PREMIERING SOON! Haw Par Villa - a sprawling garden of mysticism and mythology.

Ornate entrance gateway of Haw Par Villa 

Haw Par Villa aka Tiger Balm Gardens is named after philanthropist brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par whose names mean Tiger and Leopard respective, two legendary animals in Buddhism to which the brothers are devoted.

Haw Par Villa is a place of wonder and mystery with a chequered past. It started in 1937 as the residence of the wealthy Aw Family known for their Tiger Balm products sold to this day. Their villa sat midst sprawling landscaped grounds which they populated with numerous statutes and dioramas drawn from Buddhism and Chinese mythology. In their philanthropy the gardens were later turned into a public park for the enjoyment of all. After being badly damaged during the Japanese invasion, it was restored and continued to serve as a public recreational facility, till now, when entrance fees apply. To be continued.

Work in progress. Check in again soon.

Nanyang
a graphic novel by
Tan Choon Hong
is now an eBook 
and Paperback
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and Apple Books

Over 100 pages of adventure romance.
Love! Intrigue! Betrayal!

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Watch the promo video

An epic journey that spans the region the Chinese call Nanyang.

Two brothers, hearing tales of a city where the streets are paved in gold, head south seeking a piece of the action. After a traumatic separation and several harrowing experiences, the brothers finally meet on opposite sides of the law. 

Will they recognise each other as family or will loyalty to their masters triumph to turn them into deadly enemies?

The Temple of a Thousand Lights

Tiger and leopard sculptures guard the three entrances of the temple building.

The Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, popularly known as the Temple of a Thousand Lights, is located at 366 Race Course Road in the Little India precinct. It is home to Singapore's largest Buddha statue and a relic said to be carved from the bark of a Bodhi tree under which the Lord Buddha meditated.

Founded in 1927 by Thai monk the Ven. Vutthisara when he put up a shack with a Buddha statue, its devotees grew unabated. Later with funding provided by the philanthropic Aw Brothers of Tiger Balm and Haw Par Villa fame, the site was expanded to what it is today. Architecturally simple but eclectic for its fusion of Indian, Thai and Chinese influences, the temple became a major destination for worshippers and tourists. 

The temple has three entrances flanked by sculptures of a tiger and a leopard, animals from Buddhist lore or a subtle homage, I guess, to the Aw Brothers who went by the names of Aw Boon Haw (cultured tiger) and Aw Boon Par (cultured leopard).

The island country's largest Buddha statue.

Leaving your footwear outside the temple door, you enter the prayer hall and behold the towering statue of the Lord Buddha in a sitting pose, soaring majestically some 15m towards the stupa roof. Understandably, many like yours truly, experience a sense of being reduced to insignificance like a grain of sand before a boulder. This is a sight even more awesome in the evening when the myriad lights around the statue are switched on, and the temple takes on its moniker of the Temple of a Thousand Lights. 

The temple altar laid out with statuettes and offerings.

In front of the statue is a long altar with bronze castings of the Buddha and two porcelain statuettes of Guan Yin arranged on a tiered dais, and laid with fruits, flowers, candles and other offerings. A large rectangular joss stick receptacle in front completes the setting. At one end of the altar, staff will assist you with making an offering at the oil donation box, and you will light the oil lamps and strike a bell as part of the ritual.

A collection of Buddha statuettes displayed on the wall. 

 Smaller statues and figurines of the Buddha in standing, sitting and reclining postures line the wall on your right. On the opposite wall are several showcases displaying more Buddhist objects of veneration including one tall cupboard containing a larger-than-life ebony representation of the footprint of the Buddha, which is intricately inlaid with mother-of-pearl. (Below)

Ebony representation of the Buddha's footprint.

A service counter to answer your queries.

Set against the wall opposite each end of the altar is a counter manned by the temple staff to assist visitors with information and purchase of amulets and publications.

Diorama traces the highlights in the life of the Buddha.

The life of the Lord Buddha is told through a long series of dioramas that wrap around the base of the statue, each event highlighted with a short caption in English, Chinese and Tamil. As you follow the dioramas to the back of the statue, you'll come to a step-down with a curtained doorway to a chamber. This houses a 7m long statue of the reclining Buddha draped over with a yellow embroidered cloak, with several standing statues of followers behind. No photo-taking is allowed here. (Below)

The step-down entrance to the reclining Buddha.

Exit the chamber and follow the remaining dioramas back to the front hall.

In case you missed it, as I did, a golden four-faced Brahma statuette under an ornate structure, in sharp contrast to the spartan walls of the hall, occupies the space just inside the centre doorway. 

The golden Brahma statuette.

Admission is free. In keeping with decorum, do leave your footwear outside the temple doors. 

The temple's resident cat.

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The Hibiscus Collection: This design features a new interpretation of the Hibiscus that flowers in sunny Singapore, and many species are on show in the famed Botanic Gardens and the Gardens by the Bay. While visitors marvel at the beauty and glamour of orchids grown here, it is the native Hibiscus that occupies a special pride of place in local culture as the “Bunga Raya” or “Flower of Celebration”. Available in different styles and colours. Check it out here. © Tan Choon Hong 2017. All rights reserved.

Image © zazzle.com The Vanda Miss Joaquim Collection: This design is inspired by Singapore’s national flower – the Vanda Miss Joaquim, a hybrid orchid crossbred by Singapore-born Armenian horticulturist Agnes Joaquim in the 1800s.  Available in different styles and colours. Check it out here. © Tan Choon Hong 2017. All rights reserved. Image © Zazzle.com Singapore Chai Tau Kueh T-Shirt:

Singapore Street Food Series

It is the breakfast of champions in Singapore, especially relished by our gold medal champ. Locals and visitors alike queue for the best Chai Tau Kueh in town. They wolf down plates of this savoury ‘carrot’ cake fried with eggs, seasoned with garlic and sweet black sauce, and garnished with spring onion. Let all the world know you too love it with this stylish T.

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© Tan Choon Hong 2017. All rights reserved.

Image © zazzle.com

Afternoon stroll around Clarke Quay

There’s not much action in Clarke Quay in the late afternoon after the lunchtime crowd have dispersed. A nice time to take a stroll around the restored warehouses or have a slow, cool drink by the river. Of course the establishments are only taking a breather and preparing for the exciting nightlife to come as evening breaks.

Clarke Quay used to be at the heart of the island nation’s entrepot trade from the time of its founding by Englishman Stamford Raffles in 1819. Located on the banks of the upper reaches of the Singapore River, it was the destination for goods from all over the world after they were unloaded from the ships that called at the harbour.

The cargo were transferred from the ships onto bumboats which carried them to the river banks where they were landed and transported to the warehouses. With the arrival of containerisation, these warehouses became redundant and fell into disuse, and would have faced the wrecking ball had the conservation movement not come to the rescue.

Today the stately old buildings have been repurposed as swanky shops, restaurants and night clubs for the jetsetters, local and foreign. The decrepit bumboats that ferried goods to shore have been converted into cruise boats, and now take tourists sightseeing up and down the river.

Check out the video below.

The Singapore River – birthplace of the citystate

The old Singapore River was the lifeblood of the island's entrepot trade. From the far corners of the earth, ships arrived and anchor out at sea, discharging their cargo onto lighters or bumboats that ferry it to the river banks where it was unloaded by coolies. These tough labourers hauled the goods such as bags of rice, jars of preserves or crates of manufactured goods on their backs and loaded them onto lorries for distribution, or storage in the warehouses that lined the river. 

The stink from the river at low tide could be quite formidable to the casual visitor, but was the smell of money to the towkays who owned the trading houses in the area. 

Today, after the relocation of the old businesses and a cleanup operation stretching over decades, the river is back to its pristine condition as it would have been when Stamford Raffles, the citystate's founder, first stepped ashore in 1819 to establish a trading post for the East India Company. 

Raffles had intended that the port would be the meeting place where people of all colours and tongues could trade free of duty or hindrance.

Now it also attracts tourists from around the world who cruise the waters in the pseudo-bumboats and take in the spectacular sights.

The pristine waters of the river are now the preserve of converted bumboats ferrying sightseeing tourists.

A cruise boat leaves the jetty for an exhilarating trip downriver and out to sea.

Catching the sun and some breathtaking views from the open deck.

Serangoon Road - Little India

Little India is the historical and cultural hub of the Indian community and the colours, sounds and scents of India greet the visitor at every turn. From colourful saris to fragrant perfumes and spices, from the strains of a sitar to the cacophony of traffic, Little India is a heady mix of shopping, sightseeing and feasting for tourists and locals alike.

Just as Chinatown and Kampong Glam each reflects the ethnic diversity of Singapore but with a predominantly Chinese and Malay character respectively, Little India is no different. Here the Chinese and Malays do a roaring trade side by side with their Indian compatriots, transcending language and cultural barriers, in apparel, food catering, hospitality, jewellery, electronics, art and crafts, etc.  


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Rows of old shophouses jostling for custom against the backdrop of a modern mall, as pedestrians weave haphazardly through traffic.

All dressed up with colourful overhead decorations brightly lit at night in the annual lightup for Deepavali, the festival of lights.

The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple set in lush grounds with public housing in the distance.

Colourful statues of Hindu deities on the perimeter wall of the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.

Explore the many facets of Indian cuisine at eateries big and small in Little India. From fiery curries originating in the Tamil south of the Indian subcontinent to delicately spiced cuisine from the northern regions.

Northern Indian specialties like biryani and tandoori chicken fit for a maharajah are readily available. Vegetarians will not miss out on their dosai, vadai and apom, and those needing a quick fix can head for the eateries modelled on western fastfood joints.

A popular Indian dish is fishhead curry, which has spawned other versions such as the ones served in Chinese food outlets.

Mainstays like prata and murtabak have their following in restaurants and cooked food centres, where popular snacks such as curry puffs and goreng pisang (fried banana fritters) are also to be found.

A bustling cooked food centre offering a wide range of Indian, Malay and Chinese dishes. Favourite drinks include lime juice and “teh tarik” (pulled tea), a frothy milk tea repeatedly “pulled” between two large metal mugs.

Come sundown this plaza will be packed with diners chilling out under the swaying palms and romantic lights.

Bargains galore at this clothing store spilling its jeans and bags onto the sidewalk.

Ornate floor tiles that have seen better days still echo the splendour of the past.

Unloading produce to stock the small groceries serving residents, and visitors drawn to the freshness and authenticity of the ingredients.

This granite carving adorning a restaurant entrance, is a prelude to the wealth of art, handicraft, antiques, and sacred objects awaiting your discovery. A rewarding destination for the culture lover or souvenir hunter.

The Temple of a Thousand Lights, aka the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple on Race Course Road, off Serangoon Road, is home to Singapore's 15m high statue of the Lord Buddha and a relic said to be carved from the bark of a Bodhi tree under which the Buddha meditated.