What it’s like to live in Geylang’s red light district for a year
While "family-friendly" isn't something you'd normally use to describe Geylang, information technology's a real estate area that'due south not to be ignored. Information technology remains 1 of the best priced, centrally located areas for tenants – information technology's a mere half-dozen minute-drive from the CBD and packed with retail and eateries.
On top of that, the URA is no longer zoning residential units for Geylang, giving its existing units a loftier scarcity value – all of which are things prospective landlords or single tenants should consider.
Oh, and information technology's gradually existence cleaned up, too, if y'all know what we mean.
Merely what'southward it like to actually live in such a "notorious" surface area? To go a picture, 99.co spoke to one person who has rented and lived in Geylang for a year.
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Back in 2016, Marcos Teng, a Malaysian who worked in Singapore for three years before moving dorsum to Kuala Lumpur, one time made the decision to boldly rent in the eye of Singapore's infamous blood-red light district: Geylang Lorong 18 to xx.
The residence he chose was at Treasures@G20, a 400-plus sq ft unit with a fantastically low rent of just South$one,500 a calendar month.
"I knew it was not a clean area but information technology was almost a five infinitesimal-drive to my part in town," said Teng. "And when I scouted some alternatives, they were all most S$500 to S$700 more per month – and many actually had fewer amenities. Since I was living alone, I thought why not? I'yard non really bothered, and it'south cheap and convenient."
He added: "My mother wasn't very happy, of course. She made me hope non to visit the 'red lantern' houses. And she bought a feng shui candle for me to light and walk around the room when I moved in!"
But Teng said he presently learned a few unexpected things about living there.
i. THE FRIENDLINESS OF THE PEOPLE WILL SURPRISE YOU
After a year in Geylang, Teng moved to Tampines but it was clear what he preferred. "Between the 2, I experience Geylang was actually more friendly. In Geylang, the coffeeshop people knew their customers' names. At that place was once I left my phone on the table, and the zi char guy – his name is Alex – he actually came to the basis flooring of my unit to return it. In Tampines, I left a bag at McDonald's, it never came back," he recalled.
"And in that location were these two acquaintances from China, I kept passing them on the way habitation. I ended up having java with them once or twice a week. The people in Geylang don't take airs about them; if y'all sit at a table with anyone, they are willing to include you in the conversation, even if you've never met."
ii. FOREIGN WORKERS WHO GAWKED AT PROSTITUTES GOT CHASED OFF WITH WATER GUNS
"I think it was Lorong 18," Marcos said. "I can't remember it likewise clearly now. But i unusual spectacle was that these working girls would line up there, and big mobs of foreign workers would walk up and downwardly to take a peek. But there were e'er angry people in the houses nearby, and they would come up out and yell at the workers to go away. And sometimes they would spray h2o at them, with a water gun or a hose."
He added: "Probably the ugliest thing I saw in Geylang or in Singapore. Simply the paradigm stuck with me – where else practice you run into this sort of thing? Geylang really is a earth on its own at times."
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The "working girls" Teng referred to are, of course, illegal prostitutes. Simply when last we checked, this no longer happens as the constabulary have cleared the streets.
3. There ARE MORE ILLEGAL CIGARETTE SELLERS THAN ILLEGAL-ANYTHING ELSE
While near people associate Geylang with commercial sexual practice, the existent vice in that area – according to Teng – was smoking. During his fourth dimension at that place, Geylang was the go-to place for shady people to get unlicensed cigarettes. In fact, this was a far bigger problem than illegal prostitution or gang fights, from what he saw.
"Illegal cigarette sellers were all over the place," Teng said. "They sold unlicensed cigarettes from large trash bags. Everywhere along the lorongs, you would see men with trash bags nearby, so ane guy running out to cars and pedestrians yelling something like 'Marlboro Marlboro Camel, Marlboro Lite'."
Teng continued: "If you lot walk down the street at nighttime you might exist approached a sexual activity worker; merely you'd (besides) almost definitely be approached by seven or eight cigarette peddlers. They outnumbered the gamblers and prostitutes past maybe five to 1."
This resulted in one memorable incident, where Teng accidentally started a stampede. "I was halfway downward the road in a taxi when I realised my laptop was still in the house. So I told the commuter to look a few minutes, and I ran out and sprinted down to my block.
"A few cigarette sellers saw me running, and they must have idea the law were coming! I heard some of them shout a warning, and the next 2nd, in that location was a crowd of people sprinting in the aforementioned management. It was like I started a marathon."
Of grade, the situation has since died downward. About of the sellers take taken their business online, although the occasional peddler still appears.
4. YOU'LL Gain WEIGHT LIVING THERE
Teng'south vow to try all the nutrient in Geylang in a year was a failure – simply he did come close.
"I put on four kilos that yr," he recalled. "And the aforementioned will happen to anyone who lives there. Every two steps yous walk in Geylang, someone is trying to sell you food. And I judge the nature of intense contest is why the restaurants still standing are always the good ones."
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He also pointed out that food is readily available nearly effectually the clock: "Some of the places, like one nasi lemak identify, is open 24 hours; equally are at least two of the halal java shops. And because the nutrient is stationed at both ends of the lorong, you dice-dice also will meet them when you're coming or leaving domicile. The temptation to pace in is just too potent."
The food prices are surprisingly divergent, likewise, said Teng. "Sin Huat Eating Firm, where Anthony Bourdain went to eat crab, was withal famous when I was there. The place looks damn run down and former, so I got a daze when I ate there with ii other people and the bill was over South$200. That is the starting time coffee store I've e'er had to use my credit carte du jour in – and they had the card machine and all, so information technology was conspicuously common."
Overall, he packed on the pounds, and spent a disproportionate amount of information technology on nutrient. Both are unavoidable hazards of living in an exotic foodie haven.
5. IF Yous'RE EXPECTING DANGEROUS TRIADS, YOU'LL Exist DISAPPOINTED
Geylang is still abode to many association associations, some of which were once considered dangerous. But Teng pointed out that association associations are not triads, although long agone there was some relation. For the most part, they're heritage clubs aimed at preserving a dying civilization.
According to him, almost of them "seem to spend all day playing mah jong, or practicing cultural arts like panthera leo dances. I think I never saw more than a dozen people – and there was never whatever shouting or swearing, except the friendly sort."
Teng also said the fights in the area are more unremarkably due to drunk individuals, than actual gangs. "The few times I saw fighting in the coffee store, it was between individuals. A lot of it was simply due to drinking, and then someone would brand a comment that irritates someone else at the table. Way unlike from those dangerous triads in movies."
Marcos did, however, remember that there were specific groups of drinkers who were a take chances in Geylang coffee shops. "It's the aforementioned grouping all the time that fight among themselves," he said. "So when I spot them I simply da pao (take-away) or sit far away."
This story first appeared in 99.co.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/living-in-geylang-red-light-district-228641
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