# @onlewo on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DGP80ukSJC_
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/37644409-onlewo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/a256b19c4f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-19T09:23:29.000+00:00

## Caption

I first visited when I was a primary school boy. It was a special trip because our English teacher invited a few of her students to her home. She lived in one of these charming walk-ups.

The first thing that caught my eye was the curvy column that supported the flight of staircases leading from the ground floor to the top. It was something I had never seen before.

Years later, I was very fortunate to become a resident in this heritage neighborhood. Many good things happened during this period. One of them was finding a group of like-minded friends and neighbors—we are still in a group chat after all these years. Though we no longer meet often, we stay constantly updated through WhatsApp.

Another significant thing was finding enough inspiration from living here to start Onlewo. I instantly fell in love with so many things after moving in. The spiral staircase and the collapsible gate in our first home brought back childhood memories of staying with my grandparents in Cantonment Blk 1, where similar collapsible gates lined the long corridors.

Beyond that, the beautifully shaped window grilles that adorned the homes cast intricate patterns on the cement floor during sunset, creating a mesmerizing sight.

Last but not least, I grew up with kuehs and porridge that my aunt used to buy from Tiong Bahru Market. Living here brought back those precious memories and allowed me to relive those happy times every day. I’m forever grateful for it.

This is also why my first collection of patterns was inspired by my life in Tiong Bahru and the things that make it so special to me. 

As Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.” My journey has been colorful, and I owe much of it to the life I’ve been given—one that continues to inspire and shape me every day.

#tiongbahru #mylife #miketay #uraheritagetrail

## Stats

- **Views:** 639
- **Likes:** 53
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 5

## Tags

tiongbahru, uraheritagetrail, mylife, miketay

---
Copyright (c) Gondola