Kampong Glam

“Hop from one place to another every hour if you actually want to…the entire area is simply unpretentious and you can plan your entire day here…” — Amalina Mohamad, freelance TV producer

By Ronald Wan

TO CHILL out or hang out is not an easy task. Firstly, you got to beat the crowd — or, rather, get away from them. That pretty much rules out your usual malls as well as restaurants and cafes where you can hardly hear yourself or your friend anyway.

So, does getting to a secluded spot in Singapore to unwind mean either you hike in a forested area or get the best tour package out of the country? Save yourself from the jungle mosquito bites and expensive airfares. Surely there is somewhere to hang out — just ask freelance TV producer Amalina Mohamad, who has worked with several production houses such as Free State, Dua M and MediaCorp.

You see, TV producers know the best locations in town because it’s more or less part of their jobs to scour interesting locations. Here, she recommends the hip Kampong Glam neighborhood.

What are you recommending today?
Kampong Glam — a favourite location of mine, and which I visit relatively often. It has many quaint spots to hang out in and the whole vibe here is where the old meets the new.

What’s so special about it?
You can hop from one place to another every hour if you actually want to! And the best part – the entire Kampong Glam area is simply unpretentious. You can plan your entire day there.

What activities do you recommend?
Shop at Haji Lane at favourites like House of Japan (55 Haji Lane Tel: 6396 6657) and Straits Records (43 Haji Lane). Then have lunch at Kampong Café and then scour other lanes and streets like Arab, Bussorah, Baghdad and Kandahar for quirky fashionable finds from lace, stones, silk, textiles, diamantes and everything you need to make a nice dress!

There must be something else to other than shopping?
Check out the gorgeous Sultan Mosque – it’s the one with the golden dome – on Bussorah Street if you have time. Have tea or shisha at one of the many Mediterranean cafes such as Altazzag Restaurant (24 Haji Lane Tel: 6295 5024).

And when the sun sets?
End your day with a nice murtabak dinner at nearby famous eateries New Victory or Zam Zam (697 North Bridge Road Tel: 6298 6230). The atmosphere is superbly relaxing and very much away from the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road or even the nearby Bugis where there is a galaxy of cackling teenagers.

View original article on Kampong Glam.