Sunday, December 30, 2012

Educational Tour - Tai Hua Soya Sauce


Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to make use of this post to wish all of my readers a Happy New Year in 2013 and May all your wishes come through!

I am sorry for the slower post as I am now writing a Chinese Workbook as part of my job as an author and it is taking up a lion share of my time. I hope this post on Soya Sauce make up for delay in my post. 

This post is about the making of Soya Sauce. In this post, I am introducing Tai Hua Soya Sauce. A vital ingredient during Chinese New Year (I have an old link that link most of the CNY locations together, you can take a look at it here.), many mothers and wives in Singapore will surely find this post interesting.

Tai Hua foodstuff has a long history in Singapore. It is one of the few Soya Sauce Factories in Singapore. The other sauce factory which I frequently visit is the Kwong Cheong Thye factory. The difference is that Tai Hua allows visitor to view the Clay vessels that they used to ferment the Soya bean into Soya Sauce.

I find it simply amazing because in land scare Singapore, it is still possible to find a business owner willing to sacrifice a large plot of land to use the traditional method in making Soya Sauce. 

In the traditional way, the clay vessel being semi permeable allow the exchange of gas, while the sunlight which only warm up the top of the vessel (believe it or not, even after whole day in the sun light, the lower part of the vessel remains cool), set up a natural convection current to circulate the liquid. No artificial or additional handling is required except for the occasional stirring of the beans not the whole vessel. The temperature also allows the yeast to do their magic.

On average the Soya beans are allowed to ferment for six months before collection for bottling. Higher grade sauces are allow to ferment for longer time. There are records of sauce that are allowed to rest for 6 centuries! (Oversea Soya Sauce)

In our modern context, instead of using Sun light, a lot of time artificial heating and mechanical stirring are used. This allow for mass production in a smaller area which lower the production cost.

After going through the making of sauce, we are allowed to take a taste of the sauce straight from the vessel! You cannot imagine the amazing taste that roll around the tongue!

To me, what I find amazing is that the vessels resemble the Soya Vessel that we see in many Korean Dramas...simply AMAZING!

My next post will also be interesting. It will be about the Semakau Landfill!

This tour will be classified under Educational Tours and warehouse Tours.

If you need transportation services to visit this place, please refer to our product listing page.

You can also purchase a list of Top 40 Must Visit Places in Singapore with Sample Itineraries at the Donation/Payment Details page.











Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Educational Tour - Kranji War Memorial follow up- Remembrance Day

11 November - Remembrance Day is a memorial day observe in most Commonwealth Countries to remember member of armed forces that have fallen in the line of duty.

In Singapore Remembrance Day is held on the Sunday nearest to 11 November in Kranji War Memorial. In Year 2012, the ceremony was held on the actual day.

The procedure of the ceremony went as followed:-

0715 - Arrival of guest and donation and collection of Poppies (symbol of fallen soldiers)

0720 - Choir performance by Tanglin Trust School Choir

0730 - Positioning of Guards of Honour, Buglers, Drummers and Pipers. Speech by Guest of Honours. Singing of Amazing Grace, Abide With me, I vow to thee, my country

0815 - End of Ceremony

0820 - Tea

0830 - 0915 - Walking Tour host by Singapore Changi Chapel Museum. (Optional)

Personally, I feel that the main aim of the Ceremony is to ensure that our future generation will not forget that such atrocities have happened before and we must never allow it to happen again - "Lest We Forget".

The Walking Tour is not part of the Ceremony per se. However, the tour brings to life and enhance our understanding of the sacrifice the heroes have made for our Country.

The tour guide began the tour by bring us to Singapore State Cemetery (You can write more about it here.)

After which, we entered Kranji War Memorial. Kranji War Memorial main building represents the three branches of military. The top represent the Navy Submarine periscope, the roof represent the wing of an airplane while the columns represent the marching columns of the army.



The guide first introduced to us the resting place of LTC Ivan Lyon, leader of Z force. He lead two convert mission into Singapore Operation Jaywick and Operation Rimau.

Operation Jaywick was launched from Australia and was a huge success. Sailing from Australia using a capture Japanese Fishing Boat, they managed to sink seven Japanese Ship. All the men return to Australia safely. As there was a media blackout, the Japanese thought the deed was done by the locals and took it out on them.

Operation Rimau was the opposite of Jaywick, it was a huge failure and the whole unit was ultimately killed to a man. 13 in action while the remaining 10 was capture and put on trial for espionage, found guilty and beheaded just before the Japanese surrender.

The guide then lead as to the war columns and explained that Indians were given the honor of the central columns. To support the war, two million soldiers were raised "over night" to support the war effort. The soldiers were not train properly and vast numbers were killed.

Following that we were lead to the Singapore Malay regiment columns that defended Singapore along Pasir Panjang Ridge. Here, the 1000 members of the Malay regiment face off 18000 Japanese soldiers. Every inch of the land taken here by the Japanese was paid in blood. Ultimately when the ammunition of the Malay Regiment ran out, they fought using hand to hand combat. Captain Yazid Ahmad, the commander was eventually capture, torture and put to death.

The guide then lead us to the Straits Settlement Volunteer Corp and Dalforce. The men were given a few rounds of bullets, shotguns, parang and no uniform before they were sent to fight against the Japanese.

The tour ended with a brief commentary on the Japanese "Sook Ching" massacre. Which basically means elimination of Chinese in Malaya and Singapore that has resisted - actual or deem or those perceive to be sympathetic to the British caused. Base on name list and direct observation; example, those who wear specs (deem to be scholars), have tattoos (in triads) and wealthy businessmen were executed.

My writing prowess is not enough to convey the feeling of sadness and at times anger on the atrocities that happened two generation away. Visit the Kranji War Memorial and join the guided tour if possible - understand the issue and stories behind the events - "Lest We Forget". 




Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Educational Tour - NTU Bio-Science Lab

I am sorry for not updating this blog recently. I have obtained another book assignment with a short deadline. Suffice to say it was hell writing it and I have aged ten years.

 For my own career development and to provide better services, I have signed up a tour guide course, so posting will not be regular. But be assure, I will continue to post new, hard to find places as soon as I see them.

NTU is one of the top Government University in Singapore. The campus itself is largely opened to public, although not a tourist place, there are still several highlights that may interest visitors.

This include
1)  NTU Chinese Heritage -showcases migrants of Chinese and explores the philosophy of what makes a person a Chinese,
2)Nanyang Lake - a Historical site,
3) the different food in the different Halls Canteen and
4) inside access to the Bio-science labs where new frontiers in knowledge are being pursue.

In this visit, a NTU professor explains to the students on the world of microbiology, DNA sequencing and career path of a microbiology scientist.

After the 2 hour presentation, students are invited to visit the School of Bio science labs. One lab showcase the use of living organism to provide power while the other one showcase how microbiologists use the lab to investigate or analysis different life form.

This tour will be classified under Educational Tours.

If you need transportation services to visit this place, please refer to our product listing page.

You can also purchase a list of Top 40 Must Visit Places in Singapore with Sample Itineraries at the Donation/Payment Details page.

Lecture in one of the LTs by Professor

Two rows of laboratories on either side


A workbench of a mircobiologist

n eye wash apparatus for chemical spillage into the eyes

A lab testing of substance in common food

Tools of Trade - Beakers and measuring cylinders

A UV Box. Design to kill of unwanted life forms

A centrifuge machine to seperate substances using sedimentation principle

Presentation of Certificate

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Educational and Factory tour - Birdnest Factory

Most Chinese loves birdnest. But do you know China has banned total import of birdnest from all countries including Indonesia and Malaysia - two of the larger exporter of birdnest to China.

China being the largest importer of birdnest before the ban has resulted in a slump in wholesale price of birdnest and slowly the decrease in price is being pass on to retail consumer.

One of the main reason China has banned birdnest is due to its high nitrate contents which can be harmful to human health. Also, bleaching of birdnest will also in the long term harm a human body.

This factory cum scientific lab is set up with help from Singapore government to set up food safety standards in terms of bench-marking and processing of birdnest.

Visitors to this factory will get to attend a seminar on danger and benefits of birdnest, nano-technology used in cleaning of birdnest without bleaching and chemicals to dissolve feathers. In addition, you get to see CSI style how scientist test for different substances in a normal birdnest.

This tour is highly educational for both schools and public (esp if you love birdnest). At the end of the tour, feel free to buy the safest and healthiest birdnest you can find in Singapore.

I cannot take more photos within the factory as the machines are considered top-secret. So no photo-taking allow inside the factory!

Birdnest Factory is categorised under Educational Location and Factory Tour

If you need transportation services to visit this place, please refer to our product listing page.
You can also purchase a list of Top 40 Must Visit Places in Singapore with Sample Itineraries at the Donation/Payment Details page. 






Thursday, July 26, 2012

Educational Tour - IRAS Gallery

I hope no hate mails are send to me for writing this post. Just kidding. National Day is round the corner and it is again time to take stock what we have achieved so far. Rome was not built in a day and I am sure she was built using cash (or equivalents).

As tax like death is unavoidable, the IRAS gallery seeks to enlighten tax payer the historical development, the methods of collecting tax, the penalties of tax evasion and the purpose of tax collection.

I shall not elaborate further as the gallery is quite small and I am going for a long overdue holiday to Taiwan. See you guys!

IRAS Gallery is categorised under Educational Location

If you need transportation services to visit this place, please refer to our product listing page.

You can also purchase a list of Top 40 Must Visit Places in Singapore with Sample Itineraries at the Donation/Payment Details page.










Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Garden and Educational Tour - Tampines Changkat Butterfly Garden

I apologized for the slower post last few weeks. June holiday is always a busy period for me and I have fallen very sick. To get a fresh breathe of life, nothing is more enchanting than having beautiful butterflies fluttering around you in all their different colors (I heard that Singapore MOE is switching to US English).


Tampines  Changkat Butterfly Garden is maintained with the support of the government by a group of 100+ volunteers, of which about 10 are active.


During my visit to the Tampines Changkat Butterfly Garden, the enthusiasts are very kind in explaining to us and more importantly show us the life cycle of the butterflies.


 I was shown the egg laying process, the caterpillar stage (The caterpillar does not bite, so you can safely hold it in your hand) and the cocoon stage. I was told different species of butterflies have different preferences on the species of plant to lay their eggs!


The most magical movement was when I release one of the butterflies grown in one of the enthusiast home into the Garden.


Tampines Changkat Butterfly Garden is categorised under Educational Location and Garden Location.

If you need transportation services to visit this place, please refer to our product listing page.

You can also purchase a list of Top 40 Must Visit Places in Singapore with Sample Itineraries at the Donation/Payment Details page.









Thursday, May 17, 2012

Educational Tour - Reflection at Bukit Chandu

National Day is fast approaching. It is now a good time for one to reflect on how difficult it was to achieve our current peaceful and safe society. It is won by the blood and tears of many unsung heroes and heroines. There is not a better place to think after them then at Bukit Chandu.

Bukit Chandu is one of the most fiercely defended fort in Singapore during War World II. The defense by the Malay regiment was so fierce that when it was finally taken by the Japanese, they murder everyone in the nearby Alexander Hospital due to anger.

In Bukit Chandu, you get to see 3 high tech movies. The first movie is about the movement of the Japanese Soldiers from Johor down towards Bukit Chandu. The second movie is about the battle at Bukit Chandu itself. The last movie allows you to experience the life of a Malay village just before and after a bombing raid.

In additions to the movies, you get to see exhibits on the various weapons and equipment used in the battle of Bukit Chandu.

After the visit to the Museum, you can have a nice tree top walk around the forest surrounding Bukit Chandu towards either NUS or Mt Faber to reflect on the price of peace.

Reflection at Bukit Chandu is categorised under Educational Location.

If you need transportation services to visit this place, please refer to our product listing page.

You can also purchase a list of Top 40 Must Visit Places in Singapore with Sample Itineraries at the Donation/Payment Details page.