When the days seem mundane, consider experiencing life differently by joining a heritage tour. I’ve joined a few of The Original Singapore Walks heritage tours, and have found myself more enriched. Somehow, gaining insights of the past helps me appreciate the present better.

On 15 Jan 06, I decided to do something that most Singapore citizens won’t do yet: join a heritage tour. It was a risk, for you can see from the above photo posted, the weather did not look very good that day.

That tour was one of the Original Singapore Walks’ tours: By the Belly of the Carp – A Singapore River Walk.

I remember that when the guide was getting the participants of the group to introduce ourselves, she told the group that it was rare to find Singaporeans onboard such tour. Hopefully, after this post, more people would be enticed to experience Singapore differently. One day in the future, it would be common to have Singaporeans onboard heritage tours.

Perhaps the weather decided that it should be kind to our heritage tour group. While it drizzled for a brief moment at the start of the tour, the weather was pretty fine for the rest of the tour.

From this tour, I learnt how to distinguish a bumboat operated by Hokkiens (one of the Chinese dialect groups) from one that is operated by Teochews.

I have also discovered that there is actually an underground mosque near Boat Quay area. This was something that I did not know before the tour.

During the tour, the tour guide also showed the participants photographs of how the Singapore river had looked like in the 1980s. It certainly looked very different now. I prefer the river’s present look.

As I hear about the story and history of the Singapore River, I felt it has enriched me to better appreciate the present. The present does not just happen. It came about because there were people with vision who have planned for the present, and because there were people who have put in their time and effort to realise that vision, and make it happen.

The tour ended in a rather romantic fashion. We took a bumboat ride along the Singapore River, and ended the tour at the roof-top of the Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay.

Clarke Quay, at night.

For the schedules of the tours, please refer to this URL: http://www.singaporewalks.com/schedule.htm

You may also read my earlier post on this subject: http://oceanskies79.blogspot.com/2006/01/enriching-tour.html