Bukit Ho Swee (West)

Bukit Ho Swee (West) - Young Herder's Spring Slumber

In feng shui Theory, a place with cows should also have horses. A place with cows and horses should also have fenced-up areas, mangers, a herder, hillocks and brooks.

In Singapore such a place can be found in Bukit Ho Swee. This used to be a scenic place, but major fire changed its fate drastically.

With Havelock Road in front and Tiong Bahru Road at the back, the whole landscape resembled a mischievous young herder catching 40 winks in spring. With his head rested on Damma Ho Swee and his feet near a school, he slept with his face to Havelock Road and his back to Tiong Bahru.

Although Bukit Ho Swee is not a big district, it has left a deep impression on Singaporeans. First, a big fire introduced it to the public. Later in the 1970s, it was notorious for countless gang fights. This area also had many altars with approximately one in every housing black. Each time there was a procession the sights were spectacular.

In the 1980s, changes began to take place starting with the redevelopment of Bukit Ho Swee Community Centre. It was relocated to the young herder's abdomen, rousing him from his spring slumber. Next the MRT line cut through Bukit Ho Swee and the young herder left. Later, children who grew up here left for greener pastures elsewhere while the herder aged.

河水山-牧童春睡

就风水学的理论来说，一个地方有牛最好也要有马, 而有牛马最好也要有牛栅、马栅, 还要有牛槽马槽, 而更好的是还有一个牧童且有山也要有水。

新加坡正好有个这样的地方, 那就是河水山。从前的河水山, 是一处山明水秀的地方, 后来一场大火, 就改变了它的命运。

河水山前临合乐路, 后为中巴鲁路。整个地形确如一个顽皮的牧童在春睡, 牧童的头在达玛河水, 脚在立道中学, 背着中巴鲁, 面向合乐路。

河水山虽然是一个小地方, 但始终留给人们深刻的印象。首先是一场大火, 让许多人知道了这个地方;其次是七十年代, 这里经常发生械斗和私会党火并;现在, 这一带的神坛最多, 几乎每一座组屋就有一个神坛, 进行降占L和供人问事, 每一次神诞, 游行的行列总是多姿多彩。

八十年代, 这个地区起了很大的变化, 河水山联络所改建在牧童的腹部, 于是, 春睡的牧童醒了;接着, 地铁通过这里, 牧童走了;后来, 许多在这里长大的孩子, 到别处扎根去了, 牧童也老了。