You’ve Got Less Than 1 Year Before This Place in Singapore Becomes No More
And I’m referring to the Sungei Road Thieves (Flea) Market. Sungei means river and the road was given this name as it runs along the banks of the Rochor River. Back in the ‘30s, the Market was where people used to go to buy stolen goods. Fret not, the items sold today are all legitimate.
It was 1.30pm when I went on a Thursday. Just a quick glance and I gathered that the sellers are mostly 60 and up. There they lay out their barang barangs (items), under the sweltering sun. It is not surprising that most of them have really dark skin. Even the huge umbrellas that provide some shade cannot relieve the aunties and uncles of the intense heat.
Among the vintage items are clothes, figurines, stamps, vinyl tapes, old coins, etc. I came across the Ghostbusters (1884)’s vinyl tape which was offered to me for just $1! The lady vendor, donning a hat like most others, said she comes to set up her stall at 12.30pm every day, and leaves at 7pm. Rain or shine, they will brave it all for hours just to get an income. Although peddlers don’t have to pay rental, they are only allowed to sell secondhand goods. Some of the items are given to them, some they buy while others, they pick up.
One of the stalls played a Cantonese song my grandmother used to listen, making me all fuzzy inside. A few stalls down, there was this old man who gingerly arranged his timepieces, making sure they look neat and presentable.
Patrons are mainly the older folks and foreign workers checking to see what good deals they can snag. It seems like the younger generation here doesn’t really appreciate the pieces on sale here, sadly.
Soon, this place will be no more as it will have to make way for the Sungei Road MRT station. Go while you still can. Go feel the nostalgia. Go talk to our pioneers. You might well find some treasure here too — you’ll never know!
How to get there:
Sungei Road Thieves (Flea) Market
Address: Larut Road
Opening hours: Daily, 1pm — 7pm
Nearest MRT: Bugis MRT (8min, via Victoria Street and Arab Street)
