Does anyone remember a time when snake charmers played their tunes in Singapore? I have only seen snake charmers in the movies, playing some sort of flute and with a hypnotic tune command snakes to pop out of their basket and dance a little dance. Derek writes about the snake charmers who used to play in front of Raffles Hotel.
Derek writes:
Back in the 1960s, I loved seeing all the snake charmers and magicians who performed their act at the Padang and in front of Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The photo shows three snake charmers, complete with flutes, baskets and cobras, at Mount Faber.
You can read about the snake charmers of Singapore here. Of course, snakes don’t actually hear the music of snake charmers – they’re deaf! Charmers usually charm the snakes by tapping on the floor – they respond to the vibrations.
9 Responses
Hello
Nice post from you. I like this article post.
I love read articles about singapore.
Posted on March 14th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Only in Novemeber 2009, I met a snake charmer with his 2 assistants. They were making their way to performance at the courtyard infront of the Images of Singapore at Sentonsa Island. However, he had a brief exchange and he did mentioned that his children are not taking up the family tradition, so his 2 relatives(assistants) are helping and learning the rope. He also mentioned that he does also still make performance on mt faber and during invitations to events, funtions etc.
Posted on March 15th, 2010 at 12:25 am
wow! so you may have been talking to the last few snake charmers left in Singapore.
on an off tangent note, that sounds like a great title for a movie or documentary: The Last Snake Charmer in Singapore. any takers?
Posted on March 15th, 2010 at 12:31 am
I can remember as a 10 year old being taken to see the gully gully men at The Gap on Sunday mornings and to have my photos taken with their snakes!
Posted on March 15th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
hi thanx for all the comend i am the singapore snake charmer their are my uncle it’s a very nice picture
Posted on April 1st, 2010 at 3:37 am
Nice comments. I seen charmer when I am young. nice story
Posted on April 21st, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Singapore has snake charmers, I am totally surprised.
Posted on June 14th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
If you would like to go to my Old Singapore gallery you will see a Snake Charmer at work outside the temple in South Bridge Road, taken in 1968, they used to move around the city and were often seen outside of the Raffles Hotel, I was trying to find out if they were still practising. Gordon
Posted on May 8th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Please go to http://www.panoramio.com/user/5462617 and look in my Old Singapore gallery you will see a snake charmer at work.
Posted on May 8th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
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