Enter The Whampoa Dragon

Dragons’ origins are uncertain, but they first appeared in our public housing world in the early 1970s – in the form of monuments and fountains, for example. The first dragons were created in HDB flats built in the 1970s and 1980s. They spiced up an otherwise drab estate with personalities ranging from the magnificent to … Read more

The Boyanese In Singapore

Other than the four primary races of Singapore, Boyanese people are also recognized as a different race. The people of Singapore are descended from immigrants from Pulau Bawean, an Indonesian island 120 kilometres to the north. The Boyanese people’s name is sometimes mistaken for a mispronunciation of Baweanese, which originated as a result of Dutch … Read more

Bumboats In Singapore

Singapore is a country with limited road infrastructure and no extensive rail network. Singapore’s public transportation is primarily based on land. The bus, train, and taxi are the three primary modes of transportation in Singapore. Boats and river transport were important for the transportation of goods and people before the creation of land infrastructure in … Read more

Kranji War Memorial

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

The Heart And Sole Of 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 Singapore is decreasing, the prominence of their profession is increasing. … Read more

Traditional Bakeries Sing Hon Loong

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

The Singapore Cat

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

Thaipusam In Singapore 2013

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

The Waning Crescent Of Dakota

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has designated 17 blocks in Dakota Crescent for renovation. The 400 residents will have to move out by the end of 2016 because of renovation. Dakota Crescent, like her more well-known Singapore Improvement Trust counterpart Tiong Bahru, is one of the few HDB flats from its colonial era to … Read more