A Preview Tour of the PMB Monumental Walking Tours

An email by Jannah, Public Relations for the Preservation of Monuments Board, changed my schedule for Tuesday morning. To my surprise, I was invited to a special media preview of the upcoming Monumental Walking Tours organized by the PMB. A sneak preview! And free. How could I miss out on the opportunity? The next day, instead of taking the MRT direct to Si Pai Por, I alighted at City Hall to join the tour group assembling outside Funan Centre, gambling I could still reach my workplace "on time". Ah ... the joy of working so close to Singapore Town.

Read more »

2nd Shot: St Gregory's Place Conservation

St Gregory's Place is probably the most well-kept heritage secret in town. Tucked in the courtyard of Hotel Grand Park City Hall, the unsuspecting pedestrian or motorist passing along Hill Street would not know the existence of these conserved shophouses. I have blogged about the modern day St Gregory's Place earlier; today we will find out more about the conservation efforts vis-à-vis a few "Then and Now" comparisons.

Read more »

Answer to Quiz (10) - A Strange Tower in Town

Quiz photo from the archives

Many took part in Quiz 10 if you count in the anonymous comments. Now, before I reveal the answer, I let you have a second shot last shot at it. Observe the second photo above carefully. Do you have the answer now?

Read more »

2nd Shot: A Lost Heritage Opposite the Armenian Church

Most of us are familiar with the Armenian Church along Hill Street. Designed by G.D. Coleman and built in 1835, it is currently the oldest church in Singapore (it was not the first church to be built however; the honour belongs to the Roman chapel at the SJI site) and a national monument. In 1836 it was dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Today the full name of the church is the Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Interestingly St. Gregory the name does not only live on in the Armenian Church, his name actually graced a street opposite the church flanked by shophouses.

Read more »