Betel Box Backpackers Hostel & Tours

Cool neighbours down the road from us! Fancy a tattoo as a souvenir of your visit to Singapore?
https://www.femalemag.com.sg/culture/singapore-young-rising-tattoo-collectives-studios-artists/

Singapore's Young Tattoo Collectives Are Leaving Their Mark Singapore's rising and young tattoo collectives are redefining the scene with community spirit and fresh ink.

We are very grateful to be a Finalist at this year's Singapore Tourism Awards 2024 for Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour. Thank you all for sharing the experience!

Come, experience it for yourself! The East side is the Best side! The strong sense of identity in our neighbourhood is one of the key reasons why the hostel is located here. We are proud to be an Eastie!

“East side, best side” – how did the “Eastie” identity develop, and what lessons does it hold for Singapore’s community building efforts?

The distinctive pride of east-side residents is surprising, given that Singapore does not have major geographical or ethnic divides that usually shape regional cultures, write researchers from the NUS Institute of Policy Studies - IPS. Taking reference from sources of Eastie pride like the region’s famed culinary scene and architectural diversity, we can foster a sense of belonging and community in other regions by spotlighting their unique allure and attractions. Read more at: bit.ly/4bg3kQd.

Launch of Katong Joo Chiat Festival weekend! Come come!
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/adventures-home-katong-joo-chiat-gets-more-colourful-new-heritage-activation-node

Our downstairs neighbours Jenny and Raymond talks about their family restaurant; Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant. This is the oldest operating Peranakan eatery in Singapore although the culture and community have existed hundreds of years!
So, when we eating?

https://youtu.be/3B4ldCqk28Q

Best Singapore eats: A meal at Singapore’s oldest Peranakan restaurant, Guan Hoe Soon In this instalment of Makan Kakis, Gold 905 DJ Denise Tan and Chef Melvyn Lee visit Guan Hoe Soon at Joo Chiat Road to find out more about its history – over...

So exciting that there's a festival coming up celebrating the cultures, trades and arts of our neighbourhood! Come join us!

Heritage Activation Node

Come explore and experience it it for yourselves! This is a local video produced for locals on the hidden finds of our neighbourhood! Yes, our neighbourhood is old but its also trending with new shops and eateries!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFCRjmya46c

What a nice surprise! 20 odd years ago, our very first 2 guests arrived hours after listing our hostel on hostelworld.com; who have been instrumental in our growth. We are grateful to Hostelworld and all our guests and staff who have supported us through the years. Thank you for the award!
https://global.hostelworld.com/hoscars

Hostelworld

Silke and Kieran are the kind of guests we get inspired by. ❤❤
SilkyRonTheRoad
They have been traveling already for 2 years in the quest to complete a 10 year honeymoon! They make it sound so easy but I'm sure its not! Their recent youtube post of their visit to Singapore even made its way onto AsiaOne; which is the online platform for our national newspapers in Singapore. Our resident intrepid travel photographer Carlos Monforte managed to secure 2 hours of their time to do a photoshoot (during peak hours by the roadside), Being professional dancers, they thoroughly enjoyed Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour and i see them jiving away to the tunes sung by Mark Nicodemus Tan .n.tan
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/unconventional-itinerary-tourists-visit-hdb-showroom-find-out-how-singaporeans-live


Thank you Silke and Kieran for being such enthusiastic tourists! There's always a home for you at Betel Box!

Don't miss it; we are mid-way through season 2 our production of Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour.
Thank you Mothership for sharing how we attempted to create an immersive and entertaining experience that marries tours with performance arts; such as live singing, dancing and poetry reading).
Come join us before tickets run out!
https://mothership.sg/2023/09/katong-dreaming-musical-tour/

Immersive musical tour in Katong questions what it means to be Peranakan A combination of performing arts and guided tour.

Katong Dreaming-a Musical Tour.
This season we are privileged to have these lovely dancers that will be performing during the tour; Hui Xuan, Nic and AJ. They will be performing solo, on rotation, depending on the performance date.
Lets fall in love on the streets of Katong Joo Chiat
Tickets available now on Peatix
https://katongdreaming.peatix.com/
#

Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour is back for Season 2!
Original music, engaging storytelling, live singing, poetry reading, live dancing and immersive soundscape...
Lets fall in love on the streets of Katong Joo Chiat
Tickets available now on Peatix
https://katongdreaming.peatix.com/
#

Photos by Carlos Monforte Lightjunker

So much to see and do in our hood these days; here's a short list to help you along
https://thesmartlocal.com/read/joo-chiat-katong-guide/

17 Best Things To Do In Joo Chiat & Katong - Lesser-Known Gems, Makan Spots & Photogenic Murals Here's a 2023 guide to 17 best things to do in Joo Chiat & Katong over the weekend or even now, during the June holidays.

Just 1 week left to visit the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar up the road from us. Around 3 million people have visited the 700 stalls selling festive foods, crafts, arts, furnishings and games. Open daily until Fri 21 Apr late night. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/3-million-people-have-joined-hari-raya-cheer-at-geylang-serai-bazaar

3 million people have enjoyed Hari Raya festivities at Geylang Serai bazaar The figure was reported by the security agency team patrolling the grounds of the bazaar. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Just up the road is an "uncommon" mall. Joo Chiat Complex is one of these rare malls that doesn't have a fast food restaurant or predictable fashion chain store. Its evolution has led to it being the go-to place for home furnishings, independent fashion (Malay/ Muslim/ Peranakan Chinese) and a scattering of Muslim gifts shop. This article echoes the comraderies of the stalwarts of the crafts. I hope you get the chance to visit! https://www.mynicehome.gov.sg/lifestyle/people/hoth-baju-kurung-veteran-of-joo-chiat-complex/

HDB | MNH – #HOTH: Baju Kurung Veteran of Joo Chiat Complex On Fridays, Roswati wakes up at 4am to prepare about 50 packets of food that will be distributed to her “neighbours” of 24 years – fellow shopkeepers at Joo Chiat Complex (JCC). After all, they are family—having soldiered through the pandemic lockdowns together and emerging largely unscathed...

Enjoy the views and remember its a privilege to visit these hidden finds, so please be respectful of the surrounding; don't litter and keep volumes low!

♡ Aki あき ♡︎ Kai Yun ♡ on Instagram: "@boris.akimura and I went to find the high spots in Singapore for the best views 🇸🇬 we get higher and higher, up till Level 51 and all of these are FREE with no entry fee! . (1) People's Park Com 12K Likes, 72 Comments - ♡ Aki あき ♡︎ Kai Yun ♡ () on Instagram: ".akimura and I went to find the high spots in Singapore for the best views 🇸🇬 we get ..."

The best time in the year to visit our neighbourhood and to soak up the atmosphere and great food! The biggest and the longest running Ramadan bazaar in Singapore.

EATING EVERYTHING at Geylang Serai Night Market 2023! | BIGGEST RAMADAN BAZAAR in Singapore! In this video, we take on the ultimate food challenge at the Geylang Serai Night Market 2023 in Singapore. Our mission? To eat our way through every single s...

A family business in its third generation and doing good. So proud of our Joo Chiat neighbours Kim Choo.
Do remember to visit them either at their branches on East Coast Road or Joo Chiat Place and try their delicious dumplings, sweets or explore their heritage gallery and sign up for their tours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k4i-C1Zo_8

Kim Choo Kueh Chang Our Story The third generation business owners of Kim Choo Kueh Chang.

A heritage focused business that celebrates all things Peranakan. When you visit Joo Chiat, you must drop by their shops and learn more about the culture through their food products, clothing and heritage programmes
https://www.kimchoo.com/

The Original Kim Choo Kueh Chang (金珠肉粽) Since 1945 A Taste of Culture, Borne from Traditions: Kim Choo Nyonya Dumplings has been a mainstay in the Singapore's culinary scene the year 1945. The Original Kim Choo Kueh Chang is located along 60 Joo Chiat Place. We do not distribute our rice dumplings to any other brand names that may sound similar to o...

Tony of Johor Kaki fame wrote a review after attending Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour. Thank you Tony for your kind words and I agree that the performers Valerie and Mark are likely to be famous performers in the future!
https://johorkaki.blogspot.com/2022/02/katong-dreaming-musical-tour-by-betel.html

Katong Dreaming · Musical Tour by Betel Box · Get Insight Katong beyond Clichéd Facades [email protected] based in Singapore Johor Malaysia travels the world for food

Poet Marc Nair is one of the creators of Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour; where his poems are transcribed into lyrics and prose as part of the performance. This op-ed article written by Marc outlines his thoughts on the question of identity.

Come join Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour hear Marc's works being performed.

https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/katong-dreaming-reclaiming-the-singapore-identity

Katong Dreaming: Reclaiming the Singapore identity There is space in this country for a spectrum of artistic ideas, along with the familiar tradewinds of commerce. . Read more at straitstimes.com.

Thank you Jerome Lim for a wonderful writeup about his experience on the Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour!
Tickets are selling fast. Come see before we end the first season.

A delightful song and dance about Katong Betel Box Tours must be applauded for its most recent effort at bringing out the wonderful tales that are connect with the especially colourful district of Katong. Titled Katong Dreaming: A Musical…

Our show/ tour Producer Jamie, talks to us about these immersive, funky cool headsets used by participants in the Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour
Taking musical theatre to the street!
https://youtu.be/0o7osJqZdUs

Producer Jamie talks about the awesome audio headsets used in Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour Silent Party devices are immersive audio tools that allows for mixing and distribution of a variety of audio content using UHF technology

Opening night premiere full house, this is what you have missed last night. Look forward to having you in our dreams when we're Katong Dreaming...

Opening night of Katong Dreaming- a Musical Tour. This tour took us over a year to complete through the challenges of covid and safe management measures. Jiayou Mark Tan, Valerie Lim, August Lum, Marc Nair and Jamie Lee (the super glue that keeps everyone together)! Thank you Singapore Tourism Board and National Arts Council for believing in us and our project!

The idea that developing the area surrounding Paya Lebar MRT station as a regional centre (secondary city centre) has come of age during this Covid period. Here's a comprehensive guide of the fun things to see, do and experience just minutes walk away from our hostel
https://www.timeout.com/singapore/things-to-do/the-ultimate-guide-to-paya-lebar

The ultimate guide to Paya Lebar and Geylang Serai This enclave in the east is where culture, nature, retail and dining meet.