The Intan: Of bibiks and babas

First a history lesson. The Peranakan and Baba-Nyonya are the descendants of late 15th and 16th Century Chinese immigrants who have adopted Malay customs. It's quite the NatGeo experience to immerse yourself in their culture and see how they lived. Enter the Intan.

The Intan (Joo Chiat Terrace) is a personal tour of a Peranakan’s home, in all its carefully maintained glory. The guide, Alvin Yapp, lives in the house, which is a strange arrangement, as it feels more like a museum than someone's backyard.

The tour consists of a walk-through in Alvin's home where he explains his culture’s intricacies.

“Peranakans are afraid of emptiness. That’s why their furniture designs are very ornate. At first, it seems messy. But look closer, there’s order within the chaos," he says. When it's explained like that, it makes more sense. Definitely worth the trip if you're sick of the concrete jungle.

Note that the Intan tour, is for a minimum of eight people, includes dinner and will take about 3½ hours, is strictly by appointment only.