In 1938, Singapore’s most prominent fine arts institution, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), was formed. In the 1940s, it was still possible for a young Thai student to be trained in painting and other skills at Nafa. Nafa was the only art school in Southeast Asia until the 1950s. NAFA has under its … Read more
Rochor Canal Road A 1.1-kilometre stretch of Rochor Canal reopened on March 8, 2015, after a four-year renovation, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The revitalised length begins at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority headquarters on Victoria Street and continues to Sim Lim Tower in Jalan Besar. The revitalization of the Regent’s Canal, which … Read more
First Singapore Television Program Aired! Television viewing – everyone’s favourite perennial pastime – has changed alongside technological advances and the greater accessibility to numerous channels and content providers. With the transition from an analogue to a digital system, choices have expanded from free-to-air terrestrial stations to pay-per-view television channels and programs. There is now Internet … Read more
Maha Sasana Ramsi – Burmese Buddhist Temple Singapore’s Balestier area What springs to mind when you think of Mandalay, Rangoon, and an opulent Buddhist temple with golden-tiled roofs? Do you realize that the Burmese are among the nations with the greatest health risks in Singapore? There is a significant Burmese presence in Balestier, Singapore. Do … Read more
Peninsula Plaza Singapore – Singapore’s Little Burma A peninsula is a landmass connected to the mainland by water on three sides but separated from it by land. Peninsula Plaza is a mall in Singapore’s Little Burma neighbourhood that connects Burmese people to their homeland. The 30-story Peninsula Plaza, designed by the Alfred Wong Partnership and … Read more
A door is simply a passage into a house or room. Victoria Street had a little gate, which symbolized more. It was a gateway of hope. Many abandoned newborns who had survived until the morning before the Sisters arrived were given a second chance. It was the Gateway of Hope. The Gate of Hope was … Read more
The War Hero: Lim Bo Seng It’s easy to overlook the Japanese Occupation-era Singapore when the country is so peaceful and stable these days. During World War II, Japan captured Malaya and held it from 1942 until 1945. Lim Bo Seng, one of Singapore’s most notable war heroes, was among the many resistance fighters who … Read more
The loud banging sounds of drums and the lighting of firecrackers scare away Nian, the Chinese legendary monster who is a problem during the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year. Although firecrackers have been prohibited in Singapore since 1972, they are still possible to join the festive mood at Chinatown’s Chinese New Year bazaar. The … Read more
Beautiful Memories in Beach Road Army Market In the 1980s and 1990s, the Army Market was a favourite hangout for service members looking for army gear. Visiting the Army Market now brings back beautiful memories for many Singaporean men of their halcyon army days. Singapore Army Market For enlistees awaiting National Service in Singapore, “First … Read more