In the old days, it was well-known as the busy “Barber Street” filled with street barbers, yet the narrow back alley off Aliwal Street today is nothing but a quiet and forgotten lane unnoticed by most passers-by having their lunch at the Jalan Sultan vicinity.
Unfortunately, street barbers aren't the first and last trades that are slowly vanishing in Singapore. As we march towards commercialism, we lose many of the finest traditional crafts and trades.
Amongst the list includes traditional street cobblers, fortune-teller, ice-ball vendors, kachang puteh sellers, and street opera performers.
It is disheartening to know that such local sunset industries will eventually and inevitably vanish. On the bright side, they will still leave indelible fond memories of the past Singapore.
