gelam tree

The name kampong glam comes from the glam tree. The glam tree is actually useful. The bark of the tree is used to replace the rotten wood of boats and the leaf is use to make a type of oil. It is very smelly but is helps if you have a stomach ache. The timber is used as firewood or constructing boats.

Source : Google Images

The mosque ( courtesy of google)

There is a mosque in Kampong Glam. The muslims go there to pray 5 times everyday. They sing their prayer songs out loud whenever it is time to pray. Their songs would sound through the whole of Kampong Glam. The prayer songs that was sang out loud also serves as a purpose to tell other muslims in Kampong Glam that it is time to pray. When we were looking at a few textile shops, we heard the muslims singinig the prayer songs. We have not heard it before and were quite interested and excited over it. Our tour guide told us not to make noise as it is time for the muslims to pray and that we should respect them.

The rich and good cake shop ( Courtesy of eastcoastlife.blogspot.com/2006/11/rich-good-cake-shop.html)

This is the good and rich cake shop. It is a very famous pastery shop in Kampong Glam. It is well-known for its delicious cakes. The cake flavours includes durian, chocolate, kaya . Our tour guide showed a short cut to the cake shop for the parent volunteer and Mrs leong. It is so good that even its name for the shop sings praises of its cakes.

Textiles in kampong glam

There are many shop houses along Kampong glam. Especially the textile shops. There are many of them around. There are many materials too(eg. silk). They are often used to make saris and carpets. These textiles are very smooth and have many patterns. Even though there are many muslims around Kampong Glam, It does not mean that all the textile shops are run by muslims. They can also be run by people from other countries such as Arabia and Indonasia. We met some of them and and learnt 'thank you' , 'goodbye' and 'hello' in their national language.

What Muslims do when they pray

Muslim women have to cover their hair when they pray so the men and women would be the same. The women and the men have to pray seprately so the the two genders would not be attracted by each other. If this happens, the men or women will be distracted and not concentrate on praying to God.

The Muslims have to clean themselves before praying to God as they believe that they have to be clean before talking to God. There will also be green mats on the floor for the Muslims who had clense themselves to walk on. No shoes are allowed on it as seen on the mat. When non-muslims visits the Mosque, they must be careful not to step on the green mats laid around the Mosque. When our class visited the Mosque we took off our shoes and placed them all on the shoe rack. There were also common toilets by where only Muslims can enter and clense themselves in.

What Kampong Glam Is Famous For

Kampong Glam is famous for her Bussorah Street, Sultan Mosque and its shops. It has textile shops, restaurants and praying merchandise stores. There are also many shop owners from Arab, Saudi Arabia, Java and other countries with many muslims.

Restored shophouses on Kandahar street.

( Source: Wikepedia)

Brief History

The entire Kampong Glam was given to Sultan Hussein by Sir Stamford Raffles as the plot of land was one of his conditions. He constructed a compound in Kampong Glam which is now attached to Istana Kampong Glam. The Istana was also a construction Sultan Hussein wanted. Unfortunately, he died a few years before the construction of the building ended. His son, was the first to live in Istana Kampong Glam. Now, Kampong Glam is the home of many shops including famous one's(e.g. Zam Zam restaurant), it also conducts prayers everyday 5 times a day. The Istana is now the Kampong Glam Heritage Centre.

Source: Google Images

Our Group Members

Hi! We are doing a project on a recent trip to Kampong Glam. Our group name is Kampong Glam Girls and our group members are Kaiyi , Rui Min ,Nicolle, Li-shann and Tan Rei. Their roles are listed below:

-Kaiyi ( picture uploader )
-Rui Min ( Checks the contents of the blog)
-Li-Shann ( Note taker)
-Tan Rei ( History Researcher)
-Nicolle ( culture researcher)

Hope you enjoy this blog.
Regards,
Kampong Glam Girls