My food haven – Block 85 Fengshan Food Centre

Quiet in the day, active at night,
Being crowded on weekends is always a common sight.
Even though it is non-air conditioned,
And cockroaches run around occasionally like nobody’s business,
People from all walks of life always gather here,
To chat over a drink or just have a meal.


Smoke, chatters and laughter fill the air.
It can be hard to get a seat, with practically none to spare.
Most prefer to sit outside in the open,
While others sit inside, hoping to get their food faster, which is seldom.
Waiting for half an hour for my food is common,
Especially for those popular stalls, long queues are pretty normal.


Hot BBQ chicken wings always keep me company,
While I wait hungrily for the delicious minced pork mee.
A seafood lover, I’ll definitely not miss the award-winning stingray.
Not forgetting the mouth-watering satay,
Plus that simply irresistible fried oyster omelette.
To end off, an ice kachang with brown sugar if it’s not too late.


A cup of sugarcane juice is needed at times to quench my thirst.
Ordering so much food yet my wallet still doesn’t burst.
Memories often fail the stall helpers as they look around helplessly,
Forgetting customers’ table numbers and wondering around with the food aimlessly.
And when the poor uncle or auntie makes the usual round of selling tissue,
Helping them by buying a few packets is never an issue.


This popular makan place holds a special place in my heart.
This is where I grew up, where every little thing played a part.
Where I learnt to eat spicy food and supper was a must every night.
Policemen could be seen frequently, no, it isn’t because of any fight.
The Bedok Police Headquarter is located just next to it.
With wonderful smell of the food floating pass them, who can resist?


Those were the days when I would hang out with my neighbors till wee hours.
Bonding and making new friends, all was sweet and not at all sour.
Picking up a cooking tip or two from the hokkien mee uncle,
Or simply helping the cleaning auntie wiped a table till it sparkled.
A place where sweet memories of my childhood could be relieved.
Where delicious food and friendly people can coexist, I truly believe.


Even though I’ve moved house to Pasir Ris,
An occasional meal at Block 85 Fengshan Food Centre is not to be missed.
It’s a food paradise for everyone, from tourists to families.
Time flies pass quickly as I chat and eat happily.
Having a wonderful time under the beautiful night sky,
This is where I feel right at home; this is always a part of my life.

Warning: Spooky story ahead...written by me!

No turning back

His footsteps sounded like thunder on such a quiet, cool night. Beads of sweat rolled down profusely and he wiped them away clumsily, cursing under his breath as he nearly tripped over a step. At that moment, the horrible image flashed in front of him and he felt that he was back at that scene once again, arriving just in time to see her jump out of their kitchen window and then lie in a pool of blood at the bottom of the flat. Her beautiful long hair, usually tied behind neatly in a ponytail, looked so messy and dirty strewn across her motionless body.

He could not move at all, as if his feet were suddenly made of rock. It was like witnessing a horrible incident unfolded slowly in front of him and all he could do was to watch helplessly. After a while, someone called out his name and tapped him on the shoulder. This made him snap out of his trance and he ran in the opposite direction instead, away from the horrible scene, away from his dead fiancée.

He remained motionless on the path, staring at the stupid rock which he had tripped over while he was recalling the incident and that had brought him back to reality. He did not feel any pain; instead, all the feelings he had for her flooded him suddenly and he started to sob like a child who had lost his favorite toy. He was too overwhelmed with sorrow to notice a presence approaching slowly from behind until he smelt something familiar. All of a sudden, he realized that his surroundings were eerily quiet with no living soul around except himself. Knowing that there was no escape for him, he slowly turned around to face her.

Surprisingly, she looked beautiful, just the way it was when he first saw her at a friend’s party. She was smiling at him, gesturing for him to come towards her like what she always did whenever she had planned a bedroom surprise for him. Mesmerized by her beautiful smile and the sweet scent she was wearing, which was his favorite, he stood up and started to walk towards her when he saw that she was actually floating in mid-air. He immediately moved back in fear, realizing that she was now a ghost and tried to increase the distance between them as she started to advance towards him.

Her pleading eyes made him weaker every passing moment and it did not helped that she called out his name using that sweet voice which he fell in love with. He could not take it anymore and kneeled down in front of her. She was shocked by the sudden action and stopped in her tracks. “Let me go. I know I’ve done you wrong. Please forgive me.” he pleaded in a soft voice, not daring to look into the eyes of the woman whom he had betrayed for a short fling with her best friend.

She started to cry and he realized how foolish he was to give up such a beautiful relationship for some lust which did not last even for a week. He felt so ashamed of himself when the news had reached her even before he could beg for her forgiveness and prevent this mishap from happening. Now, he had lost his only true love because of a stupid mistake and he would have to live in regret for the rest of his life, provided that she could spare him.

“It’s not only me whom you betray; there’s our child too.” It was only when he heard her whisper this then he lifted his head and looked at her in shock as she sadly stroked her flat belly. “I was going to tell you but then...” she paused. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed and her face was contorted with so much hatred that he started to shiver and wet his pants. “You! You cheated on me and caused my death. Our child died because of you! You shall perish with us!” she spat and advanced towards him. He tried to stand up and run away but his legs had become wobbly so all he could do was to watch and scream in fear as she moved nearer and nearer towards him…

Since that night, nobody had ever seen him again and some rumored that he was the cause of his fiancée’s death and had run away with his newfound lover. Others thought that he felt guilty and thus, went into hiding. However, nobody knew the real reason, like how nobody could explain the reason why they could hear a baby’s cries and a man weeping sorrowfully in the couple’s empty flat every night.