Hui Li's Reflection

   What was your impression of Singapore history and cultural heritage before going on the trail?

I used to have the impression that Singapore does not have a lot of history, or rather, interesting and insightful history as compared to older countries like Russia or Germany. With the help of school curriculum, I am able to learn more about the history of Singapore way before its independence, history since the Sang Nila Utama era. Still, I felt that Singapore history is rather mundane as it does not seem to experience a lot of happenings as compared to other countries.  

However, knowing that Singapore used to be a trading port and a place for settlement of migrates, I am aware that Singapore is a melting pot of different races and religion and it has a very rich cultural heritage given the varying demographics of people living in Singapore.

How has your experience of the trail changed your perception of Singapore history and her cultural heritage? Share some insights about Singapore’s past and the way it is represented (symbolically and physically) that you have gained from the trail.

After going through the Katong Joo Chiat Heritage Trail, I am happy to say that I have learnt to appreciate Singapore history in its own unique way. Like what I had mentioned earlier, I am a person who really likes dramatic ups and downs in history so that it is not boring when I am studying it. However, this trail has transformed me to a person to appreciate the history of Singapore in its own unique and subtle way. Even though Singapore does not really experience a lot of world affairs/happenings due to its small geographical area and sphere of influence, there is still a lot of elements of history present in each and every corner of Singapore and interesting stories from different personalities of Singaporeans. After exploring Katong Joo Chiat, looking at the history of various buildings and immersing myself in the beautiful and culturally rich shophouses, I feel that Singapore has a lot of stories to tell, and a lot of historical meanings awaiting us to discover.

Especially in Katong Joo Chiat, the first heritage town, announced by Singapore Heritage Board in February 2011, I can see why it is so important to preserve this area. For instance, the shophouses there are really very unique to Singapore, showing us the fusion of various cultures, mainly eastern and western. This also makes me rethink that Singapore may be rich in its own culture heritage now, but it is even richer back in those days where migration were rife and people are still heavily influenced by their own cultures. Like in Katong Joo Chiat, the shophouses actually signify the existence of once dominant population in Singapore, the Peranakans, which no longer seems to exist in Singapore today. What is left now is the diluted fusion and integration of various cultures, which is a pity.