Inspired by 1987 National Day Theme song “We Are Singapore”

Inspired by the lyrics of the beloved 1987 National Day Theme song “We Are Singapore”, 2025 SG60 celebrations programmes are thematically curated to honour the people, values and stories that have shaped Singapore over the years.

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “The National Museum has long been a space where Singapore’s history and identity are explored, celebrated and reimagined. This SG60, it is especially meaningful for us to welcome visitors to join us in reliving the stories and values that form our identity as Singaporeans. Inspired by the song “We Are Singapore”, which speaks to our spirit of determination and immense pride in the country we’ve built together, our largest National Day celebrations aim to honour our shared past and invite the community to participate in shaping the stories we continue to tell.” 

Telling the Singapore Story through Light and Bricks in the lead-up to National Day 2025

Singapore’s SG60 celebrations at NMS are starting in July 2025 with two eye-catching activities telling the Singapore story through light and bricks in the lead-up to National Day 2025.

Canvas of Light: Our Nation’s Journey 

The crowd favourite National Day Light-Up will finally make a return on NMS facade from 18th July to 9th August 2025 with Canvas of Light: Our Nation’s Journey. This year’s iconic projection offers a refreshed visual experience with stunning light art, and in a tribute to Singapore’s resilience and unity, visitors can watch Singapore’s story unfold across NMS historic building facade through a captivating dance of light and colour.

Canva of Light: Our Nation’s Journey

• Time: Daily | 7:30pm – 12am
• Location: Front Lawn, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick

LEGO fans in Singapore rejoice! You CANNOT miss this! You MUST visit Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick, showcase at the Stamford Gallery, celebrating Singapore’s community creativity and national heritage through play. 

Inspired by the Flows of People section in the NMS commemorative SG60 exhibition, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City, this showcase brings Singapore’s satires to life through a mix of building bricks and innovative digital installations and experiences.

Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick is presented in collaboration with The LEGO Group. Immerse yourself into this large-scale diorama of iconic Singaporean elements, intricate LEGO builds of Singaporean’s favourite local food, and LEGO artworks by students of the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) that depict historical and modern scenes inspired by our iconic Singapore River.

Whether you are a young or young at heart LEGO fan, I reckon you will love this Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick! It’s truly Uniquely Singaporean stories that many of us here can relate with, take your time to observe the Uniquely Singaporean characteristics, history, heritage, culture and modern anime/mecha/toys world! 

Singapore’s Biggest LEGO Mural

When you visit Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick, you can contribute to a one-of-a-kind LEGO mural that aims to set a new Singapore Book of Records title for Singapore’s Biggest LEGO Mural ever created in the country. Visitors are invited to play a part of this record-breaking moment by completing the final section of the mural, with each added brick being a tribute to Singapore’s enduring community spirit, creativity and national pride.

Digital River Stories

Inspired by the creations in the Stories of Singapore showcase, visitors are invited to actively participate in Digital River Stories, an engaging digital experience designed in partnership with MID Pro Group to foster creativity. Using their personal mobile devices, visitors can unleash their artistic talents through a digital colouring activity and share their hopes and desires for the future of Singapore. Once completed, these artworks can be seamlessly submitted to a dynamic digital wall, where they will come to life and join a vibrant and ever-evolving interactive background.

Play with LEGO at LEGO Play Box 

For the young builders, you can engage in free play to create items inspired by the exhibition. 

Mini LEGO Orchid Workshop

When you are visiting Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick, drop by during the following days and time slots to craft your very own LEGO orchard to bring home a moment of your visit!

Saturdays and Sundays, 19th – 20th July | 26th – 27th July | 2nd – 3rd August |

• Time: 2pm – 5pm
• Saturday 9th August 
• Time: 10am – 12pm & 1pm – 5pm
• Note: Materials for each slot are limited, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick

• Time: Daily: 10am – 7pm
• Location: Stamford Gallery, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge. Entry may be restricted when the gallery is at capacity.

Grand Finale Celebration on 9th August 2025

4 levels of National Day Celebrations – each representing a line from NDP 1987 theme song, We Are Singapore.

Basement Level – There was a time when people said that Singapore won’t make it…

Visitors can participate in hands-on experiences that pay homage to Singapore’s maritime past, centred around Singapore’s early history as the capital of the Straits Settlements.

National Day Colour Competition 2025

• Time: 10am – 1pm
• Location: Gallery Theatre, Basement Level
• Price: Free of charge (subject to a refundable deposit of $10 per child)

Interactive Storytelling: The River Road

• Time: 3pm – 3:45pm & 4:30pm – 5:15pm
• Location: Gallery Theatre, Basement Level
• Price: $12 per adult-child pair (incl. GST)

Create & Float: Make Your Own Boat

• Time: 10am – 11am (priority slot for people with disabilities) | 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 5pm (for public)
• Location: Canyon: Basement Level
• Price: Free of charge

Level 1 – This is my country, this is my flag…

Visitors are invited to celebrate elements that make us uniquely Singaporean, with activities that spotlight cultural keystones such as our beloved Singlish dialects and the iconic kopi and kaya toast Singapore breakfast ritual.

Waves of Wisdom: A Human Library Experience

• Time: 10am – 12pm & 2pm – 4pm 
• Location: Reunion, Level 1
• Price: $5 per pax (including GST), includes pastry set from Cafe Brera (consisting of 1 pastry and 1 beverage)

Heritage in a Cup: The Art of Kopi and Kaya

• Time: 10am – 12pm 
• Location: The Salon, Level 1
• Price: $32 per pax of $60 per pair

Can Draw Anot?

• Time: 3pm – 4pm
• Location: The Salon, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Mirror, Mirror: Interactive Photo Booth

• Time: 10am – 5:30pm 
• Location: Longer Concourse, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge 

Writings on the Wall

• Time: 10am – 7pm
• Location: LED Wall, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge 

Our Singapore, Our Canvas – A Community Artwork

• Time: 10am – 12pm & 3pm – 5pm
• Location: Front Lawn, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Percussion performance by Green Drumming

• Time: 5pm – 5:15pm (arrive by 4:50pm) 
• Location: Front Lawn, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Live Telecast of NDP

• Time: 5:30pm – 8:30pm (sit by 5:15pm) 
• Location: Front Lawn, Level 1
• Price: Free of charge

Level 2 and 3 – We Are Singapore, Singaporeans…

Designed to highlight pivotal moments in Singapore’s path to independence, visitors can look forward to a heritage hunt showcasing the museum’s artefacts, batik activities featuring beloved icons, and more.

The Hunt @ MNS

• Time: 10am – 12:30pm & 1:30pm – 6pm (final registration at 5pm, and redemption counter closes at 6pm)
• Location: Glass Atrium (near the Donor Wall), Level 2
• Price: Free of charge

Reach Out for the Stars: Craft Activity

• Time: 10am – 11pm (priority slot for people with disabilities) | 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 5:30pm (for public)
• Location: The Platform, Level 2
• Price: Free of charge

Drop-in Batik Activity

• Time: 10am – 11pm (priority slot for people with disabilities) | 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 5:30pm (for public)
• Location: Glass Atrium (near the Glass Rotunda), Level 2
• Price: Free of charge

Hats off to SG! Craft Station

• Time: 10am – 11pm (priority slot for people with disabilities) | 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 5:30pm (for public)
• Location: Outside Explore Room, Level 3
• Price: Free of charge

Watch NDP 2025 live on the National Museum of Singapore front lawn

At the end of the day, as you and your family are wrapping your festivities at the National Museum of Singapore, families are invited to gather on the National Museum’s Front Lawn for a relaxing picnic under the stars for a live screening of the National Day Parade 2025 from 5:30pm onwards. 

Admission details and More Information

Admission to Stories of Singapore: Building Our Heritage, Brick by Brick showcase is free of charge. 

On 9th August 2025, all visitors can enjoy free admission to the National Museum of Singapore. Admission will include entry to the National Museum’s latest installation, Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, housed in the iconic Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda – the first of the National Museum’s permanent galleries that will reopen on 8th August 2025. 

Visitors can also visit the Singapore History Gallery before its closure on 17th November 2025, with its last day open to the public on 16th November.

For more information, please visit the National Museum of Singapore Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Come on down to the National Museum of Singapore and celebrate SG60 National Day Celebrations!

An exciting line-up of SG60 National Day 2025 Celebrations awaits you and your family, loved ones and friends at the National Museum of Singapore! Come on down and have a great SG60 National Day Celebrations at the National Museum of Singapore! 

The post Exciting line-up of SG60 National Day Celebrations awaits you at the National Museum of Singapore! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

My NAPE 2025 Journey

I am hugely honoured and very happy to be a part of NAPE 2025, I have a photography artwork selected to be showcased along with other talented local Singapore photographers and their amazing photography works. This is my short visual story of my maiden journey in NAPE 2025.

My Maiden Submission for Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 

While I have heard of Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition, and visited a few editions previously, I didn’t thought about entering in my earlier photography years, as I wasn’t too confident, still learning and gaining my photography experiences.

Over the years, as I gained a lot more experiences in my photography, I also started to enter more and various photography contests and competitions. When I saw this year’s 30th NAPE 2025 Call For Entries, I am thinking deep inside me, why not go for it?

Making the decision to proceed, Year 2025 became my maiden submission and entry for Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition. 

Theme: Open

The theme for 20th NAPE 2025 is “Open”, while this theme is indeed very open and wide for interpretation, the organisers recommended themes related to SG60 or The Ngee Ann Kongsi’s 180th anniversary. 

Digging through my archives of photographs taken in 2024, I shortlisted a few potential photography works of mine for submission to NAPE 2025, before deciding on my final two photographs for submission.

Just like the theme “Open”, I entered with an open mind, eyes and heart, let’s see where NAPE 2025 brings me.  

From shortlisted to NAPE 2025 opening 

Around the end of April 2025, I received an email informing that one of my submissions has been shortlisted for NAPE 2025. At that moment, I was jumping with joy (inside me)! Thereafter, I had to follow the next few steps/instructions for getting my selected photography artwork ready, printed and delivered for NAPE 2025.

Once that were completed, it’s patiently waiting for 14th June 2025 to arrive, attending the NAPE 2025 opening ceremony, viewing my photography artwork titled, “Of Red and White Celebrations at GBTB Lighting Up Marina Bay Singapore” on display, together with fellow local Singapore photographers works at NAPE 2025.

30th NAPE 2025 Opening Ceremony & Opening Day

The 30th NAPE 2025 Opening Ceremony took place on 14th June 2025, a day of local Singapore photography community gathering together. It was great to catch up with fellow photography friends, chatting over everything photography related. 

After the formal speeches and presenting Ngee Ann Photographer of the Year 2025 award to Mr Lim Leong Kiat, NAPE 2025 was officially declared opened with the ribbon cutting ceremony! After that, guests and attendees began to visit NAPE 2025 exhibition, finding out where their photography artwork is displayed before walking around and checking out all the amazing photography works on display at NAPE 2025. Also a heartfelt congratulations to all participants of NAPE 2025! Great job and well done to all!

A big thank you to my friends who came down to NAPE 2025 Opening, I truly appreciate the support. I would like to invite you to come on down to LASALLE College of the Arts and visit 30th NAPE 2025!

Later in the afternoon, I attended the NAPE 2025 Opening Special Talk by Mr Lim Leong Kiat, on “Through the Lens: The Art of Travel Photography”, listening to his interesting and informative travel photography sharing. As a travel photographer myself, Mr Lim’s choice of digital MF cameras for his travel photography is of great interest to me, should I hop on the digital MF cameras? 

Thank you Ngee Ann Kongsi!

Being able to participate in NAPE 2025 is a humbling experience, also a huge honour for me, the recognition, for my photography artwork to be selected from over 1,020 entries, from more than 570 photographers that participated in NAPE 2025.

The feelings and euphoria when your photography artwork is printed, framed and displayed in a photography exhibition, at the 30th NAPE 2025, the jubilation and immense pride, this is priceless and very memorable!

I would like to sincerely thank Ngee Ann Kongsi for selecting my photograph and the opportunity to be one of the photography works on display at the 20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2025.

20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2025 Information

• Date: 14th to 24th June 2025
• Time: 12pm to 7pm Daily (Closed on Sundays)

Venue: LASALLE College of the Arts

• Flexible Performance Space
• Brother Joseph McNally Gallery
• Praxis Space
• Project Space

Address: 1 McNally Street Singapore 187940

The post The 20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition (NAPE) 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Chinese Opera Festival 2025

Chinese Opera Festival 2025 will take over five weekends from 21st June to 26th July 2025, featuring five local Chinese opera troupes, each performing on a select Saturday in a different dialect. 

These are the following active Chinese opera troupes, dedicated to keeping Singapore’s local Chinese landscape alive.

Chinese Opera Studio (Teochew) – The Mistake of Justice Bao

Date: 21st June

Time: 7pm

https://www.facebook.com/chineseoperastudiogroup/ 

Chinese Opera Ensemble (Hainanese) – The Peacocks Flying Southeast

Date: 5th July 

Time: 7pm

https://www.facebook.com/coe0217/ 

OperaWorks (Singapore) (Cantonese) – The Betrothal Sword of Love

Date: 12th July

Time: 7pm

• https://operaworkssingapore.org/
• https://www.facebook.com/OperaWorks.Singapore/ 
• https://www.instagram.com/operaworks.singapore/ 
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OperaWorksSingapore 

Tian Yun Beijing Opera Society (Peking) – Mei Yu Pei

Date: 19th July

Time: 7pm

• https://www.tianyun.sg/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/tianyunsg 
• https://www.instagram.com/tianyun_sg/ 

Tang Renaissance (Yue) – Marshal Lim Bo Seng

Date: 26th July

Time: 7pm

• https://www.tangrenaissance.org/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/tangrenaissance 
• https://www.instagram.com/tangrenaissance 
• https://www.youtube.com/@tangrenaissance440 

A significant collaboration between SCCC and NAC that brings quality performances to more audiences from all walks of life to celebrate the diversity and rich cultural heritage of Chinese opera in Singapore. Chinese Opera Festival 2025 is a gathering of five distinct opera traditions on a single stage, presents an exciting opportunity for more people to watch their performances, experience Chinese Opera, and to appreciate the importance of rich cultural heritage and to preserve it. 

At the same time, Chinese Opera Festival also helps to promote and provide vital support for local Chinese opera groups to develop their capabilities, embark on artistic growth, and cultivate a paying audience. There will be bilingual sub-titles provided for all performances, ensuring accessibility for all audiences. 

According to Mr Alvin Tan, Chief Executive of SCCC, “Through the festival, we hope to support local Chinese opera groups by providing a safe creative space for them to showcase their works and capabilities without having to worry about venue rental, funding, ticket sales, marketing etc. In doing so, we hope to safeguard and showcase a traditional artform which is rich in Chinese history and culture; attract new and hopefully younger audiences; and contribute to its long-term sustainability.” 

Low Eng Teong, Chief Executive Officer of NAC, said, “The traditional arts are a vital part of Singapore’s arts landscape as they reflect, shape and strengthen our cultural identity. NAC is proud to partner with the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on the inaugural Chinese Opera Festival. Through this initiative, audiences from all walks of life can come together to discover, connect with the arts and experience the richness and heritage of Chinese Opera in Singapore.” 

Chinese Opera Festival 2025 Fringe Activities 

There are a series of carefully curated Chinese Opera Festival 2025 fringe activities that will accompany the performances at SCCC, in line with the goal of expanding arts touch points for audience participation and engagement. 

These include interactive Chinese opera movement workshops designed for participants of all ages, and insightful practitioner talks featuring respected artists. Participants can expect to hear from experienced Chinese opera artists including Cultural Medallion recipient Joanna Wong and Stewards of Intangible Cultural Heritage Award and Young Artist Award recipient Cai Bixia.

The Art in Every Gesture: Discovering Movement in Chinese Opera

• Dates: 5th & 19th July
• Time: 4pm to 5pm
• Venue: SCCC Recital Studio, Level 6

Behind the Painted Faces: Voices of Chinese Opera Today

• Dates: 21st June (Su Zhang Kai) | 12th July (Cai Bixia) | 26th July (Joanna Wong)
• Time: 4pm to 5pm
• Venue: SCCC Recital Studio, Level 6

Chinese Opera Roving Exhibition

• Dates: 4th June to 26th July
• Time: 9am to 10m
• Venue: SCCC, Level 7 Foyer

Troupe leader of OperaWorks (Singapore), Ms Winsome Chan, said: “It is our honour to collaborate with SCCC and NAC, and to participate in this year’s Chinese Opera Festival. We hope that our audience would enjoy our performance of Cantonese opera The Betrothal Sword of Love, and we also hope to reach out to and attract new audiences to the festival.” 

Vice-President and Artistic Director of Tian Yun Beijing Opera Society, Ms Lim Mei Lian, added: “Being the inaugural Chinese Opera Festival in Singapore, we hope that the initiative does not stop here but will continue to stay true to its objectives and forge ahead with perseverance.” 

Personal Thoughts and Views from a documentary visual storyteller  

At the media preview, we got to know more about Chinese Opera Festival 2025 objectives from Mr Alvin Tan, CEO SCCC opening remarks. We also got to view snippets of the Chinese opera troupes performing at the upcoming Chinese Opera Festival 2025. 

This was an enriching cultural heritage experience for me, a sector that I didn’t manage to cover as much over my years of documenting and photographing history, heritage, culture and conservation sectors in Singapore. 

Through this inaugural Chinese Opera Festival 2025, I hope that I can do more, learn, experience, and appreciate this rich Chinese cultural heritage, and where I can play my small part for this sector, as a documentary visual storyteller in history, heritage, culture and conservation sectors.

Chinese Opera Festival 2025 Information (Ticketing Prices and Promotions)

Chinese Opera Festival 2025

• Dates: 21st June to 26th July 2025
• Venue: SCCC Auditorium, Level 9
• Standard Ticket Price: $30 (available on SISTIC)

Chinese Opera Festival 2025 tickers are available on SISTIC at $30 with a special five-show bundle at $120. Early bird discount of 30% off tickets at $21 are available from 4th till 10th June 2025.

To register for onsite fringe activities, please visit SISTIC. 

For more information on Chinese Opera Festival 2025, please visit Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) website: https://singaporeccc.org.sg/ 

The post SCCC and NAC Collaborate to Debut Chinese Opera Festival 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

• Part 1: Impressions
• Part 2: Amalgamate 
• Part 3: Awakenings 

Let me bring you into “Intersections”, this immersive, intriguing and uniquely experiential amalgamated performing arts adventure, through my visual storytelling and photographs.

Part 1: Impressions

Walking through the entrance, entering into the multi-purpose hall at SCCC, there was a short introduction by the ushers/chaperones. 

What were my initial impressions? 

This nine photo collage is the stage where “Intersections” come together in a ever shifting nine-grid formation, also known as “九宫格”, where audience can get themselves immersed with and interact with the different multi-sensory arts genres on offer, crossing boundaries that you might never think it’s possible with those different performing arts genres.

My initial impressions were, heh this “九宫格”, it’s really unique and different, a very interesting approach to present and amalgamate different performing arts genres together! 

Nine-Grid Arts Formation

1) Music: Rhythmic Flow

2) Wayang Kulit: Dancing Puppets

3) Drama: The vicissitudes of Singapore River

4) Peranakan Fashion: Splendid Elegance 

5) Installation Art: Whispers from the Woods | Dance: Awakenings

6) Opera: Dreams in Harmony

7) Calligraphy: Dancing Figure

8) Photography: Shadow and Dance

9) Multimedia: The Everchanging Land Beneath 

Part 2: Amalgamate

That’s where the artists inside the “九宫格” make their way behind, and the audience proceed to sit down, waiting for the second part of the performance to begin. Next up, the various artists amalgamate together through brilliant choreography and artistic storytelling, each having its own chapter and arts/drama/creative journey to tell the world. 

The flow of artists performances might seem chaotic at first, yet it’s also structured and planned. Everyone of us would be probably be intrigued and engrossed in different artists at work and performing. Personally for me, I was intrigued by Calligraphy: Dancing Figure (maybe because that’s the only art category that I passed in school), Photography: Shadow and Dance, as a photographer and visual storyteller myself, I am like the photographer capturing moments of a dance performance. Multimedia: The Everchanging Land Beneath, the moving and ever-changing multi-media lighting artwork with invoking dance performances, give me the light and direction to chase after them, hoping to capture a priceless moment in modern multi-media world. 

Part 3: Awakenings 

A massive grand finale dance performance, in a sea of red, inviting you to be immersed with them together in heart and soul, awakening to tell yourself and others that we need to be conscious, we also need to let go, so that we make important changes in our life, and we can rise again as we face the ongoing challenges around us and the world today. 

Personal Thoughts and Views

At the end of the this wonderful and engaging performance “Intersections”, I did have a number of feelings, thoughts, emotions and views. Hearing the heartfelt stories, sharing from Artistic Director Cao Shiji from Dance Ensemble Singapore, hearing warmest congratulations across the board by the audience, everyone of us knew deep in our hearts, we had witnessed and experienced something really special and unique.

“Intersections” by Dance Ensemble Singapore – Engaging, immersive, uniquely contemporary yet strong and grounded in their own traditional roots of each of their respective performing arts discipline. 

Showcasing cross promotion, cooperation, alliance and partnership with different arts and culture. It’s like a big family of practicing artists of various genres with immense love and passion for the arts, coming together under one roof, for a common purpose, to bring performing arts onto another level.

To some people who might be more critical and picky, they might feel too many different artistic genres combing together, too messy or “rojak” in our local lingo. Personally for me, I find this approach refreshing, an eye-opener, that somehow connects the audiences hearts, minds and souls, together in this amalgamated artistic approach. 

A key and unique aspect of “Intersections” is inviting the audience to interact, immerse and engage, something missing in many arts and cultural performances (in my personal humble opinion). 

As a photographer, visual storyteller myself, this is inspiring, how I can work further and better, with artists, creatives from other artistic genres.

One of the best performing arts that I ever attended and experienced till date, “Intersections” is a multi-sensory arts and performances installations exploring the connections between dance and other arts forms such as Music, Wayang Kulit, Drama, Peranakan Fashion, Performing Arts Installations, Opera, Calligraphy, Photography and Multimedia art, putting their deepest love and passion for their arts and craft into this amazing performance. 

I had an amazing artistic journey and experiences, and I am pretty sure the rest of the audience that day shared the same sentiments too (and also the audiences watching your performances on 16, 17 and 18 May 2025).

Thank you Dance Ensemble Singapore for this mind-blowing artistic performance, “Intersections”, the meanings and stories behind each special parts.

• Impressions: How we (the audience) view/feel and engage various performing arts genres coming together that seem not likely or possible in the first place. 
• Amalgamate: How you all bring them all together for a common goal to share and showcase performing arts 
• Awakenings: How we can let go of ourselves (especially for those non-arts practitioners) to view, feel, enjoy and learn about traditional and contemporary performing arts in today’s modern technology driven society.

More photographs on Intersections by Dance Ensemble Singapore at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Cultural Extravaganza can be viewed here in this Flickr photo album. 

Thank you very much, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre and Dance Ensemble Singapore, for the invitation to the full-dress rehearsal of “Intersections”.

The post Intersections by Dance Ensemble Singapore at SCCC Cultural Extravaganza 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Looking back at my previous years coverage on World Migratory Bird Day – WMBD 2021, WMBD 2023 (May 13th), WMBD 2023 (October 14th), WMBD 2024 (11th May) and WMBD 2024 (12th October). My birding journey has seen some great adventures visiting various nature reserves, parks and coastal areas for my birding photography, curating and uploading them into my Flickr photography collection – Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore. 

WMBD 2025 Theme – Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities & Communities

Singapore, while a very small country by land size, they are a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, making it a major migratory bird hub/stopover destination. Singapore now can play a bigger and wider international role in the migratory birds journey with those 2 major flyways, a transit hub for migratory birds. 

Singapore is part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, migratory birds making a pitstop in Singapore, giving bird photographers here in Singapore many opportunities to photograph them in action, the diversity and beauty of those migratory bird species. 

Recent research findings over the past few years have also indicated that Singapore’s status as a major migratory bird hub has grown in stature, Singapore now has become the intersection of 2 major flyways, adding the Central Asian-Indian Flyway to the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

For more information on Singapore has a hub for migratory birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, please check out the following articles below:

• NParks article – Feathered Global Ambassadors: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparksbuzz/issue-42-vol-3-2019/conservation/feathered-global-ambassadors 
• Mothership article – New study shows Singapore is a pitstop for migratory birds from 2 major flyways: https://mothership.sg/2020/12/migratory-bird-central-asian-flyway-singapore/ 
• Nature Portfolio Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77897-z 
• Straits Times article on 1st April 2024 – New Initiative to protect migratory birds and habitats: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-initiative-to-protect-migratory-birds-and-habitats

Visiting the various nature reserves, parks and coastal areas in Singapore for my birding photography, we can see Singapore playing their small part in creating bird-friendly cities & communities, through the protection, conservation and preservation of nature areas, parks, green belt connectors.

Flickr Photography Collection – Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore

I am working to curate and upload more birding photography in Singapore, showcasing the importance of Singapore as a bird hub for migratory birds. Although I haven’t reach the level of photographing all the bird species listed in Singapore by Birds of Singapore website by Bird Society of Singapore, I would still be actively visiting nature reserves, parks, coastal areas for bird photography (local and migratory) in Singapore.

Here’s a view of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Kranji Coastal Nature Park from the other end of Kranji industrial estate TimMac @ Kranji, not too far from the upcoming Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park that is slated to open in 2028.

Also a photograph of the peregrine falcon, an uncommon migrant and rare visitor, perching on the ledge of an industrial building at TimMac @ Kranji.

Looking back at my migratory bird season from around October 2024 to March/April 2025, this was a very fruitful birding adventure (both local and migratory), and I hope to continue on this momentum when the new migratory bird season begins around September/October 2025 in Singapore.

With the rising bird photography community in Singapore, I hope that we can help to raise the awareness, publicity, knowledge and learning about birds, wildlife, nature, conservation and preservation of nature reserves, parks, and coastal areas in Singapore.

The post World Migratory Bird Day 2025 (10th May) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Singapore Chinese Cultural Contribution Awards 2025

The Guest-of-Honour at the SCCC CE 2025 Opening Ceremony, Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Culture, Community and Youth & Trade and Industry, graced the event, applauded SCCC’s continuous efforts in promoting Singapore’s unique local Chinese arts and culture. 

SMS Low presented SCCCA (Individual) to Mr Quek Ling Kiong, Principal Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO), and SCCCA (Organisation) to Siaw-Tao Chinese Seal Carving, Calligraphy & Painting Society. 

Mr Quek was recognised for his visionary leadership in shaping SCO’s distinctive Singaporean voice and bringing Chinese Orchestral music to new audiences. As for Siaw-Tao, they were honoured for their dedication to preserving the traditional Chinese art forms of seal carving, calligraphy, and painting, and also for the consistent efforts in showcasing these traditional Chinese art forms both locally and internationally.

Nominations for next year’s SCCCA 2026 are now open, with the awards conferment of SCCCA 2025. Members of the public can nominate deserving candidates for SCCCA 2026 from now till 30 September 2025, 5pm. 

For more information on SCCCA, category criteria (Individual and Organisation), please visit SCCA website: https://singaporeccc.org.sg/SCCCA/ 

SCCC Cultural Extravaganza 2025 Kicks Off with a Big Bang!

After the Singapore Chinese Cultural Contribution Awards 2025 ceremony, representatives from local Chinese arts and cultural community, were treated to CE 2025 opening show comprising snippets from some of CE 2025 performances from the following: 

Home Kitchen by Nine Years Theatre 

LOVE Across Time: No Expiry Date! By LOVE 972

Intersections by Dance Ensemble Singapore (DES)

Nine Years Theatre and Mdm Yan Choong Lian, founder of DES, were both recipients of SCCCA 2024!  

SCCC Cultural Extravaganza 2025

This year’s SCCC CE is going to be exciting, featuring a dynamic mix of veteran and emerging practitioners and performing arts groups. They bring together traditional and contemporary artistic and cultural expressions that reflect the evolution of Singapore Chinese arts and culture. 

SCCC CE 2025 features a range of programmes that showcases the vibrancy and distinctiveness of local Chinese arts and culture. There are a mix of ticketed paid events, as well as free arts and cultural programmes at SCCC’s concourse of the first time – making local Chinese cultural offerings more accessible to parents and children. 

SCCC CE 2025 returns from 9 May 2025 to 7 June 2025, this is SCCC annual flagship event celebrating SINGAPO人 Arts. Visit https://singaporen.sg/experience/ce/events for the list of SCCC CE 2025 events lineup!

Spread the word about SCCC Cultural Extravaganza 2025 to your family, loved ones and friends! Let’s celebrate and discover more about SINGAPO人 Arts!

Follow Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) on their social media:

Website: www.singaporeccc.org.sg 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/singaporechineseculturalcentre 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/singaporechineseculturalcentre 

Wechat ID: sccc_sg 

The post SCCC Cultural Extravaganza 2025 returns from 9 May to 7 June! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography Competitions 

(A) Shores to Strength, Celebrating 60 Years of Coastal Protection & Resilience – National Photography Competition by Singapore Water Association.

URL: https://www.swa.org.sg/shores-to-strength-celebrating-60-years-national-photography-competition/ 

(B) Mad About Singapore 2025 – “Maritime Singapore” by InstaSG 

URL: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI6VyM2TVWA/ 

Two photography competitions for me to work on, they would help me plan my personal photography shoots, adding more works for curation of my SG60 personal project. Both competitions have nice prizes to be won too, that would be a real bonus for me!

Personal Visual Storytelling / Photography / Content Creation

(C) SG60 Celebrations – Singapore’s 60th birthday 

Year 2025 is Singapore’s 60th (SG60) birthday. How would I be planning to commemorate my own personal SG60 celebrations, how would I interpret SG60 celebrations through my visual stories and photographs? What kind of different approaches and photographs of Singapore can I tell the Singapore 60th birthday story? 

Currently, I am considering photography zine format for my SG60 personal visual storytelling project (less formal and smaller in size versus a full-fledged photo book). Things/plans might change along the way, as I continue to photograph, compile and curate my visual stories of Singapore over the decades. 

(D) World Migratory Bird Day 2025 

World Migratory Bird Day 2025 falls on 10th May 2025 and 11th November 2025. The 2025 theme is Creating Bird-Friendly Cities & Communities. I would be sharing more on my bird photography adventures and updates around October 2024 to March 2025.

URL: https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/ 

(E) Coming soon in June 2025

I would be sharing some photography / visual storytelling / content creation updates in the next month June 2025. There would be an announcement/update on my personal photography, do keep a lookout! 

More updates to come for my photography / visual storytelling / content creation in Year 2025!

The post Photography / Visual Storytelling / Content Creation Themes for May 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

WMBD 2024 Theme – Insects

The WMBD 2024 theme – Insects, might not seem that directly linked to WMBD at a start. However, insects are important for migratory birds. The 2024 theme also highlights concerns on decreasing population of insects and natural environments.

A recent Straits Times article published in May 2024, “Migratory bird declines point to large scale ecological changes across Southeast Asia”. Since Singapore is a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and it’s also a pitstop for birds migrating along the Central Asian Flyway as well. This would definitely be of interest to wildlife scientists and researchers in Singapore and in Southeast Asia region.

Birds play crucial roles in the natural environment, from pollination and pest control. In the context of a lack of insects, the ecosystem would be affected. If certain insects are overpopulated, and without the presence of birds as natural predators, that can also disrupt the ecosystem, causing outbreaks that damage plant health and agriculture.

Singapore – A hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway

Just like Singapore is a global air transit hub for the world with our iconic internationally famous Changi Airport, Singapore is also a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, as well for birds migrating along the Central Asian Flyway as well. Singapore is indeed a major migratory bird hub/stopover destination. 

Singapore is part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, migratory birds making a pitstop in Singapore, giving bird photographers here in Singapore many opportunities to photograph them in action, the diversity and beauty of those migratory bird species. 

Recent research findings over the past few years have also indicated that Singapore’s status as a major migratory bird hub has grown in stature, Singapore now has become the intersection of 2 major flyways, adding the Central Asian-Indian Flyway to the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Singapore, a small country by land size, now can play a bigger and wider international role in the migratory birds journey with those 2 major flyways, a transit hub for migratory birds. 

For more information on Singapore has a hub for migratory birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, please check out the following articles below:

• NParks article – Feathered Global Ambassadors: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparksbuzz/issue-42-vol-3-2019/conservation/feathered-global-ambassadors 
• Mothership article – New study shows Singapore is a pitstop for migratory birds from 2 major flyways: https://mothership.sg/2020/12/migratory-bird-central-asian-flyway-singapore/ 
• Nature Portfolio Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77897-z 
• Straits Times article on 1st April 2024 – New Initiative to protect migratory birds and habitats: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-initiative-to-protect-migratory-birds-and-habitats

Kickstarting my migratory bird photography adventures 2024 on World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October)

It’s the start of a new migratory bird season in October 2024, I am kickstarting my migratory bird photography adventures 2024 on World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October) with a rare migrant bird – Northern Boobook at Healing Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens, photographed on 12th October 2024.

There are still a number of migratory birds and local birds as well, that I haven’t managed to photograph. Along with my migratory bird photography adventures, I would continue to do so, updating and uploading my bird photography collections into this Flickr photo album. 

I am combining bird photography and outdoors/nature photography in nature reserves, parks, coastal areas. Outdoors, nature and bird/wildlife photography, always great therapeutic visual storytelling adventure for me. 

Like this gaze and look from this Crested Goshawk (shot at Healing Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens on 12th October 2024) telling you (my followers and readers) on my behalf, “Come follow me on bird/wildlife photography, outdoors and nature visual storytelling adventures!”

The post World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall

Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery 

May the light of the full moon bring happiness and prosperity to you and your loved ones!

The post Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 2024! 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 *

The post Come for a Play Date – Rekindle Nostalgia Toys and Play appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.