This is a picture postcard of a Malay village in Singapore. The basic form and structure of most Malay 'kampong' houses are similar. Two distinctive features of a Malay 'kampong' house are the high, sloping roof with gables at both ends and the raised floor. The roof is covered with 'attap', which is made from palm fronds. The raised floor facilitates ventilation, secures the house against attacks by wild animals, and helps the inhabitants to cope with flashfloods and ground dampness caused by the hot and humid tropical climate with heavy rain. A Malay village is usually self-sufficient, with its own water supply, place of worship, farm, school, shops and even a cemetery.
