Did you know?
Bugis, Singapore was renowned internationally from the 1950s to 1980s for its nightly gathering of trans women. It was an "event" that made it Singapore's top destinations during that period. To be honest I did not even know about this until I did a research on Bugis. The Bugis that I know and I am sure the same goes to all of you, the Bugis that I know is filled with retail outlets and eateries. The malls that are standing there now are Parco Bugi, Bugis Street and Iluma.
So how did Bugis transform to the current Bugis that we recognise now?
Well, in the 1980s Bugis street underwent a major redevelopment into a complex of modern shopping malls, restaurants and legalized back-alley vendors. During this time, they also started to dig underground to construct the current Bugis MRT that we have now.
What's the story about Bras Basah and how it got its name?
On GD Coleman's map 1836 Map of Singapore this road appeared as Beras Basah. in malay, Beras means harvested rice with the husk removed and beras means wet. The road got its name because in the early days, wet rice was laid to dry on the channels of the "wet water stream" (also known as the stamford canal). BUT there is another version, tons of rice were brought by boats into the lagoon to spread onto the dry road.
The places that are stated here are frequented by people but how many of them actually know the history of these places? This has actually opened my eyes to how much history I am walking on when I am there.
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