TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Asia's 'Alice in Wonderland' villa teaches children about karma
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Inferno: The 'Ten courts of hell' diorama depicts the detail of the punishments in the afterlife awaiting the souls of evildoers. (JP/Yohana Belinda) (JP/Yohana Belinda)
Aw Boon Haw, one of the original 'crazy rich Asians', created Haw Par Villa to teach people the value of good karma.
Founded in 1937, Haw Par Villa is the original Singapore amusement park. Colorful statues of animals and scenes from Chinese folklore, such as Madam White Snake, adorn its one-of-a-kind front.
However, a tragic history hides beneath its vibrant and varied exterior.
The park's popularity has also reached several neighboring countries, including Indonesia. One of Indonesia's horror YouTubers, Billy Christian, shot a video four years ago during a promotion of a movie called Mereka Yang Tak Terlihat (They Who Are Not Seen). The video reached 85,311 views, and viewers reacted positively to the vlog, using it to reminisce about their lives.
"A vivid depiction of everyday scenes comes alive at Haw Par Villa. Every seed sown in this life is reaped in the next one," wrote one of an account named Agustin Sofian Putri.
Jennifer Makaria, who spent her teenage years in Singapore, shared her little memory about the theme park.
"I couldn't remember it a lot," said the 24-year-old. The oldest of two siblings remembered the gory scenery of the park and reflected on her deeds.
