A friend, back from his most recent Singapore getaway, comes by to share his experience. However, his habitual routine this time around is refreshingly different.
Instead of narrating with the help of hastily assembled photographs taken during the leisurely weekend visit, he powers up his iPad, logs on to a website and proceeds to navigate through what appears to be a virtual exhibition area filled with stunningly well-taken images.
Looking on with disbelief when told that the photographs feature places in Singapore, I put my grey cells to work while trying hard to guess the various locations where they were taken.
Clearly, this collaborative project between the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the National Geographic CreativeWorks, has successfully brought to life the lesser-known places on the island seen through the eyes of six celebrated Southeast Asian photographers.
INDELIBLE IMPRESSION
At this juncture, my friend admits that decision to head down south recently was only made after the Unseen/Singapore exhibition left an indelible impression and whipped up a burning desire to explore the city-state's cultural diversity and hidden spots.
In his opinion, the exhibition is a step in the right direction for STB to boost travel recovery through SingapoReimagine, a tourism campaign that highlights new, innovative and unexpected experiences in Singapore to audiences worldwide.
Realising that time constraint only allowed opportunity to trace the footsteps of only one photographer, his choice naturally skewed towards Amani Azlin, the only Malaysian in the small but talented group.
Known for her minimalism approach, multi-disciplinary visual artist Amani loves capturing candid, unscripted moments in daily life and these were aptly reimagined in her Unseen/Singapore choices which successfully touched the hearts of many, including my friend.
Crossing the Woodlands immigration checkpoint on Saturday morning, he made a beeline for Ang Mo Kio Garden West to savour melodious birdsongs. Located on a scenic foothill, the Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club enjoys a strong following among those who appreciate the soothing sounds of burung merbok (zebra dove) calls.
After an affordable brunch at a neighbourhood hawker centre, he headed to the Somerset Skate Park in downtown Singapore to watch enthusiasts from various age groups and backgrounds practicing tricks while spurring each other to greater heights.
Joining crowds of cheering bystanders enjoying the spectacle at the vibrant Somerset Road sporting oasis in the midst of a central shopping district, he soaked in the atmosphere before heading to nearby Bras Basah Complex.
Amani's defining photograph of this communal retail area brings a flood of memories of time spent during my post-graduate years in Singapore.
Although more than three decades have passed, I am glad that it is still home to a curated selection of specialty stores featuring Singapore's unique cultural heritage befitting its reputation as a charming time capsule set right in the heart of the city.
VALUABLE COLLECTIONS
The following day, my friend took another walkabout — this time at Little India.
The highlight of the walkabout was the Tan Teng Niah house, the last surviving Chinese villa in Little India. Known for its colourful facade, the building reminds visitors of the days when sugar cane and rubber were primary commodities in Singapore.
An early lunch at a renowned fish head curry outlet nearby led to a visit to the National Gallery of Singapore, home to one of the world's largest and most valuable public collections of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art from the 19th century to the present day.
The gallery, he said, provides for hours of pleasure indulging in the genius of prominent local artists like Georgette Chen as well as regional artisans, including Raden Saleh (Indonesia) and Latiff Mohidin (Malaysia).
My friend's visit came full circle after making a brief stop at the Raffles Marina Lighthouse before returning to Malaysia via the Second Link at Tuas.
On the way home, the eye-opening experience prompted him to start planning trips to discover more of the lesser known but equally interesting parts of Singapore.
For more information, check out the Unseen/Singapore exhibition at www.nationalgeographic.com/unseensingapore or www.facebook.com/VisitSingaporeMY.
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