A TALE OF HILLS Radin– HERITAGE Mas TRAIL A note from the MP Radin Mas is a beautiful place that combines the old rustic charm with modern feel. We have many interesting places like the grand dame SIT flats, the culturally-rich black-and-white colonial houses, the tranquil Carmelite Monastery and the new kid on the block – The Henderson Waves Bridge. This heritage is very much alive and wanting to capture its essence comes very naturally to us. The Trail Book is our way of preserving the history and heritage. We wish to showcase the unique appeal of Radin Mas and make it easy for everyone to appreciate and understand. I invite you to turn the next few pages and embark on a discovery journey. Sam Tan MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Contents Kampong Radin Mas 02 Black and White Bungalows 04 Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque 06 Tomb of Raden Mas Ayu, Tanah Kubur Diraja 08 Mount Faber 10 Bukit Purmei 14 Carmelite Monastery 16 Tang Gak Beo (The Eastern Hell Temple) 18 St Teresa Church 20 Thousand Buddha Hill 22 Henderson Waves 24 Telok Blangah Hill 26 Bukit Merah 28 Zhen Long Gong 30 21 Blocks of Singapore Improvement Trust flats 32 Bukit Merah Central 34 Map of Trail 36 Editorial Committee & Acknowledgement 37 Golden Villages Kampong Radin Mas ampong Radin Mas was a small KMalay village situated on the foothills of Mount Faber in Telok Blangah. In its location now are a condominium and the Telok Blangah Rise HDB estate. Mr Wan Hussein, an ex resident of Kampong Radin Mas still remembers the big field and old Radin Mas Primary School that were located at the foot of Mr Hussein adds, “Radin Mas Primary Mount Faber. Students School has moved to its present site at Bukit would play soccer at the Purmei in 1984. My kampong and childhood field after school everyday can only remain in my memory and this sense as this was the main pastime. During the of longing is especially strong every time I pass school’s sports day, the whole kampong by Mount Faber and the remaining colonial would join in to support their children. bungalows.” Mr Hussein’s sister, Madam Wan Fatimah also recalls the days when her family were staying in the kampong. Open field at Kampong Radin Mas At night, the field would be transformed into an open air theatre where everyone would gather and pay 10 cents to watch movies. This was the only entertainment for the residents then. There was also a Chinese provision shop located near the main road. It served as a gathering and information exchange Old Radin Mas Primary School point for the residents as news were passed around quickly there. Kampong Radin Mas Old picture of Marang tombs Malay village at Kampong Radin Mas “All Malay kampong houses were built the doors as compared to now as everyone on stilts, unlike the Chinese houses that sat knew that their neighbours would help on land and we drew our water from wells to look after their houses during their in the kampong. Neighbours staying at the absence. There was community spirit and kampong were very friendly and we took care everyone lived harmoniously together, of one another. There was no need to lock regardless of races.” ¤ Old picture of Telok Blangah estate taken from Mount Faber o j Art Houses Black and White Bungalows ith its rich heritage and lush Wgreenery, the Radin Mas neighbourhood was a popular area for the rich to build their homes in the mid 20th century. Black-and-white houses were the rage among the European immigrants between 1930 and 1960, characterised by their black timbers and white infill panels. The style was developed in the 1920s to A typical double-storied the 1930s in Europe and the United States bungalow in the old days and was adopted by the colonial migrants when they set up home on this island. motifs on the facades. They were built These double-storied bungalows with reinforced concrete frames and more exhibit the characteristics of the Art Deco traditional timber floor boards on timber style – simple, geometric lines of classical joists. Other defining features include a broad, Black And White Bungalows “It is always my dream to live in a black-and-white house, and this one embodies my perception of living in a colonial bungalow. And where else can you live in a place visited every so often by the insects and the wildlife – monkeys, snakes and toads? I love the nature.” Ms Fen Tonge, who moved into one of the houses with her family two years ago simple, over-hanging hipped roof and sharp definition of openings in the plain white walls. To maximise air and shade, they were built with verandahs, louvered balustrades, Address: 10 Mount Faber Road Nearest MRT Station: air vents and deep eaves. The effect is a clean, Harbour Front MRT uncluttered space of luxurious living. Nearest bus stop: Today, because of their unique architecture 10, 30, 65, 80, 85, 97, 100, 131, 143, and history, these houses are gazetted by 145, 166, 507, 176, 188, 61, 855, 963 the Urban Redevelopment Authority as (Alight at bus stop opposite Vivo City) heritage buildings, and are mostly rented by expatriates. ¤ Residence of the Temenggong Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque t is hard to miss this whitewashed immigrants, followed, and the area grew into Ibuilding with jade green roofs opposite a Malay enclave. VivoCity on Telok Blangah The mosque, now managed Road. The mosque, built by the Johor government, used in 1890, is named after the to be the reception hall of the chief of Singapore, Johor Temenggong’s residence. It and Riau in the late 19th remains as a gathering place century. When Stamford during Friday prayers, when Raffles returned to hundreds of Muslims gather for Singapore in 1824 for his religious lectures and blessings. second visit, Temenggong Within the sprawling Daeng Ibrahim signed the compounds lies the Johor’s treaty with him to cede Royal Mausoleum, where Singapore to the British Temenggongs and their empire. followers in the 19th century As Raffles had plans are buried wrapped in royal to develop the area around Singapore yellow cloth. It is the resting place of many River, where the Temenggong and his rulers, including Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim, subjects had settled, he convinced the who died in 1862, and his father Temenggong royal family to move to Telok Blangah. Abdul Rahman, who died in 1825. Others, including Arab and Indonesian For the more adventurous, trek through Temmenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque Fast facts Telok Blangah was also known as Kampung Temenggong because of the resettlement of the Temenggong and his followers to the area. The village slowly fell in shambles after families of the Temenggong uprooted and moved to Johor Baru in 1864. the nearby forest along Marang Road to find Address: 30 Telok Blangah Road Opening Hours: Daily 5.50am – 10pm another Muslim cemetery, abandoned for Nearest MRT Station: many years. Rediscovered only accidentally by Harbour Front MRT a group of trekkers in early 2008, only parts of Nearest bus stop: a brick wall that fenced the cemetery remain. 10, 30, 65, 80, 85, 97, 100, 131, 143, The several dozens of tombs are believed 145, 166, 507, 176, 188, 61, 855, 963 to be the final resting place for the inhabitants (Alight at bus stop opposite Vivo City) of Kampong Marang, forgotten after a big fire.¤ The Royal Malay Archipelago Tombs Tomb of Raden Mas Ayu ome say that Radin Mas got its name Sfrom the Princess who rests now under the historical tomb at the foot of Mount Faber. The beautiful and tragic tale of Javanese princess Raden Mas Ayu began in the 16th century. She was the daughter of a king and a Javanese court dancer, whose beauty was renowned throughout Java. Their marriage was objected by the king’s parents, who deemed the dancer too lowly Today, the tomb is saved from disrepair to wed the king. When the king was away from descendents of the royal family’s for a hunting expedition, his palace was set subjects. Nearby is the tomb of her father. on fire, killing his wife. Heartbroken, the If you are lucky, you might meet Mr Zainol king moved to Singapore with his princess Daeng, who is the unofficial caretaker of and settled down in Telok Blangah. the tomb since his retirement. His great The king remarried a daughter of a grandfather had worked for the king. Temenggong in Singapore but the new wife was jealous of the close relationship between the king and Princess Raden Address: Mount Faber Road Mas Ayu. It did not help that the princess (Opposite Mount Faber Lodge Apartment) inherited the beauty of her mother. The Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 6pm Bus at nearest bus stop: new wife forced her stepdaughter to marry 409 Park Service an evil Tengku. On their wedding day, (Alight after Mount Faber Lodge the groom attacked the princess’ father. Apartment and walk) To defend her father, Princess Raden Mas (Park service only operate on Saturday/ Ayu was stabbed by the Tengku’s kris and Sunday/Public Holiday) died in 1511. The Royal Indonesian Tombs Tanah Kubur Diraja About 15 minutes walk from the princess’s cloth – yellow being the colour of royalty. resting place lies another royal graveyard According to some Islamic historians, found among HDB blocks at Bukit Kasita the graveyard was opened in 1530 by (now known as Bukit Purmei). Sultan Alaudin Riayat Shah the second, However, exactly who are buried who was the seventh descendent of Sultan hereremains a mystery.