MAY/JUN ANZA TOURS

From iconic shopping centres to fascinating enclaves, join us to discover the many sides of our adoptive home, Singapore.

Geylang, The Last Frontier

DATE: Saturday 13 May

TIME: 9.30am – 12.30pm

MEET: 9.20am Paya Lebar MRT Exit C, street level near bus stop

COST: Members $55, non-members $65

Arguably Singapore’s most interesting enclave, Geylang has maintained authenticity by resisting gentrification and today offers a colourful mix of food, sex, history, culture and antiquities. The neighbourhood fills you with a sense of spirituality and humanity, being home to religious groups, volunteer welfare organisations and clan associations. Join us as we amble through the lorongs, learn history, marvel at shophouses and sample dim sum. We’ll visit a Tibetan Buddhist Temple with a collection of thangkas, and a beautifully restored mosque built in the 1920s.

Notes: Please wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees. As there will be lots of walking, we recommend comfortable footwear that is easy to remove and bring an umbrella and water.

Tea & Temptation At The Fullerton

The Fullerton buildings have great stories to tell. Standing majestically at the mouth of the Singapore River, they’ve witnessed the transformation of Singapore from a colonial outpost to a first world metropolis. The Fullerton’s resident guide will take us on a personal tour back to 1928 and give exclusive access to preserved areas of The Fullerton Hotel as well as sail us through the story of Singapore’s historic waterfront. The tour will be followed by light refreshments in The Courtyard cafe.

DATE: Wednesday 17 May

TIME: 9.30am – 12.30pm

MEET: 9.20am in The Courtyard, Lobby Level, The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, 049178. Nearest

MRT Raffles Place

COST: Members $65, non-members $75

Islamic Heritage In Kampong Glam

Learn about the Malays, Arabs and south Indian Muslims who settled in Kampong Glam, their traditions and Islamic practices. Together we’ll explore this vibrant neighbourhood to see places of worship, specialty shops, schools, and a royal Malay burial site. We’ll witness several mosques, murals by local artists, and visit outlets selling perfumes and oils known as ‘attar’, as well as necessities for the pilgrimage to Mecca. Our tour will end at a South Indian Muslim restaurant specialising in murtabak and briyani.

DATE: Thursday 25 May

TIME: 9.30am – 12.30pm

MEET: 9.20am, Lavender MRT Station, Exit A, street level near ICA building

COST: Members $45, non-members $55

Notes: Dress code is modest. Please bring a shawl to cover your shoulders (t-shirts are okay), no shorts. Optional lunch at own cost.

Tell Your FortuneFeng Shui

The ancient art of feng shui, literally translated as wind and water, originated from China thousands of years ago. Feng Shui practitioners believe there are five dragons that dominate the landscape of Singapore. These domains, together with the architecture of the buildings, are believed to have influenced how well companies are performing. On this tour, we’ll learn how feng shui has influenced the exterior and interior designs of prominent buildings around the island, and understand how arrangements of certain objects are believed to enhance good fortune.

DATE: Tuesday 30 May

TIME: 9.30am – 12.30pm

MEET: 9.20am, Orchard Boulevard MRT (TE13-Brown Line), Exit 1 street level

COST: Members $50, non-members $60

Notes: Pease wear comfortable footwear for walking, bring your EZ link card, umbrella and water. This tour will end at a different location.

The Red Thread Book Tour

Set against the backdrop of 1830s Singapore, The Red Thread is a captivating historical fiction that provides a detailed account of the lives of people in colonial Singapore. On this tour we’ll explore places in the book and discover the stories within. Get set to investigate the vibrant mix of cultures, religions and traditions that coexisted in the city in the 1800s, including the improbable relationship between a Chinese man and Scottish lady. Participants will receive a copy of the book as part of the tour.

DATE: Tuesday 6 June

TIME: 9.30am – 12.30pm

MEET: 9.20am, 92 Amoy Street, 069913. Nearest MRT Telok

Ayer

COST: Members $60, non-members $70

Notes: There will be lots of walking, so please wear comfortable footwear. Bring an umbrella and water.

Little India Appetite & Art

Do you know the difference between a roti prata and chapati? Or where you can find fresh affordable Indian spices? Come with us to discover food stalls selling spices and local fruits, sweet shops, and organisations giving over 2,000 free meals a day, mostly to migrant workers. We’ll stop for a chapati along Serangoon Road, and complete the tour at the iconic Mustafa Centre. Explore this huge conglomerate with merchandise and services such as a travel agency, money changer and food court.

DATE: Wednesday 14 June

TIME: 9.30am – 12.30pm

MEET: 9.20am, Little India MRT Exit E, street level near Buffalo Road

COST: Members $55, non-members $65

Crazy Rich Asians

DATE: Thursday, 22 June

TIME: 9am – 12.30pm

MEET: 8.50am Dempsey Road, at the car park opposite Huber’s Butchery. Tour will finish at a different location

Get a glimpse into the ostentatious world of the crazy rich Singaporean elite which inspired Kevin Kwan's book and its subsequent movie adaptation. Drive through plush, leafy neighbourhoods as we uncover stories of the personalities who live there. This tour will bring the pages of the book alive as we delve into history, culture, architecture and food and learn about how this very exclusive part of Singapore’s society live and celebrate.

COST: Members $75, non-members $85