Pondok Kalompang Gubuk

Pondok Kalompang Gubuk was a pre-war house situated at 35, Upper Weld Road, Singapore. It was the first home for many Boyanese who originated from Kalompang Gubuk village in Bawean. This pondok was able to house up to about 20 families at a time.

The main entrance of Pondok Kalompang Gubuk -in 1980s

Before the 1970s, there were many visitors from Bawean making social visit to Singapore. Those from Kalompang Gubuk village came to this pondok for accommodations. They came to visit their relatives living in many parts of Singapore. Some were looking for job opportunities. There were also many Boyanese sailors who stayed for a day or two at this pondok before sailing off to other destinations. These seamen normally would bring news to the residents about their relatives living in Kalompang Gubuk village. They also acted as "middleman" doing the job of a postman, transporting gifts parcels and letters from Bawean to Singapore and vice-versa.
 

 The main entrance of Pondok Kalompang Gubuk -in the late 1950s.

Gradually, the number of visitors from Bawean decreases through time. By the time in 1990s, none was seen around. Today, Pondok Kalompang Gubuk is no longer in existence, just like many other pondok that ever existed in Singapore. My maternal aunt and her family was the last to move out from it. They left the Pondok in the late 1990s before the premises along the whole stretch of Upper Weld Road were taken over by URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore) for the re-development of Jalan Besar area.

My Maternal Grandparents

Life in a distant land away from the village atmosphere of Bawean was not easy for my maternal grandparents. Together they faced the roller coaster of life against all odds during the British Colony in the Malay Peninsula. They also experienced the terror of the Japanese occupation in Malaya, witnessed Malaysia's independence, the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, the racial riot in 1964 and finally Singapore's independence on 9th Aug 1965.

 

My maternal grandmother was doing her marketing at the old Tekka market of the 70s. Her image was captured by a photographer for the 'Singapore this Week' magazine.

 

Even though my maternal grandparents' marriage was arranged, they had a wonderful life together. According to my grandmother, my grandfather was a responsible husband and a loving father. He was a pious man who disciplined his children well. On the other hand, according to my grandfather, my grandmother was a kind and patience mother. It was a happy marriage and they were blessed with eight children. The oldest child was born in Ipoh, the second, third, fourth and fifth in Johor Bahru while the last three were born in Singapore.

  My maternal Grandfather, Hj.Siddik bin Ismail, also known as Hj. Ali - in his sixties.

In Singapore, my grandparents lived in Pondok Kalompang Gubuk at 35 Upper Weld Road. My maternal grandfather was well respected for his honesty, trustworthiness, kindness, sincerity, and bravery. He had a remarkable outstanding personality and was born a leader. Due to these qualities in him, he was elected by the residents in Kalompang Gubuk to be the Pak Lurah, the Head of the Pondok.

 

My Grandmother, Hjh Ramlah Binte Morsidi -a young grandmother.

 

My maternal grandparents grew old together gracefully. My grandfather passed away on 5th November 1981 at the age of 75, while my grandmother passed away on 1st December 1986 at 70 years old. They never returned to Bawean after they first left the island.

My Roots

Photo taken in the early 1960s at Bawean.
Second from left was my maternal grandmother's youngest brother.

The Boyanese or Baweanese are virtually Muslims. Hence, their customs and traditions are those influence by Islam. It was the culture of the Bawean people to get married at a very young age. This was still prevailing in the 1950s.

Photo taken in the early 1960s at Bawean.
The old woman was my paternal grandfather's older sister.

According to Islam, once a girl experienced menses, she had attained the age of puberty. Thus, regardless of her age, she is considered a young lady ready to be married off by her parents. Such custom was prevailing in Bawean during my maternal grandmother's childhood. During 1930s, at a tender age of ten, she was married off by her parents to my grandfather who was then ten years her senior.

Photo taken in 1960s at Singapore Harbour.
My maternal grandparents were on board this vessel bound to Makkah.

After marriage, my grandparents lived in their own home in Bawean. However due to misunderstanding on the distributions of my great-grandparents' estate after their death, my grandfather decided to leave his homeland for good. He was then about twenty-five years old while my grandmother was only fifteen.

Photo taken in 1960s at Sea. 
My maternal grandparents were on board a vessel heading Makkah to perform Haj.

My grandparents built a new life in the Malay Peninsula. They first settled at Ipoh in the State of Perak, joining the extended families of my grandmother. They lived there for several years. My oldest uncle was born in Ipoh. Back then, my grandfather was working as a personal driver to a British family. When his employer shifted to Johor Bahru, my grandparents moved there too. In Johore, my grandmother gave birth to four more children. Then in the early 1950s, few years after the world war two, my grandfather decided to work in Singapore. The whole family migrated to Singapore after living in Johor Bahru for about ten years. My grandparents had three more children in Singapore.

My Heritage

Baby Endah

I was born in Singapore in December 1962 to a Boyanese (Baweanese) family. Hence, I am a Singaporean by nationality and a Boyanese by race. My father was born in Bawean, an island situated in Java Sea. In 1942, he and his two older sisters were brought to Singapore by their parents. He was then about two years old.

My father (on the right) at 15 years old

On the other hand, my mother, a Boyanese descent like me, was born in Johor Bahru on 29th July 1943. Her family migrated to Singapore in the early 1950s when she was about eight years old. Her ancestors were among the early Boyanese settlers at Sungai Rokam in Ipoh, Perak.

My mother in her teens

During the British Colonial days, my parents lived in Pondok Kalompang Gubuk at 35 Upper Weld Road. They grew up in the same vicinity and were friends during childhood. Their ancestors were from the same village (Kalompang Gubuk) in Bawean.

My beloved parents

My parents were teenagers when they got married. They had a wonderful marriage life and were blessed with six children. I was born second. In my eyes, their marriage was heavenly sent and they were meant for each other.

My siblings and I (second) - we were once orphans

My childhood was beautiful unlike my younger siblings. They were less fortunate than me. The happiness enjoyed by my family back then, did not last long. My father gone to soon at the age of forty-two. In split seconds my teenage life became a nightmare. Suddenly, I became an orphan and the journey to my adulthood was a scary, bumpy ride.

My mum as a young widow doing tailoring work to earn some income

My father passed away on 6th February 1982 in Jakarta. Till this day, my mother is still a widow and has no intention to find another to replace him. My Bapak was her only true love.