THE PERANAKANNyonya Noreen Chan recalls halcyon times at the seaside.
My maternal great-grandfather, Chia Keng Tye (CKT), had a holiday home along Pasir Panjang Road. It was located near “Batu 7” or 7th Mile (the junction of Clementi and Pasir Panjang Roads). With land reclamation and development the area is unrecognisable today; but 100 to 150 years ago, Pasir Panjang (Malay for “long beach” or “long sand”) was a long sandy beach and the road used to hug the coastline.
In the 1920s and 30s, it was common for businessmen – including Lee Kong Chian – to have seafront residences in Pasir Panjang. In the late 1920s, motorboat racing was introduced in the area, and that allowed my Kong Cho to indulge in his hobby of collecting and racing motorboats, his favourite being one called “Excuse Me”.
Called Hood Villa, the wooden house was raised on concrete footings with two curving staircases, and a verandah on three sides shaded by bamboo chicks. The property had a jetty and boathouse and steps leading from the seawall down to the sea. It was busiest during school vacations, but the house was also occupied at various times by extended family members.
If the family was not spending time at Pasir Panjang, they could also visit Bedok, which had many Malay and Chinese kampongs, centred around fishing and farming. It was a time when everyone could relax and enjoy themselves fishing or digging for shellfish. It was also one of the few times nyonyas could be seen outdoors in bare feet!
Mama used to tell stories of how she would accompany her father to catch squid: by shining a bright light over the side of the boat, one could scoop netfuls of squid attracted to the illumination. The same light would be used as a signal to the house, and the kitchen would get busy with a large pot of boiling water with aromatics like lemongrass. The squid would be tipped straight into the pot, to be enjoyed with sambal chilli. Bliss!
