This is my mother (the smallest one in the picture) at Haw Par Villa, in the year 1971 to 1972. Haw Par Villa, also known as Tiger Balm Gardens, was built by Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par. The park was very well-known for sculptured human and animal figures adapted from Chinese folklores and mythologies. This was one of the favourite spots for Chinese New Year outings, when families put on their best outfits, and gather here for a free day out! In the seventies, there were only non-air-conditioned buses and Taxis (or at that time, “ba wang che”, 霸王车). The latter were meant for the richer people, while my mum was from a poor family, she usually travels there by bus. Due to “motion sickness”, my mum usually ended up vomiting after every bus journey!
While at Haw Par Villa, many parents loved to tell scary stories matching that of the “Ten Courts of Hell”! For instance, if you are an inveterate liar, then when you die, you will be condemned in the ten courts of hell and also have your tongue cut off! Well, it worked as my mother had always been against lying! The figures in the garden were believed to “come alive” after dark and that was the explanation given by parents when children asked their parents why they need to leave by 6pm!
Haw Par Villa had since then undergone many different facelifts (at one point, there was even a mini theme park!), but it soon was replaced by modern technology and high tech theme parks, like that of the la Universal Studios at Sentosa.
