Before embarking on the Civic District Trail, I felt that it was just a task I had to complete for that ten percent component of our final grade. To get up early in the morning and trying to complete more than fifteen stations felt like it was a crazy task to do and I was dreading it. However, upon completing the trail, I had mixed feelings of the entire trail; nonetheless, I felt that it was a great experience and necessary for me to have done it so witness the colonial era of Singapore.
When I saw the stations that we had to complete, I felt that it was like re-learning Singapore’s history to see how we have progressed. However, when we were at the Raffles statue, a thought struck me and got me thinking during the trail. Why was it that Singapore chooses to recognize Raffles as our founder and keeping statues of him at the Arts house and also outside the Victoria Concert Hall? To me, William Farquhar was the one that helped in the administration and governing of the young Singapore but Raffles was just like a father working overseas, paying occasional visits to his child. The trail had no mentioned or conservation of William Farquhar. So if we have not studied history, no one would have known of his existence? However, the thoughts were dropped after awhile and when we reached the Old Supreme Court; it hit me that Singapore had not been successful in preserving our historical heritage.
The classical architecture of the Old Supreme Court was a great reminder/ reference that Singapore has once been a colony of the British. However, the replacement of this building with the modern looking Supreme Court that even having a modern interpretation of the dome that was disc-like shaped made it seem ridiculous. Ridiculous because it made Singapore felt like we are looking too much on progressing and being a modern city that we are neglecting our roots and heritage. Yes, the Old Supreme Court is still there and kept in preservation. But how long before will this building be demolished because of the lack of land in Singapore and we need to clear land all those excuses?
For me, these buildings and road names are reminders to us of all the contributors that had brought Singapore to where we are today. Without all these contributions of the great forefathers, would we even be how successful as we are now? Buildings are reminders to the generations of our roots and heritage. They tell their own story and they are glories that we once had and are proud to share with many about. However, during this trip, it made me question how we are neglecting these factors and instead looking too forward at advancements that we leave behind our origins. Go out and ask children these days about the significance of the buildings, they may not even have recognition of it. They may not even know that there exists a Singapore River that was once a busy trading port and due to Singapore wanting a ‘Clean and Green City’, we had cleared the river up and now it is just this river with nicely decorated boats for tourists to explore. So what does that say about Singapore’s conservation process? Yes, we have progressed much but did we leave behind too much as well?
However, it is not possible to keep everything and preserve everything because of Singapore’s inherent lack of space. I have to give credits that at least we still have these trails being created that allow people to explore on their own and take note of such places and their significance. But, we do not know if Singaporeans will actually go out of the way to do it? This heritage trail had got me thinking of how we need to look back and take note of the origins that we have and not just progressing and neglecting the successes of the past. It also showed me how much we have progressed that not much history is left. We do not see tourists coming to Singapore just for the history we have, but instead, it is for our modern progression that they are coming for. The duck tours, hippo tours, the esplanade and the new upcoming casinos. What other new things next?
posted by felinetong
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