Offbeat Singapore

TOUR SUMMARY

2.5

hours

Hosted in

English or Japanese

Up to 10 persons, minimum 4 to startˆ

ˆThe tour requires minimum 4 persons to start. Offbeat reserves the right to reschedule to another time/date in the event there are insufficient participants.

Tour priced from

per person

* Price includes food tasting of 2 dishes.

Route Details

Jalan Besar MRT → Veerasamy Rd → Municipal Quarters @ Hindoo Rd → Jalan Berseh [food stop] → Rochor River → Kelantan Rd → Chitty Rd

tour story

Wherever we are from, we remember snacking on ice cream from mobile carts, catching a glimpse of hunched over men crafting furniture, whim of delicious scents coming from open kitchens, and the all familiar red brick structures we thought looked like houses from 'Hansel and Gretel'.

Vanishing Crafts, here, are of all colours & shapes, peeking through the memories of the young and old, giving depth and texture to our rapidly-modernising city. In the face of commercialisation, redevelopment, changing tastes, and better job opportunities they fade rapidly, into forever.

Before we miss them all, let's walk among Singapore's impressive buildscape, contrasting that with what we experience and hear first-hand from residents of their tales in our favourite neighbourhood.

We will pass our judgement together if the trades, scenes and even the food presented, root people to this land; and how endangered are these intangible cultural heritage in this nation that renews itself every 5 years.

‍

Reminisce early Singaporeans and their pride in the achievements of their trades
Engage our five senses as we wiggle past trades, streetscapes and everyday living
Meet the personalities in our heartlands and interact with them in their comfort zone
Dabble your tastebud in local dishes (at least 2) that have almost disappeared

‍

PRICE LIST

Base Prices:

$160 per session (For 2 pax)
$216 per session* (For 3 pax)
$272 per session* (For 4 pax)

*Discount is valid for limited time period only.

Add-ons (optional):

Your ‘Untold’ ride sweeping you off from one location to our meeting spot @ $20 flat per person
An ‘Untold’ meal of either lunch or dinner @ $30 per person (inclusive of alcoholic beverage)
Additional hour @ $50 if you find 2 hours too short

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What do i need to wear or bring?

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)

Is there any covid-19 measures?

Priority is with our guests’ well-being, with that in mind, we require all participants to adhere to following set of regulations and guidelines:

A mandatory temperature check will be conducted at the beginning of the tour;
Participants who are unwell (eg. with temperature of 37.5 and above) will not be allowed to partake in the tour;
Face masks must be put on throughout, hand sanitizers are mandatorily provided to all from the beginning;
Observing safe distancing measures throughout is ensured;
Partners we work with practice the above faithfully too.

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.

What if it rains during the tour?

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.

Don't see the question you have in mind? View more here!

THE REVIEWS

The tour itself was an eye opening experience. We visited about 3-4 spots to understand the historical significance of that specifc place and how it how it has changed through times. There was an interesting mix of unassuming places which helps highlights the parts of history that is overlooked.

Jan is a great storyteller who draws interesting parallels between the places we visited and local cultures. We had fun sampling some local delicacies (I was even offered a taster portion of laksa today by one of the hawker stalls. Lucky me!), and we also caught glimpses into the daily lives of some residents in Jln Besar. I never knew there were so many hidden gems in the neighbourhood. Thanks for the fun tour, Jan! I’d highly recommend this tour.

The tours are informative, enlightening and enjoyable. Jan is a very enthusiastic and skilled storyteller, eager to share his knowledge and answer any questions Highly recommended for anyone interested to see the lesser known aspects of Singapore, be it vanishing crafts or neighbourhoods

Highly recommend this very comprehensive tour of Jalan Besar. Really appreciated how the organisers arranged for us to chat with a Jalan Besar resident, which opened our eyes to different perspectives. Although we were walking for 2.5 hours, it didn't feel tiring at all because of the exciting sights and interesting nuggets of information shared along the way. Thank you Offbeat Singapore!

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