The Armenians of Singapore
By Ric Gazarian on December 18, 2014
Singapore is an incredibly successful country on the southern tip of
Malaysia. More than 5 million people are packed into this compact
area. It is a veritable smorgasbord of ethnicities, languages, and
religions. For instance, Singapore recognizes four languages: English,
Malay, Tamil, and Mandarin. While 75 percent of the population is
Chinese, with the remainder being mostly Malay and Indian,
surprisingly a small Armenian community played an outsized role in
this city-state. Singapore is the model of a successful free market
economy, rated in 2013 as the second freest economy. It has a per
capita income that ranks third in the world. To put that in
perspective, one out of six citizens has a net worth of over a million
dollars even while excluding property!
Marina Bay Sands, an iconic new addition to the Singapore skyline, is
the most expensive building in the world at close to $5 billion. It
was premiered in 2010, and 3 towers that comprise the complex stand at
55 floors with a platform known as the Sands SkyPark on top connecting
the three towers. The Sands SkyPark includes an observation deck,
restaurant, and an infinity pool (guests only!). The complex, which
sits on reclaimed land, has more than 2,500 rooms and a casino.
Remember to double down!
Marina Bay Sands
The view from Marina Bay Sands
Adjacent to the Marina Bay Sands is Gardens By The Bay, which was
created in 2012. Over 200 acres of green space are packed in the
middle of the dense city-state of Singapore. Two giant greenhouses
rise into the sky. The first is the Flower Dome, which is a giant,
enclosed three-acre space containing seven unique gardens. The second
is the Cloud Forest, which showcases a 115-foot tropical waterfall. As
I strolled though the greenhouses, I spied the Sands SkyPark in the
distance. I felt like I was in the flotilla in Battlestar Galactica,
looking at a passing spaceship the SS SkyPark. The highlight of the
garden is the Supertree Grove, a series of “trees” that rise to
heights of 160 feet. At night these trees are lit up, and twice during
the evening there is a light and music show.
Gardens By The Bay
A very dark period in Singapore history is the Japanese occupation
during World War II. Singapore was a British colony at the time, and
the British were quickly routed by the Japanese. Upon occupation,
3,000 civilians were marched directly from the city to Changi Prison.
The prison was meant to hold 600 criminals, but the Japanese managed
to squeeze in 5 times more including children. Nearby the prison,
50,000 POWs, mostly British and Australian, were held. Today, a museum
memorializes these victims and survivors, and includes a replica of a
chapel that was built by the POWs in 1944 using rudimentary tools.
The Changi Prison Chapel
Singapore is a great city to walk and explore. If need be, simply jump
on the MRT, its unbelievably efficient and expansive subway system.
One fun neighborhood to get lost in is Chinatown. A new addition to
the skyline is the 2007 Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. The four-story
temple is said to host a tooth of Buddha Shakyamuni. This vibrant and
colorful temple is well worth the visit.
The 2007 Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
A special place to visit is the oldest remaining church in Singapore.
This modest, white church was consecrated in 1836. The church happens
to be the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator
located on Armenian Street. It was established for the benefit of a
small Armenian community, which at its height in the 1880’s reached
approximately 100 families. Armenians had established a preliminary
foothold in Asia, including in India, Burma, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
They played influential roles as traders and merchants in the region.
The last Armenian parish priest left in the 1930’s. By the 1950’s,
most of the Armenian community had slipped away, many immigrating to
Australia. Today, the church is a national monument.
The grounds of the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator
The Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator located
on Armenian Street
On the grounds of the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Despite representing a small fraction of the Singapore community, the
Armenians played a significant role in Singapore. In 1845, Catchick
Movessian co-founded the Singapore Straits Times. Today, this paper is
the highest-selling paper in Singapore. A quartet of brothers from
Isfahan, Iran, also made an impact. The Sarkies brothers over a
45-year period founded or managed 6 hotels in Southeast Asia. Their
properties were considered the most prestigious hotels in the region.
Most well known is the legendary Raffles Hotel founded in 1887 in
Singapore. While rates start at $500, you might consider quaffing a
Singapore Sling at the Long Bar. Both the drink and the bar are iconic
landmarks in Singapore. Agnes Joaquim, a horticulture enthusiast,
unveiled her flower at a competition there, and won the $12 prize in
1899. The Vanda Miss Joaquim was later designated Singapore’s national
flower.
The Raffles Hotel (Photo by Richard Moross/Creative Commons)
The Vanda Miss Joaquim (photo by AJ Cann/Creative Commons)
So, as you stroll down the streets of the ultra-modern metropolis,
remember the impact this small community of Armenians had on this
nation-state.
Find out more about Ric’s work and travels here.