Bugis Junction - Singapore

        Before we went to Marina Bay, we decided to have our lunch at Bugis junction. The foods here are known for their delicious taste and cheap price. We were sitting in one of the coffee shops in that area. While enjoying our meal, we watched people passing by. Bugis Junction is a famous pedestrian shopping mall that consists of three streets: Malabar Street, Malay Street and Hylam Street. Those streets are the first air-conditioned and glass-covered streets in Singapore and called “indoor streets”. Bugis Junction is an integrated area of shopping, business and culinary that belongs to Keppel Land and finished its development in 1995. It was opened on 8 September 1995 and managed by a Japanese company, Parco. Sidewalk cafes and shophouses are found along the street. Pricey restaurants and cheap eateries in this area attract a large number of visitors to come to this place to have various dining experiences.

        Originally, Bugis Junction was named after the bloodthirsty race of pirates who reigned in the Straits before the British came to Singapore. It was the home of Singapore’s small Hainanese community from whom a large number of culinary foods were created. However, this community then moved to Beach Road in the early 20th century. It was also the home to Singapore’s Japanese community before the World War II. Many Japanese people from poor family stayed here and most of the girls worked as prostitutes. Before the World War II, the Japanese ran many businesses and even had their own school and newspaper. But, the British later expelled them from the area and prohibited them to come back to Singapore.

 

The shopping mall in Bugis Junction

        I cannot really tell much about Bugis Junction for little is known about this pedestrian street. But if you are a budget traveler who wants to have a cheap yet delicious meal, you surely should visit this place for the restaurants in this area really offer various dining experiences in much cheaper price compared to other parts in Singapore.

Sources:

Personal experience and additional information from other online articles