I’ve never understood why tourists fly to Singapore only to trawl designer stores and try to snag reservations at restaurants helmed by foreign celebrity chefs. Instead, visitors should delve deeper into the city’s rich heritage, like listening to the recently composed jingles in MRT stations, inspired by local folk songs and nursery rhymes.
Hotels are also starting to showcase Singaporean culture. The Fullerton Hotel, for example, offers an afternoon tea at The Courtyard, featuring local flavors such as marinated sea prawn with laksa aioli. Similarly, Michelin-starred Labyrinth, led by chef LG Han, presents a tasting menu that’s a tribute to Singapore. The opening dish, “Memories of Newton Food Centre,” includes otah, roti john, chicken wings, and coin prata, served on a tray reminiscent of hawker center tables.
Street artist Yip Yew Chong’s intricate murals in Chinatown provide a unique perspective into the neighborhood’s history. One mural depicts a tradesman who once sold snake flesh, a vivid memory from Yip’s childhood. His art gives deeper insights than a typical visit to a hawker center.
For a touch of nature and tradition, I headed to Pulau Ubin, a rustic island near the Malaysian border. Accessible by a short boat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, Ubin is home to one of Singapore’s last traditional kampong villages. Renting a bicycle, I explored the island’s trails, passing through quarries transformed into nature reserves teeming with birdwatchers and rare butterflies. A highlight was Ah Ma Drinks Stall, where 85-year-old Madam Ong serves fresh coconut juice, a nod to the island’s past prawn farms.
Another gem is the Straits Enclave, a private museum on Joo Chiat Road dedicated to Peranakan culture. Owner Clarence’s vast collection of artifacts includes everything from painted chamber pots to ornate Peranakan furniture, offering a window into the mixed Chinese and Malay heritage dating back to the 15th century.
My stay at the Duxton Reserve Singapore, Autograph Collection, a boutique hotel in Chinatown, was a perfect blend of history and luxury. My room featured a four-poster bed reminiscent of those found in Chinatown’s opium dens, semi-enclosed to keep drafts at bay.
Exploring Geylang Serai, one of Singapore’s oldest Malay settlements, was an enlightening experience with Jan Chow of Wok ’n’ Stroll. The area boasts a bustling wet market, a beautiful mosque, and vibrant shophouses, providing a more authentic glimpse of local life than the tourist-heavy Arab Quarter.
As I finished my journey, a jingle at Orchard MRT station, inspired by a Singaporean folk song, brought a smile to my face. It served as a reminder that the true essence of Singapore lies beyond its shopping malls and celebrity chefs, in its rich culture and history.
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