Thursday, February 27, 2014
Valentine's Day at Chua Chu Kang Cemetery
Its the 14th of February 2014.
Most people, well couples at least would go out together I guess. I am single so I should be moping I guess =)
Still. I wanted to visit my paternal grandfather's tombstone. My dad wanted to go too. Its been a while I guess.
So off we went!
First we were on a bit of a hunt. We actually haven't been there for a long time. We only know the tomb number. Its not something I am proud of, but I am happy that today we made the trip down and essentially commited to visting the tomb. Too many times we have planned but not gone down. We only have the tomb number unfortunately. My dad vaguely remembers the way. I am not sure I have ever been there ?!?! I only vaguely remember my granddad's portrait.
A few things I learnt.
If you are looking for Lim Chu Kang Cemetery. There is no such place. I think. Apparently my dad remembers the cemetery as Lim Chu Kang cemetery. But it is really Chua Chu Kang cemetery, but along Lim Chu Kang road. Its not exactly wrong to refer it as Lim Chu Kang (it is partially at Lim Chu Kang), but just know that the cemetery is named Chua Chu Kang cemetery and a good portion of it is along Lim Chu Kang road.
So we went to Chua Chu Kang mrt and took a bus
Most people, well couples at least would go out together I guess. I am single so I should be moping I guess =)
Still. I wanted to visit my paternal grandfather's tombstone. My dad wanted to go too. Its been a while I guess.
So off we went!
First we were on a bit of a hunt. We actually haven't been there for a long time. We only know the tomb number. Its not something I am proud of, but I am happy that today we made the trip down and essentially commited to visting the tomb. Too many times we have planned but not gone down. We only have the tomb number unfortunately. My dad vaguely remembers the way. I am not sure I have ever been there ?!?! I only vaguely remember my granddad's portrait.
A few things I learnt.
If you are looking for Lim Chu Kang Cemetery. There is no such place. I think. Apparently my dad remembers the cemetery as Lim Chu Kang cemetery. But it is really Chua Chu Kang cemetery, but along Lim Chu Kang road. Its not exactly wrong to refer it as Lim Chu Kang (it is partially at Lim Chu Kang), but just know that the cemetery is named Chua Chu Kang cemetery and a good portion of it is along Lim Chu Kang road.
So we went to Chua Chu Kang mrt and took a bus
In the end we were actually quite lost. We ended up asking the bus uncle where we should drop. We are looking for the "chinese cemetery". If you look at the pic above. Its not there =P. The bus uncle asked if we are looking for urns or graves. We said graves. He was'nt sure, but he told us where we probably should get off (before we are definitely off course). it turned out to be exactly correct, where we should stop. Which is before Lim Chu Kang road.
This was the bus stop we stopped at. We continued walking until we get to the T-junction intersecting our current road (I think its "Old Chua Chu Kang road") and Lim Chu Kang road.
After crossing diagonally, we turned right and this is the path to the cemetery (along Lim Chu Kang road).
If you take the bus, by the time you see SCDF, you are off by about 2 stops I think.
It is quite peaceful. I actually like cemeteries. It is always quiet and breezy.
A goat farm! I should visit that one day, but at that moment I was more concern about finding the grave.
We actually went to look for the main office, from the path (the goat farm signage one), turn left at the first turning and walk straight. You should see the main office. It is quite nice and there is a toilet.
Oh and it is quite nice and peaceful. There are actually alot of graves around, but I think it is somewhat inappropriate to take pictures of them, so thats why the pics are mostly skyline and trees =)
This maps were extremely important to finding the grave. We went to the main office, told them the tomb number and got the main area. Then, using the map we went to the rough whereabouts of the grave. It still took some hunting, but at least we narrowed the search space. Eventually we did find it.
Visiting granddad was nice. We offered incense, waited for the candles and joss sticks to burn out. It was rather windy, but otherwise the weather was very good.
We exited via this path. It is really called Chinese Cemetery path =) there are many paths btw (you can see from the map).
It was a long way back. We did not walk through the cemetery, as we wanted to see what were the buses available along the road.
The muslim cemetery is actually near the chinese cemetery. Some malay vendors sold flowers to visitors for prayers. It was actually quite colourful.
you see, there is actually no path... tho... closer to intersection with old chua chu kang road a path emerges.
This is one of many bus stops we went by.
So this is another way to come to the cemetery! But you need to know where to stop. It is also more risky, because from Boon Lay, you will actually be on the other side of the road. Although the road is not busy. It is very wide.
A path emerges!
I think this is near the entrance or half way through. I'm not sure =) In there end i think the best bus to take from Chua Chu Kang is 975 as it makes the turn. However I think 975 does not originate from the Chua Chu Kang interchange. I need to double check that.
It was good visiting Grand Dad's grave. Dad was visibly happy too. We also informed my aunts. So maybe next round (Qing Ming?) we'll make the trip together. The main purpose of this exercise was really to ascertain the location of the grave as well as to gauge the accessibility (since my dad and my aunts are getting on in age). We actually required a few lucky breaks to not get lost. Remember we don't have a car and are completely reliant on public transport, so getting the way right was crucial. We could get a cab, but the cab would likely only take us to the entrance of the cemetery. The path to the grave itself is also important enough that we want to know prior to visits (at least if we have more elderly relatives).
All in all I think it was a fulfilling valentines =)
[20140308 22:50]
This came to mind for some reason. Someone once told me that in her culture; visiting the cemetery is a peaceful, loving period. A time to remember fondly of those that have passed. I agree. Although in my culture, there is a lot of instilled fear and superstition, but seeing my dad and being close to my grandfather whom I have never met, I felt a sense of kinship and fulfilment. Would that the dead were closer, but in Singapore we can hardly afford the space. So visitations from the living will have to do. We cannot help for those that have died. We cannot help but die ourselves eventually. But what we can do; is to live our lives fully and honourably, and do our best to ensure the same for those we care for.
// posted by god_is_good478 @ 9:05 AM 
