The Battle at Pasir Panjang - by Cris

Blogger Cris took time off on the eve of Hari Raya to visit Reflections at Bukit Chandu. He blogged about it and concludes:

I am definitely glad that I had made some time to visit this museum because I have learnt many things. I always have this one sided minded thinking that the only Chinese and Indians fought and sacrificed to protect the country, but the visit to Reflections to Bukit Chandu, has really opened up my eyes and the way I think because the Malays had also done their part in protecting Singapore, just as much as the Chinese and the Indians. That is why racial harmony is very important in Singapore because we cannot afford to be divided in times of war, but be united to protect our very own country till the very end. It was the sacrifice that our forefathers gave, in exchange for a better Singapore in the future, and this is why we have a prosperous nation today.

Read the rest of Cris' detailed post here (blog no longer available).

Pasir Panjang Heritage Walk this morning

While the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore: Kranji Mangroves team were on their way to Sungei Buloh this morning, some of the Raffles Museum's Pasir Panjang Heritage guides were heading down south to join Stella Wee of National Archives in welcoming visitors and finding lost souls at Harbour Front.

I had an old timer and long-time resident in my group who added his own stories to the guiding - this is always fun for the guide as it makes the session more conversational and is a rare opportunity to learn while guiding.

This time, the walk ended at Reflections at Bukit Chandu with a wonderful surprise - an enactment by a drama company. They did a good job, I thought, from the little I saw, although the heritage guides found themselves skipping content to make it to Bukit Chandu in time for this session.

I skipped the second session to donate blood but the others told me they went through the enactment and our biggest guide obediently knelt when yelled at by a 'Japanese officer' - the actor savoured the moment when the rest followed suit. We later suggested the gravity of the situation might have had him confused with his Catholic mass, but we'd better continue that investigation tomorrow. Wish I was there to see it, but I really feel that was probably just sympathetic acting.

Although I will miss the Kranji Commemoration Ceremony, the Pasir Panjang Heritage guides and Adrian Loo (Changi Heritage) will be at the ceremony.

First posted to Otterman speaks, 03 Sep 2005.