Geylang, Singapore (28 July 2017)
Geylang (Malay: Geylang
, Simplified Chinese: 芽笼, Traditional Chinese: 芽籠; Pinyin: Yálóng; Hokkien POJ: Gê-láng;
Hokkien Taiji: Gey3lang4
) is a planning area in
Singapore. It is bordered by
Toa Payoh and
Hougang in the north,
Bedok in the west, Marine Parade in the south and
Kallang in the west. The main road through the area is
Geylang Road, which runs parallel to
Sims Avenue and the Pan Island Expressway to its north, and with
Guillemard Road and
Old Airport Road to its south. The canalised Geylang River cuts through the heart of the area.
Geylang is located in Singapore Postal
District 14.
The planning area of Geylang is divided into 5 neighbourhoods called "subzones". They are Aljunied, Geylang East, Kallang Way, Kampong Ubi and MacPherson.
The word Geylang is said to have been derived from the name of
Kallang, which itself came from the Malay word
kilang, meaning factory. This came about because the 1838 spelling placed it as Kelang, which subsequently was pronounced Geylang.
In the earliest topographical maps, Geylang is shown to be an area of marshland and coconut groves.
1. Traditionally, it was the home of the local sea gypsies or
Orang Laut who were known among the Malays as
orang biduanda kallang
Geylang is infamous in Singapore for its red light district, which still operates discreetly today. Or perhaps not so discreetly. On my recent visit to Singapore, I was driven around the Geylang area by a friend, who pointed out to me the houses that are being used as brothels. At some of these houses, I could clearly see the prostitutes displaying themselves to awaiting customers. Even along some of the road sides, I could see them standing around. It was an eye opener to me, that prostitution is allowed in the otherwise straitlaced Singapore.
MRT Stations in Geylang
Residential Properties in Geylang
Shopping malls in Geylang
Commercial Properties in Geylang
Hotels in Geylang
Sights in Geylang
Streets in Geylang
References