Places visited on 11/11/06

Former French Embassy & the Ambassador's House - These two empty houses stood on a small hill off Gallop Road, and represent a part of API 'Haunted Houses' Series. In land scare Singapore, it is often rare to find houses still in seeming abandonment and yet Singapore is dotted with many such houses, each carrying with them their own stories, lost in the passage of Time. How many years must go by before the actual stories get forgotten and the House get steeped in the myths and urban legends that grew up among the newer group of Singaporeans that came, grew up, and went like the tide of the sea?

The former French Embassy is often mistaken as the Woodneuk Mansion that lies deep within the wooded land owned by a Malaysian Royalty. (But that's another tale for another time)

Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Represented 1 part of the Singapore Cemeteries Series. This is the 1st public Chinese cemetery to open in 1918, and most of the graves here are not well kept, the tombs are mostly overrun by wild vegetation and nobody seem to be visiting them. Here the Participants learn about the history of cemeteries development in Singapore, and braver ones had a dare at tugging the ropes that strung a 30 year old bunch of rusty tin cans hung high up in a tree at the former caretaker yard.

Po Chia Keng Temple ((保赤宫) - This visit represented a part of API Cultural knowledge Series. As there was a rare deity statue on display, API specially make a special visit to a 140 year old heritage temple Po Chiak Keng. This temple was built in 1876 from funds by two famous Singapore pioneers sons' Tan Tock Seng's son Tan Kim Ching and Tan Kim Seng's Son Tan Beng See. The temple is open to Public 24 hours a day.

The two deities on loan from China currently displayed a the temple:

1) the 650 year old Kai Zhang Sheng Wang 开漳圣王, also known in Hokkien as Sheng Ong on 3 months' loan from China äº‘éœ„å¨æƒ åº™. He is the general who help to develop Zhangzhou (漳州) and suppress the rebels.

2) Wee Ma 魏妈), the grandma of Kai Chang Sheng Wang (or 魏太夫人) from æ¼³å·žå®˜å›­å¨æƒ åº™, she went to war to help her son despite her old age.

Outside the Po Chiak Keng temple

Of Gods and Men... Raymond explaining on the Dieties that can be found there

Keramat Bukit Kasita - In modern Singapore with highrise skyscraper HDB buildings everywhere, it is indeed rare to find just below a HDB block, a ruins with an arched wall architecture seemingly of an ancient empire. Ancient tombs lies within its wall. Very few people knew about this place, and even if they do know, even fewer knew who were buried here. This is Keramat Bukit Kasita, and this part represent the API Lost Tomb Series.

Keramat is usually the grave of some early Muslim holy man or prominent people, kings, founder of villages etc. In Singapore, there are many such sites. The Keramat Bukit Kasita is located at Tanah Kubor Raja, or Land of the Graves of Kings.

At Keramat Bukit Kasita, there are many yellow clothes tied to the tombstones. Yellow is the colour associated with royalty. It is believed that royal families associated with the early Sultans of Singapore were buried here. A particular tombstone with inscribed Arabic words: Engku Fatimah who passed away on 9 day on the 3rd Islamic month 1318 which means some time in 1900. Most of the other tombstones do not have inscriptions, although some have words written on it for example one bear SULTAN HUSSIN SHAH, who signed the treaty with Sir Stamford Raffles back in 1819. (But Sultan Hussin Shah was buried in Malacca.)

API Explorers entering into Forgotten History

Changi Spirit Tree - This 150 years old Pulai Tree was recently introduced to the general public when the fences around it were removed due to road developments in Changi Business Park, where the tree now stands. Known as the 4D Tree, or more popularly as the Datok tree, it is alleged to be inhabited by a kindly old Malay man who walks with the aid of a walking stick, and appears in people's dream and grant 4D wishes. There are many mystical and historical anecdotes that Charles narrates that include his own encounter with the Stick Wielding gentleman. Interestingly, Charles told of getting a 4D number 4825, which he won $1250 when it came out in Starter afew years back. Amazingly, the 11 Nov tour was on a Saturday night, and 2 persons strike 4D the next day (Sunday).

API Joint Organiser Doxbox Chairman Glenn, misheard Charles's 4825 and betted $1 on 4285. Charles himself bought $5 on the numbers 4285, when he was told by a Stick-Wielding man who reminded him to buy the number.

It was Raymond, who helps out in API Tours with his own walking stick, his trusty aid as he struts up cemetery hills in search of lost and/or unique graves. Raymond had too misheard Charles's 4825 and reminded Charles to buy 4285 when he saw something bearing that number.

The tour ended at 12 midnight, back at Newton Foodcourt.

The Participants who contributed $18/- to the Cause were

From API

Committee - Charles, Raymond, Juggernaut, Amethyst, Peanutz, Dbeckham, Cara, Amulet, Maverick, Molemole, Paperman, SBG - $18.- each

Club - Aaron, QiYi, Sunattee, Alan Nicole, Lynn, Lucretious, Netwackie & Friend, Doreen, Kenneth, Xue Wen.

Guest - Donna Tan & her 2 friends, Celeste & her Parents

Mastery Quest contributed $100. Dotbox contributed $250. API contributed all drinks & torches.

Funds raised was (28 x $18) + $100 + $250 - $180 (coach) = $674 was raised that evening for Assisi Hospice.

The amount fall short of the $1000/- target and API-Dotbox will host another Charity tour on 1st Dec to meet & exceed the target.

API will bring the urban legends landscape to the students of the Service Learning Club of Republic Polytechnic. If you wish to join this tour, please contact Glenn at 90073043.

About API

API aim to be the main paranormal resource, true encounters reporting and research centre based in Singapore and covering Singapore and the surrounding regions.

API Mission is to provide objective, factual and historically accurate explanation to today's myths, urban legends, unusual encounters and unexplained phenomena for our readers and to contribute to the society in a meaningful and positive way. (Hence the tie-up with youth organisations like Dotbox to hold charity events)

API seeks to unravel the mystical beliefs and confusion surrounding the paranormal through three main directions:-

1. To educate the public by bringing down urban legends striving in the region to just urban Tales, through the conduct of themed tours, where participants will learn of the myths of abandoned places and the ancient practices that still remain in modern Singapore. The facts presented will give new insights, and let the participants view things in a different light, and visit places unique in ancient practices before they fade away into time due to the modernization of Singapore.
2. To propagate the belief that most paranormal sightings and encounters can be explained by the application of critical analysis and analytic thinking.
3. To organize club activities, public seminars and joint events with other organisations so as to inculcate an understanding of the many aspects of the paranormal including religious and cultural inclinations. (Hence the conduct of Ghost Tours, which are in essence a 'Urban Legend Dispelling' tour of Singapore less known or disappearing landscape)