Singapore: Geylang - Malay Village
 

I read where Geylang was an interesting district and the Malay Village was worth a look to see traditional arts and crafts like batik painting, kite-making and kampong games such as top spinning.

The Museum is supposed to feature a a good collection of artifacts like weaving tools, musical instruments and an extensive display of a traditional Malay wedding garments, and other things offering insight into the lives of Malays in Singapore.

Anybody been here or thinking of going? Worth a half day for a repeat visitor?

http://www.newasia-singapore.com/pla...007053134.html

The Malay Village has not been doing well and has become very run down. Locals do not visit the place at all.

Suggest visiting the Peranakan museum instead.

Is the Peranakam Museum the Asian Civilizations Museum? If so, I can definitely second the recommendation - I spent so long there one of the guards asked if I was doing research!

BTW, degas, if you're looking for things to do in Singapore, don't miss the night safari at the zoo, or afternoon tea at the Raffles (raspberries and cream, scones and clotted cream....)

Thursdays, the Peranakam Museum is/was one of the two branches of the Asian Civilizations Museum. The main branch is now (back) at Empress Place, but I really loved the Peranakam Museum as well.

The Geylang area itself is quite interesting and has tons of good and cheap restaurants so I would definately include that in your itinerary. It is more off the beaten tourist path as well. Lots of little shop houses and alleyways called “Lors”, each with a number, running north and south off Geylang, there are hawker stalls and outdoor restaurants all along Geylang and down the Lors. Although part of it has a reputation of being a red light district (and it's actually the transvestites that you really notice IMO), most of that occurs in the very late evening and virtually all of it almost all on the <i>even</i> numbered Lors running north off Geylang. (This is Singapore after all, where even sin is highly regulated…) It is also quite safe so I would have no worries on that score.

If you can arrange your visit around a siginifcant Malya holiday (esp the end of Ramadan, known as Eid ul-Fitr, or generally reffered to locally at Hari Raya Puasa), this area is hung with lights and is quite lively with celebrations and special foods are on offer. It is a good time to visit. The month of Ramadan changes each year based on moon phases, so check calendars.

I like the Beef Kway Teow Place at Lor 9 (called simply Beef Kway Teow), and at Lor 11 is the Fo You Yuan Vegetarian that is very good. Really, just walk along and try what looks good, it’s hard to get a bad meal, and you won’t spend a lot of money.

With regard to the Peranakan Museum on Armenian Place, do check the website (http://www.acm.org.sg/home/home.asp) because it had been closed for a few years for renovations, the last time I was there (Feb) it had not yet re-opened but was scheduled to do so shortly. If it has reopened, IMO it would be quite interesting. Also, the main Asian Civilizations Museum at Empress Place has a quite good permanent collection of textiles, including many Malay and Indonesian textiles and IMO is worth a look at well.

Of course Malaysia itself is just about 30 minutes by car accross the cauesway and easily reached for a trip. You can even water ski to it.

Thanks for all the great the feedback. I hope to add this area to a future trip, and also the Peranakan Museum, if it is open.

degas - the Peranakan Museum is indeed open. We visited last month and it was one of the surprise highlights of our trip. We planned to visit the large Asian Civilisations Museum, but decided to check out the Paranakan Museum because we were in the neighborhood. We are so glad we did because it was really interesting. The architecture of the building itself would be worth a visit.

Also, you can buy a dual ticket for both museums since they are managed together and save a few dollars.