Monday, December 27, 2010
Little India
Populated by descendants of the Indians who arrived in Singapore in the mid 1800s, Little India is one of Singapore’s most colourful districts spreading out along Serangoon Road.
Mass congregations of Indians form on Saturdays where they share with one another the happenings from ‘home’.
This place is further transformed into a fairyland of gaily decorated brightly lit streets overcrowding with shoppers during Deepavali -the Indian Festival of Lights whereby the Indians celebrate the victory of goodness over evil, light over darkness and ushers in their New Year.
This spice scented street brings you to a treasure trove of silverware, brassware, ethnic jewellery, jasmine garlands and silk saris for those interested in such objects.
Take a tour in the Little India Cultural Corner next to the food court in Little India which fascinates you with archival displays. Story signs are present to explain the rich symbolism and use of such archives.
I would suggest the adventurers to savour a South Indian rice meal with your fingers from a banana leaf at the Banana Leaf Apolo Restaurant or Muthu’s Curry restaurant along Race Course Road to emulate the Indians’ way of having a meal for it is believed that food taste better when you feed it using your fingers.
Getting there: From Orchard Road, take SBS bus 64, 64 or 111 to Serangoon Road.
Walking tour guides of Chinatown and Little India are available at the various Singapore Visitors Centres.
Labels: Ethnic Quarters, Little India
♥Arts, Culture & Heritage
10:31 PM
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam got its name from the Glam tree which grew in the area.
It is originally a fishing village at the mouth of Rochor River and is the historic place of the Malay royalty in Singapore. It is officially allocated to the Malays and other Muslims in 1822. However, it was also home to a successful community of Arab traders.
Within it resides the Sultan Mosque. It is the biggest mosque in Singapore with a maximum capacity of 5000 prayers. One will be able to find the famed Singapore Airline kebaya dress, decorative trinkets and accessories and books related to the Muslim culture and religion here.
For those interested in the unique wares like sandalwood, prayer beads, Rehal and wooden toothbrushes from the Muslim community, proceed to North Bridge Road, which is towards the end of Arab Street.
Extracted from : http://www.centralsingapore.org.sg/site/voices/voices19/tunes.pdf
Do also check out on the Arab Cloth merchants for their delicate skills and velvets, and also food stalls selling traditional Arab-Muslim food stuff and merchandise of all kinds.
Eateries offering Indonesian, Indian and Malay cuisine are found along Kampong Glam for those who wants to have a taste of such cuisine.
I have personally gone to Kampong Glam and I feel that the place is rich in the malay culture heritage. It is definitely worth a visit for people who are interested in knowing more about the different cultures in Singapore.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Bugis Station (EW12) and walk along Victoria Steet towards Arab Street.
Labels: Ethnic Quarters, Kampong Glam
♥Arts, Culture & Heritage
10:01 PM
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Ethnic Quarters
The presence of the Ethnic Quarters in Singapore which include locations like the Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India are evidence of the island-nation’s richness in ethnic, culture and historical heritage.
Chinatown
The Chinatown’s local name is called Niu Che Shui. Its direct translation of it means Bullock Cart Water). It got its name this way as in the past in Chinatown, each household collects fresh water in bullock-drawn carts from the only fresh source of water which comes from the wells in Ann Siang Hill and at Spring Street.
Chinatown is a place where the first Chinese arrived from Xiamen, Fujian province in China. Despite renovations carried out recently, old traditions, culture and heritage prevails and still remains strong.
This 3 storied restored shop houses is the Chinatown Heritage Centre whereby visitors are virtually transported back to the olden times whereby there are showcases of how the early Chinese immigrants live, eat and work for their lives in search for a better life in Singapore. The gallery are dimly lighted to remind us all of the sufferings our ancestors faced and each level display different scenarios of the immigrants’ life.
The festive seasons in Chinatown can be felt at its strongest during the Lunar Chinese New Year when the Chinese celebrates the coming of the new lunar year and spends on Chinese new year decorations, food and clothing. Windows will be decorated with red coloured paper-cuts and couplets. Many Chinese would visit Chinatown just to make their New Year purchases and also to immerse in the festival’s spirit.
A stroll through Pagoda Street or Trengganu Street exhibits cultural arts like Chinese Calligraphy, antiques, crafts, wooden clogs, traditional herbal cures and any other more.
To be more involved in the Chinese culture, try visiting the teahouse and the Thong Chai Medical Institute, then take a peek into a typical middle-class Chinese home in the 1920s at the Chinaman Scholar Gallery.
Do also stop by Food Street for an alfresco meal and the various Chinese pastry shops for home-made tarts, cakes and the famous dim sum.
I have personally gone to Chinatown during the period before Chinese New Year to get an experience of the Chinese New Year atmosphere. It is especially crowded during that period of time as everyone goes to Chinatown to get last minute gifts and tidbits to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Chinatown station (NE4) and alight at the station.
Labels: Chinatown, Ethnic Quarters
♥Arts, Culture & Heritage
10:22 PM
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Civilian War Memorial, also known as the Memorial to the Civilian Victims of the Japanese Occupation, is one of Singapore's most famous iconic landmarks of heritage. The memorial was officially unveiled by the then Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew in 1967 upon its completion. He laid a wreath on behalf of the Government and the people of Singapore. On 15 February every year, memorial services opened to the public are held at the park. This memorial is located along Beach Road, near The Padang and City Hall. It is located in the War Memorial Park and it is rather easy to spot. The memorial is built in memory of the civilians who were killed during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore during World War II.
The design of the memorial is designed by one of Singapore's most renown architects, Leong Swee Lim (1935-2002). The architect's concept of the four identical pillars, each 70m high, represents the shared experiences and unity of the four major races of Singapore - Chinese, Malay, Indian and other races. Therefore, the memorial is one of Singapore's iconic landmarks of heritage that shows the virtues of a multi-racial society, whose unity is definitely one of the pillars for Singapore's modern day success, harmony and prosperity.
The memorial has also been described by some as 'four giant chopsticks'. In actual fact, the remains of the unidentified war victims are buried beneath the monument and truly adds to the significance of the structure whose history it represents.
The image above shows what it is like between the 4 pillars. There are 4 messages in 4 different languages that show the significance of the memorial. The reason why there are 4 languages again signifies the importance of racial harmony in Singapore.
I have personally visited this memorial and I feel that it is a very sacred place that should be preserved to let the future generations know more about the history of Singapore, and remember the victims who died for us during the Japanese Occupation.
Where is this place?
Beach Road
War Memorial Park
Singapore 179013
For more information please visit http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=40&Itemid=73Labels: Beach Road, Civilian War Memorial
♥Arts, Culture & Heritage
10:24 PM
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Esplanade is also known as
Theatres on the Bay. A centre for performing arts, located along the side of Marina Bay, near the mouth of Singapore River. The unique exterior design looks like a 'durian' due to its spiky glass roof, thus is also known as
'The Durian' to most of the Singaporeans.
The Esplanade was officially opened on 12 October 2002 and is one of the world's most busiest art centres with many facilities to exhibit and showcase art. It has gain popularity throughout these years as it showcase wonderful arts and performances. There are facilities such as the Concert Hall, Theatre, Recital Studio, Theatre Studio, Jendela, Library@Esplanade and Outdoor Theatre.
The Concert Hall and theatres hold different kinds of events, ranging from performances like concerts, recitals, musicals, plays, and even holding presentations and meetings.
The Jendela, which means 'window' in the Malay language, is an exhibition space which holds showcase art by locals, regional and international collections. The Jendela and Recital Studio is located side by side.
If you enjoy arts and prefer a quiet and peaceful environment, you might want to visit Library@Esplanade to check out the books on arts. The Outdoor Theatre is a place where free performances are held regularly, making the outdoor lively as well.
Other than theatres and exhibitions, Esplanade offers a variety of retail and food & beverage. There are shops where you are able to purchase souveniers of the Esplanade, shops selling flowers, chocolates etc. The food & beverage outlets offer Asian food, Western food, and there are Cafes and bars too.
The Esplanade is a great place as there are many different kinds of performances to enjoy. There will always be performances going on, so you could try to find time to catch a performance, enjoy and relax yourself after having a hectic period in work or school. I have attended a Band performance in Esplanade and it was held in the Concert Hall. It has a wonderful atmosphere, with comfortable seats and a great view of the stage. It was totally relaxing and enjoyable with the music playing along.
Accessible from City Hall MRT Station, with directions guiding you how to go to the Esplanade. During the walk to the Esplanade, there would be long corridor which is also an art exhibition, displaying artworks mostly done by local students. The artworks will change with new ones regularly.
One of the exhibitions in 2008
One of the exhibitions in November 2010
Where is this place?
1 Esplanade Drive
For more information, please visit
http://www.esplanade.com/index.jspLabels: Building, City Hall, Esplanade
♥Arts, Culture & Heritage
11:11 PM
Monday, December 6, 2010
With a rich history dating back to its inception in 1887, the National Museum of Singapore is Singapore's oldest museum with the youngest and most innovative soul. The National Museum's permanent exhibitions, Singapore History and Living Galleries adopted a cutting-edge and varied ways of presenting history and culture to redefine conventional museum experience. A cultural and architectural icon in Singapore, the Museum hosts vibrant festivals and events all year round - the dynamic Night Festival, visually arresting art installations, as well as amazing performances and film screenings - in addition to presenting lauded exhibitions and precious artifacts.
The museum was established in 1849 by the then Singapore Institution Committee. It was called the Raffles Library and Museum and it exhibited items of historical and archeological value in Singapore and Asia.
If you think that museums are boring, why not try looking at it in a different perspective, the National Museum of Singapore is definitely an extraordinary museum. When I was visiting the Museum, not only was I not bored, in fact, I was having so much fun. I was so
delighted and glad that I was able to learn about Singapore's history and how its ancestors lived in the past. The Singapore History Gallery and Singapore Living Gallery was definitely an eye opener!
I was fortunate to be able to visit the Pompeii exhibition, Pompeii: life in a Roman Town 79CE. Being able to learn about other Country's past is an honour to me. I have never known that the cosmopolitan city of Pompeii and much of its surrounding area were buried under volcanic ash and pumice following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Southern Italy. It was only
until the mid-18th century that this city was slowly revealed to the world through archaeological excavations. The National Museum of Singapore showcases the artifacts elegantly by displaying them with glass. Descriptions are also found around the artifact to enlighten you about it. Hence, fear not, if you have absolutely no knowledge about the artifacts.
Honestly, I am not a museum lover. However, when it comes to the National Museum of Singapore, I am able to relate to the exhibitions somehow. It will definitely be a waste if you do not visit the National Museum of Singapore.
Where is this place?
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road Singapore 178897
Guided tours and group visits are available too.
For more details, please go to http://www.nationalmuseum.sg
Labels: Dhoby Ghaut, National Museum of Singapore
♥Arts, Culture & Heritage
1:11 AM
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Merlion, also known as Singa-Laut in Malay, is an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It is used as a mascot of Singapore. Its name combines "Mer" meaning the sea and "Lion". The fish body comes from Singapore's ancient name back when it was a fishing village –
Temasek — meaning "sea town" in Javanese. The lion head represents Singapore's original name —
Singapura— meaning "lion city".
The completion of the Esplanade Bridge, in 1997, blocked the views of the Merlion from the Marina Bay waterfront. By then, the original Merlion location was also no longer the entrance of Singapore River. So, in 2002, the statue and its cub were relocated 120 metres to the current Merlion Park that fronts Marina Bay where it stands on a newly-reclaimed promontory in front of The Fullerton Hotel.
Breathtaking Night View of the Merlion
It would definitely be a waste if you never visit the Merlion when you're in Singapore, it is Singapore's icon. Known for its unique features, the Merlion has became tourists number 1 attraction. The Merlion is huge and there will be many tourists there taking pictures with it.
Note : Many people like to take a boat along the river and take pictures acting like the Merlion is spitting water into their mouth.
Labels: City Hall, Merlion Park, Outdoor Attractions
♥Arts, Culture & Heritage
12:42 AM
