Rediscover Singapore - Thomson Nature Park

Today 15th January 2021 had our first macro shoot inside Thomson Nature Park which was opened in October 2019 and Singapore newest and seventh nature park. The purpose of the park is to help conserve biodiversity in the area which is near the Central Catchment Area to increase the park and the urban area and attract visitors of which very glad and lucky to meet our Ex-Prime Minister  EMS Goh Chok Tong having a stroll in the nature park, The area is full of wildlife some of which are endangered species and rich fauna. This is also the place of the once-famous Hainan Village, now deserted. 

Rediscover Singapore - Taoist Culture

Guan Jiang Shou (官将首) and Ba Jiang Tuan (八将團) 

In Taoist mythology, they are the guards of the underworld who serve nether deities, many of them are depicted, Guan Jian Shou (senior officers) and Ba Jiang Tuan (eight generals) performances, which are an important feature of traditional folk processions all over Taiwan as they serve to punish evil and reward the good. Zhong Lian Tian is the first Guan Jiang Shou and Ba Jiang Tuan in Singapore and the only group that is recognised in Taiwan. the troupe has participated in the festive celebration in Singapore and Malaysia. The troupe inherited the Taiwan style of face painting and had spent the last six years or more perfecting the arts of Guan Jiang Shou with martial arts. The formation of  the Ba Jiang performed are designed from the Taoism elements like the Ba Gua (八卦), Wu Xin (五行) and Seven Stars (七星) 

Rediscover Singapore - Civilian War Memorial

During the Japanese Empire occupation of Singapore thousand of ethnic Chinese was killed in the Sook Ching Massacre in an effort to removed anti-Japanese elements in Singapore young men between the age of 18 to 50 were to report to the Kempeitai, the imperial Japanese Army military police. The death toll was reported as 6000 but the official estimate range between 25000 to 50000 in February 1962 the civilians remains was unearthed in Siglap, Changi and Bukit Timah.  In 1963 then our Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew set aside a piece of land in Beach Road for the building of a memorial dedicated to the civilians killed in World War II. The SCCC set up a fund committee for this project and the design of the memorial was conceived by our very own architect who won first prize in an open competition, the four identical pillars, each 70 metres high represent the shared experience and unity of the 4 major races of Singapore. The memorial was in January 1967 and officially unveiled by Lee Kuan Yew on the 15th of February who laid a wreath at the memorial. Every year on the 15th of February (Total Defence Day in Singapore, commemorating 1942  surrender of Singapore to the Japanese) a memorial service is held at the Civilian War Memorial to remember the victims of the war.

Rediscover Singapore - The Singapore Buddhist Lodge

Located along 17-19 Kim Yam Road stood The Singapore Buddhist Lodge which is a charitable organisation in Singapore and was founded in 1934 by 100 philanthropies members of the Singapore Society. It celebrates 85 years with a new hall and Buddha statue last year. The lodge serves free vegetarian meals from 7am - 7pm to all regard of race, language or religion.

Rediscover Singapore Kallang Riverside (Fire City)

Fire city is referring to the Kallang Gasworks from 1862 to March 1998 involving in gas production for 137 years and in 1997 the piped gas production was relocated to Senoko Gasworks. The infamous 1964 riots broke out opposite the Kallang Gasworks. Plans to redevelop the Kallang Riverside Park was officially announced in 1987 that the Kallang Gasworks to be demolished. Today as a tribute Kallang Gasworks the supporting pillars and girders of its Gasholder No3 the gasworks oldest remaining structure were preserved and refurbished and later installed at the Kallang Riverside Park together with the sculpture the Spirit of Kallang pay a special homage the former iconic landmark of Kallang.

Rediscover Singapore - Pongal Festival

Singaporean Tamil celebrate the harvest festival known as Pongal Festival which falls on the 14th - 17th January 2021 with highlights involve traditional dancing, cooking demonstration and above all festive bazaar offering Indian arts and crafts and outfit jewellery in addition there will be cultural performances with local and foreign artists entertaining during the harvest festivies by expressing their gratitude for the past year's harvest. The Pongal festival belongs to one of the most important events in the Tamil calender the name comes from the Tamil word "pongu" meaning to boil over or flourish there will be the traditional filling of clay pots fresh rice and milk adding ginger, turmeric, brown sugar, cashew nuts, raisin and ghee as it cooks. Once it cooks people will shout pongollo pongal meaning may the rice boil over. Head over to Cambell Lane to witness the festival and participate in the cooking of the rice and milk. 

Rediscover Singapore - KTM Railway

The Tanjong Pagar Railway station was completed in 1932 together with the west coast extension line and the Tank Road branch was officially closed and dismantled 4 years later. In 1965 the Jurong line was opened and closed in 1990. The KTM Line runs from Woodland passing various estate all the way to Tanjong Pagar, then in June 2011 the station ceased operation and relocated to Woodland Train Checkpoint the main station was gazetted as a national monument and finally closed its doors in Dec 2016. This will be the future site for the upcoming Cantonment MRT Station.