What is the meaning of he-artsculturesg? HE: is derived from the word heritage, are practices that are handed down from the past by tradition. Arts: Handicraft, paintings, music, dance, film, photography… you name it! Culture: Expressions of a particular community. Sg: Singapore, the little red dot!
What is he-artsculturesg all about?
Focusing on the heritage, arts and cultural aspects of Singapore, our group has decided to explore these aspects of the Chinese and Malays in Singapore, by posing as real tourists to give a first–person account about the places of interest. By sharing with you our experiences, we hope to bring out the attractiveness and appeal of such location, and create an interest within you to want to visit the place personally.
With all the information we gather during the trip, we recommend certain things that you should take note of and things that you shouldn’t miss when visiting the place.
Our blog strives to share with you information and experiences that you will never find in any travel books. In each post, we will be providing basic information like ways of getting to the destination.
However, if you would like to find out more about Singapore, you can choose to click on the earlier entries at the bottom to read other posts or to click on the navigations provided at the sides. Background information and reviews from other tourists can also be found by clicking on the navigations below the banner.
We hope that by sharing our experiences with you, you can have background knowledge of those places and will be able to benefit from our blog. We hope that you will enjoy yourself here and head down to Singapore soon!
Named after the Gelam tree which used to grow in the area, Kampong Glam was the historic seat of Malay royalty in Singapore. Kampong Glam is derived from two Malay words, Kampong, meaning "village" or "settlement", and Glam (or Gelam) referring to the variety of Gelam tree growing in that area. It is a centre for Muslim activities and the Sultan Mosque remains a major landmark and congregation point for Singapore Muslims.
To this day, Kampong Glam still retains strong ties to the ethnic-Malay and Muslim community, and has sometimes been termed the "Muslim Quarter" due to its history. The Muslim population still remains a significant presence in Kampong Glam, especially in Bussorah Street.
Kids like us are always curious and ready for new experience! So off we go, set off for our first rich and educational experience of the Malay culture! Like all adventurers, we did our homework and some research! We found out that if we are hungry halfway through the walk, there is always Restoran Tepak Sireh, a restaurant in a restored bungalow which offers halal food and cultural performances available in a charming historical district. Sometimes if you’re lucky, you may even dine with guests at a royal-style Malay wedding!
Opposite the Malay Heritage Centre’s side gate, there is a well-known eatery known as Rumah Makan Minang that is popular among the locals. They serve authentic Indonesian Cuisine and many others.
There are also other restaurants around the area such as Wisury that serves Padang Cuisine and Zam Zam Restaurant.
After you’re done with your rest and satisfying meal at these popular eateries, one can also head down to the majestic Sultan Mosque, a national monument with a distinct and historically rich architecture that is also famous for its beauty.
Because we were not in proper attire that day, we decided not to visit the Sultan Mosque. So please note that if you’re going to enter any religious centers, dress appropriately to show respect for others’ religions!
Having done admiring the beauty of the mosque (from the outside, sadly), we walked over to Bussorah Pedestrian Mall in Kampong Glam, where many of the old shophouses had been refurbished, bringing back the vibrancy and beauty of the area. No worries of getting lost because they are always signboards around to facilitate our tour!
Many of these shophouses sold items such as traditional clothes, artefacts, handicrafts, furniture and jewellry. Needless to say, along the mall there are also exclusive restaurants and established eating outlets offering a range of favourite local fares to international cuisines.
Being the crazy shopaholics that we were, the group of us went crazy when we saw many good deals and attractive products such as their hand-made handbags. The handbags were not only pretty but also unique in its own way as they are made by weaving canes together. It was nice to know that such traditional art appreciation is still known and appreciated to this day where everyone seeks for only material goods.
Walking on, we saw a very cute shop that displayed many traditional toys like Chapteh, Sepak Takraw Crane Ball, Five Stones, and many more.
Curiousity got the better of us and we decided to go in to explore around the shop. We were so fascinated by the antiques in the shop such as the gramophone, jukebox and the jackpot machine that can be found in the olden days and many more.
The last shop that we went was one that sold puppets, masks, Malay knife (keris), Malay traditional games, colourful batik cloths, and not forgetting their traditional music instruments such as drums and many others.
It was interesting to see the different types of cultural arts that the Malays have, such as the puppets and their traditional musical instruments and also their unique and exciting games, and how these arts play such an important role in their life.
With that, we ended our tour around Bussorah Street and headed over to the next highlight of Kampong Glam: Arab Street, a place where every tourist must go when they come to visit Kampong Glam!
Arab Street today is a key Muslim centre in Singapore. It used to be main selling place of Muslim men’s headgear (or songkok), the holy Quran, prayer mats and textiles. Rows of conserved shophouses can be found in Arab Street, Baghdad Street.
Spices, textiles, basketry items and lavish fashion items such as lace, precious stones and diamantes are sold along this row of shophouses with five-foot way at Arab Street. Because we rarely see these items, we tried out some of the items and took pictures!
Arab Street is now more known for the fabrics the vendors sell out of the old shophouses. A great place to go if you want or need fabric/silk! And be overwhelmed by the stunning variety of glorious fabrics in every imaginable texture and colour!
"As Kampong Glam is a large area comprising of many buildings, shop houses and food eateries, I found plenty of things to see and explore. There is lots of Malay food available there as well as many shops selling a wide variety of interesting and uniquely Malay souvenirs. The Sultan’s palace is also located within Kampong Glam and is a must see as it represents the authority and royalty of Singapore’s sultan in the past before the government became the main ruling power. Overall, Kampong Glam is a good place to enjoy original Malay food as well as bring home lots of uniquely Malay souvenirs like a toy croaking frog that does not need batteries to croak." Weiminh
“This trip was a very fun-filled and memorable experience for me, and definitely an eye-opener as I learned a lot about the Malay’s unique culture. Definitely a must- go place for tourists who wants to be immersed in the rich Malay cultural experience and also to get their shopping done!” Weiling
“Kampong Glam is a place filled with rich cultural atmosphere and I really enjoyed my trip there! Basically I learnt a lot more about the Malay race, and I think it’s a whole new experience which made a lot of difference to my initial knowledge of the Malays. I’ll definitely view things in a different perspective now.” Sindy
Chinatown is known as the home for most Chinese after Sir Stamford Raffles allocated the area south of the Singapore River to the Chinese community in his 1828 Town Plan. To preserve the culture and heritage, it is now classified as one of the ethnic quarters in Singapore. This week, we will bring you through a journey to explore our famous Chinatown!
Chinatown is easily accessible by taking the Mass Rapid Transit (North-East Line), alighting at the Chinatown MRT station. After alighting at the Chinatown MRT station, we followed the directions given by signboards available in the MRT station to Exit H where it leads to Chinatown. Rows of shop houses with a tinge of oriental style greeted us. The shop houses are neatly arranged at both sides of the bustling street and there are shops selling wide array of traditional Chinese products.
Chinese Traditional Garments(Cheong Sam)
Whilst walking down the rows of shop houses, one cannot fail to be captivated by the vibrant colours of the traditional garments (cheongsam). The cheongsam which is usually red symbolises the positive aspects of life such as happiness, wealth, fame. The Chinese always believe that red is associated with good luck.
Smith Street, being famous for its wide variety of good food has allowed it to stand out among its counterparts. Hence, we decided to drop by Smith Street to have our lunch.
Smith Street Before Its Opening Hours
However, to our disappointment, the street was totally empty and the shops were closed. After enquiring from one of the shopkeepers, we learnt that the food street only starts operating at 6pm. He recommended us to go to the newly renovated Chinatown Complex as there are 200 over stalls available selling a wide variety of food.
After a satisfying meal at Chinatown Complex, we decided to go for a trishaw ride around Chinatown. Trishaws were one of the most common transportation back in the olden days of Singapore. The trishaw riders will take you along designated routes in Chinatown that promise the most interesting sights and sounds in the districts. However, the ticketing officers was out for lunch so we could only take photos of the trishaws and give the trishaw ride a miss. However, a kind local gently told us that photography is not allowed.
The ticketing booth
If you have the perception of Chinatown as a place that is only visited by people of the older generation, you are absolutely wrong. The sight of the bustling streets filled with teenagers on school excursions and tourists changed our perception as Chinatown is actually a place immersed with strong Chinese cultures.
Do you know that embroidery actually have a history of over 2000 years ?
The Chinese embroidery boasts a very long history. Chinese embroidery, a folk art with a long tradition, has an important position in the history of Chinese arts and crafts. Embroidered works have become highly complex and exquisite today. We also came across several shops along Chinatown selling these exquisite embroidery works at reasonable prices.
Shops selling traditional cakes and pastries are a common sight along the Streets of Chinatown.
Chinese opera masks
In ancient China, Masks were used by performers in a dance called “Nuo”. These performances were used to frighten off the ghosts and evil souls to relieve people of epidemics. These masks are not only a special art in Chinese operas, but also an art of ornamental design. Today it has evolved into a new variety of Chinese painting.
Smith Street After 6PM
Lastly, we marked the end of our Chinatown expedition with a sumptuous dinner at the food street.
"After visiting Chinatown, my perception of this place totally changed. Now i have learnt to appreciate the chinese cultures and heritage more than before. It was certainly a fun and enriching trip."grace
Visiting the Asian civilisation Museum is an exciting and educational trip, something that everyone who steps into Singapore should do!
Travelling by public transport, we took the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) to Raffles Place, which is an interchange station between the North-South line (red line) and the East-West line (green line). This station is a very convenient meeting place as it is the central location for the MRT system that links to the whole Singapore Island. Above the MRT is Raffles Xchange, where there are a number of shops and food stations. Here you can grab some yummy snacks or breakfast-to-go for just like we did! The signboards in the station and Raffles Xchange give clear directions towards the Asian Civilisation Museum, pointing us to Exit H, Six Battery Road.
At first sight of daylight, it is easy to find yourself lost among the tall buildings, but fear not! We managed to spot the museum from a distance on the other side of the river bank. To get to the orange-beige colonial style building, we have to walk across the whitewashed Cavenagh Bridge. Before the bridge, sculptures of the river merchants can be found as well as an insight to the past of the Singapore River and the Maybank Tower. Also, there are cat sculptures by the edge of the platform nearby which is easily missed if you aren’t too careful.
Outside the museum are many interesting art pieces that are attention catching, including a carved ceremonial pole. You may also see rickshaw uncles chit-chatting and an ice cream stop that may just be helpful on those really hot days. However, do be reminded that food and drinks are not allowed in the museum!
Before you can view the galleries, you must purchase a ticket from the ticketing counter where you can also find brochures and information about the museum. There would also be an orange sticker that you have to stick on your clothes for identification purposes when touring around the museum.
With 8 galleries full of history and artefacts, the Asian Civilisation museum is well-planned as the spacious aisles naturally walk its visitors from gallery to gallery with an unending flow in spite of the heavy doors separating them. Each gallery has a theme: Singapore River, Introductory, Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia (Mary & Philbert Chin), West Asia/ Islamic, China (Kwek Hong Pang), South Asia. Historical information about the displays in each gallery can be found beside them as well as the interactive touch screen monitors that enable you to learn more in greater detail. In certain parts of the galleries, special monitors require you to insert your visitor ticket into the slot before you can view videos that usually have a culturally experienced person explaining or telling captivating stories, and even singing folk songs. As for the doors, do make use of the handicap button that automatically opens the doors for you or else you might end up grumbling like us every time we had to pull open the doors.
Taking a relatively long time of 3 ½ hours, touring the museum is time consuming but remarkably remains appealing with no trace of boredom. If all the galleries in the 3-storey building cannot be covered due to time constraints, we recommend the China Gallery where you’d be able to learn about the main religions in China and find out the common threads that bind all the individual regions in China together. Another unique aspect of this gallery is the area that represents a typical Chinese tea house, "cha guan" in which they have large metal flasks of different types of tea leaves that are used to make different teas, for you to sample the various aromas. Costumes and headdresses used in performances are also found here in which we can try them on and take photographs hence adding extra fun into the trip.
The South Asia Galleries would greatly fascinate those who have an interest in religions of the world such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The elaborate stories and the many articles and ornaments intrigue one’s senses, bringing people back to when the religion first began. However, if you are not comfortable with the religions, we would advise you not to go into the individual sections of the gallery where the dark atmosphere and chanting played over the speakers may cause discomfort.
Lastly, the Singapore River gallery is a very important stop to make as the history and evolution of Singapore from the past into what it is today can be seen here. Learn the significance of the Singapore River as early as in the 14th century while imagining the way of life back in those days. The items on display were very well maintained and portray the past very well.
On a whole, the Asian Civilisation Museum is a must-go museum in Singapore especially for those who have particular interests in culture, experience a complete tour through the history of culture, making it come alive. Don’t forget to visit the museum shop that sells all sorts of things such as playing cards, postcards, books, miniature “antiques”, massage oils, etc. Although the prices of the items there are high, the unique items available would tempt you to buy them.
To end the day, you may want to chill out at the food and beverage places at the museum or head down to the restaurants along the river banks. Also a good place for authentic food that are deemed Singaporeans’ favourites is the Lao Pa Sat which is a hawker centre within walking distance of the museum. Be sure to try the satay and BBQ seafood sold there! The good food would be the icing of the cake after the day’s cultural amazement!
Little things to take note of: · If you plan to visit the museum on weekdays, try to plan your time around the peak hours on weekdays (7 – 9.30 AM; 5 – 8 PM) to avoid the crowd as Raffles Place is the central business district of Singapore where a large proportion of the office workers travel by MRT.
· Squint your eyes to spot the orange-beige building that’s very likely to be hidden behind trees across the river when you first exit the MRT station.
· The lights in a number of galleries are very dim; if you are afraid of the dark, bring a friend along!
· The faint-hearted may be frightened by the Chinese Wa Yang masks and sculptures so you might consider not viewing that part of the gallery.
· Individual admission for an adult is $5; concession (full-time students and age 60 years and above) $2.50. As for group admissions of 20 people and above, adults need only to pay $4 and concession $2. Children who are 6years and below will have free admission into the museum.
· Guided tours are available in English, Mandarin and Japanese. The time slots for the English guided tour is 2pm on Mondays; 11am and 2pm on Tuesdays till Fridays and 11am, 2pm,3pm and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays
· Opening hours of the Museum is Monday: 1pm – 7pm; Tuesday to Sunday: 9am – 7pm.
· For more information, do check out the Asian Civilisation Museum’s website: http://www.acm.org.sg/
I feel that the trip to the Asian Civillisation Museum was a very memorable and enjoyable experience. The museum was a wonderful eye-opener to learn more about the history of Singapore. There are a wide variety of effects created which will capture your attention throughout your tour into the museum. For example, there is an overhead projection that shows videos on the history of Singapore. The videos are projected either on the ground or on the uniquely positioned screens in the dark room. The dim lights also create a mystic and rustic enviroment. -Wei Minh
Welcome back. This week we will bring you through a tour around the Chinatown Heritage Centre. The Chinatown Heritage Centre plays an important role in depicting the history and culture of Singapore. Therefore after going around Chinatown, we decided to visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
The Chinatown Heritage Centre which is located along Pagoda Street brings you back to the past where one can experience the lives of the early settlers.
We purchased our admission tickets from the friendly staff situated at the cashier. She directed us to the entrance and we embarked on our learning journey. We were told to follow the red arrows on the floor and not to take any photos within the museum.
The museum showcases many artefacts such as suitcases and paper umbrellas that were used by the early settlers. There is a lift available in the museum that caters to the needs of the handicap. The museum is air-conditioned and it is dimly lit to give a vintage ambience. Chairs are also available for visitors to take a break if they are tired.
On the first level, there is a Kopi Tiam with an olden day setting which depicts the life of the early settlers. It is a realistic illustration of the olden day coffee shop with menus pasted on the walls.
On the second floor, we could see real artefacts used by the early settlers when they came down to Singapore to escape poverty. There was a gambling den shown with broken bowls and bloodstains everywhere. This depicted the past where gang fights were common. Next to it was the prostitution parlour and information boards that describe the Four Evils, namely prostitution, gambling, opium smoking and drinking.
On the third floor, there is a scene of a wake that gives a creepy feeling as there were white lanterns hanging from above and paper dolls at the corner of the room. There are also televisions showing interviews of people such as the son of Eu Tong Sen. We also found out that Chinese Opera is one of the main entertainments of the people as there were no televisions available at that time. Chinese Opera is one of the oldest dramatic art forms in the world. It is a combination of music, art and literature all into one performance on the stage.
On our way down, we saw cubicles of different families like the carpenter, shoemaker and coolie. Each cubicle showcases the lives of different families. On our way out, there is also a retail shop selling a variety of merchandise such as souvenirs and games played during the olden days.
“Admission tickets were worth it as I gained valuable knowledge that I could not get from textbooks. This is a unique experience and I had enjoyed myself during this trip to the Chinatown Heritage Centre.” Grace
“After this trip, I could truly understand the lives of the early settlers. Our ancestors have been living in extreme poverty that some of them do not have the money to buy even planks to bury the dead. I have learnt to treasure what I have now.” Huimin
"This trip to Chinatown Heritage Centre was an insightful one, for I witnessed the poor living conditions of different dialect and ethnic groups, in which left me a very deep impression. It was a major eye-opener for me, especially listening to how the people tried to make a living in the past with the traits and skills that many of us don’t have now.” Sindy
What is the meaning of he-artsculturesg? HE: is derived from the word heritage, are practices that are handed down from the past by tradition. Arts: Handicraft, paintings, music, dance, film, photography… you name it! Culture: Expressions of a particular community. Sg: Singapore, the little red dot!
What is he-artsculturesg all about?
Focusing on the heritage, arts and cultural aspects of Singapore, our group has decided to explore these aspects of the Chinese and Malays in Singapore, by posing as real tourists to give a first–person account about the places of interest. By sharing with you our experiences, we hope to bring out the attractiveness and appeal of such location, and create an interest within you to want to visit the place personally.
With all the information we gather during the trip, we recommend certain things that you should take note of and things that you shouldn’t miss when visiting the place.
Our blog strives to share with you information and experiences that you will never find in any travel books. In each post, we will be providing basic information like ways of getting to the destination.
However, if you would like to find out more about Singapore, you can choose to click on the earlier entries at the bottom to read other posts or to click on the navigations provided at the sides. Background information and reviews from other tourists can also be found by clicking on the navigations below the banner.
We hope that by sharing our experiences with you, you can have background knowledge of those places and will be able to benefit from our blog. We hope that you will enjoy yourself here and head down to Singapore soon!
Named after the Gelam tree which used to grow in the area, Kampong Glam was the historic seat of Malay royalty in Singapore. Kampong Glam is derived from two Malay words, Kampong, meaning "village" or "settlement", and Glam (or Gelam) referring to the variety of Gelam tree growing in that area. It is a centre for Muslim activities and the Sultan Mosque remains a major landmark and congregation point for Singapore Muslims.
To this day, Kampong Glam still retains strong ties to the ethnic-Malay and Muslim community, and has sometimes been termed the "Muslim Quarter" due to its history. The Muslim population still remains a significant presence in Kampong Glam, especially in Bussorah Street.
Kids like us are always curious and ready for new experience! So off we go, set off for our first rich and educational experience of the Malay culture! Like all adventurers, we did our homework and some research! We found out that if we are hungry halfway through the walk, there is always Restoran Tepak Sireh, a restaurant in a restored bungalow which offers halal food and cultural performances available in a charming historical district. Sometimes if you’re lucky, you may even dine with guests at a royal-style Malay wedding!
Opposite the Malay Heritage Centre’s side gate, there is a well-known eatery known as Rumah Makan Minang that is popular among the locals. They serve authentic Indonesian Cuisine and many others.
There are also other restaurants around the area such as Wisury that serves Padang Cuisine and Zam Zam Restaurant.
After you’re done with your rest and satisfying meal at these popular eateries, one can also head down to the majestic Sultan Mosque, a national monument with a distinct and historically rich architecture that is also famous for its beauty.
Because we were not in proper attire that day, we decided not to visit the Sultan Mosque. So please note that if you’re going to enter any religious centers, dress appropriately to show respect for others’ religions!
Having done admiring the beauty of the mosque (from the outside, sadly), we walked over to Bussorah Pedestrian Mall in Kampong Glam, where many of the old shophouses had been refurbished, bringing back the vibrancy and beauty of the area. No worries of getting lost because they are always signboards around to facilitate our tour!
Many of these shophouses sold items such as traditional clothes, artefacts, handicrafts, furniture and jewellry. Needless to say, along the mall there are also exclusive restaurants and established eating outlets offering a range of favourite local fares to international cuisines.
Being the crazy shopaholics that we were, the group of us went crazy when we saw many good deals and attractive products such as their hand-made handbags. The handbags were not only pretty but also unique in its own way as they are made by weaving canes together. It was nice to know that such traditional art appreciation is still known and appreciated to this day where everyone seeks for only material goods.
Walking on, we saw a very cute shop that displayed many traditional toys like Chapteh, Sepak Takraw Crane Ball, Five Stones, and many more.
Curiousity got the better of us and we decided to go in to explore around the shop. We were so fascinated by the antiques in the shop such as the gramophone, jukebox and the jackpot machine that can be found in the olden days and many more.
The last shop that we went was one that sold puppets, masks, Malay knife (keris), Malay traditional games, colourful batik cloths, and not forgetting their traditional music instruments such as drums and many others.
It was interesting to see the different types of cultural arts that the Malays have, such as the puppets and their traditional musical instruments and also their unique and exciting games, and how these arts play such an important role in their life.
With that, we ended our tour around Bussorah Street and headed over to the next highlight of Kampong Glam: Arab Street, a place where every tourist must go when they come to visit Kampong Glam!
Arab Street today is a key Muslim centre in Singapore. It used to be main selling place of Muslim men’s headgear (or songkok), the holy Quran, prayer mats and textiles. Rows of conserved shophouses can be found in Arab Street, Baghdad Street.
Spices, textiles, basketry items and lavish fashion items such as lace, precious stones and diamantes are sold along this row of shophouses with five-foot way at Arab Street. Because we rarely see these items, we tried out some of the items and took pictures!
Arab Street is now more known for the fabrics the vendors sell out of the old shophouses. A great place to go if you want or need fabric/silk! And be overwhelmed by the stunning variety of glorious fabrics in every imaginable texture and colour!
"As Kampong Glam is a large area comprising of many buildings, shop houses and food eateries, I found plenty of things to see and explore. There is lots of Malay food available there as well as many shops selling a wide variety of interesting and uniquely Malay souvenirs. The Sultan’s palace is also located within Kampong Glam and is a must see as it represents the authority and royalty of Singapore’s sultan in the past before the government became the main ruling power. Overall, Kampong Glam is a good place to enjoy original Malay food as well as bring home lots of uniquely Malay souvenirs like a toy croaking frog that does not need batteries to croak." Weiminh
“This trip was a very fun-filled and memorable experience for me, and definitely an eye-opener as I learned a lot about the Malay’s unique culture. Definitely a must- go place for tourists who wants to be immersed in the rich Malay cultural experience and also to get their shopping done!” Weiling
“Kampong Glam is a place filled with rich cultural atmosphere and I really enjoyed my trip there! Basically I learnt a lot more about the Malay race, and I think it’s a whole new experience which made a lot of difference to my initial knowledge of the Malays. I’ll definitely view things in a different perspective now.” Sindy
Chinatown is known as the home for most Chinese after Sir Stamford Raffles allocated the area south of the Singapore River to the Chinese community in his 1828 Town Plan. To preserve the culture and heritage, it is now classified as one of the ethnic quarters in Singapore. This week, we will bring you through a journey to explore our famous Chinatown!
Chinatown is easily accessible by taking the Mass Rapid Transit (North-East Line), alighting at the Chinatown MRT station. After alighting at the Chinatown MRT station, we followed the directions given by signboards available in the MRT station to Exit H where it leads to Chinatown. Rows of shop houses with a tinge of oriental style greeted us. The shop houses are neatly arranged at both sides of the bustling street and there are shops selling wide array of traditional Chinese products.
Chinese Traditional Garments(Cheong Sam)
Whilst walking down the rows of shop houses, one cannot fail to be captivated by the vibrant colours of the traditional garments (cheongsam). The cheongsam which is usually red symbolises the positive aspects of life such as happiness, wealth, fame. The Chinese always believe that red is associated with good luck.
Smith Street, being famous for its wide variety of good food has allowed it to stand out among its counterparts. Hence, we decided to drop by Smith Street to have our lunch.
Smith Street Before Its Opening Hours
However, to our disappointment, the street was totally empty and the shops were closed. After enquiring from one of the shopkeepers, we learnt that the food street only starts operating at 6pm. He recommended us to go to the newly renovated Chinatown Complex as there are 200 over stalls available selling a wide variety of food.
After a satisfying meal at Chinatown Complex, we decided to go for a trishaw ride around Chinatown. Trishaws were one of the most common transportation back in the olden days of Singapore. The trishaw riders will take you along designated routes in Chinatown that promise the most interesting sights and sounds in the districts. However, the ticketing officers was out for lunch so we could only take photos of the trishaws and give the trishaw ride a miss. However, a kind local gently told us that photography is not allowed.
The ticketing booth
If you have the perception of Chinatown as a place that is only visited by people of the older generation, you are absolutely wrong. The sight of the bustling streets filled with teenagers on school excursions and tourists changed our perception as Chinatown is actually a place immersed with strong Chinese cultures.
Do you know that embroidery actually have a history of over 2000 years ?
The Chinese embroidery boasts a very long history. Chinese embroidery, a folk art with a long tradition, has an important position in the history of Chinese arts and crafts. Embroidered works have become highly complex and exquisite today. We also came across several shops along Chinatown selling these exquisite embroidery works at reasonable prices.
Shops selling traditional cakes and pastries are a common sight along the Streets of Chinatown.
Chinese opera masks
In ancient China, Masks were used by performers in a dance called “Nuo”. These performances were used to frighten off the ghosts and evil souls to relieve people of epidemics. These masks are not only a special art in Chinese operas, but also an art of ornamental design. Today it has evolved into a new variety of Chinese painting.
Smith Street After 6PM
Lastly, we marked the end of our Chinatown expedition with a sumptuous dinner at the food street.
"After visiting Chinatown, my perception of this place totally changed. Now i have learnt to appreciate the chinese cultures and heritage more than before. It was certainly a fun and enriching trip."grace
Visiting the Asian civilisation Museum is an exciting and educational trip, something that everyone who steps into Singapore should do!
Travelling by public transport, we took the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) to Raffles Place, which is an interchange station between the North-South line (red line) and the East-West line (green line). This station is a very convenient meeting place as it is the central location for the MRT system that links to the whole Singapore Island. Above the MRT is Raffles Xchange, where there are a number of shops and food stations. Here you can grab some yummy snacks or breakfast-to-go for just like we did! The signboards in the station and Raffles Xchange give clear directions towards the Asian Civilisation Museum, pointing us to Exit H, Six Battery Road.
At first sight of daylight, it is easy to find yourself lost among the tall buildings, but fear not! We managed to spot the museum from a distance on the other side of the river bank. To get to the orange-beige colonial style building, we have to walk across the whitewashed Cavenagh Bridge. Before the bridge, sculptures of the river merchants can be found as well as an insight to the past of the Singapore River and the Maybank Tower. Also, there are cat sculptures by the edge of the platform nearby which is easily missed if you aren’t too careful.
Outside the museum are many interesting art pieces that are attention catching, including a carved ceremonial pole. You may also see rickshaw uncles chit-chatting and an ice cream stop that may just be helpful on those really hot days. However, do be reminded that food and drinks are not allowed in the museum!
Before you can view the galleries, you must purchase a ticket from the ticketing counter where you can also find brochures and information about the museum. There would also be an orange sticker that you have to stick on your clothes for identification purposes when touring around the museum.
With 8 galleries full of history and artefacts, the Asian Civilisation museum is well-planned as the spacious aisles naturally walk its visitors from gallery to gallery with an unending flow in spite of the heavy doors separating them. Each gallery has a theme: Singapore River, Introductory, Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia (Mary & Philbert Chin), West Asia/ Islamic, China (Kwek Hong Pang), South Asia. Historical information about the displays in each gallery can be found beside them as well as the interactive touch screen monitors that enable you to learn more in greater detail. In certain parts of the galleries, special monitors require you to insert your visitor ticket into the slot before you can view videos that usually have a culturally experienced person explaining or telling captivating stories, and even singing folk songs. As for the doors, do make use of the handicap button that automatically opens the doors for you or else you might end up grumbling like us every time we had to pull open the doors.
Taking a relatively long time of 3 ½ hours, touring the museum is time consuming but remarkably remains appealing with no trace of boredom. If all the galleries in the 3-storey building cannot be covered due to time constraints, we recommend the China Gallery where you’d be able to learn about the main religions in China and find out the common threads that bind all the individual regions in China together. Another unique aspect of this gallery is the area that represents a typical Chinese tea house, "cha guan" in which they have large metal flasks of different types of tea leaves that are used to make different teas, for you to sample the various aromas. Costumes and headdresses used in performances are also found here in which we can try them on and take photographs hence adding extra fun into the trip.
The South Asia Galleries would greatly fascinate those who have an interest in religions of the world such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The elaborate stories and the many articles and ornaments intrigue one’s senses, bringing people back to when the religion first began. However, if you are not comfortable with the religions, we would advise you not to go into the individual sections of the gallery where the dark atmosphere and chanting played over the speakers may cause discomfort.
Lastly, the Singapore River gallery is a very important stop to make as the history and evolution of Singapore from the past into what it is today can be seen here. Learn the significance of the Singapore River as early as in the 14th century while imagining the way of life back in those days. The items on display were very well maintained and portray the past very well.
On a whole, the Asian Civilisation Museum is a must-go museum in Singapore especially for those who have particular interests in culture, experience a complete tour through the history of culture, making it come alive. Don’t forget to visit the museum shop that sells all sorts of things such as playing cards, postcards, books, miniature “antiques”, massage oils, etc. Although the prices of the items there are high, the unique items available would tempt you to buy them.
To end the day, you may want to chill out at the food and beverage places at the museum or head down to the restaurants along the river banks. Also a good place for authentic food that are deemed Singaporeans’ favourites is the Lao Pa Sat which is a hawker centre within walking distance of the museum. Be sure to try the satay and BBQ seafood sold there! The good food would be the icing of the cake after the day’s cultural amazement!
Little things to take note of: · If you plan to visit the museum on weekdays, try to plan your time around the peak hours on weekdays (7 – 9.30 AM; 5 – 8 PM) to avoid the crowd as Raffles Place is the central business district of Singapore where a large proportion of the office workers travel by MRT.
· Squint your eyes to spot the orange-beige building that’s very likely to be hidden behind trees across the river when you first exit the MRT station.
· The lights in a number of galleries are very dim; if you are afraid of the dark, bring a friend along!
· The faint-hearted may be frightened by the Chinese Wa Yang masks and sculptures so you might consider not viewing that part of the gallery.
· Individual admission for an adult is $5; concession (full-time students and age 60 years and above) $2.50. As for group admissions of 20 people and above, adults need only to pay $4 and concession $2. Children who are 6years and below will have free admission into the museum.
· Guided tours are available in English, Mandarin and Japanese. The time slots for the English guided tour is 2pm on Mondays; 11am and 2pm on Tuesdays till Fridays and 11am, 2pm,3pm and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays
· Opening hours of the Museum is Monday: 1pm – 7pm; Tuesday to Sunday: 9am – 7pm.
· For more information, do check out the Asian Civilisation Museum’s website: http://www.acm.org.sg/
I feel that the trip to the Asian Civillisation Museum was a very memorable and enjoyable experience. The museum was a wonderful eye-opener to learn more about the history of Singapore. There are a wide variety of effects created which will capture your attention throughout your tour into the museum. For example, there is an overhead projection that shows videos on the history of Singapore. The videos are projected either on the ground or on the uniquely positioned screens in the dark room. The dim lights also create a mystic and rustic enviroment. -Wei Minh
Welcome back. This week we will bring you through a tour around the Chinatown Heritage Centre. The Chinatown Heritage Centre plays an important role in depicting the history and culture of Singapore. Therefore after going around Chinatown, we decided to visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
The Chinatown Heritage Centre which is located along Pagoda Street brings you back to the past where one can experience the lives of the early settlers.
We purchased our admission tickets from the friendly staff situated at the cashier. She directed us to the entrance and we embarked on our learning journey. We were told to follow the red arrows on the floor and not to take any photos within the museum.
The museum showcases many artefacts such as suitcases and paper umbrellas that were used by the early settlers. There is a lift available in the museum that caters to the needs of the handicap. The museum is air-conditioned and it is dimly lit to give a vintage ambience. Chairs are also available for visitors to take a break if they are tired.
On the first level, there is a Kopi Tiam with an olden day setting which depicts the life of the early settlers. It is a realistic illustration of the olden day coffee shop with menus pasted on the walls.
On the second floor, we could see real artefacts used by the early settlers when they came down to Singapore to escape poverty. There was a gambling den shown with broken bowls and bloodstains everywhere. This depicted the past where gang fights were common. Next to it was the prostitution parlour and information boards that describe the Four Evils, namely prostitution, gambling, opium smoking and drinking.
On the third floor, there is a scene of a wake that gives a creepy feeling as there were white lanterns hanging from above and paper dolls at the corner of the room. There are also televisions showing interviews of people such as the son of Eu Tong Sen. We also found out that Chinese Opera is one of the main entertainments of the people as there were no televisions available at that time. Chinese Opera is one of the oldest dramatic art forms in the world. It is a combination of music, art and literature all into one performance on the stage.
On our way down, we saw cubicles of different families like the carpenter, shoemaker and coolie. Each cubicle showcases the lives of different families. On our way out, there is also a retail shop selling a variety of merchandise such as souvenirs and games played during the olden days.
“Admission tickets were worth it as I gained valuable knowledge that I could not get from textbooks. This is a unique experience and I had enjoyed myself during this trip to the Chinatown Heritage Centre.” Grace
“After this trip, I could truly understand the lives of the early settlers. Our ancestors have been living in extreme poverty that some of them do not have the money to buy even planks to bury the dead. I have learnt to treasure what I have now.” Huimin
"This trip to Chinatown Heritage Centre was an insightful one, for I witnessed the poor living conditions of different dialect and ethnic groups, in which left me a very deep impression. It was a major eye-opener for me, especially listening to how the people tried to make a living in the past with the traits and skills that many of us don’t have now.” Sindy
CHINATOWN HERITAGE CENTRE This was a fascinating museum. More than simply galleries of objects on display, this museum recreates what life was like for Chinese inhabitants of Singapore at the turn of the century. I learned more here about the real history of Singapore than anywhere else. It was one of the most worthwhile things to do in the country. It is very easy to find in Chinatown, affordable, and takes only 45 mins to an hour to visit the entire museum.
- kellyfromcanada, Canada
CHINATOWN China town's a cool place to walk along if you are free. The structure of the buildings is incredibly astonishing... Not to mention the food centre is really good and serves varieties of food... You guys must give the claypot a try. Can’t exactly remember which one, there are around 3 or so there, but all are really good. Also, not to mention, there are stalls that sells really cheap CDs jumping off from $6. Originals!
- Giselle, New York
The colorfully painted shophouses and covered sidewalks (called 5-foot ways) are lovely, and you can catch glimpses of the men's social groups and kitchens behind the scenes. Also, don't miss going into a Chinese herbalist shop or two - they're astounding. I was there the weekend after Chinese New Year's, and it was really quiet. If you are in Singapore mid-Jan, though, leading up to New Year's, it's incredibly lively and mad with people.
- Laetitia, France
ASIAN CIVILISATION MUSEUM I especially loved the stuff on the history of Singapore. Fascinating conglomeration of cultures there. There are tidbits of many different asian cultures here - not a whole lot of depth in any one of them. But the interpretive material is engaging and some of the artifacts are jaw-dropping. This was the only museum I went to while I was in Singapore, and it was definitely worth it.
- A TripAdvisor Member
I found this place without much problem as it’s located near the Raffles Place MRT. The exhibits were interesting as I found that some of the cultures have stronger influences than the rest. There are well-placed self-help guides and detailed information for each exhibit. Walking around is a breeze and there are benches available for those who are tired.
I like the fact that the place is wheelchair friendly. However, some of the exhibits for interaction aren’t that friendly for wheelchairs which is a pity.You can even place your bags in the lockers provided so you can roam around with less things to carry.
- Wishbone, England
ARAB STREET
Arab Street is a street not to be missed in Kampong Glam. The shopkeepers of Molkan Fabrics (72 Arab Street) are friendly and helpful. Also worth getting on Arab Street are the rattan knick-knacks - baskets, hand-bags
- Saleh, Malaysia
● he-artsculturesg.blogspot.com ●
About Singapore
Being the smallest nation in the Southeast Asia, Singapore is an acclaimed tourist hub of the world. She provides an extensive and vast array of options for sightseeing. Rich ethnic and religious diversity of this place ensures that wide range of places and activities are available to cater to the tourists visiting Singapore.
The population of Singapore comprises mostly of Chinese, followed by Malay and Indians. Four official languages that are widely spoken are Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English.
What is so unique about Singapore? (Read on to find out what others think.)
Top row (from left to right): Yiping, Huimin, Sindy, Weiminh
Bottom row (from left to right): Weiling, Grace
Behind the scenes: We're your dedicated bloggers bringing your way an enriching and fun-filled arts, heritage and cultural journey! Currently Year 1 students from the Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management in Temasek Polytechnic.
Kids like us are always curious and ready for new experience! So off we go, set off for our first rich and educational experience of the Malay culture! Like all adventurers, we did our homework and some research! We found out that if we are hungry halfway through the walk, there is always 
There are also other restaurants around the area such as 
Because we were not in proper attire that day, we decided not to visit the Sultan Mosque. So 
Many of these shophouses sold items such as traditional clothes, artefacts, handicrafts, furniture and jewellry. Needless to say, along the mall there are also exclusive restaurants and established eating outlets offering a range of favourite local fares to international cuisines.
Being the crazy shopaholics that we were, the group of us went crazy when we saw many good deals and attractive products such as their hand-made handbags. The handbags were not only pretty but also unique in its own way as they are made by weaving canes together. It was nice to know that such traditional art appreciation is still known and appreciated to this day where everyone seeks for only material goods.
Walking on, we saw a very cute shop that displayed many traditional toys like Chapteh, Sepak Takraw Crane Ball, Five Stones, and many more.
It was interesting to see the different types of cultural arts that the Malays have, such as the puppets and their traditional musical instruments and also their unique and exciting games, and how these arts play such an important role in their life.
With that, we ended our tour around Bussorah Street and headed over to the next highlight of Kampong Glam: 
Arab Street today is a key Muslim centre in Singapore. It used to be main selling place of Muslim men’s headgear (or songkok), the holy Quran, prayer mats and textiles. Rows of conserved shophouses can be found in Arab Street, Baghdad Street.
Spices, textiles, basketry items and lavish fashion items such as lace, precious stones and diamantes are sold along this row of shophouses with five-foot way at Arab Street. Because we rarely see these items, we tried out some of the items and took pictures!
Arab Street is now more known for the fabrics the vendors sell out of the old shophouses. A great place to go if you want or need fabric/silk! And be overwhelmed by the stunning variety of glorious fabrics in every imaginable texture and colour!
