The air is light, and the grass is moist from dew. In elegant rows, thousands of grey tombs dot the gentle slope. The lawn is neatly kept, owing to the caretakers’ constant attention and the lack of human footprints. Only a few visitors sign the register near the entrance. A cross and a large building … Read more
Street Cobbler in Singapore – The Disappearing Trade, cobbler square. Outside People’s Park Complex, a line of mostly elderly cobblers huddled over in their makeshift booths, protected from the sun and rain by only foldable umbrellas. This tiny hamlet has transformed it into a Cobber Square of sorts. While the number of sidewalk cobblers in … Read more
You are immediately drawn to Sing Hon Loong (新丰隆面包厂) by the unmistakable scent of freshly baked bread. Ghee Leong is a Singaporean baked good that has been around since the early days of Singapore’s history. This old-style bakery in Whampoa is one of the final traditional bakeries to exist in Singapore. Old Place is a … Read more
When you think of Singaporean icons, the following things come to mind: Chicken Rice is as popular as Katong Laksa. To some, Chicken Rice is as iconic as Katong Laksa. It’s also conceivable that the Singapore Zoo, Lion City Tower, or numerous other attractions are what attract them. Places like Bukit Brown Cemetery or Joo … Read more
The majesty of Queenstown is evident. She is also the prototype housing for a large portion of public housing in Singapore. She was also the first to build affordable public housing, such as flats in the Housing and Development Board (HDB) system. She was also one of the first to develop point blocks and curved … Read more
Thaipusam is one of the most physically demanding of religious festivals, and it is a challenge for believers as well as a stunning spectacle for non-believers. From Serangoon Road, kavadi bearers walk three to seven-foot-high structures of wood or steel and brace themselves for a 4.5km trek from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to Sri Thandayuthapani … Read more
Lim Nang Seng – The man behind Merlion Sculptor We’ve seen it on postcards, T-shirts, and chocolates, but who sculpted the original Merlion? The Merlion was created in 1964 as a logo for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board by Fraser-Brunner, who was a curator at the now-demolished Van Kleef Aquarium. The symbol was first used … Read more
The Armenians in Singapore have been a small but tightly knit community for some time. The 1824 census recorded only 16 members, which is correct. Despite their small numbers, several Armenians have made important contributions to Singapore’s history. After the Armenians had been conducting church services in rented space for a while, they decided to … Read more
The Fuk Tak Chi Temple in Singapore’s Chinatown is the country’s oldest and most historic temple. It was rebuilt on the site of an earlier simple shrine in 1820 as a brick temple. The temple was built with the help of Hakka and Cantonese immigrants who came to Singapore in search of higher-paying employment. The … Read more