Local Tours

by Jen Cormier

Top photo: Tour guide Diana by the Singapore River

Getting to know Singapore in small groups

If you ask anyone who’s been to Singapore for their first impression, most people’s eyes will widen, accompanied by a smile along with the word “impressive.” Most say this based on Singapore’s luxurious living and vacation accommodations, its designer shops, and its reputation as a foodie’s delight. Its tropical foliage is the icing on the cake. Unfortunately, I rarely hear anyone talk about Singapore’s rich history. But after spending a morning on an AWA Local Tour with professionally licensed tour guide Diana Chua, I can’t stop sharing everything I’ve learned from our “Walk through Singapore’s Historic Colonial District and River Cruise.”

We met at City Hall MRT and headed to nearby War Memorial Park, where we learned the significance of the memorial’s four towering columns. We then crossed over to the Singapore Recreation Club and sat on the steps that looked out over the Padang, with the Singapore Cricket Club across the way. Today, the Padang hosts many sporting events and celebrations, including National Day, but historically, it was the site of some significant World War II events in Singapore.

War Memorial Park

We continued down St. Andrew’s Road and stopped outside St. Andrew’s Cathedral to learn more. As we made our way alongside the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, now merged to form National Gallery Singapore, Diana pointed out the many architectural details. I was intrigued by the architectural style of the sloping roof that joins the two buildings. Wouldn’t you know, there is a meaning to that slope! We popped inside the National Gallery for a quick refreshment and Diana surprised us with a short trip to the Observation Deck for a marvelous view of the Padang.

Afterwards, we made our way to the Singapore River, admiring and listening to more interesting stories of today’s Asian Civilisations Museum, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and Empress Place.

The river cruise added a nice touch to the tour. After a very pleasant two hours of walking, it was nice to sit back and listen to Diana share her stories of Singapore’s history as we made our way by boat.

This Local Tour is a “must see” for anyone who wants to understand Singapore beyond the glitz and glam. It opened my eyes to the rich history and heritage that is an important part of this nation. I highly recommend periodically checking the Local Tours (located under Special Interests) or Calendar tabs on the AWA website and signing up the next time it becomes available.