We will take you down a nameless back alley amid the skyscrapers, to see ramshackle Taoist street shrines nestled next to dumpsters and air-conditioner compressors, where the statues have aged and peeled, but the daily fruit offerings are still fresh.
We will share with you the heart-breaking story of the heart-stoppingly grotesque underworld gods, the 1st and 2nd Granduncles (aka Black White Impermanence), and why labourers and cops were particularly fond of them.
We will learn about worship rituals that use everyday objects supercharged with poetic meanings, such as umbrellas, abacus, opium pipes and good old Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. We will spy a Goddess of Mercy statue, perched uniquely on a roof ledge at a restaurant.
We will develop an appreciation of the place of gods in the heroic nation-building story of Singapore, as we stroll from sunset into night, Yang into Yin.
The tour is developed by Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop, one of Singapore's oldest heritage businesses (est. 1896).
Bring along (non-single use if possible) water bottle, comfy walking wear and shoes and an umbrella. (we standby raincoats - disposable unfortunately - just in case, all the time)
Priority is with our guests’ well-being, with that in mind, we require all participants to adhere to following set of regulations and guidelines:
Above measures are understandably disruptive and require plenty of effort from our guests, however, Offbeat intends to meet those high standards to ensure everyone is safe and has a good time with us.
For light rains during or before, the Experience continues unabated. In the event of a potential thunderous shower, the host will take a decision 2 hours before our meeting time, and the Experience may be postponed or continued.
Should said shower occur during the tour, the host will take a decision then and there. For all postponements, make up Experiences will be arranged separately.
However, should the weather turn sour while we are deep into the Experience, the host will provide an alternative plan to ensure everyone’s safety first, and carry on as per normal.