Chinatown, Bugis and Tiong Bahru
Chinatown at Night |
The melting pot like Singapore is cultural diverse from Chinese, Malay and Indian. It is common to see mosque, Buddhist temple, Christian church and Hindu temple situated on the same road and just a stone throw away!
Today a million of
Singaporeans are not Singapore-born. This tiny island has been transformed to
be the international hub.
I stayed at the hostels in
Chinatown and Tiong Bahru. I spent a half day visiting Bugis. I have experience
to share.
Buddha's Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown |
Chinatown
Beautiful and
well-maintenance heritage shop houses are lining along the road. Chinese food
restaurants and food centres are the destinations of tourists, chicken rice,
dim sum and porridge are the most popular dishes.
Unique architecture of
5-feet walkway is wildly seen. Chinatown is very lively. Souvenir shops, Buddha
Tooth’s Relic Temple and Chinatown Heritage Centre are on the list.
Chinatown Heritage Centre,Impressive Stories Inside! |
Chinatown Heritage Centre
is the museum displaying difficulty lives of Chinese immigrants packed in shop
houses in Chinatown until the day of thriving. Worth spending an hour then you
can heading to shop souvenirs from market on the same road, Pagoda Street.
See http://www.chinatown.sg/
for information and cultural events.
Sultan Mosque Gate, Bugis |
Haji Lane, the Trendy Shopping Place, Bugis |
Bugis
This district consist of 2
major area; Arab street and nearby is the Islamic community. Bugis village and
nearby is the modern shopping paradise.
Distinguished landmark is
Sultan Mosque, the spiritual place for Arabic and Malay people. For shopping
and eating; Persian carpet shops on Arab Street, trendy fashion stores and pubs
on Haji Lane and Arabic stuffs and food on Kampong Glam.
For cultural site, Malay
Heritage Centre at Sultan Gate Street is recommended.
See http://www.malayheritage.org.sg/MHCPortal/
for information and cultural programmes.
Art Deco Style Residences, Tiong Bahru |
Tiong Bahru
The trendy art village and
Art Deco style flats are the characters of this residence area.
Local food centre built in
old style architecture and packed with yummy food stalls meanwhile new cafes
and bakery shops are mushrooming.
I didn’t have a lot of
things to do, just eating, drinking and sight- seeing. Time passed by slowly
and ended with pleasure.