Asian Civilisations Museum-On The Nalanda Trail: Buddhism in India, China and Southeast Asia

(Sir Stamford Raffles (black statute) in front of Victoria Concert Hall) (Sir Stamford Raffles (white statute) opp Boat Quay)

In the recent Deepavali holiday, I visited ACM at Empress place with my friend.Our main target is to visit its new exhibition theme: On The Nalanda Trail: Buddhism in India, China and Southeast Asia. (2 Nov 2007 to 23 March 2008).
To be frank, this is the 1st time I visited ACM ever since its opening at Empress place & years ago since I saw & took pictures of the Black & White Sir Stamford Raffles statutes. (Do really bring back memories when we were on primary school excursions when we always visit the area. Cldn't recall if it was also the old museum site that we had visited)

(This is where the real exhibition entrance starts,. They will ask you to surrender your bags & handphone & goes thru the security scan gantry.)

Upon arrival, we headed straight to the 2nd level of ACM where we were told the theme begins. After reading some history & appreciating a few artefacts & near what we thought was the end of the hall, we thought that's the end of exhibition & when I was just going to brand it as of an average standard, we discovered that what we had seen earlier was just a starter, the main course begins from where we thought was the end of the exhibition hall.

At the real entrance of the exhibition, we were told to surrender all our bags & handphones before entering the hall. :P that means no photography is allowed.

After exiting from the exhibition, both of us were impressed by the effort put in by the museum. Apart from some small hiccups whereby the English & Chinese translation of Buddha & Bodhisattva name does not match & the staff has been notified (shall check if that's rectified in my next visit :P), we feel that the standard of Spore museum had certainly seen much improvement.
As to what's inside the exhibition, that's for you to find out. :-)

But so far feedback has been positive from friends who visited and they find it worth visiting. I intend to visit it again & spend at least half a day there as the last visit I just covered the Nalanda trail quickly & there are other sections of the ACM holding different themes that I did not explore further. It will be good to start from 12pm (Tue-Fri) as there is guided tour at that timing.
After being in the darkness for a few hours, we are glad to be out in the open & enjoy the scenery while we stroll along the Singapore river. :-)

ACM is easily accessible, you can alight from Raffles MRT & walk towards Fullerton hotel (across the cavenagh bridge) or take TIBS 75 & alight at bus-stop near Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall.
To find out more information on exhibition themes of ACM, you may visit their website at : http://www.acm.org.sg/home/home.asp

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Located at 1 Cluny Road, the Spore Botanical garden is easily accessible via public transport. It is my family's favourite garden for Sunday morning walk. The best time to take a walk is between 7am -8.30am for the fresh relaxing cool air and not so hurting sunshine.

( Swan Lake )

(Symphony Lake)

Remember to bring bread to feed the fishes & turtles. There is a hugh population of them at the Symphony lake. You can find big Koi, catfishes & many types of fishes there. They look ever hungry.

Wild ducks will come by when they see you feeding the fishes

(Ginger flower)

As you approach the Ginger garden section near the waterfall, you can hear classic Chinese songs being sung by a group of song lovers

(Swordsman& women practising Taiji Sword movements)

It is really a good place to visit especially if you can wake up early in the morning. By walking in the garden & enjoying the beautiful landscape & hearing natural sound of birds singing, you will find that life is beautiful & has the revitalised will to live on.

It is also easily accessible.

By Bus:Get to the Gardens by Public Bus via Holland Road or Bukit Timah Road.
Via Holland Road

SBS Transit 7, 105, 123, 174

SMRT 75, 77, 106

Via Bukit Timah Road

SBS Transit 66, 151, 153, 154

SMRT 67, 171

Its official website is http://www.sbg.org.sg/

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Singapore) (BTRTS) was founded in 2002 by Venerable Shi Fa Zhao. With the official opening of its new building at Chinatown (located at 288 South Bridge Rd, off Sago street or opposite the famous Maxwell food centre), it has attracted both local & foreign visitors & devotees.

(Avalokitesvara Hall)

(Embroidery Lotus Painting)(Maitreya Hall)

Maitreya Buddha, also called 'The Future Buddha' is being worshipped by the temple & in here you see a different image of Maitreya Buddha which is different from traditional temples. (Above is picture taken in 2007 with comparison of latest taken at Oct 2013 below)

 

Walking up from 4th flr to the Roof, you could see paintings of 4 Buddhas of the 4 Cardinal Points at the corners. Shown below is Aksobhya Buddha of the Eastern Realm of Fragrance. It is believed that when a pregnant woman recites the name of “南無阿閦如来”, she will have a smooth and happy pregnancy

The Roof has beautiful landscape of Orchid garden & in its centre is a large, tall Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda housing the large Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel.

The Prayer wheel in motion and at its top is a bell that will ring when moved with a certain frequency.

Pictures not available but very important to visit is the 4th storey (no photo-taking) where many devotees prostrate themselves to venerate the Sacred Buddha Tooth in the serene chamber.

While music of "Buddam Saranam Gacchami" (Three Refuge) is played, you can't help but feel touched and I really don't know how to describe the feeling. The atmosphere is very serene, just like revisiting the holy places in India. (I tried playing the same Cd which can be purchased at counter outside the chamber at home but the feeling and atmosphere is different)However, pls take note that to fully view the inner chamber when curtains are not drawn down to reveal the Stupa and the blessing ceremony by the Sangha, it is advisable to visit during the following hours: 9am-12pm, 3pm-6pm.
(pardon me if time is wrong/changed).
I am not sure if it is the blessing ritual but on a few visit with my mum during the above hours, she likes the part when the Sangha will do some chanting & sprinkle "blessed" water to the devotees. She feels blessed & happy abt it.

Besides that, not to forget the museum at 2nd/3rd floor that explains history of Buddhism as well as display of Buddhist culture artifacts.

It is really a place worth visiting and I will always recommend my friends to visit it if they hadn't.

The opening hours of the temple is from 7am- 7pm everyday including public holidays. (there may be some changes if they have any special events so please always check their website to get latest info)

Their official website is: http://www.btrts.org.sg/Eng_Index.html

Bright Hill Temple 光明山普觉禅寺

光明山普觉禅寺 Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (KMSPKS) or commonly known as Bright Hill Temple founded in 1920 by Venerable Zhuan Dao is located at 88 Bright Hill Road.

(Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas with large stature of Medicine Buddha in it)

(Hall of No Form)

On the Lunar 15th of each month (7.30pm-9.30pm), the temple usually holds its Group recitation practice of "Om Mani Padme Hum" that attracts hundreds of devotees in the Hall of No Form. Very positive energy, do join in if you can. (Note: The practice had stopped for a while, we do hope it could be resumed soon)

How to reach the temple:

If you are coming by MRT, pls alight at Bishan MRT station and take bus 410 (white plate) and bus 52 from the bus interchange. It will bring you to the temple front gate within 10 minutes.

Official website of Bright Hill Temple:

http://www.kmspks.org/

The Spore Buddhist Lodge

The Spore Buddhist Lodge (新加坡佛教居士林) established since 1934 is currently located at Kim Yam Road, along River Valley Road.

( Statue of Amitabha Buddha)

(Statue of Amitabha Buddha at side of Dining Hall) 

(Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in resting position)

(Main Shrine) (Qian Shou Guan Yin at 4th Floor)

Singapore Buddhist Lodge is accessible by buses along River Valley Road before/after AA centre: 32, 33, 54, 139, 195

Its Official website is http://www.sbl.org.sg/