At first glance, Keong Saik Road, off New Bridge Road in Chinatown, appears overrun with trendy pubs and restaurants. But some of its old-world charm remains. On weekends, snatches of opera singing drift down to street level from several decades-old clan associations housed on the upper floors of shophouses. On weekdays, the click-clack of mahjong tiles can sometimes be heard as wrinkled hands swiftly shuffle tiles in serious games of mahjong. And the kind of establishments Keong Saik is most notorious for have not all gone away. Brothels occupied at least half of more than 50 buildings there about a decade ago. Three continue to ply their trade so discreetly that many do not know they exist. While some old ways do not change, new businesses, such as posh eateries, a Japanese hair salon and a co-working space, have rapidly taken over most of Keong Saik Road in the past five years.... Continue Reading