{"product_id":"snapshot-kampong-glam","title":"Snapshot: Kampong Glam","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eSNAPSHOT: Kampong Glam\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eby Amanda Harrison\u003cbr\u003epublished by Amanda Harrison\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce a section of coastline, this area was the home of sea gypsies ('orang' laut) whose use of the 'gelam' tree for their boats and medicine reputedly gave it its name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1924 the British handed the land to the Sultan of Johor who built his Istana and the Sultan Mosque. The Mosque is truly representative of the whole Muslim community - its construction funded by the rich while the poor contributed used glass bottles to be incorporated into the decoration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUntil the 70s Singapore was the rallying point of the region's muslims bound for Mecca; they gathered for the Kapal Haj or Pilgrim Ship to Jeddah. The Javanese mispronunciation of 'haji' (pilgrim) resulted in the area around Bussorah Street becoming known as Kampong Kaji.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere may be now no trace of sea but in the shadow of the golden dome of the Sultan Mosque a harbour bustle still survives in the lively commercial activity that fills the network of streets; no longer the old trades of tombstone-making, blacksmithing or the publication of Islamic literature, but an invigorating mix of the traditional and the new, drawing in tourists and locals alike. Burka shops peek out between the chic boutiques, tourist souvenirs lie alongside the paraphernalia of the Muslim devout and everywhere bright fabrics on offer are a seamstress's dream.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll this wafted by the breath of exotic perfumes and oils intermingled with the scents of a stew of cuisines, a sensory testament to a cultural vibrancy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ePages: 90pp\u003cbr\u003eDimensions: 140 x 140 mm\u003cbr\u003eHardcover\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Snapshot","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":30685404495927,"sku":"","price":26.8,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1066\/2066\/products\/snapshot_kampong.jpg?v=1571439189","url":"https:\/\/www.independentmarket.mom\/products\/snapshot-kampong-glam","provider":"Independent Market","version":"1.0","type":"link"}