Singapore – Day 6
Wednesday, 21-Oct-2015
Tags: Travel
A work day for Larry, a play day for Eileen.
First was a 15-20 minute walk to Telok Ayer Street. The Malay name refers to "bay water" because Telok Ayer Street was the coastal road along the bay. After land reclamation, it is no longer near the water. It was home to various ethnic groups of immigrants in the 1820s, e.g. Indian Muslims, Chinese, etc. The area has interesting spots with sculptures depicting scenes with accompanying plaques with descriptions.
First stop: Indian Muslim Heritage Center, Nagore Dargah. Very interesting presentation on the walls plus artifacts in cases.
Second stop: Thian Hock Keng Chinese Temple. Thian Hock Keng is one of the oldest and most important Hokkien temple in Singapore. It was visited by Chinese immigrants giving thanks to Ma Zu (Goddess of the Sea) for their safe voyage. In 1839, under the leadership of Mr Tan Tock Seng and Mr Si Hoo Keh, the Hokkien clan built the temple in Telok Ayer Street.
Next stop: Took DT MRT line from Telok Ayer to Burgis to look at the Sultan Mosque in the Kampong Glam Malay Heritage District, southeast of Little India.
Along the way, I passed the Parkview Square building. Although it is a modern building, having been completed in 2002, it is designed in the classic Art Deco style. And I love Art Deco…so here is shot. So odd to have so many different style buildings from so many periods in one place.
The Sultan Mosque, first built in 1826, aided with money by Sir Stamford Raffles as part of the deal with the English. The mosque was rebuilt in 1928 and had an annex added in 1993. It is currently undergoing new renovations and is closed to the public.
After looking at the Mosque, I walked around some streets a bit, and then went into the Malay Heritage Center. Like Telok Ayer, Beach Street used to be on sand flats, but with land reclamation, is no longer near the water. Again a very nice center. Here is a shot of a Koran as well.
I walked to a main street to take a bus, and saw this modern building – so many interesting ones.
I then took Bus 100 from St. John HQ to OUE Bayfront, walked through Fullerton Bay Hotel to the Merlion — the spouting-water symbol of Singapore — half lion, half fish. Then I walked along the water — Boat Quay to Clarke Quay back to the hotel.
The Singapore Flyer, ArtScience Museum, and the Sands.
We ate dinner at Old Chendu again — pan-friend dumplings, ma po dofu, bok choy. Along the way, we passed the ChinaTown Point Mall, the area a little like Times Square. By the way, there was a large Fairprice grocery store on the B1 level, where we bought wine, nuts, and other sundries a couple of times.
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