If exiting at Bugis, the key roads are Rochor Rd and Victoria St . Walk north on Victoria St until y

Bugis has a colorful past. Originally named after the people who prowled in the Straits before the arrival of the British, the area where Bugis Junction now stands was the original home of Singapore's small Hainanese community, famous for their large contribution to Singapore's culinary culture, before they moved to Beach Road in the early 20th century to make use of the docks and seafront. The same area was also home to Singapore's Japanese community before World War II, and was originally populated by girls from poorer parts of Japan who came to Singapore to work as prostitutes. The Japanese community then grew and in their heyday cheap one way rental cars just prior to World War II, they were running many businesses and even had their own school and newspaper. However, the British repatriated all ethnic Japanese in Singapore after World War II, and did not allow any ethnic Japanese to enter Singapore for the next few years, thus spelling a temporary end for the Japanese community in Singapore. (The Japanese came back eventually, but these days they hang out around Robertson Quay .)
For a long time after the war, the area was Singapore's equivalent of Patpong , a red-light district known for its bars and transvestite prostitutes or katies (the anglicized version of the Thai kathoey ). However, in 1985 the area was redeveloped with a vengeance, turning it into a sanitized shopping experience for the whole family.
Neighboring cheap one way rental cars Kampong Glam , also known by the name of its main thoroughfare Arab Street , was where Singapore's Arab traders settled in the founding days of the colony, and was also the part of town allocated to the Malays when Raffles drew up his town plan. But here too, the original inhabitants fled in the 1920s as real-estate prices drove through the roof, and today the heart of Muslim Singapore beats in Geylang Serai on the East Coast .
So what's left then? A slice of modern Singapore at its most hyperactive : hundreds upon hundreds of shops and restaurants, cheap one way rental cars several attractive promenades and a bazaar selling the cheapest T-shirts in town. Head here on a weekend to experience Singaporean consumerism at its finest.
The Bugis and Lavender MRT stations on the East-West line are the primary entry points into the district. If arriving by bus from Malaysia, you'll most likely be deposited at either the Queen St bus terminal cheap one way rental cars or Golden Mile Complex, which lie on the edges of the area.
If exiting at Bugis, the key roads are Rochor Rd and Victoria St . Walk north on Victoria St until you spot the golden domes of the Sultan Mosque; turn left here for Arab St , or keep walking north for Lavender MRT. Alternatively, head west on Rochor Rd to reach Little India , within easy walking distance; or head south on Victoria St to return to Orchard Road .
The pedestrian sections of Albert St and Waterloo St make exploring the area On foot a pleasure. Getting to Kampong Glam from Bugis is a slightly longer hike though, cheap one way rental cars hop on any northbound bus on Victoria Rd for a few stops to shortcut the distance.
Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho , 178 Waterloo St . Dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. According to legend, wishes made in here come true, which would explain why it's always packed. The procedure goes like this: enter, light some joss sticks, pray for advice about a dilema, then shake a container of cham si (bamboo sticks) until one falls out. Throw a pair of red Jiao. If you get one on the round side and the other on the flat side, get a free matching slip with verses (also in English) explaining the Goddess's advice. Advice is not always given. If it is given, take it to one of the resident soothsayers for their interpretation. Free, although voluntary donations are accepted . edit
Malay Heritage Centre , 85 Sultan Gate , [1] . M-Sa 10AM-6PM . Set on the grounds of beautifully restored Istana Kampong Glam, the site looks gorgeous from the outside but despite some half-hearted attempts at whiz-bang multimedia, the museum inside is rather disappointing.\\ Free entry onto the grounds, $3 for the museum . edit
Sultan Mosque , 3 Muscat St ( off North Bridge Rd ). 9AM-1PM, 2-4PM daily . Also known as Masjid Sultan and the largest mosque in Singapore, the building is easily identified thanks to its golden domes, but there's not much to see inside. cheap one way rental cars Note that shorts, short skirts or sleeveless T-shirts are not permissible attire, but you can borrow a cloak if needed. Free . edit
Hajjah Fatimah Mosque , 4001 Beach Road . Also known as Masjid Hajjah Fatimah , it is probably Singapore's second most important mosque historically after Sultan Mosque. It was named after an aristocratic Malay woman who donated money to build it. Its design is a mix of local Malay Muslim and colonial British architecture. This minaret cheap one way rental cars tower is also worth a look as it leans slightly off-centre towards the main prayer hall. As with all mosques, revealing clothing should be avoided. Free . edit
Sri Krishnan Temple , 152 Waterloo St . A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu. Right next door to Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho, and there's a steady stream of Chinese visitors hedging their bets by making offerings to the Hindu gods too. Free . edit
Bugis Junction , 200 Victoria Street ( MRT Bugis ), [2] . Singapore's teenage haven, built around the restored shophouses of Hylam and Malay Streets, covered with a roof for shopping in any weather. Anchor tenants include department store BHG and the minimalist Japanese home decoration cheap one way rental cars shop Muji (BHG 2F); also check out the ever-surprising fountain in the middle of Bugis Square. The basement has a good selection of cheap to midrange eateries, and the Food Junction foodcourt on the 3rd floor is a cut above the usual. edit
Bugis+ , 201 Victoria St ( opp Bugis Junction ). The latest mall in Bugis, aimed squarely at the same teen market as Bugis Junction and housing more or less the same shops, plus an 9-screen Film Garde [3] cineplex. Latest add-on to this mall is the biggest Electronic Darts Arena in Singapore known as Dartssoul Cafe + Bar (www.facebook.com/dartssoulcafe), fill with 13 boards, cafe and bar in it which is the earliest to open and last to close. bored? Have some games, make some friends, drinks and chill out with the sports on big projector screen. Worth a look at night, when the panels outside pulse and shift in an impressive light show. Houses (at least for now) a unique food court, Ramen Champion , comprising nothing but ramen shops from Japan and that's worth a visit for ramen fans. edit
Right across Victoria St, Bugis Street no longer has bars and transvestites, but it does have a bazaar (Bugis Village) that sells all sorts of vaguely touristy knick-knacks as well as mass-market streetwear. This is the cheapest place in Singapore to buy T-shirts for family back home, although the quality of those $2 shirts is pretty much what you'd expect. If you haven't sampled tropical fruits yet, take a look at the fruit stalls at the other end.
If you continue walking straight through Bugis Street, you'll reach the Albert Street and Waterloo Street pedestrian mall. Browse through shops offering Buddhist paraphernalia cheap one way rental cars and take a peek at the two temples on Waterloo St. Keep going straight to reach electronics haven Sim Lim Square and beyond it Little cheap one way rental cars India .
Sin Chew Chinese Cultural Products Supermart , 192 Waterloo St . True to the name, this store packs in vast quantities of Buddhas and Confucian deities, glittering in gold, blinking lights and all shades of kitsch. Note the statue of Hotei the "Laughing Buddha" outside there is a steady crowd trooping up to rub his big belly, hoping to catch some of his good luck. edit
Like Little India and Chinatown , Kampong Glam has been restored, refurbished cheap one way rental cars and new life breathed into it, bringing back the former colour and vibrancy of the area. Rows of conserved shophouses can be found in Arab Street, Baghdad cheap one way rental cars Street and Bussorah Street. Many of these shophouses have new tenants such as design and IT firms, art galleries, crafts and curios shops, food caterers and restaurants. They blend in with traditional businesses like textile and carpet shops, antiques and handicrafts shops including those selling traditional games, blacksmiths, and shops selling religious items used by Muslims. On Haji Lane , local independent fashion boutiques and quirky little shops offer a unique shopping experience. It has in recent years emerged as a prominent location for both second-hand clothing and trendy street fashion, featuring the works of both local designers and imported wares from Japan and the States.
Kampong Glam is also an area dotted with good restaurants, from Malaysian coffee shops and bakeries to fine modern European dining, like Le Pont De Vie. Many of the stores on Arab Street specialize in batik and silk . Be prepared to bargain.
Army Market , Beach Rd ( Golden Mile Hawker Centre ). Sells surplus equipment from the Singapore Armed Forces. Mostly popular with local soldiers shopping for replacements, but also of interest to low-budget cheap one way rental cars camping enthusiasts or camouflage fetishists. edit
Sungei Road Thieves Market , Sungei Rd ( Bugis MRT ). This flea market is open daily but is most active on weekend afternoons. It may not be as polished as other flea markets in Singapore but if you look carefully, you might spot hidden treasures in amongst the junk. edit
Bugis has a wide selection of restaurants catering to every taste. A highlight cheap one way rental cars is the area near Arab Street , which specializes in halal (Muslim) food with quite a few Middle Eastern eateries too, most of which offer shisha water pipes as well. Golden Mile Complex , on Beach Rd, is favored by the local Thai population and consequently serves the cheapest and most authentic Thai food in town.
Deli Moroccan , 30 Bussorah Street , ☎ +65-91215121 . Run by a Malay-Moroccan cheap one way rental cars couple, this no-frills eatery serves up the best couscous and tagines in Singapore. Show up early, since service cheap one way rental cars is slow and they tend to run out of the good stuff, an