Anyone remember the toto booths alround the islands usually near bus terminals and major road corners. The girls had to be good looking, able to speak English and one other language. One of them went on to win Miss Singapore contest. Men would hang around try to chat up the girls. Occasionally a wife will turn up an there will be scene.
I used to call it the "toto bush", I was underage then, but I remember having to run errands one of the errand was to buy toto from the "toto bush", the one I know was located at the car park of the Post Office. One croses out the numbers on the ticket, which is in duplicate or triplicate I forgot, you give that to the woman, she will apply the sticker with the serial number at one corner & use her date stamper ( official ) to stamp the toto ticket, you get to keep on copy. There was no, below 18 cannot buy toto or big sweep tcikets, or 4D or chap chee kee from the neighbourhood "runner". I have bought toto, 4d or that chap chee kee with my pocket money...never strike any.
We could buy "smokes"... I have bought "Rothmans of Pall Mall", "Dunhill", "Marlboro", " Craven 69?", "Abdullah" that yellow Box "555", " ang hoon" with the flower brand & rolling papers, cherut & tobacco in that yellow tin box, I forgot the brand & the blue colour paper & cellophane wrappers , again the brand from the "mama" shop that operate off the wall. When I was older I buy CONDOMS discreetly from that those off the wall "mama store" and especially the one at MacrRitchie Reservoir bus stop the one along Upper Thomson Rd, when I have to do "live firing" at the reservoir... ha ha ha
Yes I forgot, buying ABC Stout, Guinees Stout, Tiger Beer, dunno whatever the name of those wine from the Chinese Shop & that occasional "moonshine" call "orang Tuah".. but I never took up smoking, never smoke all my life or drinking, an occasional taste & sometimes occasion calls for, but I hold my drinks, other than that I don't touch.