Dear Readers,
Dear readers, the last issue of Horizons included exciting articles on the Spartans and Killer bees as well as the more modern coffee culture that is sweeping the globe. These are some examples of the interesting topics we would like to incorporate into our magazine. Certainly those topics will be a hard act to follow but we have not relented in our efforts and we hope that you will enjoy reading this issue of Horizons too.
This issue contains the unusual Venus Flytrap; a plant that devours its prey like a real predator and a spotlight on our very own war hero, Lim Bo Seng. It is important to remember our past as it helps us to learn from past mistakes or emulate an important historical figure. In past issues, we published several articles on culture so in this issue, we delve deeper on the importance of culture itself. Why do we need it? It is hoped that thinking about such issues will widen our readers’ perspective of their surroundings.
In a nutshell, we will always be trying to improve our magazine so that you, the readers will benefit from the knowledge and enjoy the experience of discovering more about the world around you.
Singapore’s Chinatown is one of its oldest districts and was the home to many generations of Chinese immigrants who came to the British port looking for a new life. Today, it retains much of its charm and continues to be a bustling centre for business and enterprise among the Chinese in Singapore.
Chinatown is also known as “Water Bullock Cart”, which refers to the custom of delivering water by bullock carts in the old days before piped water. The architecture is also unique to the region, featuring long and narrow shop houses built in a colonial style using many Asian decorative features. Most of these have been restored and make a pleasant visual sight.
PLACES TO VISIT
To better appreciate the living conditions and experiences of the early Chinese settlers, try visiting the excellent museum, Chinatown Heritage Centre, which is located at 48 Pagoda Street. It is within two converted former shophouses on Pagoda Street. The first half of the centre is a museum that tells the history of Chinese immigration to Singapore, but it is the second half which is outstanding—a realistic recreation of what living with many families in an actual shophouse would have been like, with communal facilities and a business on the ground floor.
A remarkable characteristic of Singapore is the way that different religious places of worship often exist in close proximity of another and still maintain great harmony. Chinatown, in fact, is one of the best examples of this. You can visit a Chinese temple, a Hindu temple and a mosque, all of which are located a stone’s throw from each other. Here’s an easy route that will take less than three hours to complete. Starting from the Chinatown
MRT station, head down Pagoda Street to
Sri Mariammam Temple (244 South Bridge Road): This is Singapore’s oldest and most beautiful Hindu temple. Founded in 1827, the temple is an elaborate construction, with a carved pantheon of gods covering the tiers of its entrance towers.
Next, visit the nearby Jamae Mosque (218 South Bridge Road): This unassuming mosque is actually one of the oldest in Singapore, built in 1830 by Chulia Tamil muslims from South India. A mix of South Indian and Muslim architectural styles, the mosque is oriented towards Mecca. Women wishing to visit this mosque should note that they should cover their shoulders and legs, although the temple also lends out coveralls.
Lastly, it’s hard to miss the Buddhist Tooth Relic Temple (288 South Bridge Road): This imposing edifice is one of the newest and grandest Buddhist complexes built in Singapore and was constructed to host a prized possession: a tooth relic believed to come from the original Buddha. The interior of the temple is grand and lavishly decorated with gold. It is home to a permanent Buddha exhibition and is also a centre of learning. In its basement, vegetarian fare is served for free although a donation is appreciated. Visitors to this temple should also visit the rooftop to see its giant prayer wheel.
DELICACIES TO SAVOUR
Like the rest of Singapore, Chinatown is filled with eateries ranging from high end restaurants to small coffeeshops. If you’re in Chinatown, you should definitely seek out some of the best Singaporean Chinese food that this district offers.
A unique and popular snack sold here is Bak Gua, a barbequed pork jerky with the chewy texture of beef jerky, but a smoky and sweet flavour, Bak Gua is made from pressed barbequed strips of meat. Visitors can also try pork floss, a fluffy savoury topping often eaten with rice or bread. For Bak Gua, go directly to the most popular providers, Bee Cheng Hiang and Lim Chee Guan (203 New Bridge Road). Beware though, during the Lunar New Year period, expect to wait in line for hours!
Dim Sum is also as popular here as it is in Hong Kong. Dim sum is eaten between lunch hours into the late afternoon, and many restaurants utilise push carts that go around the restaurant bringing bamboo steamers. While the restaurants usually offer the finest dim sum, you can find good quality affordable dim sum in Chinatown at Yum Cha and Dim Joy.
Porridge, or congee, is the popular late night meal of choice among many Singaporeans and it is common to see many eateries set up outdoor tables at night for the supper crowd. There are all kinds of porridge you can order, ranging from the completely vegetarian to the hearty, but a classic is Frog Leg Porridge, which pairs spicy stir-fried frog legs with smooth rice congee. A popular place for enjoying this is Tiong Shian Porridge House on New Bridge Road.
Chinatown is well known for having the best Chinese desserts, which include classics like red bean soup, black sesame paste, almond paste, mango pudding and chilled honeydew sago. While you can order these desserts in any food court, it is better to seek out the many specialised dessert shops for the best flavours.
HAVEN FOR SHOPPERS
All manners of things can be found in Chinatown from electronics to endless arrays of knick-knacks. The best way is truly to explore the little streets and alleyways to discover the shopping. However, if you are interested in fine jewellery, Singapore has a reputation as a good place to buy jade. While prices will be higher than buying jade in China, you are less likely to encounter problems when it comes to authenticity.
The best known place for buying jade in Singapore is Li Hong Jade. Located on Smith Street, Li Hong Jade is an institution known for selling top quality jade pieces in both traditional and contemporary designs.
Various festivals are celebrated all around the world throughout the year. Most festivals are unique to certain cultures and often celebrated in remembrance of a particular legend or folktale. As a multi-cultural society, Singapore has many different festivals that demonstrate the rich culture of the different ethnic communities in Singapore. visit each other and exchange auspicious wellwishes for the new year ahead.
According to legend, there was once a monster known as Nian, which attacked and terrorised Chinese villages on the first day of the lunar calendar. Nian was afraid of loud sounds and the colour red, so each year, the Chinese wore red and lit fire crackers to ward off the monster and usher in the new year.
In preparation for this festival, most Chinese families do a ‘spring cleaning’ of their homes as a symbolic gesture to make way for the good luck of the Lunar New Year. During this festival, the most auspicious colour is red and children are blessed by their elders with red packets or hongbaos.
Not all festivals are celebrated as joyously as the Lunar New Year. Another festival celebrated by the Chinese is the Hungry Ghost Festival. Observed during the 7th month on the Lunar Calendar, this festival is a time when the “Gates of Hell” are opened and souls of the dead are freed and allowed to roam the earth. In order to appease these free spirits, there are Chinese getai performances all over the country. Everyone is welcomed to watch the show as long as one does not sit at the front row, which is reserved for these “special guests”. Paper money is also burnt in bins as “wealth-offering” to these wandering spirits.
Malay Festivals
The most well known festival celebrated by Muslims is Hari Raya Puasa. It is celebrated after observing 30 days of dawn-to-dusk fasting during the month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan, is a time for the Muslims to dedicate themselves and purify their bodies and soul to God by abstaining from food and drink during the day. Families and friends then come together at the end of each day to break their fast with prayers and food.
During Hari Raya, the streets of Geylang Serai or Kampong Glam are bustling with activity, food and exciting performances. On the day of Hari Raya Puasa, Muslim families are often dressed in their traditional Baju Kurung of the same colour to signify their unity. The wide variety of home-cooked food and well-loved kueh-kueh (desserts) served during this time is also testimony to their great hospitality and rich culture. It is a happy day too, as children receive little green packets of money from adults.
Hari Raya Haji, or the Festival of Sacrifice commemorates God’s forgiveness of Ibrahim of his promise to sacrifice his own son Ishmael as commanded by Allah. Depending on the lunar Islamic Calendar and the position of the moon, the exact date of Hari Raya Haji is announced by the Islamic authority closer to the festival but generally falls two months after Hari Raya Puasa. The more affluent Muslims sacrifice their best domestic animals, such as sheep, as a reenactment of Ibrahim’s sacrifice. Portions of the sacrificed animal are then given to the poor and also shared among friends and families as a celebration meal. Some Muslims too, make their journey to the Holy Land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the haj, which is a requirement in the religion. Muslims must perform the haj at least once in their lifetime. After the haj is performed, the men are given the title “haji” and the women “hajjah”.