boon's log 4803.05
Just say "Yes!"
All you have to do to get this job is to perhaps say "Yes" for a couple of times, somewhat...


Say Yes!

boon out...

boon's log 4803.04 supplementary A
Changing times...
Check out this following picture. This place used to be a convent in Singapore, more popularly known as CHIJMES... Well, that was before the convent evolved to become a place for food and booze... Another effort by the Replublic's Authorities to revive the tourism industry, no doubt...


WAS: Convent; IS: Booze City

I guess change is inevitable as time passes, but ... I cannot help but to notice the irony of it all.

boon out...

boon's log 4803.04
A stroll along memory lane...
Decided to take a walk down Campbell Street, Penang last weekend during the long Hari Raya holidays. It was quite a walk (especially in the hot weather). There is a mixture of new and old, happy and sad moments as I strolled along memory lane. Here are some of the images I captured while strolling down memory lane...


Campbell Street Arch, as you enter from Penang Road.


One of the many street markets along Campbell Street. This one sells more of non-wet items (i.e. clothes, utensils, etc.). You can also see the KOMTAR (KOMpleks Tunku Abdul Rahman) tower at the background.


Busy street with endless signboards along Campbell Main Street


A sad picture. This young kid was forced to "work" at his young age. We saw another similar-aged kid (probably the sister) doing the same thing somewhere further down the road.


Timeless time-pieces - these 8-Day Key Wound Clocks are always a favourite, anytime. They will never go out of trend.


Old Friends. Here is an "Ah Pek" (elderly man in Hokkien) fetching another 2 "Ah Peks" around in a "Trishaw"


Here is a picture of another street market. This one sells more of wet food items (e.g. fish, vegetables. etc).


"Back-lane" industry? Picture of a "kopitiam" (Coffeeshop in Hokkien) at the backlane between two rows of shop-houses. Judging from the way the shop was setup and the age group of its patrons, this shop must have been here for a very long time. Medicated Tea, anyone?


Hey! The Headquarters of BoonSpot.blogspot.com!

Well, that kinda concludes my little tour along one of Penang's infamous and oldest streets. Like I mentioned it is a mixture of bitter-sweet experience. Campbell Street was built in the 19th century and was then a hot spot for brothels imported from China. It was aptly nicknamed "Sin Kay" (New street in Hokkien) or if coarsely put, "New Chicken" meaning "new/fresh prostitutes". This kinda ended after the war and recently the government has poured in funds to re-furbish the area and has made it to be an attractive pedestrian-mall (cars are allowed to drive along this street at certain times). A lot of heritage buildings are still seen standing tall along the street and is the main ingredient in making this street a famous spot for tourists, as compared to the reason tourist flock these streets back in the 19th century...

boon out...

boon's log 4503.04 supplementary A
There is something about Jerry...
I was listening in to London's Heart 106.2 today and heard about this following latest Opera in UK and decided to check it out in the web. Voila! True enough, there is an official website. For those who have watched him on US television before will probably share the same shocking look on my face when I heard about it and find it to be a real Opera in UK...

drum roll, please......

It's called Jerry Springer - The Opera!

I mean, really... Opera?

Anyway, has anyone seen this? Please feedback below in Comments and please, please let me know... how was it?

boon out...

boon's log 4503.04
Singapore Roars!
This is a picture of the Singapore City Center by night, taken from the No Signboard Seafood Restaurant (yeah, I know - what a name, right? :) ). Anyway, this is a pretty cool place to take shot of the city skyline.



I think the Singapore Tourism Industry was quite badly hit by the SARS scare sometime back (which country wasn't right?). That's me stating the obvious. And I think the Singapore Roars! Campaign is working pretty well. I think things are picking up quite well. While I was there, restaurants and shopping malls are quite well filled to the brim, almost everywhere - some you have to make reservations days ahead if you wanna get a seat, like the restaurant which we had our dinner, where this picture was taken.

In addition to that, I cannot help but to think, whether the government is beginning to allow things which we would have brushed off as morally (or culturally) unacceptable in public (such as table top and belly dancing) as another effort to bring back more life to the streets... anyway, just my thoughts. Wonder what's next on their list, huh? ;) But cool... "More of that, baby!", ya?! :o)

What can I say but, "Singapore ROARS!"

boon out...