The Porsche at Sembawang Hills Estate

Having solved the mystery of elephants @ Seraya Crescent in Chun See's post, I ventured across Upper Thomson Road to check out Phase 2 of Sembawang Hills Estate beyond the row of shops and the food centre.

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Where was this Elephant at Seraya Crescent?

In his series of articles by guest bloggers on Sembawang Hills Estate, Chun See blogged on a 1966 photo from Robin Brewster that shows a young elephant strolling - purportedly - along Seraya Crescent. With no clue from Robin, many of the estate's old timers believe the elephant came from Tai Thean Kew Circus when it pitched its tent in the estate in the 1960s. However they are less sure about the exact location in the photo. Was the photo taken at Seraya Crescent? One old resident has his doubts and so far nobody can pinpoint the exact location. The lingering question remains. While I know nuts about Sembawang Hills Estate, I decide to do what I do best in this blog - explore the estate, nail down this old spot from 4 1/2 decades ago … and take a "second shot" of the same location.

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Pek San Teng Entrance from Upper Thomson Road

One thing that has fascinated me about the Thomson area is the birth of Bishan from its former namesake the Pek San Teng cemetery. The 121-hectare of cemetery land spread over several hills, each decorated with the famous tengs (pavilions), made way for the New Town in early 1980s. It must have been the biggest public housing project on cemetery land in recent times; and also a wildly successful one, for asset prices were not kept down despite its pantang history, no wonder millionaires here are on the rise. As I did not have the chance to visit the cemetery or witness its transformation into the housing estate, I often wonder about the exact boundary of Pek San Teng vis-à-vis Bishan and whether it is still possible to find vestiges from the bygone era. Now, where shall I begin?

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Old Roads (2) - Start of Upper Thomson Road

You never know how much history can be "rediscovered" by walking one station-stop from Marymount to Caldecott. This I had to do at the start of the Circle Line Discovery since there was no train service to Caldecott; it was deliberate and planned, not that I refused to join the old folks in the queue for the shuttle bus service. While the two stations are quite near and connected by Marymount Road, I avoided using this road and instead skirted past Bishan Fire Station to Upper Thomson Road. Thomson Road is historical; it existed before 1850 and connects the town to suburban areas in the north. Halfway in-between the two stations, where Thomson Road meets Lornie and Braddell at the junction, is the start of Upper Thomson Road.

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