What is Amazônia?

Amazônia is a major exhibition by the legendary world-renowned and award-winning photojournalist Sebastião Salgado. This exhibition spotlights on the Amazon region and its ecosystems coming under the threat of deforestation and climate change. 

The Amazon is known as the “the lungs of the world”, a title that is not taken lightly, the whole world has to protect and conserve this very crucial and important region on planet Earth. Through Amazônia exhibition, visitors can view, feel, learn and understand the natural beauty, and majesty of the Amazon region. 

This exhibition also features the Indigenous communities who live in Amazon, with the Amazon, the largest rainforest on the planet, which many of us around the world would not know too much about or heard of them before.

Amazônia is making its highly anticipated debut in Asia-Pacific at the National Museum of Singapore from 22nd November 2024 to 2nd March 2025. This travelling exhibition transports visitors on a walk into the heart and soul of the Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s greatest ecosystems. 

Sebastião Salgado first showing at the National Museum of Singapore was in 2014, titled Genesis. A decade later, Amazônia continues conversations on the important topic of environmental conservation through Amazônia, a major new body of work arising from his decades-long engagement with the Amazon region.

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “The National Museum is proud to bring to Singapore the latest internationally acclaimed exhibition of works by Sebastião Salgado. The Amazon is deeply connected to the world’s climate and affects all of us, even in Singapore. Amid a heightened awareness and urgent call for greater climate action today, we hope that visitors will be inspired by Salgado’s remarkable photos and the exhibition’s message to appreciate and take action to protect our natural world while respecting and learning from the Indigenous peoples who live in, and with, the rainforest.”

Amazônia  – An Immersive and Meticulously Curated Exhibition

Amazônia is a multi-sensory, immersive and meticulously curated exhibition, curated and designed by Lelia Wanick Salgado. There are over 200 photographs on display, there is a beautiful  soundtrack by Jean-Michel Jarre, that makes your visit to Amazônia very soothing and therapeutic. 

Further more, there are two projection rooms, video testimonies from Indigenous leaders, a special segment known as Amazônia Touch that allows the visually impaired to appreciate the Amazônia exhibition, through tactile image plates. 

There is a space dedicated Instituto Terra, it’s the reforestation non-governmental organisation founded by the Salgados. 

Lélia Wanick Salgado, Curator and Exhibition Scenographer of Amazônia said, “Immersion is a big part of the curatorial process of this exhibition. By integrating visitors into the lush greenery of the rainforest and raw portrayals of the everyday lives of its Indigenous people, I hope to present a multidimensional look at the beauty of the Amazon, and impress on visitors the human and ecological elements at stake if we don’t take action to protect it.”

Take a walk into the Amazon rainforest

A visit to Amazônia brings you on a majestic journey through the lands of the Amazon, through the breathtaking photographs on display, you can see and also feel the natural wonders and phenomena of the Amazon rainforest in its own unique nature, stature and importance to planet Earth.

The Amazon region complex ecosystems such as freshwater archipelagos and “flying rivers”, are presented through more than 200 evocative black-and-white photography prints. Moreover, there are slide projections, documenting its vibrant landscape and the lives of people living within Amazon region. 

It’s more than just a majestic visual spectacle of Mother Nature’s natural wonders, it also shows the fragility in the same measure. Salgado hopes that this serves as an important call for everyone of us on planet Earth to conserve the “lungs of the world”.

Salgado said, “The Amazon rainforest is full of life, and is in itself an important lifeline for our world. The exhibition is a record of what remains of this vast and vulnerable heritage amid an uncertain future. It is our shared responsibility to conserve it and I hope that the exhibition will inspire the community to take action to prevent this exhibition from becoming a testimony of a lost world 50 years from now.”

Tulsi Naidu, CEO Asia Pacific of Zurich Insurance Company Ltd – the main global partner of Amazônia – said, “Zurich’s longstanding global partnership with Sebastião Salgado reflects our commitment to climate action and a sustainable future. Through the Zurich Forest project, launched in 2020 in collaboration with the Salgados, we’ve helped restore parts of the Brazil Atlantic Forest by planting one million trees with Instituto Terra. We are now also supporting Instituto Terra in the acquisition of additional land for nature restoration and the construction of a new, larger nursery. In the Amazônia exhibition, Sebastião Salgado’s powerful photography – beautifully curated by Lélia Wanick Salgado – is a striking reminder of the urgent need to protect the natural world and its communities.”

Aerial View: The Amazon Seen from Above: A bird’s eye view of the Amazon. Experience sweeping aerial panoramas of majestic waterfalls and storm-laden skies.

Flying Rivers: Watering the Continent: Where water vapour from trees forms massive aerial rivers that are even bigger than the Amazon River, it’s Amazon’s unique atmospheric phenomenon. 

Tropical Storms: When It Rains in the Rainforest: When it rains in the rainforest, the amount of heavy tropical downpours/storms can be dramatic when you see brooding clouds looming above the horizon.

Mountains: Unexpected Uplands in the Lowlands: View Brazil’s mist-draped peaks rising above the rainforest canopy on the lower slope. 

The Forest: A Source of Fear and Inspiration: The rainforest can be very daunting (if you have visited before), it’s sometimes known as the “Green Hell”. However, it is now seen as an extraordinary natural treasure that must be protected. 

Anavilhanas: Island in the Stream: View breathtaking images of the archipelago of 350 to 450 islands of every imaginable shape rising from the waters of Rio Negro. 

Learn and understand more about the diverse Indigenous communities in the Amazon

You can also discover and learn more about the diverse indigenous communities in the Amazon, which many of us around the world would not know too much about or heard of them before. 

Keep a lookout for the three structures modelled after traditional Indigenous homes called ocas. Within that space, visitors can explore 100 photographs of the 12 Amazonian communities that Salgado engaged. There are also video interviews with the Indigenous leaders that complement this exhibition segment.

Immersive and therapeutic audio experiences at Amazônia

Enter into a soothing and therapeutic experience with an immersive audio experience by French composer Jean-Michel Jarre when you are visiting Amazônia, they bring you into a sensory experience of the Amazon through a symphony of natural sounds – rustling trees, animal calls, bird songs and gushing waters from the mountain tops, as well as voices and songs of the communities, drawn from the Museum of Ethnography’s sound archives in Geneva.

Continue your journey into two projection rooms where you can watch forest landscapes and portraits of Indigenous people, accompanied by soundscapes by Brazilian composers Heitor Villa-Lobos and Rodolfo Stroeter. 

Amazônia Touch

A special section, the first photographic volume specifically designed for the blind and visually impaired visitors to Amazônia, in partnership with Visio Foundation, an institution dedicated to promoting cultural inclusion of blind and visually impaired persons. There are a series of tactile images rendered on brass plates and complemented by 21 panels made of acrylic resin and natural minerals, for visitors to engage with.

Instituto Terra

Visit this dedicated space featuring the work of Instituto Terra, the reforestation non-governmental organisation founded by the Salgados. 

Our own Singapore Story on Environment and Sustainability 

The National Museum of Singapore aims to encourage and engage visitors to Amazônia to respond to the themes of the exhibition in relation to Singapore’s local environmental landscape through the Eco Sanctuary.

Eco Sanctuary – Themed Interactive Space 

A themed interactive space furnished with elements inspired by the rainforest, engaging visitors on touch, hearing and smell through the following below:

Touch and Feel: Interact with a series of artworks created by local artist Justin Lee. Check out the laser-cut wooden model of a Terrapin and a clay mould of a Custard Apple, inspired by the flora and fauna from the National Museum of Singapore’s William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.

Can you hear me?: Listen to the evocative sounds of Amazonian instruments such as the Pica-Pau and Bacururu de Palha, and compare them to instruments such as the angklung and guiro.

Scents and Sensibility: Immerse yourself in nature-inspired scents e.g. rain forest wood and grass.

Reflection Zone: At the end of your visit to Amazônia and Eco Sanctuary, take some time to reflect and write down your thoughts, feelings and ideas on conservation and sustainability on magnetic leaves, how we can come together to advocate for and to take action towards the protection of the Amazon rainforest and also Singapore’s natural environment. 

My personal reflections from exploring Amazonia at National Museum of Singapore 

When I visited Amazônia exhibition, I immediately felt a close connection to the black and white landscapes of Amazon rainforest as I have also have my own black and white landscapes collection too.

As a self-taught photographer, I wasn’t formally trained in visual storytelling/photography. My learning were through reading National Geographic Magazines (when I was in primary school), as well as photography books on photography and photojournalism in my later years. Sebastião Salgado was one of those legendary photojournalists/visual storytellers that I looked up to in my own visual storytelling learning journey.

My love for nature and great outdoors, built upon my Scouting roots and heritage, along with my visual storytelling, I have been documenting changes to natural and urban landscapes, history, heritage, conservation, culture, not forgetting nature, great outdoors, trekking etc.

The rallying call to protect and conserve the “lungs of the world”, how can everyone of us play a part, no matter how big or small? How can everyone of us also play a similar role in our home country or other key nature areas in other parts of the world that also plays a role in the world that we live in? How can we further elevate the rallying call to the whole world on environmental protection and conservation, on Amazon, and also other key natural habitats and wonders of the world?  

Amazônia is deeply inspiring and getting me to think deeper and further on how everyone of us on Earth can do more for the home planet that we are living in. The time is now and upon us, the current generation to step up, be counted, take actions and make the crucial changes to save our precious home that we all live in – Earth.

I sincerely hope that I am able to inspire and encourage you (to also bring your family and friends) to come down and visit Amazônia at the National Museum of Singapore. View, feel, touch and experience Amazônia, and discover why everyone of us has a role to play in our world environmental conservation. 

Amazônia – An exhibition of photographs by Sebastião Salgado

Date: 22 November 2024 – 2nd March 2025

Timing: 10am – 7pm daily (last admission at 6:30pm)

Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Exhibition Gallery 1 and 2

Admission fee:

Visitor Advisory

Amazônia is about Amazon rainforest and its Indigenous people way of life. This exhibition features photography artworks that have male and female nudity, as well as contents that visitors might find challenging e.g. images of dead animals.

Visitor discretion is advised. 

Discount Code for Amazônia

For my readers, I have a discount code for Amazônia! 20% off All Access tickets purchased on National Museum of Singapore website.

Discount code: NMSxAmazonia [Maximum number of tickers per purchase is 10]

* Information courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore and Tate Anzur *

The post Take a walk into the Amazon rainforest in Amazônia at National Museum of Singapore  appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Coming down for a Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play, was very nostalgic for me personally. There were a number of toys that I grew up playing with, those vivid, fun, wonderful, playful and carefree childhood memories! When I saw the Tamiya cars, I had the burning desire to return back to playing Tamiya toy cars, buying my Tamiya Avante car and building it from scratch, just like my good old childhood days!

Play: Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play

Starting on 5th July 2024, the National Museum of Singapore (NMS) invites visitors to special experiential pop-up titled Play: Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play. This is the time to be young at heart again, relive and connect your nostalgic memories in this new toy-theme pop-up, and share your nostalgic childhood play and toys memories with the younger generations!

This special pop-up is developed as part of NMS Collecting Contemporary Singapore initiative, that aims to showcase and collect memories and objects from recent decades. The NMS worked with local toy collectors and artists to co-create this immersive and experiential pop-up showcase comprising large-scale artworks, extensive toy displays, and interactive experiences to tell the fascinating stories behind some of those beloved playtime icons of the past and trace their evolution over the years.

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “Toys are often our first teachers and helped shape our identities in our formative years. As they play such an important role in our lives, using toys as a focal point in this showcase creates a light-hearted way for visitors to connect with each other over their shared memories. We hope this will bring out the collective memories we share of toys across the eras in Singapore, and instil deeper appreciation for toys and play as treasured facets of our combined cultural heritage and the Singapore story.”

Artists help to spread the joys of play to new spaces inside and outside NMS

The NMS is currently undergoing some restoration and upgrading works, thus you can see the hoardings around it. Artists are playing a part to help spread the joys of play to new spaces inside and outside NMS, departing from the traditional exhibition experience of a museum. Play:Date activates various parts of NMS to create a unique and immersive storytelling experience.

Five colourful local artists artworks the hoarding around NMS facade

When you arrive at NMS, you can’t miss the bright and colourful artworks on the hoarding around NMS facade. They are decorated with five large-scale commissioned artworks by five local artists taking visitors on a journey of collecting and the joy of toys in our lives.

Bring toys into reality through a sculptor’s meticulous touch or as a part of a factory line by Tiffany Lovage (Night Shift) and Candice Phang (Joy in the Making).

Capture the excitement of people getting their hands on toys, by Shian Ng (Playtime Pandemonium) and Muhammad Izdi (Flea-ting Moments), with the latter paying homage to flea markets in Singapore, a hotspot for hobbyists. 

Ending the series is Kristal Melson’s When I Was Big, which encapsulates how toys cement themselves among our fondest memories as we grow up.

Each of the five artists artworks feature interactive and tactile elements, aiming to stimulate one’s innate curiosity and kickstart your process of learning through play.

A tunnel housing a digital parade of toy figurines 

Stepping into NMS, at the entrance to Play:Date, there is a tunnel housing a digital parade of toy figurines by local artist Lioncolony, also known as Oh Jia Hao, which are modelled after his iconic Gman character. These characters are inspired by a selection of toys from the 1950s to the 2000s from our National Collection and local collectors, and this digital parade artworks provide a precursor to the showcase’s overarching narrative of local and global social histories.

Jonathan Goh, Senior Assistant Director of the Museum’s Strategic Marketing and Communications department, who is overseeing the showcase shared, “The restoration works on our National Museum monument building can be challenging for us to continue to engage people to visit us. However, we decided to quite literally think outside of the box, and to purposefully transform these otherwise static and functional spaces into creative canvases that not only draw visitors in, but also enhance the experiences of our other offerings within the museum and foster deeper engagement with the public.”

Play:Date – A showcase displaying a collection of toys from local collectors 

The key highlight that you are here for, Play:Date – A showcase displaying a collection of toys from local collectors. Featuring a diverse collection of over 250 locally and globally recognisable toys largely from the 1980s to the present day. Play:Date collectively highlights the socio-historical significance of toys in Singapore story, told through the lens of local toy collectors and organisations.

There are three main sections that tell the nostalgic toy stories of the featured tours and stories from the toy collectors themselves in their toy-collecting journeys: 

It’s a Small World

Do you remember those miniature character figurines from instantly recognisable brands that have captured the hearts of children around the world? 

McDonald’s

Do you remember a series of local McDonald’s toys – including the popular Mr Kiasu figurines? They are from avid collector Tay Swee Hock!

Barbie 

Don’t miss the collection of Barbie dolls from Jian Yang, which includes unique collaborations with local brands and series made from recycled ocean-bound plastic. 

Collectible culture in Singapore from ActionCity

There is a collectible culture in Singapore from ActionCity, with locally designed figurines for global companies such as POP MART and Disney. This include the “Pucky Rose Knight”, the first Singapore-exclusive figurine designed to commemorate the opening of Southeast Asia’s first POP MART official store in Singapore. 

That’s also the first-ever art collectible designed by Singaporean Daniel Yu inspired by Mickey Mouse and the Jiangshi, a vampire character in Chinese folklore.

Drive-Through Time

This was one of my favourite nostalgic childhood memories, playing with toy cars and toy car races! You can spot Hot Wheels, Tamiya and Matchbox from the collections of Clarence Tan, Jeffrey Wong, Ian Goh, Ridzal Ajis and Muhammad Noor Farhan.

Don’t miss the remodelled Tamiya Rover Mini Cooper, painted in the style of British sitcom character Mr Bean’s iconic green car, that was personally autographed by Tamiya’s CEO Mr Shunsaku Tamiya. 

Hot Wheels fans, toy cars enthusiasts, and casual fans alike, you will be awed by The Original 16, the first-ever collection of cars released by Hot Wheels in 1968. Don’t miss the iconic yellow Matchbox cars with vehicles racing from trade lorries and trailers to helicopters and emergency vehicles. 

Batteries Included

This is another of my favourite nostalgic childhood memories! Before the era of touchscreen technology, it was the era of retro game consoles, bringing back nostalgic reminders of your childhood days. 

Do you remember this iconic digital game – Tamagotchi? They are from Rachel Liew’s collection, which includes various rare designs as well as popular characters such as Gudetama, Hello Kitty and Pac-Man. 

Tony Saw’s classic and special handheld consoles by Nintendo and Casio, including a unique calculator that allows students to play a boxing game under the guise of hitting then looks. The most recent experiences include the recreation of Sentosa on popular digital games Animal Crossing and Roblox.

Old-school gaming arcades experiences 

Old-school gaming arcades are an integral part of some of us childhood growing up years! Play:Date also features several immersive and interactive experiences inspired by those nostalgia plays. 

When you visit Play:Date, you can purchase tokens to participate in a Memory Match game, where you are challenged to memorise a sequence of simple objects displayed on a screen, or a Roadblock Highway game, in which you race to the finish line while collecting coins and avoiding obstacles. 

Complementing the nostalgic vibe of the showcase, you will also be able to view a ‘live’ camera image of yourselves via an ‘8bitfy screen’, featuring a retro 8-bit filter layered over the screen.

“Discover Your Play-sonality”

Last but not least, your play finale, you are invited design your own personalised avatar at the ‘Discover Your Play-sonality’ section, which was created in collaboration with local artists together with ActionCity. 

You can choose from a selection of four digital toy avatars with different personality types and physical appearances to create your very own ‘Play:Mate’. For a small fee, you can accumulate points by playing the on-site digital games, and exchange these points to customise your avatar with a variety of Singapore-themed accessories. 

You can then head over to the accompanying photo booth to take photos of yourselves with your ‘Play:Mate’, or opt for a physical photo printout with a donation to the museum.

Open Call for National Museum’s Collecting Contemporary Singapore Initiative 

There is an ongoing effort to enhance the National Collection with more recent social history items with an open call for National Museum’s Collecting Contemporary Singapore Initiative. Visitors are invited to share their own toy stories and to donate their toys dating from the 1980s to the present day. Some of these donations could potentially be displayed in the Museum’s galleries in the future. 

MUSEUM MARKET by ABRY

Alongside the showcase, MUSEUM MARTKET by ABRY is partnering with old-school Holland Village party shop Khiam Teck to bring nostalgic and traditional toys and games to visitors of the National Museum. 

A beloved local establishment that drew its shutters in May 2024 after over 80 years of business, Khiam Teck has been given a new lease of life with ABRY within the Museum’s walls, where customers can relive their nostalgic memories of buying old-school knick-knacks.

Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play

• Date: 5 July 2024 – 5 January 2025
• Timing: 10am – 7pm daily (last admission at 6:30pm)
• Location: National Museum of Singapore
• Admission fee: Free

* Information courtesy of National Museum of Singapore and Tate Zanur *

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Singapore HeritageFest 2024 – 1st to 26th May

Get ready for exciting galore and diverse range of programmes, such as offshore tours to kelongs and kampongs, ghostly encounters with the spookier parts of our heritage, exploring old schools and heritage hotels, also a secret “undisclosed” experience, and many more!

Singapore’s rich built heritage includes 75 National Monuments, over 7,000 conserved buildings and structures, and many more other historical sites and landmarks such as bridges, reservoirs and cemeteries, which may not be commonly associated with the term! Through SHF 2024 workshops, tours, trails, exhibitions and other activities across (and beyond the usual norm) Singapore, SHF festival goers will get to experience the history, heritage, culture and stories behind these buildings, sites and structures, packed with its own unique culture and heritage of the communities that live, work and play in and around them. 

SHF Festival Director David Chew said, “Singapore’s buildings, sites and structures – our built heritage – are more than just brick and stone. They hold the stories and experiences of diverse communities past and present, and it is the people and their stories that bring these spaces to life. They are showcases of the rich, unique culture and heritage that Singaporeans share, and we hope that many will have fun at the exciting offerings this year and discover new facets of our heritage at the same time. Ultimately, we hope that SHF will inspire Singaporeans to join us in celebrating and safeguarding our heritage together.” 

Together with more than 80 community partners, SHF 2024 celebrates the richness of Singapore’s built heritage which you can explore by foot, on bus and even on a boat. For the first time, local heritage brand Yeo’s will be an Official Partner of SHF. At SHF 2024, we will see the launch of Yeo’s special edition Orchid Chrysanthemum Tea, which will feature packaging designs inspired by an image of the Vanda Miss Joaquim in our National Collection.

Let’s Explore Stories of our Built Heritage 

With over 120 exciting and diverse programmes at SHF 2024. are you ready to start exploring stories of our built heritage? Where and how do I start? 

HOMEGROUND: We Built This City

A signature SHF offering, Homeground installation for 2024 is laid out on the lawn of a National Monument, the National Museum of Singapore, and pays homage to Singapore’s rich built heritage. 

HOMEGROUND: We Built This City will cover the themes of Nature, Commerce, Community, Residential and Governance, highlighting the intricate connections that have moulded Singapore’s architectural identity over the decades. There will be five displays that detail the evolution of Singapore’s public housing, and a landmark of Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the bandstand gazebo at Singapore Botanic Gardens. 

SHF is also proud to receive Yeo’s support for its signature HOMEGROUND: We Built This City installation. Other new partners include DP architects, which designed HOMEGROUND and they will be presenting a series of tours of Singapore’s downtown area.

Amazing lineup of SHF 2024 Programmes

Here are some of the amazing lineup of SHF 2024 programmes! New SHF programmes – Walk, ride or even paddle to explore our built heritage.

Hop-On, Hop-Off (HOHO) Bus Experience: Come onboard the Hop-On, Hop-Off (HOHO) BUs Experience and embark on a journey of Singapore’s buildings and landmarks through historical precincts such as Little India and Bras Basah.Bugis, and discover the history and beauty of our built heritage at every stop.

Island Boat Tour + Kelong Visit by Let’s Go Tour: Cruise the northeastern waters of Singapore, learn about the history of its surrounding islands, and visit one of the the last remaining belongs in Singapore. 

My Bay Experience History Wanderers: Paddle through Singapore’s urban reservoir and get exclusive access to hidden corners of the Marina Basin on a kayak tour.

Kampong Gelam Photo Walk: Architecture on Film by Syahmi Hashim & Julina Khusaini: Embark on a photo walk at Kampong Gelam and capture the allure of the traditional precinct on film.

Malay Kampong Heritage Tour: Join Wan, a descendant of Pulau Ubin islanders, on an exploration of the Ubin Orang Pulau community and Singapore’s last surviving Malay kampong.

37 Emerald Hill Site Tours: Discover stories of Straits Chinese communities here. They are the first-ever public tours of the former home of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS), led by former teachers and students familiar with the premises. 

Living Architecture: Conservation Tours at NUS Baba House: Participants will visit a 19th-century Straits Chinese home and learn about the conservation efforts that went behind the restoration of the NUS Baba House in 2007. 

Closing Weekend Block Party: Let the good times roll at SHF Closing Weekend Block Party with food, craft, and music performances on the lawn of the National Museum of Singapore, replicating the communal experience of celebrations and festivities at shared residential spaces.

SHF Celebrates 40 years of Total Defence

Unveiling South Beach Singapore: From Military Might to Modern Marvel: Participants can uncover fascinating stories behind the architectural gems at South Beach, from their days as part of a military strong hold to their transformation into a vibrant modern hub. Participants will gain exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to level 11 of South Beach Tower for breathtaking views, and enjoy a refreshing, specially crafted cocktail as part of the programme. 

40 Years of Total Defence with the Navy: Celebrate 40 years of total defence with the Navy with special edition guided tours of the Changi Naval Base and Navy Museum. Visitors can get a taste of Singapore Navy life and learn about Singapore Navy traditions with sailors past and present. 

A Taste of Outfield Camp: Heritage in a Mess Tin: Sample an outfield camp experience and prepare for a “route march” to SAFTI Military Institute all in one day.

Dive into Singapore’s Maritime Heritage

Dive into Singapore’s Maritime Heritage with Singapore Maritime Discoveries, organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. 

Singapore Maritime Gallery Tour: Experience Singapore’s maritime past, present and future at the Singapore Maritime Gallery Tour, which will highlight the industry’s rich maritime heritage, the impacts on our daily life, and how Singapore continues to thrive as a global hub port and international maritime centre.

Maritime Heritage Trail and Maritime Evolution Trail: Discover Singapore’s early maritime history on the Maritime Heritage Trail, and learn about the progress of our modern maritime industry on the Maritime Evolution Trail.

Raffles Lighthouse: Set sail on a journey of discovery through the Singapore Strait and visit the Raffles Lighthouse, a historic beacon which has over 168 years of maritime history. 

Echoes of 1959: Singapore River Tour – Time-travelling storytellers take participants on a captivating theatrical tour along Clarke Quay and bring forgotten stories of a street hawker, a secret society member, and a coolie to life on Echoes of 1959: Singapore River Tour.

Discover unique haunts in Singapore

For those who are interested in the paranormal, you can discover unique haunts in Singapore during SHF 2024.

Haunted History: Armenian Street – Fort Canning:  Explore the stories lurking beneath the veneer of modern Singapore, where anecdotes of ghostly encounters have been passed down through generations in Haunted History: Armenian Street – Fort Canning. Embark on a walking tour from the Peranakan Museum, and hear haunting tales of the area around Armenian Street and Fort Canning Hill. 

Dark Changi, The Walking Tour: Take a walk on the dark side and explore the rich history, abandoned buildings and spooky tales that lie hidden in plain sight at Changi. Dark Changi, The Walking Tour offers two experiences: Heritage and Hantu: A Twillight Tour of Changi’s heritage and abandoned buildings in the fading evening light, and Walk with Hantu: Changi where notorious sites set the scene for lore and legends to come alive through the haunting accounts of eyewitnesses. 

SHF 2024 programmes highlight

Although there is an extensive and diverse list of SHF 2024 programmes, there are two particular programmes that caught my attention and I would like to highlight to all my readers!

Undisclosed by SHF: Join a mystery tour organised by SHF, the only catch is – they won’t tell you where you are going.

NUS ArClab (https://www.arclabnus.com/)

The NUS Architectural Conservation Laboratory (ArClab) is part of National University of Singapore’s Department of Architecture. ArClab is into cutting-edge cross disciplinary research and collaboration across digital conservation technology, material sciences, and building aesthetics. 

For SHF 2024, ArClab has talks & workshops, tours & trails. During the media preview, I got to visit ArClab and got to know more about them. They are definitely worth a look at, if you are into heritage conservation and architecture. 

Lenses of the Past at Capitol Singapore & CHIJMES 

Capitol Singapore and CHIJMES are participating in SHF 2024, not only do they have promotions for festival goers to check out, they have activities and an exhibition too.

Our Storied Past: Heritage Tour and Afternoon Tea

Enjoy an amazing and delicious afternoon tea experience at the Lobby Lounge at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore with its 5 course Afternoon Tea. After your Afternoon Tea, start your exclusive walking tour to explore the history, heritage, culture, architecture and stories of Stamford House and Capitol Building. Next, take a short walk to CHIJMES and continue to learn about this National Monument.

Heritage Tour and Afternoon Tea Experience 

Dates: Every Wednesday and Saturday from 1st May to 26th May

Time: 

• 15:00 – Afternoon Tea experience at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
• 17:00 – Guided Heritage Tour of the The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, followed by CHIJMES 
• Weekdays at S$52++ per person
• Weekends at S$58++ per person

For more information, please visit https://www.kempinski.com/en/the-capitol-singapore/meetings-events/singapore-heritagefest-20242 

Legacy Lens Kit

Photography and heritage enthusiasts would love this Legacy Lens Kit! It’s limited edition, 10 lens cards in a vintage camera pouch! Walk around Capitol Singapore or CHIJMES historical landmarks shown on the lens cards, align the outline on each lens card to the real-life structure and take a photo!

For more information on Legacy Lens Kit, please visit https://chijmes.com.sg/happenings/singapore-heritagefest-legacy-lens-kit/ 

Lenses of the Past: Heritage Exhibition 

At CHIJMES, don’t miss the giant retro camera display for you to take photos for your Instagram and TikTok! Check out the Lenses of the Past: Heritage Exhibition on the history, heritage, culture and stories of CHIJMES.

Thereafter, you can have your happy hour drinks, lunch or dinner at CHIJMES with their promotions in conjunction with SHF 2024.

Visit https://chijmes.com.sg/ for more information!

Let’s go explore Singapore’s stories of our Singapore’s Built Heritage!

This Singapore HeritageFest 2024 is packed with an amazing and diverse list of programmes to celebrate Singapore’s rich history, heritage, culture, architecture and stories. Pack your backpack, pack your camera, rally your family, loved ones and friends, let’s go explore Singapore’s stories of our Singapore’s Built Heritage!

For more information on Singapore HeritageFest 2024, please visit https://www.sgheritagefest.gov.sg/ 

The post Singapore HeritageFest 2024 – Let’s Explore Stories of our Built Heritage appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

MHC Hari Raya Open House AidilFEASTri Festival 2024 Theme: Food

The theme for MHC Hari Raya Open House 2024 is food. This year’s programmes will serve up a buffet of programmes, activities and displays showcasing the culinary traditions and intangible cultural heritage practices related to Hari Raya. The AidilFEASTri Festival 2024 programme highlights include a cooking demonstration with MasterChef Singapore finalist Chef IIya Fadhly, Teh Tarik making workshop by Tarik.SG, and a larger-than-life food replicas of iconic Hari Raya dishes such as mutton biryani, sayer lodeh, and assorted kueh. 

There are also other exciting programmes at this special edition MHC Hari Raya Open House which will explore the influences and commonalities between Malay and Indian culture, such as 

• Taste of Heritage: Nasi Tomato, Ayam Bakar and Begedil & Soto Pani Puri with Chef Ilya
• Threads of Unity: Unravelling Shared Textile Traditions Between India and the Nusantara,

On top of all this, there will also be upbeat dance and musical performances, such as the medley of nostalgic Raya songs performed with traditional instruments, spreading the festive cheer of Hari Raya.

AidilFEASTri Festival 2024 Highlights

Ruang AidilFEASTri

• Date: 19 – 28 April
• Time: 10am – 6pm
• Venue: Lobby, IHC
• Admission is free

Delectable Designs: Henna Art & Fuse Beads Keychain Making with Hennaflair and Senikraf

• Date: 27 & 28 April
• Time: 10am – 6pm
• Venue: Lobby, IHC
• Admission is free

AidilFEASTri Munch & Crunch Corner

• Date: 27 & 28 April
• Time: 11am – 5pm
• Venue: Lobby, IHC
• Admission is free

Cultural Rhythms: Rentak x Raya with SMU Rentak

• Date: 27 April
• Time: 10.30am – 11am
• Venue: Street Stage, IHC
• Admission is free

Cultural Rhythms: An Afternoon of Dance with Alif-Alliance, ASWARA, Mayoora Dance Group and Permata Seni Budaya

• Date: 27 April
• Time: 4.30pm – 5.15pm
• Venue: Street Stage, IHC
• Admission is free

Don’t Spill the Teh: A Teh Tarik-making Workshop with Tarik.SG

• Date: 27 April
• Time: 11am – 12.30pm
• Venue: Activity Room, IHC
• Admission: $15

Tales from the Nusantara : My Mother’s Kitchen with Shahril Samri from Pantunism

• Time: 11am – 12.30pm
• Venue: Level 3, Permanent Gallery, IHC
• Admission: $16 (parent-child pair), $8 (additional child)

Threads of Unity: Unravelling Shared Textile Traditions Between India and the Nusantara with Hafiz Rashid, aNERDgallery and Wild Dot

• Date: 27 & 28 April
• Time: 3pm – 5pm
• Venue: Permanent Galleries & Seminar Room, IHC (Meet at Lobby)
• Admission: $20

Discovering The Blue Mosque of Singapore: Heritage Tour of Malabar Muslim Jama-ath Mosque

• Date: 27 April
• Time: 2pm – 3.30pm
• Venue: Offsite
• Admission: $5 (refundable deposit)

Joget & Jamu with Nur Raihan and Dana Safia

• Date: 28 April
• Time: 10am – 11.30am
• Venue: Street Stage, IHC
• Admission: $10

Kuih-licious Creations: A Miniature Kuih Raya Workshop with Sherry’s Minis

• Date: 28 April
• Time: 11am – 2pm
• Venue: Activity Room, IHC
• Admission: $25

Cultural Rhythms: Joyful Melodies with Sheer-Nas & Friends

• Date: 28 April
• Time: 12pm – 12.45pm
• Venue: Street Stage, IHC
• Admission is free

Cultural Rhythms: Gema Ghazal with Orkes Melayu Mutiara

• Date: 28 April
• Time: 4.30pm – 5.15pm
• Venue: Street Stage, IHC
• Admission is free

Taste of Heritage: Nasi Tomato, Ayam Bakar and Begedil & Soto Pani Puri with Chef Ilya Nur Fadhly

• Date: 28 April
• Time: 5pm – 6pm
• Venue: Activity Room, IHC
• Admission: $10

Visit https://malayheritagecentre.peatix.com to register for the above AidilFEASTri Festival 2024 programmes on a first-come-first-served basis.

Mark it down on your calendar, spread the word, and Pass-It-On, celebrate a special edition of MHC Hari Raya Open House, at the AidilFEASTri Festival 2024 from 27th to 28th April 2024 at IHC.

Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) Special Edition Open House –  AidilFEASTri Festival 2024 

• Dates: 27 to 28 April 2024
• Location: Indian Heritage Centre (IHC)
• Website: www.malayheritage.gov.sg 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malayheritage 
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/malayheritage 

Hari Ray related content on NHB heritage portal roots.gov.sg 

• Intangible Cultural Heritage: Hari Raya Puasa – (https://www.roots.gov.sg/ich-landing/ich/hari-raya-puasa)
• Intangible Cultural Heritage: Weaving Ketupat – (https://www.roots.gov.sg/ich-landing/ich/weaving-ketupat)
• Intangible Cultural Heritage: Making and Wearing of Baju Kurung – (https://www.roots.gov.sg/ich-landing/ich/making-and-wearing-of-baju-kurung)
• Stories: Geylang Serai Market & Food Centre – (https://www.roots.gov.sg/stories-landing/stories/Hawker-Centres/Geylang-Serai-Market-Food-Centre)
• Collection: A stamp celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri – (https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1002233)
• Collection: Brass ‘roti jala’ mould presser – (https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1072285)

The post Celebrate MHC AidilFEASTri Festival 2024 at IHC appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

HiddenSG @ Katong-Joo Chiat: Festival Race

Starting from Haig Road Market and Food Centre, race participants will embark on a journey exploring through Katong-Joo Chiat. Along the way, you have to unravel hidden clues and complete challenges that will uncover the Katong-Joo Chiat neighbourhood’s rich heritage, history and culture. Guiding you through every step of the way are the friendly virtual mascots: Void Deck Cat and Hannie the HAN sparrow.

The first 5 teams to cross the finishing line will win vouchers and cash prizes (1) kindly sponsored by HiddenSG, i12 Katong, The Federation of Merchants’ Associations Singapore and Heartland Enterprise Centre Singapore!

Can I still go on HiddenSG @ Katong-Joo Chiat game after the festival race?

If you are unable to join during the festival race period, the HiddenSG @ Katong-Joo Chiat game will still be available after the festival race for those who are interested to play at your own pace. Tickets are priced at S$9.90 and this includes a surprise F&B item along the way!

What is the HiddenSG @ Katong-Joo Chiat all about?

The HiddenSG @ Katong-Joo Chiat is one of the programme highlights of NHB’s Heritage Activation Nodes: Katong Joo Chiat (HAN@K-JC) launch festival held from 20th to 21st April 2024.

Attendees can look forward to a diverse range of activities organised in collaboration with over 20 community partners and heritage businesses in the area, at various locations around the Katong-Joo Chiat neighbourhood. 

For more information on HAN@K-JC and HiddenSG @ Katong-Joo Chiat, please visit https://go.gov.sg/nhb-han 

A preview of HiddenSG Race @ Katong-Joo Chiat 

I went for a media preview for this HiddenSG Race @ Katong-Joo Chiat, it was a fun and interactive amazing race, Singapore Heritage edition. This unique heritage race is interactive, the questions have its own unique style of making us unravel the clues and completing the challenges. 

For myself who has been photographing and documenting in the heritage sector, this amazing race style game is refreshing for me in how we can approach, embrace and reach out Singapore’s history, heritage, and culture through technology and new media, to a wider community from the young to the seniors, attracting and getting more people to discover and know more about Singapore’s history, heritage and culture.

Although I don’t live in the East side of Singapore, the recent NHB Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat launch, and recent photography assignment location in Katong-Joo Chiat, brought me to Katong-Joo Chiat district for the fourth time in two months. 

Here are some tips that I would like to share with you when you embark on this interactive HiddenSG Race @ Katong-Joo Chiat:

• Wear comfortable attire and shoes, you are going to walk and walk!
• Observe the rich heritage and culture in the Katong-Joo Chiat neighbourhood
• Take the chance to learn about the rich heritage, history and culture of Katong-Joo Chiat district
• Bring your water bottle! Remember to hydrate!
• Remember to bring your umbrella or poncho, you never know when it might rain!
• Be safe, watch out for traffic and people when crossing the roads/walking
• Last but not least, enjoy and have lots of fun with your group of family and/or friends!

Information on HiddenSG Race @ Katong-Joo Chiat

• Date: 20th April 2024
• Meeting Point: Haig Road Market and Food Centre
• Timing: 1pm
• Price: S$10*
• Register here: https://go.gov.sg/nhb-han 

Notes:

• Covers up to 5 participants. You can play individually or in a group of up to 5 people for the same price. Please bring a phone with internet access and WhatsApp, wet weather protection, and a water bottle. 
• (1) 1st Prize: $300 KLIK vouchers (i12 Katong app voucher) & cash prize of S$500; 2nd and 3rd Prizes: $250 cash prize each; 4th and 5th Prizes: $100 cash prize each.

The post Embark on an interactive (SG) Heritage Race – HiddenSG @ Katong-Joo Chiat: Festival Race appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography

First up would be my photography sector, my regular and usual approach from both business and leisure/personal perspectives.

Photography (business)

On the business side of things for TGH Photography, Q1 got off on a not too bad start, taking into consideration the slower start in January 2024, followed by Chinese Lunar New Year festive season in February 2024. Although some deals faced some challenges and didn’t materialise, it’s an inevitable part of running and doing a business. 

With the uncertainties and challenges in the economy ahead, hopefully the momentum and consistency built up in Q1 2024 can be carried forward into the rest of the year.

Photography (leisure/personal)

I continued to enjoy my leisure/personal photography in the midst of everything juggling a business and a few big hats concurrently. Bird photography/wildlife photography was fulfilling for this particular migratory bird season in Singapore from October 2023 to March 2024. 

On my personal photography projects that I am planning to start, working on them and brining it to “life” via physical prints either in zines or photo books. Although I haven’t officially selected them, one would be on heritage sector, most likely it would be from an existing/ongoing heritage documentation project that I started some years back. Another project idea is on my travel visual storytelling, I would share more in the Travel sub-section below.

I am also exploring a photography collaboration with overseas photographer, it would really be a wonderful experience to publish a photography zine overseas with them. Let’s see how this would turn out for me, whether it comes to life. 

Travel

An area that I have been working on before the global pandemic hits, from travel photography, visual storytelling and content creation. Although it’s not taking off as I would like to, I am going to continue working on this, from my personal travel visual storytelling to my networkings. 

Travel content creation 

I read about the challenges and impacts of AI on travel content creators. These would be of great interest to me as a travel content creator being part of my portfolio of works, as well as being a technology writer. I would share more of my findings when I had more insights from my research.

Together with my travel content creation and travel visual storytelling plans for 2024, I am thinking between a travel photo book or a travel storytelling style book that is always on my dreams and plans. Which should I choose? 

Geo-politics and world economy

The geo-politics tensions across different parts of the world are a concern for world tourism and travel, let’s hope they would not escalate further hampering and derailing the world economy further. Current economic sentiments are not good even though we have been reading news on over-tourism in some countries such as Japan. 

Last but not least on my travel, it’s really time to plan a short getaway soon, it’s been years since I left Singapore for an overseas trip due to the global pandemic (last trip was in 2019 to Malaysia). 

Creative 

On the creative side of things, I am kickstarting my TGH Research and Learning Series on Artificial (AI) in 2024, continuing where I left off in 2023. I have both professional and personal interests in Generative AI from various perspectives, as a photographer/creative, a technology writer and an end consumer. AI technology is huge, I am still learning, researching and understanding the potentials and impacts.  

Through my ongoing research and learning series, I might experiment more with Generative AI on photography, videography and designs.

Heritage

Over the past decade (and still counting), I have embarked on history, heritage, culture and arts documentation via my photography and writing, the collection of photographs can be viewed here #OurSGHeritage on Flickr. 

In 2024, I am planning to bring a current personal heritage project to life, and I am also looking to get more active and involved in heritage sector, contributing through my visual storytelling and writing with organisations involved in the history, heritage, culture and arts sector. 

Moving Forward in Q2 and beyond in 2024

The uncertainties, poor economic sentiments and a slowdown in the world economy can and have already been felt on the ground level. The challenges and constraints would still be ever present, moving forward in Q2 and beyond in 2024, I would continue to work smart, be strategic and work extra hard, hopefully the momentum and consistency built up in Q1 2024 can be carried forward into the rest of the year, in the are of my photography/content creation business, amidst the uncertainties. 

Q2 2024 has just begun, time to take on the challenges ahead, moving forward in Q2 and beyond on 2024.

The post Reflecting Q1 2024 (Photography | Travel | Creative | Heritage) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

I am playing my small part for WWD 2024 through my visual storytelling with Canon EOS R series camera, for this year’s series, they were shot with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II of my wildlife and nature/outdoors photography in Singapore, part of my TGH Explorer Series Production, largely inspired and influenced by National Geographic magazine publications when I started reading them in the late 80s to early 90s. 

How does digital innovation and technology plays a role in my WWD 2024? While I am not in the fields of wildlife research and conservation, I contributed via my photographs and documentations of various wildlife spotted and documented at different locations in Singapore in the nature areas as well as urban environments, bird watching/counting. Although I am probably more focused on bird photography and green nature spaces, I am going to document/photograph more of different types of wildlife beyond birds.

Here are some of my wildlife photography in Singapore that I captured with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II camera from mid 2023 till date. 

Here are my ongoing documentation and collection of my visual storytelling on wildlife photography and nature reserves/parks in Singapore, uploaded into my Flickr collections over the years with my different Canon cameras that I owned/tested.

Even though you might not be in the fields of wildlife and/or nature research/conservation, we can still play our small part in wildlife and nature conservation, with the help of cameras and digital innovation. I am continuing to play my small part on nature and wildlife photography/documentation in Singapore, and hopefully nearby regions as I am exploring and writing on the areas of sustainability, adding on to my nature and wildlife conservation. 

The post World Wildlife Day 2024 – 3rd March 2024 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Street Corner Heritage Galleries Scheme

For those who might not be too familiar or heard about Street Corner Heritage Galleries previously. What is the Street Corner Heritage Galleries Scheme all about?

The Street Corner Heritage Galleries scheme by the National Heritage Board (NHB) started off in Balestier in 2020, followed by Kampong Gelam in 2021, Little India in 2022 and Chinatown in 2022. The Street Corner Heritage Galleries scheme is an excellent way to celebrate and document the rich experiences of heritage businesses, this scheme aims to foster a deeper appreciation for heritage in everyday spaces.

Under this scheme, NHB works closely with interested owners of heritage businesses with at least 30 years of history to co-create “mini-museums” to showcase the history, heritage, culture and stories of their businesses and trades, through the displays of historical documents, photographs and artefacts.

A brief history of Katong-Joo Chiat district

You would probably know Katong-Joo Chiat from pictures of the colourful pre-war Peranakan shophouses, that attracts not only locals to head there for a photo shoot. Our international friends have also make their way into Katong-Joo Chiat district for its charm, beauty and colourful blend of old and new, from its colourful pre-war shophouses in the neighbourhood, the diverse communities co-existing with modern shopping malls and hip cafes. 

There are rich history, heritage and culture elements in Katong-Joo Chiat, waiting for you to discover them behind those heritage businesses in Katong-Joo Chiat. Each has their own story of resilience, innovation and intergenerational piety. What are some of the stories and insights into heritage businesses in this vibrant Katong-Joo Chiat precinct? What are some of the lesser-known anecdotes behind those classic delicacies to inspirational tales of intergenerational support and cooperation? 

Why not take a walk and explore Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat, discover and find out more about them?

Six Participating Businesses for Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat

NHB is launching Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat with six participating businesses: 

• Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah
• Joo Chiat Fei Fei Wanton Noodle House
• Kim Choo Kueh Chang
• Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant
• Sin Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh
• D’Bun

Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0 – Empowering the Community 

This Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat is an expansion of the scheme, as part of the NHB’s ongoing efforts under the Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0, to empower more Singaporeans to get involved with the celebration of our heritage and support heritage businesses and crafts. The Street Corner Heritage Galleries scheme provides curatorial support and assistance in terms of research and content development, and funding for the fabrication of showcases. 

NHB will also work closely with the heritage businesses to develop programmes that complement the showcases, and provide opportunities for them to participate in key NHB events to increase awareness of their businesses and offerings. 

What can the public look forward to? From guided trails and workshops that will showcase the Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat during NHB’s inaugural Heritage Activation Nodes (HAN), that will be launched in Katong-Joo Chiat district and various precincts from this year as part of NHB Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0. The HAN provides opportunities for the community to develop and implement projects that will increase the number of heritage touchpoint in the heartlands and celebrate the distinctive heritage of their neighbourhoods. 

Mr Gerald Wee, Director, Education and Community Outreach, NHB said: “We have been encouraged by the success of the pilot Street Corner Heritage Galleries scheme over the past three years. Feedback from the business owners has been positive and we hope this expansion of the scheme will allow more heritage businesses to showcase their stories and heritage, and to benefit from increased public awareness and support.”

A short tour of Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat

During the media session, we took a short tour of the Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat district. Starting off at Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant, next was Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah, Joo Chiat Fei Fei Wanton Noodle House and Kim Choo Kueh Chang.

Although it was a short session at each location due to time constraints, we heard stories from the  people behind the those heritage businesses. Although I had explored Katong-Joo Chiat quite a fair bit over the years for heritage, history and arts related events and activities, as well as doing photography shoots at various locations in the iconic Katong-Joo Chiat, hanging out at the Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market by The Retro Factory, there were still many stories that I am hearing it for the first time about Katong-Joo Chiat district. 

As I don’t stay in the east side of Singapore, and I am not too knowledgable about Peranakan cuisine, I didn’t know about the history and legacy of Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant until that day when I stepped into the premises for the start of the media event for Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat. I would love to visit and try their authentic Peranakan cuisine after trying out some of their delicious kueh and light bites that they prepared for the media event. 

Next up was Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah. I heard about them previously, now I got to visit their store and hearing them share their history, stories and journeys. I love to eat popiah, I am going to check out their website, see which popiah skin or popiah sets to order, and plan a popiah eating gathering.

Visiting Kim Choo Kueh Chang at Joo Chiat Place, the original location and also its main factory, it was not the same as their East Coast Branch where I visited a few times over the years whenever there were events held in the Katong-Joo Chiat district. We were given a tour of their factory during our media tour, hearing them share about KIm Choo Kueh Chang history, stories and journeys. 

On a personal note, it was good to meet Mr Lim of Joo Chiat Fei Fei Wanton Noodle House again, I met him a few years back, thanks to Victor, a senior in Scouting, also a heritage enthusiast that I met at Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market, for introducing him. 

The four Street Corner Heritage Galleries in Katong-Joo Chiat district that we visited, all had their own unique history, stories and journeys, from one generation to the next. I would like to invite you to explore and check them out during your exploration of Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat, whereby you can learn more about their origins, how they continued to thrive and grow over the years.

For more information on Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat

If you like to know more information on Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat, please visit https://go.gov.sg/schgkatongjoochiat 

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I want to collect the NHB Museum Roundtable Hongbao, how should I go about doing it?

From 12th January to 9th February 2024, visitors can collect a set of exclusive red packets at any of the 43 participating museums, heritage institutions, and galleries. Each visitor is entitled to one set of high red packets from any of the venues, while stocks last.

The Char Yong (Dabu) Association Heritage Hall, a new member of the Museum Roundtable (MR) will also be participating in the campaign for the first time. Four other MR members will also be returning this year, the Republic of Singapore Air Force Museum, the Singapore Navy Museum, the Singapore Maritime Gallery, and the Singapore  Sports Museum. 

Limited Edition Collector’s Box Set

There is a popular limited edition Collector’s Box Set! It’s back again! It comes as a large gift box with its own custom-designed bag. Each box contains 2 complete sets of the 43 red packet designs presenting the participating MR members, as well as en exclusive design from the National Heritage Board, making a total of 88 (Huat ah!) pieces of hongbaos! The red packet designs in the box set also have a distinct orange background and feature dragons with subtle colour differences.

The Collector’s Box Sets are priced at $108 (nett) and will be available for purchase only at the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. Interested collectors can

1.  pre-register to purchase at a specified time slot on 20th and 21st January 2024, which is encouraged, or
2. walk-in to purchase on a first-come, first-served basis on 27th January 2024. Pre-registration opens on 10th January 2024, 10.00am, at mrhongbao.eventbrite.com.

There will be 450 Collector’s Box Sets available for sale, with the majority reserved for pre-registered sales on 20th and 21st January 2024, and the remainder for walk-in purchases on 27th January 2024. Regardless of the mode of purchase, each member of the public is limited to the purchase of one box set per NRIC number, on a first-come, first-served basis.

I Love Museums’ Facebook Page Giveaways

There are two online giveaways that will be held on the “I Love Museums” Facebook Page (https://www.facebook/com/ILoveMuseums), offering members of the public an opportunity to win the Collector’s Box Set or a set of the red packets.

First giveaway (Between 12th and 22nd January 2024)

The first giveaway will be held between 12th and 22nd January 2024, and will require participants to visit participating venues and take a photograph of themselves with the red packets they collected at the museum. Participants are required to share these photographs in the comments section of the giveaway post and leave a comment on which exhibit/artefact they found interesting during their visit. A total of 10 winners will be selected at random the receive  the Collector’s Box Set.

Second giveaway (Between 30th January and 6th February 2024)

The second giveaway will held between 30th January and 6th February 2024, and requires participants to leave a comment on the “I Love Museums” Facebook Page on their favourite aspect of this year’s Museum Roundtable Hongbao Campaign. There will be 50 winners selected at random to receive a full set of all 43 Museum Roundtable red packets.

Check out the passion and support of hongbao collectors!

At the recent NHB media announcement for the Museum Roundtable Hongbao Campaign 2024, we met passionate hongbao collectors with their hongabo collections, their stories behind their  loyal support for NHB Museum Roundtable Hongbao.

Ms Yap Siew Luan, a red packet collector from Johor Bahru, Malaysia said: “I have been collecting red packets since 2003 and have participated in the Museum Roundtable Lunar New Year Hongbao Campaign since 2015. I first learned about the campaign through friends and have been very fortunate to have also developed long-lasting friendships with other collectors throughout the years. 2024 is also a special year as it is my Zodiac year. While it is a challenge to collect all the different red packets from the various participating museums, I typically aim to collect as many red packets as I can during my short visits to Singapore on weekends.” 

Who’s behind the cute Dragon design for Museum Roundtable Hongbao Campaign 2024?

You saw the cute and unique Dragon designs on the hongbaos for this MR Hongbao Campaign 2024. Who’s the artist/designer behind this? 

Meet Carlos Puentes, 36 year-old designer from Barranquilla, Colombia who has designed and illustrated for many national and international brands and clients, the designer for Museum Roundtable Hongbao Campaign 2024. He said: “Through working on this campaign, I have learnt much more about Singapore’s museum sector and am impressed with its diversity!” (His Instagram account is @cpuentesdesign).

Mr Goh Chour Thong, Director (International and Museum Relations), NHB, said: “NHB has truly enjoyed 10 years of partnering with Museum Roundtable members for the Hongbao Campaign, and working with them to adapt the design of the Chinese zodiac animal for the year to reflect each of their unique characteristics. We are very encouraged that the hongbaos as well as the limited collectors’ editions have continued to be popular with the public and sought after by collectors, and helped grow visitorship and appreciation of the offerings at each of the participating Museum Roundtable members. We certainly hope this year’s hongbaos featuring the cute and versatile dragons designed by Colombian artist Carlos Puentes will be no different!”

For more information on the Museum Roundtable Hongbao Campaign 2024, you can visit the following link: go.gov.sg/MRHongbao2024. 

The post Usher Year of the Dragon 2024 with Cute and Hot Hongbao Designs from Museum Roundtable! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

While I am soaking in the year end festivities, I wasn’t too much into photographing those Christmas tree light up decorations like before. Therefore, I am using back my old Christmas tree photograph that I shot in Hokkaido from a few years back in 2016. I am going to slow down, take a bit of rest break during the final week 52 of year 2023, I would also try to clear as many backlogs that I have on hand in my visual storytelling, photography, travel, food, history, heritage, culture and arts segments. Leading up to the start of 2024, I am going into reflection and review mode, as well as strategic planning and directions for year 2024 in my photography, travel, content creation and creative sectors. 

As this is also the year end bird migration season, during the last week of 2023 rest break, I am going into the outdoors, parks, coastal areas etc for some hiking in the outdoors and bird photography action. 

Last but not least, thank you for your support for my photography, travel and writing for Year 2023! Wishing all a Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy Holidays! Have a good year end holiday break and festivities! 

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