Chinatown, a magnet for tourists in Singapore<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Singapore<\/p>\n
Singapore has long been known as a shopping mecca for tourists.
\nBut the tiny country also offers rich cultural heritage, which
\nhas been well-preserved and is an interesting side for visitors
\nto explore.<\/p>\n
One such area of interest is Singapore's Chinatown, which has
\nbeen successfully preserved by the government. The area not only
\nserves as the center and source of national culture but also a
\nplace where tourists can learn about the country's history,
\nparticularly its function as a melting pot between the West and
\nthe East. Despite its name, Chinatown also serves as an important
\narea for other ethnicities.<\/p>\n
The successful renovation of old buildings in the area
\ninvolved private sectors and citizens to provide tourist
\nfacilities, including dining and ethnic shopping.<\/p>\n
Telok Ayer Street is the recommended starting point for
\ntouring Chinatown as visitors will be able to see three national
\nheritage spots -- the Thian Hock Keng temple, the Nagore Durgha
\nShrine and the al-Abrar Mosque.<\/p>\n
Built in 1839 and finished in 1842 by the first immigrants
\nfrom mainland China, the Thian Hock Keng Temple was an expression
\nof gratitude to the gods because the sailors were able to land
\nsafely at their new destination.<\/p>\n
The temple, whose renovation was just finished early this
\nyear, is painted in mostly red and gold. Hundreds of tourists
\nflock to this temple every day.<\/p>\n
"The temple's colors are the original paint from when it was
\nconstructed. You may notice that nails were not used during the
\nconstruction of the temple," Adrian, a tourist guide, told
\nseveral journalists during a recent media tour organized by
\nAmerican Express International, Inc.<\/p>\n
The second point of interest to take in is the al-Abrar
\nMosque, which was built between 1850 and 1885. It is also known
\nas Koochoo Pally (small temple) and stands as a symbol of the
\ninitial South Indian Muslim migration to Singapore. Despite its
\nfunction as a tourist attraction, the mosque is used by hundreds
\nof Muslim for their Friday mass prayer.<\/p>\n
The Nagare Durgha Shrine is an older mosque built between 1828
\nand 1830, also by Muslim migrants from South India.<\/p>\n
Still on Telok Ayer Street, visitors can easily spot three
\nsculptures depicting the story of the early Chinese immigrants: A
\nsampan, a Chinese lantern festival procession and an Indian milk
\ntrader at Telok Ayer Green.<\/p>\n
The Mariamman Temple on South Bridge Road is the next
\nrecommended place to visit. Traversing the road, visitors to the
\ntemple will see how it became the traditional location for
\ngoldsmiths, pawn shops and Chinese apothecaries.<\/p>\n
Inside an apothecary, visitors suffering from any kind of
\nailment can try out a treatment, which are used by Singaporeans.<\/p>\n
The oldest Hindu temple was built in 1827 and dedicated to the
\ngoddess Mariamman, who is believed to cure serious diseases,
\nincluding cholera, chicken pox and small pox, which gives us an
\nindication of the poor standard of health at that time.<\/p>\n
The priests in the temple advise visitors to ring the bell to
\ninform the gods that they are coming. Likewise, when leaving the
\ntemple, visitors must ring the bell for their departure.<\/p>\n
Exiting the temple, you will see many statues of sitting cows
\n-- the sacred animal in Hinduism -- along the temple's wall at
\nthe corner of South Bridge Road and Pagoda Street.<\/p>\n
The Mariamman temple's most important ceremony is the Thimithi
\nto honor the goddess. During the ceremony, devotees walk over hot
\ncoals to test their spirituality.<\/p>\n
Other interesting sites to see in Chinatown are Niu Che Shui,
\nwhich includes the Chinatown Heritage Center on Pagoda Street,
\nthe Chinatown Food Street on Smith Street and Hong Lim Park
\nSpeakers' Corner on Pekin Street.<\/p>\n
Singaporeans believe that Chinatown's history is linked to the
\nestablishment of a trading post on the island in 1819 by Stanford
\nRaffles. Chinatown is located near the mouth of the Singapore
\nRiver.<\/p>\n
As a free port, Singapore was a magnet for new immigrants
\nseeking their fortunes. The first junk-load of immigrants arrived
\nat the mouth of the Singapore River in 1921 from Xiamen in the
\nFujian province of China.<\/p>\n
Chinatown became a home to immigrants, while the nearby
\nSingapore River became a place to find work. Conditions were
\nharsh, sanitation was bad and gang crime was rampant at that
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Chinese make up 77 percent of the total population of four
\nmillion in Singapore. Malays make up 14 percent, Indians form 8
\npercent and a mix of other ethnicities make up the remaining 1
\npercent of the population.<\/p>\n
The Singaporean government has managed to make rundown areas
\ninto attractive spots for tourists by renovating a number of
\nbuildings and other interesting points into dining and shopping
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
"The government's goal to make Chinatown a significant tourist
\ndestination has been quite successful. We don't only have
\nshopping malls for tourists, but cultural attractions as well,"
\nsaid Adrian.<\/p>",
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