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Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Review
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Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple
- Address: 178 Waterloo St., Bugis, Singapore
- Category: Religious Sites
- Location: Bugis
Fodor's Review:
The dusty, incense-filled interior of this popular temple (commonly known as just Kwan Im), its altars heaped with hundreds of small statues of gods from the Chinese pantheon, transports you into the world of Asian mythology. Of the hundreds of Chinese deities, Kwan Im, more often known as Kuan Yin, is perhaps most dear to the hearts of Singaporeans. Legend has it that just as she was about to enter Nirvana, she heard a plaintive cry from Earth. Filled with compassion, she gave up her place in paradise to devote herself to alleviating the pain of those on Earth; thereupon, she took the name Kuan Yin, meaning "to see and hear all." People in search of advice on anything from an auspicious date for a marriage to possible solutions for domestic or work crises come to her temple, shake cham si (bamboo fortune sticks), and wait for an answer. The gods are most receptive on days of a new or full moon.
For more immediate advice, you can speak to any of the fortune-tellers who sit under umbrellas outside the temple. They'll pore over ancient scrolls of the Chinese almanac and, for a few dollars, tell you your future. If the news isn't good, you may want to buy some of the flowers sold nearby and add them to your bathwater. They're said to help wash away bad luck. A small vegetarian restaurant next to the temple, of the same name, serves good food and delicious Chinese pastries.
- Metro: Bugis
Get Advice From Other Travelers
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