By Nathan Allen

Abandoned for many decades, it is the final resting place for many early Chinese pioneers…and currently home to a lot of colorful wildlife–such as kingfishers, woodpeckers, and even a troop of curious monkeys!

Singapore’s Chinese Heritage – Lost in a Jungle

Almost forgotten by time, the dense jungle has taken over much of this historic site. For me, that’s actually a huge part of its appeal. Bukit Brown was named after the original owner, George Henry Brown. He was a British trader that lived on this land.

Brown had sailed from Calcutta in the 1840s, and after purchasing the area, he named it “Mount Pleasant”.

It was then sold to Ong Kew Ho and Huay Kuan, but eventually transferred to the government when the need for a cemetery arose. It served Singapore’s Chinese community for about 50 years, and was actually considered the largest cemetery outside of China. It closed down decades ago, but you can still visit and take a self-guided tour of these mysterious gravesites.

I absolutely loved wandering and taking pictures here…with not a (living) soul around. It’s so solemn and peaceful – a wild and scenic counterpart to Singapore’s well-manicured green spaces (of which I am also a fan).

Photographers, birders, and general nature-lovers feel quite at home here. Have a look at this giant, “rain tree“! These are the kinds of jungle scenes I dreamed of as a kid. I never imagined ferns could grow high up in a tree, but these bird nest ferns feel right at home there.

Some Bukit Brown graves are adorned with stone statues and figurines.

This is one of those times when I wish I could read Chinese…I’m so curious about who these people were, and how they were immortalized and remembered on their tombstones.

A few have actual photos on them…and this helps to paint a picture of who these early Singaporeans actually were.

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While exploring these jungle trails on my own, I began to hear rustling in the trees around me. I’m not a very superstitious person, but Bukit Brown is supposedly one of the top 10 haunted sites in Singapore. In fact, the “Asia Paranormal Investigators” are one of the groups working to preserve this historic cemetery!

As it turned out, these “ghosts” were of the long-tailed variety…

Spirit Guardians? – Long Tailed Macaques

Eventually I spotted a curious face through the jungle trees…it was a family of monkeys! There must have been 11 or 12 of them.

I approached slowly, but was still met with a bit of resistance. Most of the group slowly shuffled away, but the dominant male stood his ground and showed his teeth. I did not push my luck, but instead just sat peacefully, hoping to show them that I was no threat.

It worked. The old male kept a watchful eye on me, but he began to relax…and even start foraging for food around him. The female and baby monkeys slowly inched back into view.

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

Needing to get closer, I switched cameras. With my little Canon superzoom, I continued shooting photos in the fading afternoon light. Some of these monkeys even seemed to pose for me!

They were so fascinating to observe…I can see why anthropologists like Jane Goodall & Dian Fossey studied them so intensely. Their behavior seemed to mirror a human family’s so much…it was uncanny.

The youngest members were the most curious…but the easiest to be spooked as well. This makes sense, as they would be the most vulnerable. These baby monkeys were adorable…and so expressive!

Eventually, curiosity got the better of some members. They began to climb the trees and position themselves above me, so as to get a better look. At one point I had one almost reach down  and touch the top of my head. Of course, I didn’t let things progress too far, because wild animals are, after all, wild.

Still though, these monkeys and I bonded. They were nothing like the super aggressive ones I encountered in India or the Philippines. Those monkeys have no fear of humans, and will even steal food or attack if they feel at all threatened…or are simply in a bad mood! Haha. No…this group, this group was different.

Being in an abandoned jungle cemetery gives them some access to humans, but not too much. They are not too comfortable…but not too afraid, either. I had found a sweet spot. Being allowed to join them, in the wild…in such a humbling and surreal location…was an experience I will never forget.

How To Get There

Bukit Brown is near MacRitchie Reservoir. You can take a bus and get off here. Then walk a few steps down Kheam Hock Road until you see the sign for the cemetery on the left. I think there may be a possibility of guided tours, but I’m not certain.

Tips: If you visit Bukit Brown, I hope you’ll be respectful in this solemn place. Please don’t feed the wildlife, and be sure to pack out all of your trash. Definitely don’t forget mosquito repellent if you’re going in the morning or late afternoon. Other than that…enjoy!

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share!

These Singapore Photos Were Shot During a 50-Cent Bus Ride (Ricoh GR II)

Singapore Street Photography (Ricoh GR II)

My Detailed Comparison of the Sony RX100 vs the Ricoh GR II

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*I am not connected to Canon, I bought the camera myself. However, using my Amazon links will help me keep creating content like this, so I appreciate it!

The post How I Was Adopted By Monkeys in Bukit Brown, a Singapore Cemetery appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.

  Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

Little India is quite vibrant and diverse – with people and cultures from all over India. Although not a morning person, for the sake of good lighting, I went on a few early photo walks with my Ricoh GR II.

This is the entrance to a temple which serves the northern Indian community. Also shown are the colorful buildings near “Kerbau Rd”. Kerbau means buffalo in Malay. This was a cattle trading hub years ago. Hard to imagine that, when you consider what a sleek and modern city Singapore is today.

The buildings on the streets of Little India certainly win the award for “most colorful” in Singapore…but this love of color also includes the clothes that locals wear. Never seeming to be content with a bland, white shirt, I think Indians have a great sense of style. The scene above has a bit of a yellow / orange theme.

Crowds in Tekka Food Center, Singapore

The shot below was taken on the way into Tekka Food Center, where I found my favorite Punjabi food. Perhaps I will let you know the name of the stall at a later date… In other words, you must follow along to find out!

Anyhow, the Ricoh kicked up the ISO quite high in the challenging light here, and I had to work to clean up the file a bit. Converting the photo to black and white helped.

By the way, it’s not just the market called Tekka. For instance, locals here call all of Little India “Tekka”. I was surprised to learn the name actually comes from the Hokkien Chinese word Tek Kia Kha, which means base of the bamboo. It was named after the plants found growing at nearby Rochor canal.

Apparently some Chinese stall owners in Tekka Centre even speak Tamil, and some Indians, Hokkien!

Here you see an old man riding his classic motorcycle with sidecar. Little India MRT is in the distance.

The People – Little India Street Photography

Next to Kerbau Rd is Buffalo Rd, and I find that a bit funny…though I guess it makes sense when you consider the Malay & British both lived in Singapore early on. Buffalo Rd attracts many shoppers looking to buy fruits, vegetables, as well as the hand woven flower garlands that are used by temple worshipers.

Along a side street, I also came across these workers unloading a truck. I was struck by the color blue everywhere, and wondered if it was done on purpose.

Just another striking splash of color…this time in red.

As I have shown, hitting the streets of Little India is perfect for making photo albums with a certain theme!
Most people shoot street in black and white with the Ricoh GR II. For me, it would be a shame to photograph a dazzling place like Little India in B & W. However, with its striking contrast, the scene below was just begging for it.

There are always a lot of people walking near Tekka Centre. The community hosts many bazaars and holy festivals here. In the distance you can see “Campbell Lane”, which reminds me of a street where I grew up in California. It’s basically as close as I can get to home right now, being on the other side of the world.

Below you’ll see more colorful shops and houses along Serangoon Rd. These streets seem to get more traffic than other places else in Singapore, though it’s still nothing compared to other Asian countries.

MRT Murals & Kerbau Rd

The Little India MRT is quite a busy station. Tourists come here from all over the world, because of the area’s cheap hostels. That, and the neighborhood’s vibrant tourist draws, of course!

(continued below, but please consider following along with me below…)

Don’t miss the giant murals painted on the walls near here.

It seems I mostly find south Indian food around the neighborhood, but from what I read, Punjabis, Tamils, and Bengalis all live and share their cultures here.

37 Kerbau Rd – A Vibrant, Iconic Neighborhood Landmark

Colorful buildings like this are hard to miss. Say hello to the Tan Teng Niah Residence, and although it’s Chinese, the colors seem to be quite Indian to me. This is certainly one of the most popular locations for Little India Street Photography.

Later, snapped this photo of a man riding his bike past the bus station. Thanks to the Ricoh GR II’s “snap focus” mode, obviously I never miss a shot.

FYI, you can check out my camera and accessories HERE

Ricoh is not a partner of mine, and I paid for this camera. However, you can help support me by using the product links on my pages. Thanks!

Here’s one last black and white shot to keep you “street tog” purists happy…

I really enjoyed this bright and cheery community. I always eat at Tekka when I stay in Singapore, and have made some good friends in the neighborhood there. This neighborhood is surely worth exploring!

In closing, I hope you enjoyed my Little India Street Photography series (other Singapore locations below). I’d love to hear your feedback…

Cheers.

1. Downtown (main page)
2. Chinatown
3. Little India
   

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Feel free to share.

The post Singapore Street Photography: Little India w/ Ricoh GR II appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.

  Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

Obviously, one reason is that with an f1.8 lens, I can still shoot at night or in low light. The photo below was taken at Chinatown complex after dark. This group of men is hanging on every move of an intense Chinese chess game.

I shoot RAW and do my own black and white conversions, but the RX100 has nice B&W and effect modes as well.

“Zone Focusing”

My Ricoh has a “snap focus” mode, which really helps with split second street shooting. The Sony does not, but I still found a way to set it up for zone focusing. Basically I set the aperture low, like f8…then use a fast shutter speed, like 1/500 of a second. Then, in manual focus mode, I use “focus peaking”, so I can see where (and how much) of the scene in front of me is in focus.

The shot of the man & temple above was probably focused around 1.5 meters in front of me. With those settings, most of what you see behind him will be in focus as well. Keeping the camera set up like this enabled me to take plenty of lightning quick shots here…and make sure they were all candid.

By the way, I realized that the RX100 has a nice focus ring…my Ricoh does not.

In the Chinese zodiac, 2017 is the “year of the rooster”. The photo below shows a massive lantern display, right in the middle of the busy Singapore streets. This gives you an idea of just how serious the Chinese take their traditions.

I used a relatively long exposure setting, so that I could capture the motion of the pedestrians and traffic passing by. It was taken handheld, thanks to the camera’s superb image stabilization. For more about this, you can check out my Low Light & Night Photography w/ RX100.

Below is another black and white evening shot in Chinatown complex. Don’t worry, this old man is only resting.

Singapore Crowds on Pagoda Street

Of all the locations I shot street in Singapore, I think I like my Chinatown the best. I found a never ending stream of people…and from all walks of life. The arc of the sun falls in line with Pagoda street…so there’s nice, even morning and afternoon lighting.

I walked through the shady corridor until I reached the entrance of Chinatown Food Street, another great location for afternoon shooting.

Temple Scenes – Chinatown Street Photography

The Buddha Tooth Relic temple is a striking landmark. I was quite inspired here. I love the way the afternoon sun drops lantern shadows on the walls. The later in the afternoon, the more pronounced the effect is.

After exploring the temple inside and out (a must see), I made my way back to Pagoda Street.

The shadows were growing taller and taller…a sure sign of fading light to come. I returned over the course of a few days, and decided my favorite time for Chinatown Street Photography is about 2 hours before sunset.

The low angle of the sun provides perfect lighting – with a lot of dramatic shadows. 1 hour before sunset might be a bit too late in a big city like this, because the tall buildings may already be robbing your subjects of sunlight.

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

Before hopping on the MRT, I noticed one last opportunity for a shot. It turned out to be one of my favorites.

Pleasantly Surprised by Shooting Street w/ the RX100

Overall, taking candid shots with the RX100 certainly impressed me. I already knew the camera was versatile, but I realize it more and more every time I use it. Hope you enjoyed my Chinatown street photography series…be sure to check out the 3rd and final chapter of my adventure below.

Update for 2025: The RX100VII is out now! Those interested in this awesome little camera can find it on Amazon HERE

(I am not a partner of Sony, but if you use the Amazon links on my page, it helps me continue to create content like this. Thanks!)

I’m curious if you’ve used the Sony RX100 for street photography?

Do let me know if you have any questions.

1. Downtown (main page)
2. Chinatown
   
3. Little India

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share.

The post Singapore Street Photography: Chinatown w/ Sony RX100 III appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.

By Nathan Allen

Iloilo…So Much More Than Churches and Dinagyang!

#10 – Sunset At Fort San Pedro

This Fort was built by the Spanish 400 years ago, and is now home to smiley fishermen and stunning sunsets!

#9 – Heritage Houses and Mansions

Camiña Balay Nga Bato is turning 150 years old this year!  Located in the Villa area of the city, it provides a beautiful and fascinating glimpse into the lives of its wealthy  previousowners.  Find it on Facebook, and also be sure to visit Casa Mariquit in Jaro!

#8 – Buffet At Days Hotel

I have a friend in Iloilo who was so excited when the buffet at Days Hotel opened – he was practically in tears when he told me the story!  Haha.  Yes, the variety and quality of food is impressive, especially when you consider the price!  Did I mention the desserts?  Oh, the desserts…

#7 – Madge Coffee Shop in La Paz Market

Finally, I found an affordable coffee shop in the Philippines!  Move over, Starbucks and Figaro – Madge has brewed native coffee for just 25 pesos a cup.  Regular customers even get their own mug on the shelf!  This place has so much character, I really fell in love with it. 

For a more modern (yet still affordable) coffee shop, check out the many locations “Coffee Break” has around the city.  Each store has a unique “le cirque” or “circle chair”…here I am enjoying the one in Smallville:)

#6 – Nightlife and Partying in Smallville

Iloilo loves to party.  How do I know?  I know because this is the first city I have ever been to that actually has a “vomit fee” for customers who had a bit too much fun!  Haha.  I saw these signs at quite a few establishments.

Seriously though, people were well behaved, and the nightlife in Smallville was a blast!  Here’s a shot from Club Aura on a weekend when I was there…

#5 – The Women Saints of Molo Church

Molo Church is unique for two reasons: One, it is constructed of coral rocks and a mortar held together by a mixture of egg-whites and sand.  Two, the saints on display in this church are all women!  Try some delicious bibingka and fishballs from the street-vendors out front…

#4 – Calle Real

These historic buildings along JM Basa street were created during the commonwealth period, and are now heritage sites.  I took this photo from inside the jeepney…speaking of which, the jeepney drivers in Iloilo seem to take great pride in their unique, modern designs!

#3 – Batchoy in La Paz Market

I have a confession to make – batchoy is not my favorite.  However, don’t let that discourage you from trying it, because everybody else LOVES batchoy!  La Paz is home to the original batchoy…this photo with bloggers Elal and Marcos was taken at Deco’s, but also try Netong’s and Ted’s.

#2 – Jaro Cathedral’s Famous “Growing Statue”

Wow, what a story!  Supposedly, fisherman found this statue floating in the Iloilo River in 1587.  It was too heavy to lift, but became easier when they decided to transfer it to Jaro Cathedral.  There, it was reported to grow over the years – so large that it was moved to the case on the front balcony!

#1 – The FOOD!!  Yes, Iloilo is a Foodie’s Dream Come True!

The thing that really struck me about Iloilo is the number of small and independently owned restaurants – compared to other cities in the Philippines, the selection and quality is just staggering!  The best part is that it’s all quite affordable.  This is a great city for a budget food trip!

In Iloilo, food is the star of the show.  My absolute favorites were the Chicken Tinuom @ Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine, Blueberry pancakes @ Punot Restaurant, the ambiance and great food at both Tatoy’s + Buto’t Balat, and finally, the unforgettable French Toast at Dova Brunch Cafe.

Yes, Ilongos Have Good Taste.

My Hotel and Guest House Recommendations

Days Hotel Iloilo

This warm and welcoming hotel is conveniently located in the upper levels of Atrium shopping mall.  There’s even a supermarket on the ground floor – and I have friends that shop there from as far as away as northern Antique.  Yes, the selection is that good. 

The mall also has a hair salon, and many other shops and services.  Very convenient!  

As for the hotel itself, I really felt at home there.  It could be because the staff is so warm and friendly.  The room felt homey and the bathroom was quite nice and modern.  I loved the little things, such as coffee and tea in the room, along with a small water heater.  

Days Hotel invited me to experience their Thanksgiving dinner, and that was much appreciated, because I was 10,000km away from my own family for the holiday.  With an authentic turkey dinner and plenty of new friends from the hotel, it was just what I needed!

As mentioned before, the buffets I had at the restaurant there were quite memorable (and breakfast is included:)  I recommend my friends to eat there – if they’re staying in the hotel or not!

The gym is nice, and I also experienced a 90 minute “Journeys” massage and hot sauna session.  What a great way to relax after sight seeing around the city – highly recommended!   Days Hotel really took care of me.  When you go, I hope you will tell them I say hi!

You can book Days Hotel HERE

Amigo Terrace Hotel

This beautiful hotel is located in the historic old business district, and it features a classy, modern design.  The common areas are especially sleek. 

The spacious business center equipped with new Macs was a nice touch, but my absolute favorite part of this place was the heavenly bed I slept in – probably the most restful sleep I’ve had in the Philippines so far!  My room had a strong wifi connection as well.

The hotel is conveniently located near the Chinese-Filipino Friendship Arch, beautiful and historic Calle Real, and famous Roberto’s Siopao Restaurant (see above).  Their provided breakfast was very tasty, as was the very reasonably priced Chinese restaurant Gloria Maris downstairs. 

Did I mention that Amigo Terraces has a grand piano?  That was an unexpected plus, as I love to play!  Speaking of playing, they even have a casino on the premises!

You can book Amigo Terrace Hotel HERE

Ong Bun Pension House (Budget)

Don’t expect too much luxury at these prices – the rooms are very basic (though you can ask about deluxe rooms with more options).  However, I have to say that the staff were some of the friendliest I have ever encountered during my travels!  An excellent value for those on a very tight budget. 

Ledesma Street, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo, Philippines

+63 33 335 1271

Still looking for hotels?  Check HERE for more options!

Baskog Ang Iloilo!

Yes, from an outside perspective, I really do get the impression that Iloilo is on the verge of something big.  I applaud the city’s use of solar technology in City Hall, as well as the creation of bike lanes and jogging paths along the beautiful Esplanade! 

I do hope other cities in the Philippines will take Iloilo’s lead and implement some of these changes as well.  I look forward to seeing what’s next for this this vibrant, blossoming city!

Special thanks to Explore Iloilo, Cafe Illongo, and Flavours Of Iloilo for the cultural and culinary tour of the city…

 – Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

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