"December 2022"
Telok Ayer. What do you know about Telok Ayer?
If you ask me this question, I’ll probably shrug my shoulders and say, “I don’t know.” Now, before you judge, in my defence I’ve always been a west side gal. I don’t go around much and that’s why I’m here because I think it’s about time to explore more of this tiny island.
So I made a little google research and found that there’s actually a lot of historical and arts value within the area. So that’s what I did.
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AND GUIDE BELOW THE POST
I’ll be having dinner with my friends within the area and since it was my day off. I decided to leave the house early and explore what Telok Ayer has to offer.
So let’s go on a little Telok Ayer Exploration!
Let’s get into it!
Art Sculpture
Far East Square
What: School Time Memories
When: 2013
Location/Address: Far East Square, Near Pavilion
About: It’s an art sculpture of school kids playing Chapteh – a traditional game around Asia and Southeast Asia. In the Philippines we call it ‘Sipa’. It’s a weighted shuttlecock and pretty simple to make by attaching feathers to a rubber sole. ou have to use your feet or other part of your body (eg. elbow etc.) except hands.
This reminded me when I was a kid. We would play Chapteh with my neighbours. I was never good at it but it is incredibly fun. What childhood games do you used to play?
Fuk Tai Chi Museum
What: Street Hawker
When: 1999
Location/Address: Far East Square, Fuk Tai Chi Museum
About: This marvelous piece describes the earlier life of a street hawker back in the thirties to early eighties. It’ll show you the early immigrants of the tiny island through this sculpture of a ‘tick-tock man’ who uses bamboo stick to hit a hardwood rod, making a rhythmic sound ‘tick tock tick tock’ as they walk through the streets. They would sell homemade noodles with fish balls among other popular local food.
Isn’t fascinating to see the olden days?
Telok Ayer Green
What: Sampan (Wooden Boat)
Location/Address: Telok Ayer Green
About: A sampan was used to ferry goods around
What: Chinese Lantern Procession
Location/Address: Telok Ayer Green
What: Indian milk trader
Location/Address: Telok Ayer Green
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SUBSCRIBEDining Experience
Location/Address: Far East Square / Pekin St.
About: There are wide variety of restaurants and bars that you can enjoy. From fine dining to casual drinks with friends and colleagues. There’s a lot to choose from when you go around this area.
Now, if you decide to explore this area – there is one place that you will come to see – a street art mural. Walk through the Far East Square (as per the image above) and then turn left at Pekin st. Then walk until the far end til you see The Chamber Restaurant. Look to your left and you’ll the first mural with the yellow wall and turn a little bit more to your left, you’ll see the white and blue mural.
Street Art
What: Intergalactic Dreams
When: 2020
Location/Address: Far East Square, Facade along China St.
About: It’s about a fresh interpretation of modern street art on aged-old buildings – a fusion between East and West, New and Old. This was inspired by Chinese Blue and white porcelain and landscape paintings from the Yuan Dynasty with western elements portrayed by the spaceman.
It’s pretty cool isn’t it?
What: Thian Hock Keng Temple Mural
Artist: Yip Yew Chong
Location/Address: 158 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068613
About: This is a mural at the back wall of one of the most popular temple in Singapore – Thian Hock Keng Temple. It’s sprawling 40 metre long street art where you can see the humble beginning of Singapore’s early Hokkien immigrants as they helped to shape the nation as where we are now.
It’s pretty cool isn’t it?
Place of Interests
What: Thian Hock Keng Temple
Location/Address: 158 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068613
About: This is one of the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore and in which also known as ‘Temple of Heavenly Happiness’. Built in 1842, it started as a joss house on the shore, where early Chinese immigrants disembarked for deity Ma Cho Po (Mother of the Heavenly Sages.) They thanked her for bringing them across shores safely.
What: Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre
Location/Address: 140 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068604
About: It was built between 1828 and 1830 by early immigrants from South India and it was original known as Shahul Hamid Durgha, named after a saint from India. This place depicts the integration between Indian and Western motifs influence through its interesting architectural design.
Bottomline
Telok Ayer is a great mix of modern and old generation. You can see it from the different kind of art or buildings. Despite Singapore’s progressing to a more modern city – it’s easier to forget where the tiny island came from. And just by looking at this places, it will help to reflect back where the nation came from and it’s wide variety of culture and religion.
So where would you go to explore next?
Give Telok Ayer a try and discover more places that will make you amazed!
I’ve used this guide to know where and what I want to see within the area.
See below video for the video format!
Go out and explore!
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