Sri Sujana Nasi Lemak

Sri Sujana Nasi Lemak looks just like all the other Nasi Lemak stalls in the hawker centre. True enough, there is fierce competition amongst the numerous Nasi Lemak stalls there. However, what is pleasantly different about this shop is the passion the stall’s owner cum cook possesses. It is indeed encouraging to hear that he likes his job, especially since many people usually work solely to meet their financial needs. We sincerely hope that this shop will continue to serve its customers in the years to come. What makes this shop so wonderful is the rarity of having a cook who takes on his job with such pride.

Johor Bahru Pau/Tim Sum

The first thing that attracted our attention was the old signboard with both English and Chinese versions of the shop name, reminding us of a typical traditional Pau shop. Through the years, quite a few things have changed, such as the price of the Pau, the location and appearance of the shop. Despite the many changes, the essence of the shop still remains, the traditional making of the Pau, with minimum use of machinery. The unique method used to hand make the paus can be clearly seen through the slightly differing shapes and sizes of each Pau. Just a bite deserves one the experience of a sweet volcanic eruption accompanied with the heavenly overflow of tasty red bean paste. The love and effort put into the handmade Pau is evident.

Restoran Garunda

Restoran Garuda seems to have been around for a while. It had a simple design, typical of our impression of a traditional Malay food stall. Hence, all of us were surprised to find out that it is actually a new shop opened recently. According to one of the workers here, business is poor due to the lack of a Halal certificate, causing Muslim customers to be hesitant to patronize the shop. Can a Halal certificate alone improve business for Garunda? Nevertheless, this tells us that knowing the requirements and needs of customers are essential in starting up a popular business. Also, this shop’s potential customers could have been attracted to the relatively less costly and wide variety of food in the Changi Village Hawker Centre.

Thiam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice

With its bright lights, this shop evokes a sense of newness. The young workers there need to understand the significance of conserving the culture in Changi Village. The pleasant variety of stalls set up in the hawker centre can surely be made more attractive to customers with enthusiastic staff! Sometimes, we too lose sight of our initial goals, with the stake level of the assignments affecting the quality of our work. Perhaps we can harness the passion in the younger generation without letting the reward system influence us. We believe that all good businesses stem from shop owners’ strong sense of attachment to their shop, something which we delightfully observed.

Crepes and Puffs

Crepes and Puffs gives a relaxed and delightful ambience, with soothing yellowish lighting. It is a huge contrast with the noisy chatter of the shop owners of the older shops. It is one of the few infant businesses in Changi Village. Customers of the modern Crepes and Puffs are made up mostly of people below 40 years of age, as compared to traditional shops such as the Pau / Tim Sum shop. Middle-aged people seem to be usual customers of newer shops, while those who patronise the older shops tend to be older. Indeed, people from different age groups can have different preferences, and thus it is necessary to strike a balance between the number of old and new shops to cater to the different age groups. Though diversity is encouraged, we hope that Changi Village can allocate the shops wisely to suit the likes of the different generations.

Zancan Italian Jewellery

Zancan Italian Jewellery is one of the modern shops amongst the older shops in Changi Village. It looks like a luxury shop from a shopping mall and seems out of place in Changi Village, where people commonly regard as a secluded area of Singapore, especially with the plasma TV at the front of the shop and its classy, brightly lit interior. With modern shops here, our idea of Changi Village is slowly changing, to perceive it from a modern point of view. This shop is definitely one of the shops youngsters would like to frequent, but Changi Village cannot replace the older shops with the new just to attract customers, since this can threaten the preservation of its rich tradition. If snippets of the past are displayed, they can help bring back the sense of peace and enjoyment Changi Village manifests, don't you think?

Conclusion

Changi Village has always been well-known for being a tranquil place, where people have the luxury of enjoying a slower pace of life, but few know that part of it still remains alive and very much intense—its business aspect. Many are unwilling to take time off their busy schedules to explore this unique place located at the extreme east part of Singapore, and have few chances to appreciate the beauty of Changi Village’s authentic businesses.

Neil Gaiman once said, "It's a given that we exist in a world where we have to live in continuity every day". Ironically, the only thing constant is change. Regardless of how drastic the changes are, a part of the past is definitely retained. Something will always continue over time. To quote Aristotle, "Change in all things is sweet”. We firmly believe Changi Village will continue to blossom and Singaporeans will inherit the sweet fragrance of this vibrant village.