Visitors to Singapore should make it a point to visit the fascinating Geylang Serai, or Malay Village, which showcases the traditional lifestyle of the Malays. The Malays are one of the significant communities who have made their home in Singapore, and this village may be considered the cultural focus of the community.
The Malay Village site occupies a sizable area, and features numerous replicas of traditional ‘kampong’ village homes. The entire site is arranged into a museum-like exhibition format with originals and meticulously crafted reproductions of the buildings, implements, costumes and musical instruments used by the Malays. In promoting the heritage of this community and preserving its cultural specialties this unique creation has proved very successful.
Many interesting traditional activities are presented at the village, including wedding rituals, customary dances and dramatic performances. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe customary crafts like kite making and batik dying. Not to be missed are customary games and pastimes such as the spinning of tops. Additionally you will find numerous small shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts and herbs. Another interesting exhibit is the engrossing Bridal Chamber, which displays the features of a typical Malay marriage ceremony.
At the local market you will find exceedingly fresh poultry and produce, as well as other goods. Visitors should take the opportunity to sample the delectable Malay and Indian treats offered by local hawkers, who take care to provide excellent culinary delights. The local cafes offer delicious specialties like milk tea, rice with assorted side dishes and the unique Malay style desserts.
Nearby you will find a selection of attractive and affordable shopping complexes which offer an array of apparel and other commonly required items. The nearby City Plaza is often frequented by expatriate Indonesians, who congregate here during weekends. Therefore a myriad of Indonesian style eateries and food centres have sprung up here, many offering excellent fare for the visitor. With so much to see and admire there is no doubt that a visit to the locality will prove to be a captivating experience.
The selective visitor choosing hotels in Singapore will find an outstanding choice in Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Singapore. These fine Singapore hotels offer attractive accommodations and courteous hospitality.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
