SPH Journalist: Melody Zaccheus
** 萨拉菲安. Pronounced as Sa-La-Fei-an.
Thanks Chen Yh
Monday 9 September 2019
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
SPH Journalist: Melody Zaccheus
** 萨拉菲安. Pronounced as Sa-La-Fei-an.
Thanks Chen Yh
Sunday 8 September 2019
Telok Blangah is more than a pot !
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
Sarafian Salleh
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