| 1.Joe Nathan |
Singapore |
I used to live in Normanton Park, across the AYE from Colbar so I used to spend many lazy afternoons there, reading, drinking copious amounts of their extra sweet Ice Lemon Tea, and occasionally digging into a huge mixed grill.Best Memory: When Mr Lim finally smiled!! |
| 2.Jenny Tan |
Singapore |
The atmosphere is peaceful! |
| 3.Wendy Ogg |
Singapore |
We go there every week. It is unique and needs to be preserved. |
| 4.Christina Joy |
Singapore |
Preserve nature |
| 5.Rubina Usman |
Singapore |
I would request LTA to relook at their decision. |
| 6.Adrian Kwong |
Singapore |
A quiet slice of a pleasant past. home-cooked food (or its just like what i get at home!, and many pleasant afternoons there sharing food and sweet tea with good friends. |
| 7.Gurmit Singh Kullar |
Singapore |
It is impossible to find a similar place like the Portsdown Road area in Singapore. Words like 'idyllic', 'vibrant', 'bohemia' and 'unique' have been used in articles in the Straits Times to describe the Portsdown area. Unlike in condominium ads, these adjectives signify a special identity that has developed through decades of gentle interaction between Portsdown residents and their environment. Do these descriptions and sentiments not hold meaning for the officials who have decided to uproot lives and legacy for the sake of a link to an expressway? Could the link not be underground? Is preservation a priority when the authorities draw up their plans? Is the National Heritage Board not concerned? Should the Nature Society or NParks be asked for their input in cases like these? Don't the MPs for the area feel the need to stand up and defend this one-of-a-kind district from obliteration? These questions reflect my concern and perhaps, the lack of concern, by the authorities. Let's not turn our island into a mass of concrete and metal devoid of places like the Portsdown Estate. Let's not in 10 years, reminiscence of the greenery, fauna and the Colbar, and feel the pangs of regret. It is sad if we let the Portsdown area go. We are sacrificing so much for a road? I am sure many people feel the same way too, but most of them are also doubt the area can be saved if they voiced their opinions. |
| 8.Cathy Johnson |
US |
I think something of this historic area shoudl be saved, and Colbar has such a rich history that it's a prime candidate. There aren't many irreplacable places like this left... |
| 9.Jade Ng |
Singapore |
I had thought that my childhood memories of days running in the open green space, climbing trees, getting all muddy and sweaty but happily coming back to the table to sip my glass of ice-cold Sarsi while my dad relaxes with his glasses of beer, chatting with his friends were just memories that I will pass on to my kid till I was brought to this unspoilt place in Portsdown, called the ""Colbar"" some thiry years later. Everything about it reminds me of the sweet days of growing up with nature. If Colbar goes, so will history - not just part of Singapore but also part of many Singaporeans like me. Change is good but is change always necessary for all to be good? Leave Colbar alone - why change something that is good for what is assumed to be better? It is not about getting drunk with beer till the wee hours of the morning, nor about the good food that many Singaporeans are known to be ever looking out for. It is all about the people who have lived with Colbar and whose lives have been touched. |
| 10.Johann Annuar |
Singapore |
It's an institution, man... |
| 11."You Wey" Lim |
Singapore |
I have not been there but I would love to visit it soon (if it's still around). i hope the authorities can be more creative in their plans for development to try to avoid tearing down historical infrastructures/nature as much as possible. Development in Singapore has been happening so rapidly and most of the time destructively that every 2 years, u will notice a once familiar part of Singapore ""vanish"". I think you can hardly find any more historical sites that's more than 50 years old. |
| 12.Louis Harris |
Singapore |
We love the Colbar and the peaceful atmosphere -- please can you find another way to build the road? |
| 13.Simon McNamara |
Australia |
Too many to recollect. Did I mean visits? |
| 14.Huw Hamer-Powell |
Singapore |
I am a resident of Portsdown Road and I DO beleive that the whole world (Singapore especially) has lost it's head!Save the whole area I say! The Colbar IS special and I feel that it is worth saving..SAVE THE COLBAR!!! |
| 15.Siew Boi" Kwah |
Singapore |
I had only been there once by chance for a late afternoon dinner. Seriously, I don't really think much after that visit probably 3 years ago.. However, seeing that such an unique place is going to be tear down just becase of govenment development. I can't bear it. Going thru the photos in the web, I can point out which extact table and chair that once used to sit 3 yrs ago... Its just a wonderful memory and place to remember. |
| 16.Michael Cheng |
Singapore |
Haven't been there yet. But by all accounts, it's a cool place. Good to preserve the atmosphere of the place for future generations. |
| 17.Evan Jones |
India? |
The Colbar is a last remaining icon of an old Singapore. |
| 18.Adeline Quah |
Singapore |
It's one of the rare places of its sort left in Singapore and definitely irreplaceable. |
| 19.Carmen Tan |
Singapore |
It's the little good things that count! Preserve an important bit of Singapore - keep Colbar and her neighbours. |
| 20.Pradeep Paul |
Singapore |
Lazy sundays, soaking in the sun, the sunday times and shandy. can't do it anywhere else on this island. |
| 21.Eddie Wong |
Singapore |
An institution in itself. Only place outside of the SCC where I will allow
myself to be abused by the staff. That speaks for itself. |
| 22.Nick Naker |
UK |
Can't the building simply be moved to a different location nearby, preserving the original facade / layout ? |
| 23.Arti Mulchand |
Singapore |
A place that has survived this long, even sans frills, deserves to live on. |
| 24.Ying Philip |
Singapore |
NA |
| 25.Nathaniel Dodd |
Singapore |
The Colbar shows an unexpected side to Singapore. It's not smart, modern and polished. Too many people outside Singapore have been told that our home is 'clinical'. The Colbar gives Singapore character and a link with the past. |
| 26.Ping Lee Ping |
Singapore |
Colbar is one of the few remaining places in Singapore with SOUL - a place that's left to be and exist for lovers of a way of simplicity being close to Nature, the trees and the birds. A place to breathe, relax, and enjoy the little bit of rustic space that is there. A place to be enjoyed over an original cup of Milo milkshake over stimulating conversation with a good friend or a couple of mates and laughter. |
| 27."Kong Hwee" Low |
Singapore |
Have not been there but the photographs definitely remind me of the laid back lifestyle that I went in search in other countries. |
| 28.Lesley Fellingham |
Singapore |
The Colbar has heaps of character and lots of history. S'pore should do all it can to retain such places. It would be a tragedy to see it go. I hope someone listens to reason! |
| 29.Jenny Ong |
Singapore |
It's a charming old place with character (and good food!), we will surely regret not keeping it. |
| Szetiong Soh |
Italy |
Another ubiquitous expressway for a wonderful and lushful locale? |
| 31."Tse Chueen" Chan |
Singapore |
Dear fellow Singaporeans,I am not a resident of Portsdown and do not patronise Colbar often. My first trip there was years ago, when that area hadn't yet become fashionable as Singapore's Little Bohemian Corner. And I was enchanted - and not just by its laid-back charms, which are considerable.I smiled at the stories told about that place, the fond memories many have of the place, and how, even now, it's not lost touched with life, but moved, so graciously, in step with the community it finds itself in. That is surely something precious in our cast-away society, where the old so quickly become obsolete and unloved.This place is loved. And I respect that.I hope that more of us do so, enough to keep it safe for more generations to weave their own stories about it. |
| 32.Beverly Chin |
Singapore |
One of the last of a dying breed of institutions which will be destroyed as we march ever forward. |
| 33.Trevor,Jones |
Australia |
I lived in Singapore for almost 12 years (6 of them just behind the Colbar on Whitchurch road) and some of the most intersting people I ever met I met at the Colbar. Give my regards to Mr and Mrs Lim and remind them it was my drinking habits that paid for the education of their two daughters. |
| 34.Hup Lee |
Singapore |
I always tell everyone I meet. Just go to Colbar.You can carry your table and chairs outside and sit under the stars. The place is old and the doors are wooden panellings. The last frontier. |
| 35.Sheela,Narayanan |
Singapore |
Have been there but since there are people out there who believe in it strongly enuff to want to preserve it, I am all for supporting u... |
| 36.Dave Ang |
Singapore |
Can we save it? i doubt. but it's not going to stop me from trying. |
| 37.Terry Johal |
Australia |
I have not personally been to Colbar, but many years ago a fav haunt of mine called Valli's. Many a night were spent drinking tehs and kopis while having pratas and murku. This place is now a road. A bitumen black slab marks the memories of many. The older I get, the more of the places where my memories were are forced to exist only as memories.Sometimes history has to be more than dates and names. |
| 38.Zaihan Mohd Yusof |
Singapore |
Ideal Low key hang out for bikers. Sad to see it go. |
| 39. Herbert Fernandez |
Singapore |
Let's not lose sight of history in our mad rush to modernise everything. |
| 40.Edmund Fong |
Singapore |
I have not been there personally but the nostalgic ambience can't help but capture my soul. How can we be expected to have a sense of identity if we have nothing to identify with. Not only should it be preserved, but preserved as it is .. not redeveloped like Chinatown/Maxwell mkt/Adam Rd / etc .. keep the architecture but losing all flavor. |
| 41.Tanya Fong |
Singapore |
Hup, an artist, introduced me to the place. have only been there twice, but the rustic, au naturel ambience of the place is a pocket which is rare, and now precious, in concrete jungle Singapore. Save Colbar. |
| 42. Gary Tan |
Singapore |
Been going there for past 5 years.Love the people and food. |
| 43.Mary Lee |
Singapore |
A piece of social history esp for a new country like S'pore is priceless. You can always relocate a road! LTA people are paid enough to "think out of the box" this once. |
| 44.Philip Date |
Singapore |
New Year's Day for a recovery fry-up. Tops. |
| 45.Lingam Ponnampalam |
Australia |
Bangers, mash and cold beer. Good stuff! What happened to plans for this little Bohemia? |
| 46.Lui Yock Siew |
Singapore |
I was introduced to the charms of Colbar, when a photographer brought my husband and I to take wedding photos. Sweating and panting our way through, Colbar left beautiful memories with it's laid back, old world charm, and simple good food. I've been back since to re-immerse myself in it's peaceful surroundings, and sincerely plea for it to be saved from an unjust ending. Thanks. |
| 47.Elaine Chua |
Singapore |
When does it stop? Moving on is taking away our good times and leaving them all just memories... |
| 48. Ch'ng Tuan Wee |
Singapore |
Colbar is one of the places in singapore i am most proud to take visitors to. It's hard to find another place as unpretentious, full of character, and feel like it has gone through quite some history of being well-loved and frequented without changing much through the years. |
| 49.Angela Seah |
Singapore |
Singapore needs a few more spots like this, if just for romanticism's sake alone. |
| 50.Smeg The Third |
Singapore |
Save the Colbar!Ha! i challenge you guys to move a scot thats chained to a Tsing Tao case of beer! |
| 51.Steven Lau |
Singapore |
A place with lots of traditions, laid back atmosphere for people to just get away from the hustle of working life, this bohemian location is the last remains of Singapore's yesteryears! Please preserve it, to let the future generations have a feel of what it's like then. |
| 52.Saif Dulaimi |
UK |
The colbar is a great place to go when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere that is Portsdown Road. |
| 53.Charmayne Yap |
Singapore |
Not been there but not one to vote for tearing down old places. We need to retain some of them to keep the character of a city. Otherwise Singaporeans will find no reason to stay in a place where they have no memories. |
| 54.Eva Choong |
Singapore |
One of the few 'natural' places left. It's comfortable, serves great food and has a warm, friendly atmosphere. |
| 55.Dinesh Naidu |
Singapore |
NA |
| 56.Yeoh Wee Teck |
Singapore |
All places with historical significance must be spared. |
| 57.Santosh Kumar |
Singapore |
Pulling the chairs to under the tree, downing Kilkinney, Hup and Rama regaling about Singapore life...Colbar eases my stress. |
| 58.Sid Galada |
India |
Been there once and its a great place... |
| 59.Desmond Ng |
Singapore |
Ok, so i've never been to colbar. but i believe such rustic enclaves should be preserved as an indication of our own heritage, which should not be lost to urbanisation. |
| 60.John Lim |
Singapore |
Nice peaceful place.... nowhere else in Singapore like it... it would be a waste to see it gone |
| 61.Jaclynn Gay |
Singapore |
My best memory of Colbar was sitting with my best friend, Eunice, just outside Colbar. We were having omelettes for lunch. Although the service was terrible, it somehow contributed to how odd yet charming the place is. We exceptionally love the peace and quiet while feasting our eyes on the lush greenery. Soon it started to rain. That's when i realise i was shivering in Singapore, outdoors! After the brief rain, the air was crisp and refreshing. Having the thought of taking the MRT later just seem so out of place in this little hideaway. We haven't met for months and so chatted for 2 hours almost non-stop, armed with cups of coffee and tea. It was delightful! What a shame to tear it down for a road. I regret not discovering this place earlier. Singaporeans need more breathing spaces like this one. |
| 62.Barbara Baird |
Australia |
The Colbar is a great place, and something unique in Singapore. What a shame that such individual places are being destroyed in order to cut the time people spend travelling on the roads by a few minutes. |
| 63.Ross Chalmers |
Australia |
I lived & worked in Singaopore for 5 years inthe 90's and have fond memories of Colbar- please dont demolish something unique about Singapore- as Joni Mitchell sang: they paved paradise and put up a parking lot!- dont let it happen again! |
| 64.Teo Ming Ping |
Singapore |
COLBAR is a special place to me as I held my post-ROM (Register of Marriage) party at Colbar on Mar 02. |
| 65.Allison Lim |
Singapore |
It's so quaint! let us keep a part of old singapore! |
| 66.Chua Chin Leong |
Singapore |
It's the informal atmosphere and the inviting serenity so rare in our urban jungle... |
| 67.Julian Morrow |
UK |
This is an authentic piece of Singapore history. If places like this are lost, Singapore risks becoming an anonymous ""American"" style city. Singapore should strive to preserve its own unique identity. |
| 68.Yvonne Phillips |
Singapore |
These are the places that have rich character and flavour...they offer more life than any road can. |
| 69.Ng Chee Yong |
Singapore |
It's one of the most beautiful places left on mainland Singapore.untouched and as pure as it gets. |
| 70.David Kemp |
Singapore |
Why build yet another road? I thought we were trying to discourage car use. Spend the money on public transport! |
| 71.Kevin Wong-Toi |
New Zealand |
Just being there ... and of course the Tip Top ice cream. |
| 72.Burn X |
Singapore |
As usual, the Singapore authorities just don't give a hoot about the peoples' feedback. Even if they do conserve the place, it'll probably end up like some cheap theme park.....just look at what they've done to Chinatown!!!!! Disgusting! |
| 73. James Low |
Singapore |
Never been there but I agree that it should be preserved.its got character and places like these are becoming extinct in singapore.so it is worth fighting for. |
| 74.Lee Chuen Ling |
Singapore |
Colbar has been my safe haven for the years that I had worked in Science Park Drive.... it's got this charm about it...surrounded by lush greenery, hummingbirds zipping about sucking nectar from flowering bushes, happy little stray dogs wandering without a care in the world...you carry your table to the great outdoors and prepare to space-out, sipping strawberry milkshake and sinalco, chomping on that yummy steak, chips and peas, and watching the kids play on the nearby playground or the specks of archers in the archery club that is already no longer there....it's like stepping into a time capsule and being transported back to the past...Mrs Lim, one of the owners, calls me the girl with the slitty eyes....she still greets me with a smile everytime I visit that place! It's really sad that we have to see this place go because we supposedly need to build ANOTHER highway to add to our concrete jungle....I must confess I haven't read the policy reasons for the building of the highway, but I thought we were supposed to cut down on the no. of cars on the road etc. and preserve as much of old Singapore which gives us the identity and character which so many parts of Singapore are slowly dying to modernisation...everywhere you turn, the hawker centres and foodcourts serve the same predictable food...in an aircon bubble...quaint places like these are irreplaceable...they inspire poets, writers, athletes, ang mos and Singaporeans like us who don't want to spend our Sundays at a shopping mall!" |
| 75.Aymara,Langley |
Singapore |
Where there is a will there is a way. We'll submit this petition in order that LTA will carefully re-consider the options. |
| 76.jacqiee phua |
Singapore |
i keep having to tell everyone abt colbar bcos its the best place alive. (in singapore anyway) so do me a favour and keep me busy. save colbar |
| 77.Sonia Deep |
Singapore |
its something u can never find anywhere. all the memories going down the drain.....can hardly find this anymore.... |
| 78.Mei-Ing,Cheok |
Singapore |
beers and friends. great times |
| 79.Colin Goh |
Singapore |
Colbar is not just a cafe, it's a living museum of sorts!" |
| 80.Mandy Koh |
Singapore |
Though i haven't been there yet but hope can go there some day. S'pore is seriously in lack of some quiet places for ppl unwind so hope some good old places can be left alone... |
