Postcards From My Grandmother (1/6)

Mono-Railway in Sentosa, Singapore

In 1983 my Grandmother (“Ma” as we affectionately called her) went on a trip to Europe.

Back then, this was kind of a big deal. Overseas travel was the preserve of wealthy Australians, those with family abroad, or perhaps retirees with a little extra cash, eager to see the world while they still could. Ma fell into the last category.

Over the course of 6 weeks, Ma sent me (aged 9) and my sister (aged 11) postcards from different locations on the trip. Naturally we were keen to hear about far-flung places we’d only ever seen on TV.

Sentosa Monorail

Ma was keen to get the ball rolling, sending her first postcard from Singapore. A relatively short hop, this island nation is just 8 hours from Brisbane.

Arguably the most boring of the 6 postcards she sent me, it features a photo of the newly-opened Sentosa Monorail. Or as the postcard calls it, a “mono-railway”.

At least the stamp is pretty.

Opened in 1982 on Sentosa Island, the monorail was 18 months old at the time. It features one of the first stations Fort Siloso. In the early 80s, these single track railways were celebrated as the future of travel, but it didn’t end so well.

Sentosa suffered a similar fate to many other monorails around the world. Due to rising maintenance costs, and complaints about the slow and uncomfortable ride, it closed in 2005. It was open just 23 years.

A second monorail in Singapore at the Jurong Bird Park opened in 1992 and lasted just 20 years. Singapore’s third monorail, the Sentosa Express, opened in 2007. It connects Sentosa Island to Singapore and still runs today. Hopefully it will be around long enough to outlast the first two.

The postcard

(I couldn’t find a Birthday card sorry)

Dear Matthew,

Fancy thinking Ma would forget your Birthday.

Had a good flight so far. Laid down most of the way, plenty of room, must hurry now.

Love to all

xxxxx “Ma”

The thing that strikes me about this postcard is how much bigger the world used to be. It was inconceivable back then that we would be video calling each other on devices stashed in our pockets during layovers. In 1983, you sent a postcard to tell your family that you were okay, and it wouldn’t reach its destination for a week or more.

Another interesting thing is the reference to having “plenty of room” on the plane. I can’t remember the last time I flew somewhere and felt that way.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this first instalment of the new series, let me know your thoughts in the comments and by voting in the poll below.

Cheers

Matt

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