5th stop: Katong Antique House

However, in the guys' moment of hesitation and timidity, the girls finish their meal and left as soon as they had arrived. The girls stepped into a shop next door while the guys waited patiently outside. "Why do they still need to buy stuff to doll themselves up when they already look do pretty?” Shah, one of the boys thought to himself.

There were many Peranakan artifacts on display and what struck us the most was the vibrant colours and intricate craftsmanship that accompanied all of the items. The house was created to ensure that the legacy of Peranakans remained in this part of Singapore which is significant to their history. Visitors to the place could freely browse around the items on display and learn more about the history of the items from the shopkeeper.

Peranakan culture remains an important aspect of Singapore history and in particular, the history of the Katong and Joo Chiat area. During the 1900s, wealthy Peranakans started to move into this area to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Thus, most of the architecture and culture around the Katong and Joo Chiat area contain traces of Peranakan heirtage. Therefore, it is important to preserve the remaining traces of Peranakan culture and places like the "Katong Antique House" is extremely useful in this aspect.

Our experience:

When we went inside the shop, we were "rejected" because the owner (Mr Peter Wee) and his helpers were busy cleaning the area to prepare for Chinese New Year. Therefore, we were not allowed to ask questions or take pictures of the Peranakan objects. It was such a pity, but we definitely had a good look around the shop. There were many newspaper articles and pictures of beautiful Peranakan girls in Baju Panjang (adapted from the native Malay's Baju Kurung). We saw plenty of beautifully crafted beaded slippers around the shop too.