The Arabian Enigma

Even in urban, modern Singapore, our family seeks to find little beauties that are out of the ordinary. In this age where many Singaporeans lament about the humdrum monotony of our country and seek other countries to appease our search for the exotic, we chanced upon an alluring enclave some time back - the Arab quarters of Singapore.

Although we had visited Arab Street a few times, we never failed to be enchanted by its mysticism, its eclectic charms, its differentiation from anything typically urban Singaporean. It exists in a time and place in itself.

We wandered insouciantly through narrow, colourful alleys full of surprises like stumbling upon an entire wall of dazzling, psychedelic art never before seen around other parts of Singapore. Or ambling past a dusty hole-in-the-wall shop whose facade was filled with an amazing array of antiquated perfume bottles straight out of the middle ages!

We visited small but alluring shops filled with extraordinarily quirky items for sale. We strolled past umpteen shops with the most creative and awe-inspiring of facades. It definitely felt as if we were lost in another city in a different age.

The girls were fascinated by this little niche in Singapore that was so new and unfamiliar to them. Hubby and I hope to show them similar enclaves in Singapore - so that they understand the little beauties of the country we are living in....