Tock-Tock-Tock-Tock!!!.......Chang! Chang! Chang! Chang! Chang!!!!

The sounds that assail the heart and ear drums...

The Chinese Opera - my childhood pasttime with my grandmother - an offering to the gods, held usually in the Chinese temples and sometimes for big events like anniversaries, birthdays of the gods and even Chinese New Years. It is performed in different dialects (Hokkien/Teochew/Cantonese), depending on the occasions and the sponsors. In the old days, Chinese Opera was just like the Broadway musicals, enjoyed by the Emperor and his Generals, and the rich. The actors were superstars and much adored by everybody just like today.

The Chinese Opera is almost a lost art in Singapore, those who survive the art are mainly the older performers and the trade is unlikely to be passed down to younger generations as they get into more ‘advanced’ hobbies, so much so that the opera becomes more like a culture shock to them (I wish this will not happen). Only in certain places like Chinatown can you still watch the opera by purchasing tickets, just like watching the movies... sometimes in the Esplanade too.

Grandma's favourite pasttime was to watch the Chinese Opera. She never missed a single night at the opera and would drag me along to accompany her. Sometimes, she would give me some money to buy titbits along the roadside to entertain myself, for a good 90 mins while she sat and watched. Scores of stalls and people will jam the roads right outside the temple as people visit the opera, just like the fun fairs of today. Oh, how I miss those childhood days when I could have fun by myself and maybe meet up some neighourhood kids. I remember those stalls so well, one of which was the "tikum" stall, where I would pay for a paper number (lucky number) and win the prize which has my number on it…. usually a toy.

Childhood in the 70's is so different from now. Not so much to compare, but to observe that the lack of ‘freedom’ in the mind will be a problem for this new generation of kids. I hope and wish I can help to ‘free’ their minds, just like I was so privileged to do so.

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