The Sultan Mosque lords it over Bussorah Street

A walk through Kampong Gelam, with its exotically-named rabbit-warren of streets with names such as Kandahar Street, Muscat Street, Bagdad Street, Arab Street and Haji Lane, reveals some of Singapore’s most hidden secrets.

It is well worth exploring some of the shops in Bussorah Street (named after Basra, in Iraq),  including the Malay Art Gallery, also known as the “House of Kris” (the kris is an elaborately embellished Malay metal dagger).

At the end of Bussorah Street, the Sultan Mosque (finished in 1825) is the biggest mosque in Singapore, and (somewhat incongruously) has a gilded cupola resting on a base made of empty glass bottles laid in a circle, necks-in.

And on the outskirts of Kampong Gelam, Singapore’s fascinating new Malay Heritage Centre is a must-visit. Of particular interest is the outdoor display of traditional Malay boats; there is also a two-storey museum showcasing Malay lifestyle and crafts.