses.The conductor will check for tickets by using a machine which punches a hole in the ticket.
7. Envelopes given to us to donate to Sharity Elephant every Children's Day
8. You were there when they first introduced MRT here. You went for the first ride with your parents and you would kneel on the seat to see the scenery.
9. You longed to buy tibits called Kaka(20 cents per pack),and Ding Dang(50 cents per box), (10 cents satay), that had a toy in it and it changes every week not forgetting the 15 cents animal crackers and the ring pop, where the lollipop is the diamond on the ring. not forgetting the all favourite 10 cents “Air batu” broken into 2 parts and shared amongst friends.
10. The most vulgar thing you said was asshole and idiot and THE MOST EXTREME WAS 'super white'... you just couldn't bring yourself to say the hokkien relative
11. A&W restaurant!
12. Catching was the IN thing (aka Police and Thief) and twist or “choap” was the magic word. For the ones who always frequented the void decks, there was the “rumah dayak”, Octopus and “Goli Duit”
13. Your English workbooks was made of some damn poor quality paper that was smooth and yellow.
14. The only computer lessons in school involved funny pixellised characters in 16 colours walking about trying to teach you maths. You printed with noisy dot matrix printers and use computer papers with two rows of holes at the sides. Mouse? What’s that?
15. Waterbottles were slinged around your neck and a must everywhere you go.
16. Boys loved to play soccer with small tennis balls or ping pong balls in the basketball court.
17. Boys loved to fold paper airplane.
18. Collecting and battling erasers was a pastime for boys
19. We carry out experiments of our own to get ourself badges for being a Young Zoologist/Botanist etc.
20. You went to school in slippers and a raincoat when it rained, and you find a dry spot in the school to sit down, dry your feet, and wear your dry and warm socks and shoes
21. There would be spelling tests and mental sums to do almost everyday.
22. You freak out when the teacher tells you to line up according to height and hold hands with the corresponding boy or girl.
23. Class monitors and prefects loved to say "You talk somemore, I write your name ah!"
24. You brought every single book to school, even though there was one thing called the timetable. written on the inside cover of your little blue notebook.
25. Everyone in class would tremble in fear when someone with a gauze stuck in the mouth would go to your class and ask for someone’s name to go to visit the school dentist.
26. You find your friends with pagers and handphone cool in Secondary school
27. Gals were fascinated by Strawberry Short Cake and Barbie Dolls. You also collected sticker books of things like Street fighter, The Semi-Pro Soccer League(For Boys) and carebears (For girls) by Panini, trying to complete the impossible task of filling up the sticker book.
28. You watched TV2(also known as Channel 10) cartoons because Channel 5 never had enough cartoons for you.
29. The only food you bought from Macdonalds was fish fillet burger and French Fries as it wasnt halal back then and your parents didnt allow you to buy other stuff
30. KFC used to be a high class place and let you use metal forks and knives
31. Your English workbooks was made of some damn poor quality paper that was smooth and yellow. And the textbooks were striped in colour with different coloured stripes for different levels.
32. Science was fun with the balsam and the angsana being the most important plants of our lives. Remember the “Young Scientist” badge you got when you completed the set of tasks in written on the Blue Booklet for Young Ecologist, Young Botanist etc etc? The 1st excursion to the Science Centre was the best day of your life.
33. Who could forget Ahmad, Bala, Gopal, Sumei, Peihua and John, eternalised in the textbooks. Even Mr Wolly, Mr Yakki.
34. Every children’s day and national day you either get pencils or pens with ‘Happy Children’s Day 1983′ or dumb files with Happy National Day 1984′.
35. After exams, you brought Game & Watch to school, and play card games like ‘Snap’ and ‘Donkey’ and ‘Old Maid’ and you also play pick up sticks and Snake & Ladder and the aeroplane board game. The erasers with the flags were also a popular game.
Either this or you would play those cards comparing aeroplanes, warships, or tanks; who would have more firepower or speed or weight, etc.
36. . Your friends considered you lucky and rich if your parents gave you $3 or more for pocket money everyday.
37. Autograph books were loaded with “Best Wishes”, “Forget Me Not”, and small poems like ‘Birds fly high, hard to catch. Friend like you,hard to forget’, ’stay funky always
38. . Large, colourful schoolbags were carried. And fanciful pencil cases with lots of small tiny drawers, trays, sharpener or thermometer, that pop out at the push of a button were the ‘in’ thing.
39.
Xiao B!N
