If you think that most Peranakans live to eat, you may be correct. After all, good Peranakan cousine isn't a matter of tossing just anything edible into the cooking pot. It is a carefully nurtured craft, perfected through decades and possibly centuries of trial and error. Yet, Peranakan cuisine is more than just about good food. It encompasses the customs and traditions of the Peranakans, their culture and history. This book showcases the various aspects of their cuisine, and illustrates how food has become an essential part of Peranakan life.
You are probably familiar with the spicy Peranakan cuisine or even have friends who are great at cooking it. But there is definitely more to the Peranakan culture than what's cooking in the kitchen. Have you ever wondered why they speak the way they do? Why are they always singing the dondang sayang? What is the big deal about cherki games? And, more importantly, what does it mean to be a Peranakan? With a heritage that combines the best of the Chinese and Malay cultures, the hybrid nature of the Peranakans has yielded enviable works of art in the realm of architecture, embroidery, beadwork and the culinary arts. Join us on a colourful journey into the history, lifestyle and unique character of the Peranakan people.
The famous author Rudyard Kipling once wrote, "East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." Yet they have met in the Eurasian people, blending cultures and world views profoundly alien to each other. From the surprising blend of flavours in Eurasian cuisine to their distinctive language and customs, synthesis and fusion are the keywords that define the Eurasian people, long before the concept was popularised by the rise of the global village. What does it mean to be Eurasian? Bridging the traditional divide between East and West, the Eurasian people are able to draw on an unmatched wealth of traditions for inspiration in the arts and cuisine. Join us on a voyage of discovery as we explore the rich and unique heritage of a true world culture in this part of the Asiapac Culture series!
Here in the beautiful Singapore, we live in harmony. Regardless of the different races, religions and customs, we are able to grow and prosper in peace. But, how much do you know about your classmates and neighbours? What do you know about the traditions of your own community? Find out more about yourself and your friends as you open the Gateway to Singapore Culture - a superb introductory read for locals and visitors alike!
Here in the beautiful Singapore, we live in harmony. Regardless of the different races, religions and customs, we are able to grow and prosper in peace. But, how much do you know about your classmates and neighbours? What do you know about the traditions of your own community? Find out more about yourself and your friends as you open the Gateway to Singapore Culture - a superb introductory read for locals and visitors alike!
We always hear the names Raffles or Farquhar whenever we discuss Singapore’s early history. But what of the many other pioneers who were just as important? What are their stories? Accompanied by lively, charming illustrations, Pioneers of Singapore brings you the accounts of thirty-five key figures in Singapore’s colonial history. Some of them include: - Who broke up one of the biggest communal riots in Singapore? - Who founded the first hospital in Singapore that was built entirely without help from the government? - Who produced the first comprehensive map of Singapore and designed most of its early buildings? Read on as our forefathers come to life with the help of comic artist Alan Bay (Once Upon a Singapore… Traders)’s beautiful artwork, as the 2004 bestseller returns in an all-new coloured edition!
We always hear the names Raffles or Farquhar whenever we discuss Singapore’s early history. But what of the many other pioneers who were just as important? What are their stories? Accompanied by lively, charming illustrations, Pioneers of Singapore brings you the accounts of thirty-five key figures in Singapore’s colonial history. Some of them include: Who broke up one of the biggest communal riots in Singapore? Who founded the first hospital in Singapore that was built entirely without help from the government? Who produced the first comprehensive map of Singapore and designed most of its early buildings? Read on as our forefathers come to life with the help of comic artist Alan Bay’s beautiful artwork, as the 2004 bestseller returns in an all-new coloured edition!
While flipping through Grandpa's photo album of his childhood days, Aloysius and Grandpa are magically transported to 1900s Singapore. Aloysius, having grown up in a world of iPhones and movie theatres, finds himself in a foreign land, where cinemas travel around on wheels and letters take two weeks to arrive! With Grandpa as his tour guide, Aloysius travels around olden Singapore and meets traders who once did a roaring trade—and provided invaluable service to their communities—but are now vanishing. What else will Aloysius discover during this journey? How will experiencing the past change Aloysius? Will he find out how naughty Grandpa was at his age? Join Aloysius and Grandpa on a zany journey to the past! Just as Aloysius and Grandpa were transported through their book, Once Upon A Singapore… Traders will bring you on a fantastic and colourful ride as you get to meet the traders who are still remembered fondly by generations of Singaporeans today. Advance Praise: "Tina Sim and Alan Bay have done something thoroughly magical. They have revived the lost memories of Singaporean life in a medium whose potential they understand intimately... its pages explode with an impossible amount of joy. History never came brighter to us than this!" -- Gwee Li Sui (Spiaking Singlish, Myth of the Stone) "I wished my parents had this book... A great way to show kids what screen-free life was like!" -- Evangeline Neo (Eva, Kopi and Matcha) "The book, packed with engaging and informative illustrations, gives a wonderful snapshot of old Singapore. Grandparents and parents can use the book to take children on an immersive journey of what life was like in the past." -- Melody Zaccheus (The Straits Times)
Here, in beautiful Singapore, we live in harmony. Regardless of our different races, religions and customs, we are able to grow and prosper in peace. But, how much do you really know about your classmates and neighbours? What do you know about the traditions of your own community? Find out more about yourself and your friends as you open the Gateway to Singapore Culture!
