Local Tours

getting to know SIngapore in small groups

Joo Chiat and Perankans

MAR 11

Thu

TIME: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PLACE: 2 Joo Chiat Road taxi stand COST: $75 Member $90 Guest LIMIT: 15

Nothing beats getting up close and personal with the sights and flavors of Joo Chiat, one of Singapore’s most eclectic and interesting neighborhoods. The Peranakans are undoubtedly one of Southeast Asia’s most distinctive communities. In Singapore, the Peranakan culture is a mix of rich traditions resulting from the marriage of early Chinese traders and indigenous women from the Malay Archipelago. Set on former coconut plantations where atap-roofed kampongs once thrived near seaside bungalows and mansions for the wealthy, Joo Chiat is an exciting mélange of culture, flavors and architecture. Explore the Peranakan legacy and meet some of the local characters. Learn about the lovely pre-war architecture demonstrated in row upon row of colorful two-story shop and terrace houses adorned with ornate façades, intricate motifs and ceramic tile.

Meet You in Rochor

MAR 18

Thu

TIME: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm PLACE: Bras Basah MRT (street level) COST: $55 Member $68 Guest LIMIT: 14

Local Designers

MAR 25

Thu

TIME: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm PLACE: Junction of Arab St & Beach Rd COST: $48 Member $60 Guest LIMIT: 11

The Rochor District stretches from Bras Basah, Bugis (BBB) and Waterloo to the Rochor Canal. This area is well-loved for the colorful lives of its former kampongs (villages), the European section of the city and its schools. Urban planners designed this area to be a vibrant showcase of arts, education and heritage. Due to its heritage status, you will find an eclectic mix of uses and types of buildings such as shop houses, standalone religious buildings and schools, as well as commercial buildings and social welfare housing. Discover this picturesque and lively area of Singapore as you visit one of the most religious streets of the city with its temples, church and synagogue. The tour ends at Parkview Square, where you may drop in for a drink at one of the 10 best bars in the world. Don’t you wish there were more interesting and authentic souvenirs from Singapore besides the usual ‘I Love SG’ t-shirts and Merlion keychains? Well, look no further! Join this tour to meet three of Singapore’s most popular designers for lifestyle products, hear about their design journey and take the opportunity to do some shopping at the same time. Ranging from beautiful to quirky and definitely original, their products represent Singapore’s multiracial culture and history in fun, wacky and colorful ways. After meeting the first designer, we will have a short refreshment stop at a café (at own cost) before continuing to the other two. Please note: As this is a walking tour and we will be boarding a bus, please wear comfortable shoes and bring an umbrella, water, cash and your EZ Link card.

Kampong Glam Art & Architecture Evening Walk

Colonial Quarters & Singapore River Cruise

APR 14

Wed

TIME: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm PLACE: Sultan Mosque, Main Gate, 3 Muscat St. COST: $60 Member $75 Guest LIMIT: 15

APR 23

Fri

TIME: 9:00 am – 12:45 pm PLACE: City Hall MRT (street level) COST: $70 Member $90 Guest LIMIT: 14

Crafts & Birdsong in the Heartlands

APR 29

Thur

TIME: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm PLACE: Newton Food Centre COST: $85 Member $105 Guest LIMIT: 14

Kampong Glam’s history can be traced back to the 1820s, when it was a fishing village due to its location on the Rochor River. This area has a long history as a place to live and worship, with the Sultan Mosque as its main attraction. Beyond its history and heritage, Kampong Glam also teems with artistic and design treasures. Explore the neighborhood’s colorful street murals on this evening walk. Dig a little deeper into the country’s young graffiti movement by meeting a graffiti artist. Visit the studio of a multi-talented potter who draws and explores music, in addition to firing clay.

All tours are non-refundable. Complete detailed tour

descriptions are found at www. awasingapore.org.

For more information on individual tours, please email localtours@ awasingapore.org

This walk in the heart of Colonial Singapore will introduce you to the history of Singapore through the art and cultural heritage of a district particularly rich in colonial history. Our guide will take us back in time with the arrival of Raffles in 1819. We will admire the beauty of the architecture: the Old Parliament, the former Supreme Court and Victoria Theatre, as well as war memorials located around the famous Padang (historical field). We will visit important landmarks on Singapore's historic waterfront where the first British settlers arrived: St Andrew's Cathedral, the former General Post Office, and the Waterboat House. The tour will end with a boat ride on the Singapore River. Dress code: please dress accordingly as we will enter religious sites. Wear appropriate walking shoes. Bring umbrella, money, camera, water. There will be a refreshment stop Come on this tour to visit the last remaining businesses that still fashion their wares by hand, a rarity in Singapore indeed! Your first stop is a business that stocks an amazing array of paper offerings that are burnt for the Gods, Ancestors and Ghosts. Have you heard of the interesting hobby of Bird Singing? Come and see for yourself and be serenaded by these wonderful “Song Birds,” right in the HDB heartland of Ang Mo Kio, one of the largest Bird Singing corners in Singapore. Have you watched lion dances and marveled at the colorful lion heads? You will meet the last remaining craftsman who makes the lion heads from his HDB home. You can even order one of his beautifully crafted lion heads as a collector’s item. Finally, you will learn about those giant incense sticks with their colorful decorations seen at the temples.