This Is Yishun

Welcome to the hood! 🎉

Veteran Hong Kong actor Benz Hui to become a resident of Yishun SINGAPORE - Veteran actor Benz Hui is a familiar face to fans of Hong Kong drama serials. But he will soon become a familiar face in real life for Yishun residents.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Big in serving size, even bigger on taste!

You can also find out more about Madam Kalsom here: https://www.facebook.com/thisisyishun/posts/2321274904818017

Hawker centre stall in Yishun sells Nasi Ambeng from S$12 Probably more worth it than Nasi Padang.

to our exhibition, held as part of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information's photojournalism module.

Read more about our experience on The Nanyang Chronicle!

Learning outside the box

"Given how satisfying the laksa is, I am finally convinced to venture more often into Yishun and uncover other hidden food gems, even if strange things do happen in the neighbourhood."

Cheap & Good: Laksa with kick in Yishun The neighbourhood of Yishun has gotten a bad reputation in recent years, what with the string of cat abuse and murder cases.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

This "kampung-like" hot spring is getting an upsize!

You can also check out our story on the Sembawang Hot Spring here: https://www.facebook.com/thisisyishun/posts/2312178339061007

Sembawang Hot Spring to be developed into 1-hectare park by 2019 SINGAPORE: Sembawang Hot Spring, the only hot spring on mainland Singapore, will be developed into a community park 10 times its current size. The National Parks Board (NParks) said it would keep the rustic, kampung-like feel of the hot spring while turning the 0.1 hectare space, now tucked about 10...

ICYMI: Only in Yishun can you find free massages at a provision shop.

This series was featured in our exhibition. Thank you YP SG for sharing our story!

Singaporean Couple Gives Free Massages To Preserve A Traditional Technique At Auntie’s Store, a provision shop in Block 739 Yishun Avenue 5, customers can buy groceries and snacks, but one thing is free of charge — a traditional massage by…View Post

De' Hassan |

As far as family business goes, hawker stall De' Hassan feels almost like home.

The stall is set up by Madam Kalsom Hassan, 56, and her family, some 20 years after their last venture as hawkers.

The former nursing assistant said her husband, Mr Rahim Hassan, 66, suggested taking up a stall at Yishun Park Hawker Centre, which is within walking distance from her home.

Her extended family was supportive, even enthusiastic, and now many of them play a role in De' Hassan. The stall was named after her father and her husband's father, who shared the same name.

"My other family members come to chit chat as well. We used to gather on weekends, but now that we are working here, they come to us."

Help comes in as early as 7:30 am, where five members from the family have already begun to cook up a storm and prepare for the day ahead.

This is what makes the long hours and hard work worth it, said Madam Kalsom, adding that working together also gives them the chance to bond as a family.

"We are very blessed, everyone is working together for success," she said.

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Photos and text by: Abigail Ng and Fabian Loo

ICYMI: This group of uncles has got all the right moves – in chess that is.

This series was featured in our exhibition. Thank you YP SG for sharing our story!

These Uncles Gather In Yishun To Keep A Traditional Game Alive At the heart of Chong Pang, Yishun uncles from all walks of life have bonded over the game of Chinese chess. Most do not exchange contacts, but know where to…View Post

Beyond The Call Of Duty |

Mr Vijayamohan (second from right) is a senior officer of the Special Operations Command of the Singapore Police Force. At 58, he is just two years away from retirement. But the avid volunteer already has grand plans for his time outside the force.

He intends to expand an initiative he started seven years ago called Sewa, a monthly grocery distribution programme for low-income families. Together with his family and relatives, he provides funds for the purchase of these groceries. They currently support more than 20 families in Yishun.

The tight-knit family often meets for dinner despite their busy schedules. His daughter, Ms Subhaashini, said family dinners are a monthly affair that everyone makes time for. She added that this is just a snippet of the family culture they have cultivated. And part of their family culture is a spirit of volunteerism.

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Photos and text by: Theodore Lim

Fishball Story |

Mr Cheong Lean Wai has got quite a colourful resume. He was trained as an engineer, and worked briefly as a private hire driver for Grab. Today, Mr Cheong is a proud hawker at the Yishun Park Hawker Centre, where he owns a franchise of the famed Fishball Story.

With intentions of bringing a Michelin-starred dish to the heartlands of Yishun, the 38-year-old, together with his wife, Ms Wong Chooi Lee, 37, started operations at the Yishun outlet about a month ago.

For a first-time hawker like Mr Cheong, his journey has been “very tough”.

He often has to deal with people’s misconception of the trade, where they mistake hawkers as being uneducated.

Mr Cheong, who owns a degree in engineering at the University of Western Australia, said: “Being a hawker doesn’t mean you cannot study. There’s a lot of new hawkers nowadays that are very educated.”

The job is also physically taxing. The husband and wife usually start at 6am, and leave their stall at around 10pm. This is their routine for six days a week.

"You need to have stamina to stand the whole day. You need to wake up very early to prepare," he said.

But what keeps Mr Cheong going are the compliments from customers, and the fact that he can spend more time with his wife.

“Back then, we usually only see each other in the evening. Now I see her everyday, and our relationship is even stronger,” he said.

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Photos and text by: Abigail Ng and Fabian Loo

When Stars Align |

Mr Ganamoorthy is not your usual fortune teller. As the Sree Maha Mariamman Temple’s only astrologer, he makes predictions based on the movement of stars and planets. And he does that through his extensive knowledge on the subject.

The 50-year-old has his own library of astrological books collected over the years, and boasts a Master’s degree in Astrology from the Annamalai University in Chennai. That was where he was first exposed to astrology and he has not stopped since.

For the past 25 years, Mr Ganamoorthy has provided horoscope predictions for people from all walks of life – from European tourists asking about their future, to concerned students hoping to pass their final examinations.

“I may not have a successor but it doesn’t matter, I just want to help people who are in doubt to find some assurance in life while I’m here,” he said.

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Photo and text by: Leanne Chua