Hanging out at Arab Street - Alvinology

Hanging out at Arab Street

The landmark Masjid Sultan mosque
The landmark Masjid Sultan mosque

During the last Hari Raya festive period, Rachel and I headed to the  Kampong Glam and Arab Street area to check out the food bazaar as well as to sight-see. Often time, we find it more convenience to head to the ubiquitous air-con malls rather than check out some of the heritage or heartland areas in Singapore.

Although it was a weekday noon, the place was relatively crowded, with mostly tourists milling around. There were also some secondary school kids in uniform running around, probably out on a school excursion.

We bought beef kebab, mutton lontong and barbecued chicken thigh to share among us for lunch. The first two items tasted great. The chicken thigh was horrible though. We should have known better when we saw the hawker using an electric heated grill instead of the usual charcoal.

Busy street
Busy street
Hari Raya baazar
Hari Raya baazar
Otah and barbecued chicken
Otah and barbecued chicken
Lontong
Lontong
Mutton lontong - quite nice
Mutton lontong – quite nice
Kebab kiosk
Kebab kiosk
We bought a beef wrap from the kebab kiosk
We bought a beef wrap from the kebab kiosk

After filling our stomach, we loitered around the area for a while. We were delighted to find a little spice garden where many tropical spices and herbs were planted. An unexpected find was the mysterious Tongkat Ali, a famed local herb for improving male potency.

Function hall
Function hall
Ketaupat contest
Ketaupat contest
Spice garden
Spice garden
Spice variety
Spice variety
They even have Tongkat Ali - a famous local herb to treat male potency
They even have Tongkat Ali – a famous local herb to treat male potency
Here's what the Tongkat Ali plant looks like
Here’s what the Tongkat Ali plant looks like

We then made our way to Haji Lane where the hip and cool hang out. We had fun checking out some of the quirky fashion boutiques there. It was interesting to see graffiti art and other youth fixtures in the area, contrasted against the old colonial architecture.

This is a restaurant, not a gardening store
This is a restaurant, not a gardening store
Teddy bear specialty shop
Teddy bear specialty shop
A plant we came across
A plant we came across
Crossing over to Haji lane - where the cool and stylish hang out
Crossing over to Haji lane – where the cool and stylish hang out
Outside one of the boutique
Outside one of the boutique
People like plants around here
People like plants around here
New meets old
New meets old
Inside one of the boutique in Haji Lane
Inside one of the boutique in Haji Lane
Tour agency with original retro office
Tour agency with original retro office
Textile shop
Textile shop
Announcement for upcoming flea market
Announcement for upcoming flea market
Grafitti art besides old Chinese pillars
Grafitti art besides old Chinese pillars
Street Art
Street Art

We headed home after that, satisfied with ourselves for finding an alternate way to spend a day in Singapore instead of the usual shopping or movie. 🙂

Technorati Tags: hanging out at arab street, arab street, singapore arab street, singapore haji lane, haji lane, kampong glam, kampong glam and arab street, masjid sultan, masjid sultan mosque, singapore hari raya, beef kebab, mutton lontong

3 comments

  1. hey that’s not an upcoming flea market. i check out the wedsite, its a singtel new promotion. very smart way of free advertising.

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