Introduction

We are Shahrul, Rosyiidah, Sankari, Pui Zhing, Vydees from PS1101 of SCL in NYP.

This is our NE Project and we have chosen to do on Heritage/Nature Sites.

The posts below depicts our findings of Geylang which is one of the national heritage sites in Singapore. 

We have sub-categorised them into food, culture, history and how the word Geylang came about.

History of Geylang

The story of Geylang Serai

One of the oldest Malay settlements in Singapore, the area was once known as the “Malay Emporium of Singapore”. Geylang is also a hub for many other communities who work and live here.

The area that is Geylang Serai today was mostly uninhabited until 1842-43 when the British colonial government relocated Orang Laut and Malay villagers from the Singapore River to remove obstructions to port trade. By the middle of 19th century, the area had acquired the name of Geylang Kelapa (kelapa means “coconut” in Malay) due to the presence of many coconut plantations. In the mid-19th century, the island drew migrants from Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago.

Located between Changi Road and Sims Avenue, the Geylang Serai Market was an important landmark which opened in 1964. Consisting of a wet market, food centre and a covered concourse, the then new market(which many affectionately called Pasar Baru) replaced an older market located at the site of Joo Chiat Complex.

Another landmark, Joo Chiat Complex, was completed in 1985 on the site of the former Changi Market. The Tan Swie Hian Museum, located at the junction of Lorong 31 Geylang and Sims Avenue, features the work of Tan Swie Hian, one of Singapore’s most important visual artists and the winner of the Cultural Medallion in 1987.

Hari Raya Light Up!

Every year, during the Muslim month of Ramadan, the streets around Geylang Serai come alive with colourfu; lights and festive décor to welcome Hari Raya Adilfitri, also known as Hari Raya Puasa, this festival marks the end of a month of daily fasting and meditation. The Hari Raya light up first began in 1984, when the community first erected arches over Geylang Serai Road that represented minarets and hung mock ketupats(rice cakes) and bunga manggar (bridal flowers) from street lamps. The festive mood is enhanced by a giant street bazaar set up around the marketnwith hundred of stalls serving up Malay delicacies, souvenirs, garments, home furnishing , furniture,etc.

The Alsagoffs

In 1848, Syed Abdul Rahman Alsagoff arrived in Singapore with his son and set up Alsagoff & Company. The Alsagoffs were prominent traders and philanthropists who donated generously to endowments for Islamic schools and charities. Part of the present Eunos Road and Geylan Serai Road was formerly named Jalan Alsagoff in 1932 after the Alsagoff family.

Geylang Serai during World War II and After

Like other parts of Singapore, Geylang Serai suffered severe damage during the second World War when Japanese troops marched into the area from Pulau Tekong and Changi. The Japanese made tapioca as the staple food due to a rice shortage.

After the war, Geylang Serai saw the rise of new Malay and Chinese settlements.

As part of a nation-wide policy to provide public housing across Singapore, the development Of Geylang Serai into a modern housing estate took place in three main phases between the 1960s and 1980s.

Former Leong Nam Temple

Children in the neighbourhood were once entertained whenever Chinese festivals were once entertained whenever Chinese festivals were celebrated at the Leong Nam temple. The temple walls had Buddhist inscriptions in Malay, as many Chinese residents and traders in Geylang Serai are fluent speakers of Malay.

Sri Sivan Temple

Located at Geylang East Avenue 2, the Sri Sivan Temple is the main Hindu centre of worship in the area. Dedicated to the Lord Shiva, this temple was originally found in the 1850s at the site of Dhoby Gaut MRT station in Orchard Road. In 1983, it moved to Serangoon Road and then to Geylang East. The present Sri Sivan Temple is a unique blend of North and South Indian architectural styles.

---

References:
We obtained extracts of text from the boards displayed at the Geylang Serai New Market, 2nd Storey.

Culture

Arts & Culture: The Malay Village, Geylang Serai, Singapore

Most likely that you see skyscrapers, subways and modern architectures in the Lion City of Singapore, and yet there is still a part of it that is untouched by the urbanization. Geylang Serai is located in the East Coast offers Singapore’s recap of the past with its traditional lifestyle and buildings.

Geylang Serai is the true home of Malay community in Singapore. During significant festivals such as the month of Ramadhan(fasting month) and Eid Fitri, you will see this district comes alive with dazzling lights and celebrations. You can find most of Malays and Middle East products at Geylang Serai. In the Malay Village you will get to see the ‘50s and ‘60s insights of Malay arts and crafts, and local coffee shops.

 Geylang Serai in Singapore, is a throwback to good old days of Singapore.

In the year 1800, the Malays and the Arabs got settled at this place and the families or the section of people who dominated this place were the Aljunied, Alsahgoff and the Alkaff families.

In the year 1930, a few of the Malay districts got established and Kampong Malayu that is the Malay Village is one of them. It is this Kampong Melayu that later emerged or came to be known as the Geylang Serai. It was established with the intention of making it represent the age-old culture and the traditions of the early Malay community. 

There are Kampung Museum, Art Gallery, Hall of Fame, banquet facilities in the Malay village. Geylang Serai  in Singapore sees the throngs of locals and travelers coming in especially on the weekends, when the market place is jam-packed. There are wide-variety of fabrics from decorative materials like handicrafts, paintings and artifacts; rugs and fabrics, modern wear clothes, trinkets, wooden crafted materials and much more. A purchase from Geylang Serai is a perfect souvenir to keep the essence of Singapore alive and feel great that you partake in Singapore shopping, which is a true reflection of the vibrancy of Singapore. 

At the Cultural Museum, an interesting collection of artefacts on Malay culture, from weaving tools, accessories, traditional krises, weapons, musical instruments to replicas of wedding ceremonial setting are splendidly displayed.

Cultural performances along the floating restaurants stands as the main highlight in geylang serai. Want to know the life of Malay people during the 1950's as well as the 1960's?Tthen this is the right place to be and at this place you would get a view of the Malay crafts such as kite making and batik painting. The Geylang Serai also displays artifacts, such as musical instruments, weaving tools and a trip to this place would remain incomplete without a visit to the Geylang Serai Corner and the Hall of Fame. 

The wet market area is 'mistress of spices' and is rejuvenating with the smells of cloves, cinnamon, pepper, cardamom and nutmeg. Feel the pulse of Singapore by picking up CDs of both traditional and modern Malay “keroncong” music and serenade in its melody. For those who are extremely fond of clothes can hunt array of clothes, textiles, fabrics and jewelery in Joo Chiat Complex. If you are interested in buying products belonging depicting the handicrafts heritage of the Malay population staying here, then head straight to Geylang Serai for its unique shops specializing in the theme. There is also a supermarket called "Goodluck supermarket with a tentage in front selling huge amount of fruits in preparation for Hari Raya Adifitri when it is the fasting month.


---
References:

http://www.travel-singapore-with-me.com/geylang-singapore.html 

http://www.myonlinetour.com/poi/malayvillage/index.htm 

http://travel.701panduan.com/art-culture.php?title=Geylang+Serai+and+Katong 

http://www.focussingapore.com/singapore-tourism/geylang-serai.html 

http://thesingaporelife.multiply.com/journal/item/13?&show_interstitial=1&u=%2Fjournal%2Fitem

How the word Geylang came about

It is said that the Malays of Singapore originally lived in kampong of houses built on stilts and the first kampong was at the mouth of Singapore River and was called Kampong Busong. (Busong is a Malay word for sand dune.)

Most of the floating villages had to give away when the British pursuit of trade forced the sea population to stay clear of the sea lanes. The Malays then moved inland in the nineteenth century as the British used Chinese and Indians as their source of labour. Some of the Malay families established the nucleus of Kampong Melayu in Geylang by settling down on river banks. Geylang in the nineteenth and early twentieth century was known as Geylang Kelapa, in view of the many coconut plantations there.

With the cultivation of lemon grass, Geylang became known as Geylang Serai. (Serai means lemon grass.) There was a factory called the Citronella Press near the river bank which was a processing centre for the farm produce from Geylang. It is said that the word “Geylang” is from the word ‘kilang’ meaning ‘factory’. The distortion of ‘k’ into ‘g’ have Geylang its name.

According to early topographical maps, Geylang showed a marsh and coconut plantation.

One possible etymological link in the stock vocabulary of the Malay is ‘geylanggan’ meaning to ‘twist’ or ‘crush’ a reference to the process of extracting the coconut meat and milk used by the locals to thicken curries in Malay-Chinese (Peranakan) cuisine. 
----
References:

http://www.hsse.nie.edu.sg/staff/blackburn/ChanginglandscapesGeylangserai.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geylang

Food in Geylang

Food in Geylang

One of the biggest reasons Geylang is being frequented by locals and as well as international visitors is because Geylang is renowned to be the home to many of Singapore’s culinary dishes. Some of the must try dishes in Geylang include the well known seafood such as chilli crab and the famous Katong laksa.

Visitors can find traditional Singaporean street food, food carts, and other fare along the main road. There’s Moi Lum Restaurant that is famous for serving traditional Cantonese cuisine, especially their popular Catonese fried chicken. With a long history of excellent food service in Singapore, dating back to the 1970s, Moi Lum is a foodie’s must-eat.

There’s also Village Wok, a street food restaurant that services appetizing menu items like pating fish, oyster noodles, and tofu nuggets. For delicious Thai food, be sure to check out the affordable Diandin Leluk, with specialty dishes such as the chili tom yum, glass noodle crabs, and grilled pork. If delicacies such as frog legs are a preference, pay New Lai Hai Hong Yun coffee shop a visit. This eating club serves dried chili kungpo frog legs that’s a local favorite.

For something quick, stop by Kwong’s Satay for a pork satay that will only cost you 35 cents, and grab some prawn noodles in the food cart next door. Award winning Chef Danny Lee serves his trademark seafood dishes at Sin Huat Eating House where the food is so fresh, there is no fridge on site. Wait times are long and prices are high, but from the business this place gets, it looks to be worth it all. His signature dish is the Crab Bee Hoon.

S11 Food Court at Geylang Serai at the mouth of Joo Chiat Road. The most famous stall here would be the putu piring stall at one corner of the foodcourt. Putu piring is a small, white, Malay cake made of flour and stuffed with gula Melaka(brown sugar). It is eaten with grated coconut. For $1, you get 3 cottony cakes which makes for an excellent light snack.

Aside from that, the Geylang Serai New Market which was opened in 28 February 2010, here you will find a hawker centre where great food awaits to feed its hungry customers. Situated on the second floor of a market house with bustling activity and trade going on the first floor, this is the place to go hunt for real original good food that is affordable and at the same time delicious.

At the second level, you will find an array of food and drink stalls comprising of the popular Geylang Chendol, Rojak Geylang owned by Indian Muslims

Fantastic food awaits to this heritage market place. There are numerous food stalls at the second floor featuring the predominantly Malay and Indian Cuisine. One of the famous food stalls there are the Hajjah Mona Nasi Padang and Geylang Briyani Hall featuring mouth-watering dishes that includes Asam Pedas stingray(Spicy stingray) and Chicken Briyani(Indian style chicken rice). If you happen to go there for some breakfast, GS OLI Thosei and Food Stall is a great place to enjoy energy boosting breakfast deals like the Appom Indian rice dish, Thosai Indian Pancake and the Masala Chicken (spiced chicken).
---
References:

http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/dining/restaurants/geylang-serai-new-market.html

http://www.eatwildabandon.com/2011/02/28/bourdains-places-to-eat-before-you-die-sin-huat-crab-bee-hoon/

http://www.singaporehotels.com/shark-guides/areas/south-singapore/geylang.html