Bugis Street

Well Bugis Street is certainly not the same as it was in 1974. Some of the streets around have modern shopping centres (not doing a lot of trade) and the change was dramatic, especially Malay Street which has a covered airconditioned walkway. Bugis Street is now a bustling covered local market area - this is where all the local people shopped and very busy it was too.

For the fainthearted or delicately minded do not read on - Bugis Street used to be very colourful at night. During the day it was a local market but at night it changed character. A fantastic place to go late in the evening - to sit and drink beer and watch the sights and there were many.

There was a small toilet block, where Bugis Street crossed Malay Street. Australian soldiers loved to climb up on to the roof and perform (without clothes of course) the Dance of the Flaming A... A burning rolled up newspaper completed the dance. Of course they were always arrested. The street was also full of men dressed as ladies - they were always very flamboyant. Now that Singapore is a sophisticated and modern city the place has been reformed of course! And no wonder.