www.newman.com.sg
Charlie Han of Changi Villages famous eatery Charlies Corner
takes us through the colourful past of this quiet corner of the
country
Changi is one of the few places left on this island that still
radiates an old-world charm, when life was simpler. Its also a
place with its share of local legends everything from spooky
tales and road-side transvestites to characters whove acquired for
themselves a largerthan-life reputation. Charlie Han Loon Juan, 58,
restauranteur, angler and the closest well get to a country
squire, is one such living icon. He runs Charlies Corner, a humble
al fresco eatery that has become a veritable cult institution over
the years for its great food and reputation for its unique
serving styles, as well as the ideal place to swap travellers
tales with people from all over the world. With planes roaring
overhead, NewMan grabs an ice-cold beer from Charlies well-stocked
fridge and lets the man himself fill us in on the story of this
charming old town and his famous restuarant.
So Charlie, how did you first get into the restaurant
business?
Actually, Charlie is not my real name. I was helping my dad run the
Changi Milk Bar in the old Changi Village during the 1960. Many
British soldiers would frequent the place and they kept calling me
Charlie. So from then on, it stuck.
