Orchard Road: The glitzy, “Fifth-Avenue” neighborhood, with upscale shopping and the most expensive places in which to live. Emerald Hill. Get off at the Somerset MRT and walk towards Centrepoint Shopping Centre. You’ll see a few bars: go down that narrow street and be astonished. Emerald Hill is a stunning example of early 20th-century houses, lovingly renovated, painted, and shined to a polish. Yuppies have discovered it and have renovated most of the houses. As you walk down Emerald Hill, the noise of Orchard Road dissipates and you shake your head in amazement. East Coast: Known for its seafood, the East Coast is known for a more relaxed life style. Most East Coasters spend their time at the East Coast Park, Singapore’s answer to the pier at Santa Monica, where you can bike, rollerblade, or just hang out by the water. Good shopping here, as well, and the prices can be lower. It’s approximately a 20-minute subway ride away from Orchard Road. Geylang Serai: The cultural heart of the Muslim community in Singapore, Geylang also has the Malay Village. While Singapore web sites tout it as a genuine cultural experience, I have never heard anyone really praise it. .During Ramadan—the fasting month for Muslims—in Geylang, sales abound on almost every item imaginable. The City Plaza Shopping Center is fascinating: It sells many items specifically for the Muslim community, including clothing. Since many Singaporean Muslim women wear headscarves (just scarves; the face is totally untouched) and tunics, you will see these items in every possible variety. And--this region is known for cheap hotels--and prostitution.
Note: Here’s the kicker: While prostitution and brothels (there are approximately 400 of them here) are legal, solicitation is not. Umm . . . think about it . . . (And—this is Singapore, after all—prostitutes carry a yellow health card. They must report in “regularly” for health checks.)
Let’s continue this theme. Many Western men come to Singapore, intrigued by the idea of meeting “exotic” Asian women. Many women from neighboring countries come here, hoping to snag a Western wealthy guy—or at the least, attempting to take money via sexual favors. Check out Orchard Towers, on Orchard Road. “Four floors of whores” it’s called, and it’s quite a thing to see on weekends: Bars churn out loud music, scantily-clad girls check out their prospects, and groups of men gaze back at them.
Little India: The cultural center of the Indian population. It’s described elsewhere in this web site, as are
Chinatown and Arab Street. |
