Conclusion and reflections

Recommendations for government to improve the sense of identity in this place?

I think the government could organize a major shopping day, or maybe a bugis party? All the shopkeepers could be able to socialize and meet each other, as I didn’t observe many people talking or interacting with each other. I think it would be a good idea fr

Retail association to represent all the stakeholders in the area.

-They can look into ways to market bugis street to tourists, look into common issues like marketing strategies, shopping campaigns, and possibly getting involved in the great Singapore sale, as that would get them a lot of publicity. The retail association could also deal with issues like security, cleanliness, maintenance, and flooding (which is getting pretty common in Singapore).

Conclusion:

Though this place still has a sense of identity to outsiders or tourists, I don’t think that the ones who are there most – the shopkeepers, security guards, etc… feel like they belong there. Based on the interviews, majority just like to stay there because of the location or shopping, not that they feel like they belong here. Though Bugis street still has that “grunge, alternative”, and “party” place, I think that it has lost much of it’s night activities due to government laws, and the community that was built based on that. There is not much that the government of the people in charge of Bugis street have done to promote community in here, no flyers for street-wide sales, parties, help boards. The only thing i could find that promotes bugis street as a community is some small advertisments encouraging you to "like" their facebook group.

Room for improvement/limitations:

I was not able to go to Bugis street at night, to observe the activities there :(

Interviews!

Interview transcripts and thoughts:

1st interview: An elderly man in charge of an accessories shop. He's been working here for many years.

(Note, this interview was conducted in Chinese, and translated by my friend)

Us: Good morning uncle, may we ask you a few questions about the heritage of bugis street?

Him: Okay, go ahead

Us: Do you know the heritage of this place?

Him: Ohhh! Yes, this place, years ago, used to be a very “party” area. Very popular with tourists and youngsters. Very sexy women.

Us: If given a choice, would you like to relocate to another place?

Him: No, I wouldn’t

Us: Why? Is it because you feel like, since you’ve been here quite long, that you feel a sense of “belonging” and you like the culture of this place?

Him: Not really. This place just has a lot of business. Many people from the temple nearby come here afterwards to shop. Good for my shop (laughs)

Us: Ok. Thank you for your time!

2nd Interview: A young woman who was a part-time assistant in a clothing shop. Only worked here for a few months.

Us: Hi, may we ask you a few questions about this place?

Her: Sure

Us: Have you been working here long?

Her: Not really, just a few months

Us: Do you know about the heritage of this place?

Her: Uhh… nope.

Us: Do you feel like you belong here, though you’ve not worked here that long?

Her: Not really. I feel a bit weird here

Us: If given a chance, would you like to work somewhere else?

Her: Yeah. Maybe a place that was not always so crowded and that has aircon (laughs)

Us: Ok, thank you!

3rd Interview: A middle-aged woman working as a security guard at bugis street. Has worked here for many years.

Us: Good morning, may we ask you a few questions about Bugis street?

Her: Didn’t you already interview me?

Us: Uhhh no… we just saw you..

Her: Oh, sorry, must have been another pair of girls who interview me

Us: LOL

Us: Anyway, so can we?

Her: Sure

Us: Do you know about the past of this place?

Her: Yes, this used to be a big area for prostitutes to come. Lots of nightclubs and transgenders could be found here in the past…

Us: What’s it like working as a security guard for this place? Do you like your work?

Her: It’s exciting to be a security guard here. Sometimes you have to run after shoplifters that could get violent when you catch them.

Us: Are there a lot of incidences like that?

Her: Not a lot, but got.

Us: So if given the chance, would you like to be posted somewhere else?

Her: Not really, I’ve worked here for so many years, and I really like this place. Also after work can shop!

Us: Thank you so much! ^.^

Through these 3 interviews, I realized that none of them gave me a good picture of it’s heritage and past. The elderly man and the security guard (who have both worked here for many years), say that they enjoy being here, and would want to continue working here. However, the reason that the man wanted to stay here was because of the good business, while the security guard wanted to stay here because of the shopping, and because it’s exciting, she likes her job, and the place she works in. The young woman would like to move. Perhaps it’s because she has not been here very long, and does not feel like she belongs.

The interviewees who could tell me about the past of Bugis street seemed to be indifferent to the change. They neither expressed relief that night activities were no longer so explicit, or regret because they missed these activities. It’s possible that all of them do not really feel a sense of community here, and just like being here because of the attractive shops.