Bugis Babels

Oh, Bugis. Will you ever get old? I’m not sure.

Bugis is a neighborhood here in Singapore. Together with Kampong Glam it makes up the Arabic/Muslim quarter of SG.

It is the epitome of cool and even though it is technically pronounced “geh-lam,” I like to say glam…because it’s GLAM!

The second you cross the main road onto Arab Street you are instantly transported somewhere far away from regular ol’ Singy. As you walk down the narrow streets, shophouse boutiques abound on either side selling carpets, clothing, and Nepalese crystals. Everywhere you turn, colorful murals adorn the walls with snaphappy pedestrians posing in front of them for pictures. Bar tables and stools are set up outside of every cafe and patrons spill into the streets as they enjoy a beer or some of the delicious Middle Eastern cuisine at any of the neighborhood’s incredible restaurants. Musicians play live music al fresco and croon out ballads on high stools every 20 feet.

I never tire of this area!

It is just so VIBRANT!

There is so much going on. You can get lost wandering the streets, keeping your eye on the magnificent Masjid Sultan mosque with its gleaming golden domes as a point of reference. When the sun goes down, the mosque plays its signal to prayers and overpowers all of the live music corners.

There are plenty of bars and restaurants to hang out in here so nighttime sees just as much fun as the daytime.

We took Cecilia to see Bugis and walked her around snapping her pic with all the murals before settling down for dinner at Beirut Grill on Bussorah Street.