Singapore's 'Little Thailand': Last Days Of Golden Mile Complex | On The Red Dot | Full Episode
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- Опубликовано: 29 авг 2024
- Golden Mile Complex has been sold and all tenants and residents must move out by May 2023. An architectural marvel from the 70s, Golden Mile complex has become popularly known as "Little Thailand" due to its association with the Thai community.
The iconic landmark has been designated for conservation but some are worried that something more important than the building cannot be preserved. Losing Landmarks follows five people who have played significant roles in building the Thai enclave during their last moments there. In the 1980s and 1990s, they and other business owners populated Golden Mile with shops that offered all things Thai: food, fashion, entertainment, and groceries to cater to the growing Thai working community in Singapore. Its unique Thai-ness is what makes the Thai community and Singaporeans alike venture there. When Golden Mile complex closes, can the Thai diaspora find another space to revive Little Thailand?
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It is really sad; I am Singaporean with a Thai mom and going to Golden Mile always makes me happy. Being able to eat food that I love from Thailand, hearing the Thais speak sometimes scratches the itch of me missing my family in Thailand. It is really regrettable and disheartening to see the store owners move out and an empty shell of what it used to be. Granted, the sleazy businesses ceased and fights/drunks will no longer be a common sight... But, at what cost? A community and a poignant landmark
You mean you are half Thai half Singaporean then!
@@Iceyfire12 oh yes! 😅 didn’t come to mind at that time, thank you!
Do you know what will happen to the building? Demolished for a new building?
@@snowwhite2146 yep!
Goldenmile tower the one beside is open
I'm half Thai married to S'porean, living in S'pore.. Whenever I felt homesick, I used to go there for grocery shopping and talking to Thai aunties.. It's not easy being a foreigner in this country but that place made me feel like home. I'll miss it terribly..😢 I wish there'd be a better place for Thai community in S'pore.
Can always go back to thai?
@@alexgibb8406 Yes, I can, if I'm financially flexible. but there's nothing that makes you feel more relieved and secure than having your own community in wherever you live.
No golden mile no problem can go thai disco
Make Singapore your second home. I know it's easily said than done. I find it too small and feel claustrophobic. Always good to get away there.
@@Truthseeker371 Thanks for comment😃 It would be my third, actually. I thought living in Tokyo was the worst, but I find it harder here in S'pore, if you know what I mean.. Anyway I think home is wherever your loved ones are😄
As a Thai student in Singapore 20+years ago, Golden Mile had always been very close to my heart. Whenever i got homesick ,i always went there just to listen to Thai people talking. It was the only place that I can get Thai's latest music, movies and magazines. I will surely miss Golden Mile.
Not a Singaporean, but I hope they try to preserve old landmarks for the future generations as well. It's good to modernise but while retaining your legacy.
@death to the west accelerating towards the future doesn't mean tear down every building and build a modern building out of it that represent nothing
Y'all should visit Paris, its a perfect balance between old and new.
@totalndeath Stuck is a wrong word to use. Some of the buildings should be preserved as part of Singapore history. Preserving building does not stop Singapore from progressing.
Well done for paying homage to this legacy with a fine documentary. It’s so sad to see these changes happening in Singapore. These places are its lifeblood.
15:20 I think it’s important to point out the fact that you forgot to translate his story:
"I cooked for thai royals that came to Singapore. Lots of great memories in golden mile.”
And “-have to, it is only possible that we are here today because of golden mile.”
End of an era. Such a unique experience gone
Thank you Golden Mile! You ARE Amazing! You’ll be greater n stronger! It’s NOT the end, it’s a new beginning!
There are many nice buildings in Singapore but only a handful with souls and this is one of it.
A sleazy building of drunken fights and smelly toilets is nice?
@@SuperValue350 Community variety and more is that only thing you can think of? Pathetic living is fitting title for you
"We can have the most advanced building with aesthetics, comfort, sustainability and energy efficiency but we cannot design and build for a sense of community. As a designer, we seek to design for the needs of our occupants but what is the thing that they really need?"
I lived in Singapore for almost 15 years. And Golden Mile was one of the great landmarks along Beach Road. It was indeed a little Thailand with restaurants, groceries and other Thai products and businesses. It saddens me to hear it is closing.
Heartwarming documentary. All the best to the Thai community in Singapore
Too bad i have never set my foot there. I hope Singaporeans could at least petition to save memories from this place in a museum section as Thais are an integral minority in Singaporean society. Thank you for preserving our culture in your country 🙏🏻
I worked nearby for a few years and would occasionally visit Golden Mile Complex. Frankly, I never completely got used to the smell of the place. However, I knew Thais held this place close to hearts, and I'd never want to change something they held dearly. Singapore has lost another another one of our gems.
I agree
used to be there very often when I was in Singapore. It just feels like you step into another world. It is a huge cultural loss. I dont know where I can go for awesome Thai food when I visiting Singapore again.
Just stay in Malaysia
My childhood memories left with you, Golden Mile Complex 😭
Thank you for the wonderful moments
Oh Singapore..did you not learn from the old National Library at Stamford? I wonder if our governments would feel the same if we petitioned to have LKY's home demolished for a high rise condo. Sigh..just leave our landmarks alone.
Yes. I am still angry with demolishing of National Library. My childhood was stolen...
The building structure will be conserved. Tenant pool and atmosphere will be a cultural loss.
@@arsenal_84what will happen then with this building when it's being conserved?
I missed the library, too bad kids today don‘t get to see it.
Looking forward to the next Little Thailand
After renovation, it most likely will become another spectacular structure so commonly seen in Singapore. BUT, the spirit would not be the same.
It would just be boring offices or hotel and some shops like bedok mall so boring
Instead of removing 38 Oxley road as lky wish, they are removing unique landmarks that mean so much to the community...
😂😂👍1
21:18
My favorite part of this video. As sad as it is, the special feeling she has to an area, a building and its people is 100% normal
I hope for her and every one else they can just appreciate the good days and try to make new better ones ahead
I completely understand her feeling. It's funny, when growing up we had this really old van. I don't know why but at 13-14 years old i was sad seeing it go. My family had many memories inside there for road trips and just everything that was apart if it. I actually teared up a bit thinking about the loss of it, especially when I wanted to get ny chance at driving it licensed on a main road not a back road or country road.
We all definitely get nostalgic for weird stuff. This is why I always take tons of pictures now. Simple pictures can invoke memories of things you forgot.
I hope all those people can relocate (however small) and slowly try a return to a "golden mile" of Thailand people and things
Tho is how I feel too most importantly about TIME.
I am so glad that I've discovered this documentary, all the memories came flocking back into the mind, I had my precious share of experience with this place, it was indeed the only place that could provide the Thailand experience in this little country that we live in. Beautiful thai culture and delicious Thai cuisines. I still remember when I was serving my national service, during one BMT book out, my camp mates organized a gathering here, we had Thai food for dinner and had drinks at one of the Thai clubs (It was also my first time ever going to a club!) in a blink of an eye, that was already 10 over years ago, how time flies. Ever since, from time to time, I still go back for Thai food and Mookata etc, the greatest impact that this has caused, it's actually to the Thai community that is residing here, sincerely hope that they will be able to find a new place to rebuild the 'Little Thailand' once again.
This is another level of messed up, to take away a community just like that. Bad move. I have absolutely no reason to go there except for taking coach buses to Malaysia, but I love the architecture. The indoor hallway/balcony of the residences and office is beautiful. I’m sorry for the loss, i hope the community can find a new place even if it’s not the same.
Y’all upset for what? Most of y’all likely arent even regulars there or even been there 😂 It’s literally enbloc, they voted to sell & will be compensated greatly. Most of the shops are relocating too, not like they’re forced to close. Also, the new developers will have to maintain the structure & look of the building, it will be conserved. Singapore’s a tiny dot, got to compromise here & there bro
@@Timholle right? plus have they even seen the toilets and the common areas? its so dirty and not to mention the musty mouldy smells.
What a whiner lol.
This is such a real shame. They destroyed the community and lively hood 🥺
In Singapore it is always soul vs will.
The more down to earth people in it want to preserve the soul in Singapore but the powerful ones choose will instead.
The will to remain at the leading spot regardless of everything else.
The last time I was there, the thai woman of the store greet me in Thai language, it feel like in Thailand.
Conserved building supposedly to "retain their inherent spirit and original ambience" and ironically, the exodus of people did the opposite of that.
Never been there but this documentary brings tears to my eyes.
A fascinating glimpse into a beautiful historical site and center of culture. Quality viewing. Thank you from the USA CNA insider. 🔜🇺🇲👊
I remember back in the day where I would go to golden mile with my family member when I'm visiting them in Singapore, or after a job interview. I remember the unique scent , people of different culture all come together in one place to have a meal. Now it will only be a memory.
I’m Thai, my ancestors were Hokkian Peranakans from Singapore, sent to Bangkok to establish a shipping branch in Thailand about 150 years ago. I’ve been to Singapore but never knew about Golden Mile until the news about the moving of the building’s Bhrama statue came on my feed.
Singapore thrives on the progress and prosperity, which makes the work of those who fight to preserve historic legacies more difficult. However, as proven through generations of people, and countless communities, the soul of a community does no rest within brick and mortar, but with the people who build it. Singapore is resilient, and so are her people and communities.
No place like golden mile in SG. Food,people,atmossphere. ❤🙏
Thank you GM for all the great memories there
The Singapore model is such…it will always need to prioritise modernisation and advancement over tradition more so if the tradition or culture has low / no economic value to it’s said progress. In this case the thai economy grew and advanced in the 90s and therefore the cheapest cohort of construction workers we could buy moved on from the thais to the Bangladeshis. And golden mile complex therefore became obsolete to requirements. Tomorrow if Bangladesh progresses and it’s people have better education and are up skilled (and stop coming to sg) then similarly parts of Little India may go. This cycle carries on and on in many different aspects of the nations growth story. In singapore nothing Is permanent, nothing is passed down. Hdb flats are capped at 99 years. Large swathes of the population will never hear the words “ great grandpa bought this house…” And the price of this constant renewing cycle is that community / nation building is exactly that… forever in a state of building because it participants are transient…they come…they go…cycle in…cycle out. And at a subconscious level the population keeps chasing because very few things we deem worthy to hold on to today… it’s always TOMORROW that has the brighter day. A form of mental and societal disease that is constantly hyper focused on the future; samsara (in Buddhism). A foreign friend of mine once asked me what Singapore was about and what makes us tick as a nation. I said: “tommorow’s money”. If it makes money we will take any position, if its for money we will destroy lasting tradition. For us, tomorrow’s money is worth more than today’s treasure.
And all of this is no one’s fault. It’s the nature of the beast - our beast that is this tiny island with little else to offer other than the progress, modernity and rule of law that larger countries and corporations want to connect themselves with. It’s just the way it is.
Missing you, my childhood memories, will find out where have you moved when next visit in Singapore , very emotional , thanks for showing the history of golden miles.
Another part of our great moment that walk into history books 😢
Im very sadden by the demolition of a whole gathering place of a community and landmark 😢
It’s not a demolition 💀 the new developers will have to maintain the structure & look of the building, it will be conserved. The complex’s literally enbloc, they voted to sell & will be compensated greatly. Most of the shops are relocating too, not like they’re forced to close. Singapore’s a tiny dot, got to compromise here & there bro. Anyway, y’all upset for what? Most of y’all likely arent even regulars there or even been there 😂
It's a private sale. What can the gov do but mandate to preserve it physically. I don't see the government preventing a private sale. Or using public money to buy it.
It was enbloc, genius.
Farewell Golden Mile, farewell to many bus rides home. To me and my friend, it will always be the place we look forward as it's the gateway back home.
Soon singapore will have no more history to remember in the future. How you want the new generation learn? Why not reduce the size of those bungalow housing. Since 1 house takes up such a huge space…
Singapore should observe what Australia is doing with reagards to preserving importantant historical landmarks with local, state, and national heratige preservation laws.
No landmark is safe in Singapore, not even remains of the dead
so saddened that i feel like crying. golden mile complex is irreplaceable. Can sg stop demolishing all these cultural sites?
That was my most fav Thai resturant, Beer Thai. I am so sad that everything is not going to be the same again. :(
I am Thai. I live in Singapore 4 years already. Goldenmile can full fill me like a my 2nd hometown when i feel homesick especially Covid period. I went to there for shopping and eating. I also wonder i can find something special which is rarely can find in the oversea here such as fermented crab (Num Poo), pickles bamboo (Nor mai dong), afteryou bread, etc. It’s very sad to here that all shop must move to another area. It can be understandable. Goldenmile is too old building and the plaza is quite dirty. Hopefully, there will be another place become 2nd Goldenmile in the future. ❤
The Thai lady who speak Penang accent Hokkien😂
teochew..
What a shame! It’s such a beautiful place. It would have been considered a cultural heritage in europe and nobody would dare to touch it.
I think the building is old,however i understand the love and attachment to the place. I do hope there will be another thai place for a replacement.
Cos chinese/malay/indians have our own place to gp for our traditional items and feel belong.
Sad really.
I love this complex since I had been to Singapore last year. Now I am back to my country but i regret about the complex that Govt. of Singapore has closed the complex. There were few clubs to open at night and good number of few thai girls were there to whom i can make friendship with.
Wow my favourite BeerThai!
Golden Mile Complex is like the old Jalan Pudu in Kuala Lumpur, some community has its own uniqueness. You can see the soul of the people who worked and have livelihood there, reaped totally.
Man i m going to miss my somtum and basil leave mince pork with rice + Fried Egg
Sometimes going to attractions becoming boring.. This kind of landmark should be taken care of......
We local Singapore citizens have already lost our own country already to the Foreigners and the current government. When LKY was around, all was peaceful and happy now. All hell are going loose. What is in losing some landmarks it will not concern the Government in any way. As usual we locals will be forced to accept without any freedom of speech or opinions... Singapore is slowly becoming the next North Korea government... I hope people will wake up in the next 2025 General Election
2:38 Aye... Nikon FM2. My old time favorite.
I believe,,,, besides the hard decisions,,,, it will always create something more positive behind,,,, I remember when I eat at that restaurant when the first time visited Singapore,,,I was so happy because I felt like in Thailand,,, very joyful moments with friends and the staff was so nice ❤
Something bigger and better will always waiting ahead 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘 I can’t wait to visit the new little Thailand in Singapore 🇸🇬 ,,,, salam 💕
Usually during midninght while waiting for the Coach Bus to Malaysia,will heard the Thai Disco Music and uncles with bermudas bring those hostess out.
Another place to miss would be Tanjong Katong Complex.
Everyone have to move out by endJune 23.
How irony… the Thai women speaks in native Singaporean Hokkien while native Singaporeans spoke in Mandarin and English.
beautiful teochew accent
I am going to miss this place. I always go there to buy thai snacks and eat thai food. Going to miss the smells. I been visiting that place since 22 years ago
In a next decade Singapore is gonna be ION everywhere. First class money making shopping malls and residents. Such places should be protected but instead now it’s sold for huge amount of money.
❤️😻น้องไอซ์น่ารักคะ!❤😻
Very sad to hear - my wife (thai) and I spent loads of time there when we lived in Singapore. It was our go to place for the thai essentials and was always meeting place with other thai friends
why not tear the chinatown complex down first, which is truly a eyesore? I only had the pleasure to visit Golden Mile Complex once before it closed but the vibe there was so much better and nowadays quite rare to find in developmentalist Singapore. Truly a shame but what can you do…
Lucky Plaza shoud be the next hahaha,
And Far East Plaza.
Why? Thai girls and Pinay girls are gorgeous 🔥
Very sad. I visited this place when I went to Singapore and enjoyed the Thai culture. Thought it was unique as nothing else like it in Singapore.
It is really sad to see this no longer exist but move into legacy. The younger generation like me who loves thai food only know this exist till this documents is out. It is such a pity i don't even have a chance to experience it
a real pity honestly, i used to go there very often as a kid to eat the food there. and something about their fruits taste really good
Golden mile complex looks somewhat like a cruise liner...
Y’all upset for what? Most of y’all likely arent even regulars there or even been there 😂 It’s literally enbloc, they voted to sell & will be compensated greatly. Most of the shops are relocating too, not like they’re forced to close. Also, the new developers will have to maintain the structure & look of the building, it will be conserved. Singapore’s a tiny dot, got to compromise here & there bro
That’s why any Singaporeans whom has left & came back Spore will always mentioned why Spore changes so much, sad but true 😢
I've never been, it made me sad I never will, and cry because all those memories, laughter, people, shops, energy etc nothing will be the same.. It would still make so much money now if they left it alone with the new age of social media, tiktok and travel and food bloggers. The lady who battled cancer too but stayed at golden mile to be around people to heal.. Whew I cried again. What will happen to all the people living above there? Are they thrown out?
The community scattered and lost. So sad.
Where are they relocated to or they are just closed down??
The female is from thai but she speaks hokkien dialect, very much sounding like a taiwanese
I am so so sad even I am not Thai but my family and I always goes there for Thai food and supermarket. So so sad that is gone.
Honestly....I feel SG had lost its soul......it all Abt $$$ .....$$$ is the king in this country.....what landmark...what icon ....is not impt......$$$ come first......no offend.....jt my honest opinion 🤭😲😂
Let me guess what's replacing it: 'luxury condos'.
Thailand 🇹🇭
What language was the lady with purple hair speaking? It's not central Thai or Isaan dialect as far as I can tell. A Southern Thai language/dialect? Or was she speaking Chinese with a Thai accent?
A Chinese dialect, Hokkien
@@jackmilk6944 thanks
There is still goldenmile tower to go to although not so much people and fun but the thai food is still good
Sad but not surprised because Singapore does a bad job of preserving landmarks IMO.
Loss of soul 😢
So sad to see Singapore lose another part of its soul and fast! Just way too many divisive decision makers leading the country into becoming an empty shell of what it used to be...
I hope our government can make a land for other communities
Like Thai shop , Vietnamese shop
Etc
Modern vs tradition & history...
พูดแต้จิ๋วเก่งมากเลย
Golden mile is the people
Where to buy tomyam paste?
Thanks to the foresight of the govt... All of our landmarks vanished...THANK YOU PAP!!!
I will miss the days at room0416
As a Singaporean Male.... I have so many fond memories of this place. Sad to see this place go............
😢😢😢
Interesting topic, but I find it weird that CNA decided to interview Thai shop owners in the Chinese language.
Singapore have everything 😂
Indonesia Jawa and Bugis
Malay of course 😅
Tamil Bangla
Chinese peranakan
And Now Little Thailand 😂
This woman is speaking teochew?
I saw Thailand on the title I clicked.
That is a historic landmark though WHY? 😢
cna insider put 'thanos' dust vfx during countdown
How can they do this to such a popular and renowned landmark… isnt it a bad choice to close businesses which means less money for the economy…
แล้วจะย้ายไปไหยเอ่ย?
Sad. Nothing is permanent. Either you all team up n make another spot your location. Never been there, but we all ourselves do have good memories of places we do go. So we know how sad it is when they decide to close it.
1:57: ooh "sa yang loh" is the same as "sayang" in filipino = its a pity, whereas malays somehow say 'sayang' is their beloved. is that hokkien or thai she's speaking? i know hokkien (minnan-ue) highly influenced philippine languages under the spanish and english influence, but if it was thai, i'd be quite surprised,
It's the Chinese dialect teo chiew/Chui chow
Closed mile now