Backpacking area

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Tue, 24 May 2011 6:53 pm

I agree that I doubt too many people arrive in SG as backpackers and become 'expats' whilst there. The hurdles to becoming an expat do not really mesh with the limitations of being a back-packer.

The first time I visited SG was as a back-packer. But, I did not end up working in SG until 5 years later.

Even if an expat knew of back-packer places once upon a time, SG redevelops so quickly that nothing stays the same for long.

My first time, I stayed in a back-packer place called Airmaster Travel. It was on the 2nd floor of the white building at the middle/front of the pic. I wonder if anyone can divine where it was. There are certainly three decent clues in the pic, but to complicate it, almost everything on the street in front of you has gone. This was 1989.

[/img]

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Tue, 24 May 2011 8:24 pm

I'm guessing Bencoolen Street near the Strand Hotel.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Tue, 24 May 2011 8:57 pm

That's cheating!

I can't embed an image from Streetview for what ever reason, but here is a link to the closest view of the same these days. You'll see that pretty much all that is left, on Prinsep Street, is the gable-end of the building painted grey in the middle...

edit to try and add embedded image[/img]

Post by **x9200** » Tue, 24 May 2011 9:00 pm

Unfortunately not from the image but google says Airmaster Travel was located at Bencoolen St before it got dissolved and earlier in Dhoby Ghaut. If this is Strand Hotel as SMS says (looks very much alike) than the image looks more like taken from the Selegie Rd side.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Tue, 24 May 2011 9:11 pm

x9200 wrote:Unfortunately not from the image but google says Airmaster Travel was located at Bencoolen St before it got dissolved and earlier in Dhoby Ghaut. If this is Strand Hotel as SMS says (looks very much alike) than the image looks more like taken from the Selegie Rd side.

Very good! The old pic was taken from the walkway over the road there.

The clues were the Strand Hotel (I already took that top margin in a bit, should have taken it in a touch more it seems!).
The dome of the derelict Victorian era school, now the SG Art Museum.
The comms tower in the background at Fort Canning.

To be honest I didn't think the name of the joint, from so long ago, would figure anywhere on Google at all.

I'll have to make it harder with the next one!

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Tue, 24 May 2011 9:24 pm

It was actually the strand hotel that gave it away. You gotta remember that I've been here since '82 and used to drive at that time as well. There were a couple of car shops down in the area that handled old Cortina and Mini parts! But, I was never much good with street names, but visuals. I didn't even think of using street view!

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Tue, 24 May 2011 10:00 pm

Ok, try this one...

[img][img]http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn28 ... stjpeg.jpg[/img][/img]

Who ever gets this one can buy me a beer, that's for sure

James-83 · Post by **James-83** » Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00 am

I dont even live here but it looks like the corner of Little India, is the building on the corner perhaps green now...???

The reason it looks familiar is because a mate of mine took some great pics of the place.

But Im guessing Im way off lol

Post by **x9200** » Wed, 25 May 2011 11:36 am

Junction of Selegie Rd, Sophia Rd and Middle Rd?

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Wed, 25 May 2011 4:58 pm

X9, you are very close, it's the junction of Prinsep St and Middle Rd, but how on earth did you get that!?
p.s. James, valiant try considering you aren't even in SG! It is getting down towards Little India way.

James-83 · Post by **James-83** » Wed, 25 May 2011 5:06 pm

lol cheers, amazing how quickly city can transform like that.

By the way I booked a hostel called 'feelathome' on Jalan Pinang. Gonna give the Prince Royal a go on the 3rd night I think.

Thanks for all your help guys, got so much to plan now ...!

Post by **x9200** » Wed, 25 May 2011 5:17 pm

Hmmmm.... could it be a funny coincident? .... this one at the back from the below image shows when you turn your back to the building in your image.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Wed, 25 May 2011 6:26 pm

[quote="x9200"]Hmmmm.... could it be a funny coincident? .... this one at the back from the below image shows when you turn your back to the building in your image.

Hmmmm.... now you have me wondering. I'm going to have to look into this further!

p.s. Currently reading...
https://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.c ... lkie-road/
a fascinating article on the history of that area. Well, fascinating for me, since I used to live there maybe!

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Thu, 26 May 2011 4:32 am

Here is the pic without the road-signs blurred out...

The road-signs say, the road you're on is Prinsep Street, the cross street in front of you is Middle Road.

Also I'm pretty sure the Peace Centre was already built in 1989 (the old version). Sophia Road is narrower and goes uphill from that junction.

The similarities of the pictured tower block and the re-clad one on Sophia Road are so uncanny though, it is a little hard to compute!

Post by **x9200** » Thu, 26 May 2011 7:44 am

We both got it right and wrong. Take your google spot and rotate yourself 90 deg to the left (so you would look towards the Peace Centre).

SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore

Backpacking area

Who is online