Bugis Street, is a street located in the Rochore area of the central region. Bugis Street was originally between North Bridge Road and Victoria Street, which is today the entrance to Bugis Junction. The name could possibly have come from the original Bugis Kampong settlement which was sited around the Rochore River, for Orang Bugis or "Buginese people". It became world famous for its raucous charm and nocturnal activities where transvestite parades mixed with good late night food. In the late 1980s the new Bugis Street, was resited right opposite the original street, between Victoria Street and Queen Street.
History
The original street was a well-known "world" tourist attraction frequented by tourists, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, when it was notorious for the transvestites found there. It was popular with British colonial soldiers and seamen on shore leave and with USA troops on rest and recreation during the Vietnam War. The charm of the place even attracted locals. Lined with old shophouses, food stalls parked outside offered al fresco dining serving local specialities until the early hours of the morning. One such speciality was "the penis of the bull with noodles", an aphrodisiac for men. In the height of its notoriety, when the street was gangster controlled, it was rife with con men, pimps, street vendors and touts trying to sell their wares. Bugis Street 's cabaret atmosphere began only in the evenings. The main highlight was the 'parade of transvestites' as they made their nightly appearances with "showtime" starting at 11:00 pm. It was the only alternative for night entertainment after midnight. The street would remain alive until dawn.
The dirty back lanes and smelly drains, unhealthy sanitary and rotting conditions in the area necessitated a clean up in the 1980s. Despite an outcry from both Singaporeans and tourists alike, the street was resited right opposite the original street, between Victoria Street and Queen Street. The bustling Bugis MRT subway Station and the Bugis Junction shopping mall are where the crowds gather today. Bugis street still serves food and is transformed into a night bazaar in the evenings but no longer does it have the colour and flavour of its past life.
Variant Names
Chinese Name:
In Hokkien, Peh sua-pu possibly means "White-wash" where peh is "white". The name is derived for uncertain reasons with the following being some possibilities:
(1) from the white sands of the seashore there.
(2) from the business of the white shore sand being sold in Bugis Street for the construction industry.
(3) it was believed that the houses there were given an extra coat of whitewash.
Malay Name: Others suggest the name is derived from the Malay word sapu for "broom" or "sweep".
Author
Vernon Cornelius
References
Tan, Kee Soon (1906). An index in romanised Hokkien and Cantonese to "The Chinese names of streets and places in Singapore".
(Call no.: RCLOS 959.5 JMBRAS)
C89962 Xin Jia Po Feng Tu Zhi (pp.104-106).
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 WYH)
A Street named Bugis. (1991). Goodwood Journal, 2nd Qtr., 6-11.
(Call no.: RSING 052 GHCGJ)
The information in this article is valid as at 1999 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
