Sunday, July 20, 2014

Accidental Tourist - Yesteryear Theme Park - Haw Par Villa

With the MRT (equivalent of Subway or Tube depending on where you come from) open, Haw Par Villa, originally Tiger Balm Gardens, can be easily accessible by hopping onto a train - getting on the right train line (Circle Line) and stopping at Haw Par Villa Station (no. CC25) which is right in front of the entrance to the theme park. It's one of the few places you can visit in Singapore without having to pay an entrance fee. 

It was a family run theme park back in the day before being taken charge by the (Singapore Tourism Board). Thankfully, they didn't do much to change the place as it remained more or less the same place that I remember when I last visited during my school days. 

Some quick info about this place - Haw Par is based on the names of the 2 brothers of original Aw family who ran this place. The original intent is to teach traditional Chinese values with its most famous attraction (then and remaining) the Ten Courts of Hell with many urban legends or ghost stories surrounding this attraction. I found a webpage (http://wheresidewalksend.com/court-of-hell/) that explained all 10 courts - which to this day, I still find some of the images quite disturbing. Ah well....enjoy some photos before switching away.... 


Till the next time, onto the world and beyond!