Hybrid Architecture of East & West in Peranakan Houses

Earlier on, I did mentioned about living places way back in time.

Well, today - I like to bring you see the Peranakan (pronounce as per-ana-kan) Houses along Emerald Hill Road. It is a well tucked living area which wedges in between shopping centres; The Centrepoint and Orchard Emerald. The past residents in Emerald Hill were the Straits Born Chinese of Teochew, lovingly known as the Peranakans. Infact the whole parcel of Emerald Hill including Orchard Road was once a nutmeg plantation.

Come with me and see what we have here:

See that tall and elongated windows? Due to the humidity in Singapore, large windows are always welcome to make home airy. These windows are known as 'French Windows'

What else do you notice? Did you see that bamboo designed tiles roof?

Along Emerald Hill, towards the end of the road - you will see this house. It's safely guarded with a bricked up main gate entrance with an absolute eloquent design. Unlike other houses; which you can easily enter through it's main door - this one looks tough.

See the chinese roof?

Now, on the doors...

Yes, I know what you're thinking off? Looks like one of those wild wild west swing doors..!


Hey Baba, open the door please...

Yes, the wild wild west saloon doors! Actually, it is called Pintu (pin-tu) Pagar (pa-gar).

Literally, in Malay it means Gate( pa-gar) Door (pin-tu).

No,no..
It should be "Baba, open the gate please."

Look at these lion door knocker on an gate grilles!
Although I cannot think much of the functionality of its' knocker when installed on a grilled gate but interestingly enough,I think it's ornamental and at the same time, it also guards the family in a symbolic Chinese way.

What's is Baba (pronounced as Ba-ba)
It's a form of salutation for male Peranakan, which sounds like Mister (Mr.)

Now on the exterior of these houses...
The houses' colour schemes are sometimes soft and in pastels. Though there are some bright and loud hues.

Regardless of its' colours, it's absolutely plesantly looking.

Nostalgia furnishing at the front porch.

A hanging joss stick urn in the front porch

I was nosy as I wanted so much to peek-a-boo of its' interior especially its' airy living room. In every Peranakan Houses, there is an airwell way past the living room.Randomly a unit was picked and I braced forward. The living room was spacious and it look elongated due to it's design.

Despite being narrow on its frontage (maybe approximately in between four to six metres); as I zoomed into the living rooms and way past the living room - I'd say, it was more than 12meters. That's 3 times of it's narrow width on the porch!

My nosiness came to an abrupt end.

To my sheer surprise, a Caucasian came into the living room with nothing on except his black triangular brief! Upon seeing him, I fled (and I hope he doesn't see me)

Being such meddlesome is a no-no for me, don't you agree?

Anyway,I hope you've enjoy my hybrid adventure of the Peranakan Houses along Emerald Hill. If you really have time shopping along Orchard Road, why not detour to Peranakan Place? Emerald Hill is just right behind it.

Orchard Road - Shoppers' Paradise
For shoppers, don't forget 313@Somerset and also Orchard Central which lboth located opposite of Peranakan Place.

FACT:
Orchard Central is also shortly acronymed as the O.C (no, it's not Orange Country nor Orange County aka California but the Orchard Central)

If you need fresh air...
There's a sky garden on the highest floor in O.C. (I called it sky garden but it is termed as ROOF GARDEN located on Level 11 and Level 12)

Look at what I've found:

If fresh air is what you need, this the place.
Not forgetting those lovely art pieces and installations too.Here is the link for those who wanted more information on ROOF GARDEN
http://www.orchardcentral.com.sg/roof-garden

Well, folks - here's a tad of modernity of high sky buildings with a tid of culture and Peranakan architecture along the way.

Remember, do not be nosy like me!

Mystical God & Goddess

Of late, I chance upon comic books on cultures in the book stores.
Interesting read was upon Indian culture. The comic was entitled - Gateway to India Culture.

Get your copy from: http://www.asiapacbooks.com/product.asp?pid=557

Nothing beats exploring Little India on your own despite passing by that area more than twice. But once you have done your read up, information searching and curious enough, you just have to go to the ground for some adventure like what I did!

It was last week where it was my 3rd visit to Little India. I started off my walking trail at a goldsmith shop.

Now who do we see in this picture frame? It's none other than Goddess Lakshimi herself, the goddess of wealth. Well, why wealth? Come closer and look closer : her two hands hold the lotus which symbolize purity and the most significant part of thy calling as Goddess of Wealth was two of her other hands were pouring out gold coins abundantly.

Now, doesn't that amaze you when goldsmith shop owner - no doubt the Chinese runs it, however the buyer were the Indians. This was placed at the entrance of the shop nonetheless welcomes business that translates good fortune.

Goddess Lakshimi up close

Well, I was amazed to find out that Goddess Lakshimi's the other half is none other than Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu is known as the preserver. Hindus believed that there are somewhat 10 avatars of him, whereby he descent of a deity to the earth in an incarnate form or some manifest shape.

The 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu:
Matsya (fish)
Kurma (turtle)
Varaha (boar)
Narasimha (man-lion)
Vamana (dwarf)
Parashurama (warrior-priest)
Rama (prince)
Krishna (cow-herd)
Buddha (sage)
Kalki (horseman, who has not yet appeared)

Now, his 8th avatar - Lord Krishna looks like this:

The baby blue cow -herd boy. He usually holds the flute.

It was somewhat a long walking trail that day & it's been a while since my last post, so I want to make it short and sweet on these mystic hindu god and goddess.

Lord Vishnu & his consort, Lakshimi : Loving couple indeed!

More to come...!