Eurasian Community House

Another month gone and another fun out and about tour behind us.  A dozen of us met up at a local coffee shop in the Joo Chiat area and enjoyed drinks and conversation.  We began the tour with a brief introduction to the area and admired the ornate shop houses that surrounded us.  After a short walk we stepped into the Eurasian Community House and met our lively and informative Eurasian guide, Lucille Markus.  She began by showing us a beautiful ceramic mural of Lisbon that was presented by the Portuguese Embassy in the year 2000.  She then took us through the museum and explained the history and culture of the Eurasians in Singapore as well as the part they played in the war years and beyond.  Lucille’s personal connection to the history and some of the displays made the tour extra special.  We finished up with a video of the Jingli Nona; a Eurasian folk dance with Portuguese roots.  Also very special was the authentic Eurasian food at the lovely Quentin’s restaurant on the ground floor of the community house.  The chef explained all the dishes, (the beef semur was a big hit) and we topped off our lunch with traditional “sugee cake”.  A sweet memory for me to end on, as this will be my last Out and About before moving back to Canada...  Luckily for the rest of you, Singapore is packed with interesting destinations and Lynda and Sara will go on planning monthly outings to enjoy. 

/Dolores Parker
/ Photos: Lianne Chilton (Group Photo) & Dolores Parker (Ceramic Photo)