Lin Rui 
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
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. For enlistees awaiting National Service in Singapore, “First to Beach Road, Then to Army” was common knowledge. For … Read more
The Cenotaph within Esplanade Park has an easily traceable history which began on 15 November 1920. Sir Lawrence Guillemard, then the Governor of the Straits Settlements, founded the site of the Cenotaph. There was a meaningful groundbreaking ceremony on the 11th of September, in which French premier George Clemenceau took part. The completed Cenotaph was … Read more
After more than a decade of closure, the Red House in Katong reopened in the second quarter of 2016. The former Katong Bakery & Confectionery, which ran from 1925 until 2003 and was renowned for its curry puffs and Swiss rolls, has been restored. The Red House Bakery took on its name because of the … Read more
Discover a world where neon lights glow and ice cream cones shimmer in the moonlight. In 1971, the Cathay Organisation made it a reality. Cathay was one of Singapore’s first film companies, and it made a number of contributions to the local industry. Cathay, the company that operated hundreds of movies, including Pontianak series, was … Read more
It can sometimes be difficult to determine the age of buildings in Singapore because they are generally all well restored. Long time residents of Tanjong Katong can tell the time by looking at an iconic clock tower in their neighbourhood. Octagonal clock towers once served as landmarks to the community in low-rise areas of Tanjong … Read more
In 2016, according to the Chinese zodiac, the monkeys will reign supreme. In February, we entered the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese Zodiac. The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, lasted for fifteen days beginning with the first lunar month. On the 16th day, May 17th, the Monkey God Tai … Read more
“Very soon, this place will be no more,” said this random man who saw me snapping pictures in Bidadari park, said a woman to her friend. A man smiled, and I couldn’t help but think about how his grin seemed to actually be hiding sadness. He’s lost a lot of green space because of development … Read more
Street names are not just geographical markers; they have greater significance. Aside from directing us to places, signs also relay a community’s history and tell stories of what the area was like long before we arrived. It does not require much to guess that Little India is an Indian ethnic settlement. Little India was introduced … Read more
The restored neo-Palladian and Renaissance structures at Fort Canning Hill are striking, especially during the daytime. The hills former enigmatic name of Bukit Larangan (Forbidden Hill in Malay language) will intrigue you and the tacky artificiality that is the escalator to see beyond it. The National Museum of Singapore, which was formerly known as the … Read more