Book Tour of 1,000 years of Sejarah Melayu by Mr Sarafian

Join Mr Sarafian for an exciting in-person tour of Telok Blangah, arguably the ancient capital of Singapore and dive into history up close! About the tour Journey through Telok Blangah’s layered heritage with Sarafian, from ancient Temasek and Wang Dayuan’s Dragon’s Tooth to forgotten kampungs, wartime memories, Johor-Riau royalty and Radin Mas. Discover how maritime trade, communities, legends and history shaped Singapore long before and after 1819. About the guide Inspired by tracing his Bugis ancestry, Sarafian Salleh has spent over four decades researching Malay world history and World War II. A licensed Singapore Tourism Board guide and author of Tuah Bugis- Chronicles of the Seafaring People of Singapore, he has been leading walks and delivering public talks since 2013 for schools, universities, delegates, and community groups. Combining his passion for local heritage with deep historical research. Date: Saturday, 14 November 2026 Time: 9am - 11.30am ( Meet at 8.45am to register and collect receiver) Venue: Telok Blangah MRT A Total distance: 3km Fees: $25 per pax, a receiver will be provided however please bring your own wired earpiece to reduce waste. Nevertheless brand new wired earpieces will be provided should you be unable to bring them. Footwear: Closed-toe walking shoes or trail sneakers with good grip Attire: Long pants and light long sleeves are recommended. Rain & Sun Protection: An umbrella or a lightweight poncho Hydration: Bring a refillable water bottle (at least 1 litre per person). Insect Repellent: High DEET or citronella repellent is essential for the outdoor trails and elevated canopy boardwalks. Recommended for 9 and above and parental guidance required for those 14 and below. Overview of the Tour 1. Telok Blangah MRT Gateway to the Maritime World
Begin where Singapore's southern coastline meets an ancient maritime landscape. Telok Blangah recalls the Sejarah Melayu, Sang Nila Utama and generations of Orang Laut who navigated these strategic waters. 2. Dragon's Tooth Gateway to Ancient Temasek
Recall Batu Berlayar, the famous “Dragon's Tooth” rock marking the western entrance to Keppel Harbour. For centuries, this striking landmark guided mariners through the waters surrounding ancient Temasek. 3. Wang Dayuan An Eyewitness to Fourteenth-Century Temasek
Meet Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan, who visited this region in the 1330s. His Daoyi Zhilüe described Long Ya Men, or Dragon's Tooth Gate, providing rare contemporary evidence of Temasek's maritime world. 4. Seah Im Air Raid Shelter War Beneath the Hills
Hidden within this historic landscape, the air-raid shelter introduces Singapore's wartime experience, showing how an ancient Malay maritime settlement was transformed by colonial infrastructure, global conflict and modernisation. 5. Marang Cemetery Remembering the Kampung Community
Among the surviving graves lie traces of old Kampung Marang and Kampong Panchor. This forgotten Muslim cemetery reminds us that ordinary Malay families, not only rulers, created communities around Telok Blangah's harbour and hills. 6. Masjid Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim Johor-Riau's Living Legacy
Standing within the former Temenggong compound, the mosque and royal cemetery preserve Singapore's connection to the Johor-Riau world and the Temenggongs who shaped Telok Blangah after Raffles' arrival. 7. Makam Puteri Radin Mas Ayu Between History, Legend and Memory
End with the shrine associated with Radin Mas Ayu, where Javanese royal legend, Malay storytelling and local memory converge, inviting us to consider how communities preserve history beyond written archives.