Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

By: Benjamin & Aroon








We went to Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple with my classmate yesterday. Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is one of the oldest temples in Singapore. It is located in the heart of Little India on Serangoon Road and is well patronised by Hindu worshippers. The tall Gopuram (tower) shows the different incarnations of Lord Vishnu.







This beautiful temple was dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the temple was built in 1855. The 20-metres-tall Gopuram is a relatively recent addition. Each tier is decorated with sculptures of various avatars of Vishnu and other motifs.


The temple's five-tier Gopuram was a donation from P. Govindasamy Pillai, he is one of the earliest Indian migrants who made good. He also set up a chain of popular general goods stores in Little India and was known for his philanthropic works, a legacy continued by his sons today.






We can feel the renovations and extensions work done to the temple but still remain in traditionally Hindu essence. There are high boundary walls lined with animal, human and divine sculptures. We also touched the massive timber double-leafed entrance doors.






Inside the temple we saw a statue of Perumal, or Vishnu, his consorts Lakshmi and Andal, and his bird-mount, Garuda. Perumal Temple is at the centre of the Hindu trinity made up of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer.





We also saw ongoing ceremonies and Ekadasi Celebrations inside the temple, temple celebrates special ceremonies like marriages, religious processions, special prayers sections and also special cultural programme like dance and performance by local group Bharatha Arts.


We also donate to the temple and pray for our love ones. If you have a spare time please pay visit to this temple and you will get a chance to see more about other culture as well. We do some shopping at Mustafa Shopping Centre that near by too.






We studied that on 10 November 1978, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was gazetted as a national monument. Visitors are advised to dress conservatively as this is a place of worship. Please took off your shoes before stepping into the temple.


Admission is free.


Location: 397 Serangoon Road


Getting there: By Bus or MRT, Take the MRT to NE8 Farrer
Park and head toward Serangoon Road. The temple is a short walk from the station.

Singapore Art Museum

By: Teresa






It is Singapore Art Museum that I have already visited with my family and friends. I also learned that Singapore Art Museum reopened in December 2006 after three years of restoration and renovation, the building itself very architecturally was stunning and this grand majestic building is home to the Singapore History Gallery and four Living Galleries such as Fashion, Food, Photography and Film.



Singapore Art Museum leaves the best impression for me. In this museum, it consists of the national art collection of Singapore, receives one of the world’s largest collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian Modern and Contemporary Art, Nurtures and expanding collection of New Asian and International Contemporary Art.



You can enjoy a late dinner at a nearby Kopitiam food court as well. Alternatively, throw in a dining experience at another colonial-style building, which used to be another middle school (CHIJ), CHIJMES, just across the road from Singapore Art Museum.






I saw a lot of pictures, logos, designs that made by humans. Some are also huge statues. Among them, some of them are very interesting and lovely, some can’t understand the meaning.

I also saw the bright orange colour with large wheels. It is called Paraisado Sorbertero to mind a third king of conveyance the ice cream cart. In this work, it is used for a base and foundation of the iconic architectures of a gothic cathedral, Kariton also perform as a ‘church on wheels’.


The National Art Museum is a 10 minute walk from Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall MRT stations. There are public parking available at Singapore Management University located opposite the National Art Museum, or at the YMCA adjacent to the museum.


All of visitors can observe to museum daily. I also learned many art related things there and found out many interesting things about Singapore and other countries, I do wish to visit there again in near future with my friends.


Useful Map




OPENING HOURS

Monday to Sunday: 10am - 7pm
Friday: 10am - 9pm
Free admission on Friday night, 6pm – 9pm
Want to know more please visit to http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/

Fu Lu Shou famous Buddhist Temple, Bugis, Singapore

By: Teresa





It is very famous “Kuan Yin” Goddess of Mercy Temple. Most of the people who go and visit in Bugis, it is the main cultural attraction for Chinese people .It is situated on the main Junction of Bugis.


We can easily reach there by taking MRT . The statue of ‘Kuan Yin’ is strange from others. Most of Chinese people believe and worship ‘Kuan Yin’ in their mind .It also can say their culture believes. Chinese people go and pray to temple and ask their fortune .This temple is very famous that can tell right things for humans.





I saw the wall and the building of temple is Chinese historical decoration. I want to share with you how inside and what kind of statues in there. But one Reason is not allowed take photo inside. So if you are interested this temple, you can go and observe yourself.








I have reached this temple three times already. There is always crowded .All the people homage towards sky first if they come to temple then they turn towards “Kuan Yin” statues and pray.


It’s also their habit that they trust the god in the sky. Some of the people worship with flowers. I advice not only Chinese but also others Buddhist people can go and visit “Fu Lu Shou” temple.


Entry: Free

Singapore’s Chinatown

By: ViVi

Wish to visit the district that is rich of history and culture but do not want to miss the shopping hour? Singapore’s Chinatown will be a right place to go. It has been designated for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority as a heritage site since the Chinese in the past had settled down in this area and inherited their cultural tradition life.


Chinatown is very accessible as visitors only need to take MRT to Chinatown (NE4).


My friends, Benjamin and Aroon are posing at Chinatown. If you see the building behind them, for sure, your instinct will directly bring you back to 70s or 80s. The architecture was believed to get influence by the Chinese immigrants who were familiar with baroque and Victorian architectures.











Chinatown can be considered as the best place for shopping and purchasing souvenirs. The products that are sold there are affordable and unique. As the Chinese New Year is nearer, we will be able to find a lot of stuff that are related to this event, such as Ang Pao (Red Pocket), decorative stuff, etc. Besides, in the normal operating days, we also can see a plenty of stalls that sell the distinctive Chinese products, such as kites, masks and Qi Pao. Before purchasing the items, remember to bargain because you may get the discounts.




Does Chinatown sell only the distinguishing Chinese items? Of course, it does not. In this opportunity, our team and friends have come across a sausage stall, named Erich’s Wuerstelstand. The chef, Mr Erich Sollbock and his stall has become very popular and ever been interviewed by several times because of their unique characteristic that makes them stand out.


After shopping and eating, what should we do next? It is a good idea to visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre that is located along Pagoda Street.






To me, Chinatown Heritage Centre is like museum. It exhibits the galleries of the former residents’ lifestyles. Visitors will experience first-hand what they used to do and how they used to live from squeezing themselves in the cramped room, gambling and Chinese mafia. Come and explore it! You will understand the hardship of those early settlers.





Some of you may be wonder what it is. It is a type of transportation in the past which is rarely to be seen and used nowadays. It is called rickshaw. It can only carry for maximum 3 people. The driver (cycler) uses his leg to pedal the rickshaw and send the passengers to the destination. You can imagine how tough and tired the cycler was in order to earn a plate of rice.


It opens from 9am to 8pm daily. The centre admission is $10 for adult and $6 for child between 3 to 12 years old.

Singapore’s Chinatown is a worth-visit attraction. its rich history of the past, delicious food and reasonably priced items will not let you disappointed.

The Lao Beijing Restaurant

By : Wei Wei

Singapore is a multiracial Country and you can find different kinds of food here. No matter where are you,food is always a attraction for people. As a country that pays great attention to cooking, Chinese Cuisine Culture is deep rooted in China's history. The Lao Beijing restaurant in Singapore is a famous place to provide natural Chinese food.


Menu




The menu is the same as antiquity restaurant menu. Feel the history of Chinese restaurant.



Peking Duck



The specialty dish is Peking duck. The tasting feeling is crispy and aromatic serve with pancake. Peking duck , a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been appeared since the imperial era. The two most famous restaurants in Beijing which serve this delicacy are Quanjude and Bianyifang,




Sauté Diced Chicken with Hot Peppers




Sauté diced chicken with hot peppers, is traditional Chinese food. Now is a popular food in Singapore.




Steamed Bun



Steamed Bun is from Shanghai, The skin is very thin and more juice inside. After trying this dish you will love the taste and won’t forget this.




Mixed seafood



Mixed seafood. Use different kinds of seafood to cooking together. The dish is very fresh.




Glutinous Rice Cakes



Glutinous Rice Cakes. Special dessert from Lao Beijing Restaurant Chef



Lao Beijing Restaurant 老北京食堂

Address:
68 Orchard Road
#03-01 Plaza Singapura

Tel: +65 6738 7207


http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/lao_beijing_plaza_singapura/

Peranakan

By: Aroon


Introduce to Peranakan

Who are Peranakans?

Peranakans are a group of people who have mixed marriages of Chinese and Malay. We can especially see their life style and culture in Singapore. Peranakans are creative and hard working people it shown on the houses they live in which are magnificent and detailing.


(Peranakan village, Chinatown)


Peranakan women are very obey to their parents and traditional. They are excellent housewife; they have special talent in cooking and handicraft. Peranakan men are smart to do trading and business, in other side they are traditional and family men. Overall, Peranakans are rich people, they rich in culture, rich in helping people, rich in creating and rich in love. The Peranakan culture is a unique hybrid culture that is still part of Singapore’s living heritage.




(An elderly Peranakan grandma showing her sewing skill, she looks very kind.Picture taken from Peranakan Musuem)


Peranakan History

The Peranakans are descendants of an early Chinese community that settled in the Malay Archipelago at least since the 17th century. Many members of the early community were seafarers who traded between the ports of southern China and those of Southeast Asia. The oldest Chinese communities can be found in Malacca. As Chinese women were by law not allowed to leave their native country until the middle of the 19th century, many of these early traders married non-Muslim natives of the Malay Archipelago, such as Balinese or Batak slaves.


In the 18th and 19th centuries the Peranakans were involved in opium, sireh, nutmeg and liquor farming, pepper and gambier cultivation, tin mining, commodity trading and property. In the early 20th century, many Peranakans invested in rubber.
They also worked as compradors for big Western companies and banks. As a Chinese community that always considered Malaya home, many Peranakans were involved in civic projects and local government, and numbered among the key players in Malaysia and Singapore's road to independence.

Civilian War Memorial

By: ViVi








After British colony surrendered on 15 February 1942 during the second war, Japan started to occupy Singapore. It applied the Sook Ching massacre operation towards Chinese in Singapore but later on, it was also extended to Chinese Malayans.



Sook Ching (肅清) operation was taken to purge the local Chinese who had the strong faithfulness to either the Britain or Republic of China. Japanese military was mainly targeting the activists in China Relief Fund, adherents of Tan Kah Kee, Hainanese, China-born Chinese who came to Malaya after the Second Sino-Japanese War, men with tattoos, Chinese who joined the Singapore Overseas Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army, civil servants and those who were likely to sympathise with the British. The massacre was done through screening and killing process. All Chinese men from 18 to 50 years old would have to report to Kempetai and be examined by them. They would receive “Examined” paper or stamp if they passed the check. On the contrary, they would lose their precious life once being dragged to the truck and sent to killing site. There were no accurate numbers of people who were taken away and massacred but it was estimated for about 50,000 people.


This “four giant chopsticks” were started to construct on 23rd April 1966 at Beach Road (near City hall MRT station) for the purpose of commemorating the civilian victims of Japanese occupancy. The 70 meters height pillars represent the unity of four major races in Singapore which are Chinese, Malay, Indian and other races.






It displays 3 different languages (Chinese, Malay and English) for the visitors to understand the meaning of the memorial.






If we take the closer look, we will find that it has several merlions’ heads that represent Singapore.


Wish to know more?

Click at here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_War_Memorial


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sook_Ching_massacre

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

By: Benjamin






Last week I got a chance to visit Buddha Tooth Relic Temple at South Bridge Road in Chinatown with some of my best friends from my class. I saw many tourists from Europe and Asia came to visit the Temple regardless of different origins, cultures and religions and Temple data shown that 50,000 visitors visited every month. There are seven activities carried out everyday such as Morning Opening Ceremony – Broad Bell and Drum Ritual, Morning Chanting, Opening of the Mountain Gate, Maitreya Buddha Ceremony, View of Scare Buddha Tooth Relic, Evening Closing Ceremony – Drum, Bell and Board Ritual and closing Mountain Gate is the last ceremony. Visitors are allowed to view the relic at most of the time and not allowed to take photographs or videos at 4th story of the temple.








The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum is a living cultural monument in the heart of Chinatown , It is dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha (Future Buddha) also known as Ari Meiteiya Buddha in Burmese. It is such a grand and magnificent Chinese temple, In the Temple main attraction is the Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic in a magnificent Relic Stupa composed of 420kg of gold donated by devotees. Every day the inner chamber will be unveiled at stipulated timings in a ceremony conducted by resident monks and the public can view the Relic Stupa. Temple includes the Buddhist Culture Museum, Eminent Sangha Museum, Tripitaka Relic Chamber, Exhibition Hall. There are many collections of Buddhist artifacts from Asian countries, such as Myanmar, Thailand, China, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan and etc.







Temple consists of five stories building, on the rooftop, visitors can admire the pure elegant blooms of the Dendrobium Buddha Tooth, an orchid species specially named after the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum. Visitors can also rest and enjoy refreshing tea and healthy vegetarian snacks in the cozy Lotus Heart Tea House on the 2nd floor or visit the Dining Hall in the basement where free vegetarian meals are distributed daily. A shop on the ground floor allows visitors to purchase offering items, including the Dendrobium Buddha Tooth orchid and a range of books, CDs, handicrafts and commemorative souvenirs.









Visitors are advised to dress conservatively as this is a place of worship. Even entry to the Temple is free of charge and open from 7 am to 7 pm open daily. Temple itself just beside Singapore Chinatown Heritage Center and it is also a unique selling point for Singapore Tourism Board. Chinatown is well-known for every tourist to see heritage, art, culture, shopping and dining and also close to many famous attractions at one go. I do pray for everyone that I known and signed visitor book as well, I hope you should not miss this wonderful museum if you want to have a good understanding of the religion of Buddhism and way of learning by your heart.






Entry : Free

Location : South Bridge Road, Chinatown

Wish to know more, please visit at http://www.btrts.org.sg/

Kusu Island

By: ViVi




A warm welcome from Kusu Island
As we disembark from the ship, we will see this warm greeting in Kusu Island.

Kusu Island
Have you heard about the legend that a giant sea tortoise transformed itself into an island to save 2 shipwrecked sailors? Do you know that this island is located in Singapore? Either you have ever heard about this legend or even have no idea of what it is; you should come to explore it.





History of Kusu Island
As we walk into the Kusu Island, we will see some boards that share the information about the Kusu Island, one of them is “History of Kusu Island”. Every ninth lunar month, thousands of people will come here to pray.







Legend of Kusu
If this is your first trip to Kusu Island, you should stop at this board for a while and read about the legend of this island. You would know why it is called Tortoise Island too after reading it.





Wishing well
Throw your coin into this lotus flower and try to hit the bell. If you are successful to do this and hear “tinggg…” sound, it is the time for you to make a wish.





Da Bogong Temple
Da Bogong is the merchant God or God of Prosperity. The temple houses two main deties – The Da Bogong and Guan Yin ( Goddess of Mercy )





An old lady is groping the tortoise sculpture as it may be bring luck






After walking through 152 staircase steps, you will reach three Kramats ( holy shrines of Malay saints )






Wishing Pond
Visitors can make a wish at this wishing pond. The shape of this wishing pond is like a cave where a lot of turtles are swimming in the water and crawling on the land.






Two Turtles
These two turtles represent two shipwrecked sailors ( a Malay and a Chinese ) who were saved by the tortoise.



Ticket admission ( Return Ticket )
Adult : S$ 15
Child : S$ 12
Location : Marina South Pier

Singapore, Multi Cultural Country

Singapore, the multi-cultural country “ Marilah kita bersatu…..” is one of the sentences in national anthem of Singapore which means “let us unite”. Singapore is a very colourful country where people from different countries and races inhabit. The major residents of Singapore are Chinese, Malay, Indian and European immigrants. Therefore, there are plenty of cultures and heritages districts can be found in here as they are the symbol of the unique characteristic of Singapore. Do they influence Singapore’s art? Yes, of course they do. Art is a part of the culture and heritage. It can come from the songs that were sung by our ancestors or even paintings of our grandparents’ life in the past. Let’s explore this rich of culture, heritage and art country.