Tucked in less than a hectare of forest just opposite of VivoCity are several graves belonging to few notable people that have lived along Telok Blangah. The graves, now mostly overtaken by dense vegetation, remained a mystery until I took some time to clear it and met ex-villager Mdm Rafeah via her niece Norkurshah. Rafeah, a very dynamic personality, shared with me her life story and the vibrancy of Telok Blangah. 

SPH Journalist: Melody Zaccheus 

** 萨拉菲安. Pronounced as Sa-La-Fei-an.
Thanks Chen Yh

Telok Blangah is more than a pot !

Many articles and sources today mentioned that the name Telok Blangah is derived from the shape of the bay which looks like a pot. This information is accepted by many because the bay indeed looks like a giant cooking pot!

However, an old article from Berita Harian initiated an argument indicating the name Blangah was a Bugis word for Anchorage which proves the area is much older than we have always thought. It was like a ‘matured estate’ of ancient Singapura!

Blangah in Malay means labuh or pelabuhan. I posted a question in social media ‘Facebook’ with hopes I could get clarifications from the Bugis Makassar community in Bugis Temasek.

When Sang Nila Utama arrived Singapore in 1299, he has chosen Telok Blangah for his ship to drop anchor because its geography consisted of a sheltered bay (Telok) and optimal depth for an ideal anchorage (Blango, Blangah). I assume that Telok Blangah was already an entrepot during that time. The maritime activity was managed by a port master, nakhoda, shahbandar, temenggong, tamagi among others.

Hence it can be concluded that the name Blangah was given by early Bugis settlers that have already established their settlements in Telok Blangah due to its excellent maritime geography as mentioned by Arabs, Chinese and European navigators. Another convincing fact was, there was also a village called Kampung Nakhoda dominating the beachfront of Telok Blangah too.

Could this area in today's Vivo City Harbourfront once was an early Bugis Town of Singapore as well but not documented? documented? 

Sarafian Salleh

Pulau Penyengat

I do not know of a place called Pulau Penyengat until I met Daeng Zainol in 2003, the caretaker of Makam Radin Mas. He told me that, if I wanted to better understand about my Bugis ancestry, I must go to Pulau Penyengat. From there I would be able to witness the people that made impact on the final stages of Malay history before loosing their sphere of influence to impending colonial interventions. These people are the Bugis; traders, warriors and kingmakers.

Pulau Peyengat is an offshore island located on the west coast of Tanjung Pinang, Bintan Island. I booked a ferry ride via online from Sindo Ferry which costs me $53.

An international passport is required with a remaining 6-month usage prior to expiry. The earliest ferry is 8.30 am from Singapore and the last ferry from Tanjung Pinang is 5.00pm their local time. Time set in Tanjung Pinang is 1 hour earlier against Singapore. 

Masjid Raya Sultan Riau

The most significant icon of Pulau Penyengat is Masjid Raya Sultan Riau. This mosque was build in 1832 by Sultan Abdurrahman. What made it popular was that this mosque was built using egg-white, egg shell and clay. In fact, most of the stone structures in this island were built in that manner. 

Praying Hall and the 'Mimbar'