Why I Love Living in the East
My family have always been easterners in Singapore ever since they settled in this country from Java. My parents grew up in the villages near Geylang Serai and were relocated to the estates in Bedok (father) and Geylang Bahru, aptly known as Kallang Bahru (mother).
They got married and shifted to Tampines, on the very day I was born. The first 8 years of my life, I slept at Bedok North on weekdays as my granny took care of me and my siblings, plus my kindergarten school was a few blocks away, and returned to my Tampines home on weekends. Then we shifted to Bedok South, about 15 min walking distance from the Bedok North house till I was 16, and currently, to my Bedok Reservoir home.
Needless to say, the East is like a bubble for me that I can't just seem to imagine to live out of. My Singapore roots are here, and there are just so many other reasons why I love and am proud of this part of Singapore. These are some of them, in no order of preference:
1) The hip and trendy East Coast Park, the classic Changi Beach and the up and coming home of the Downtown East, Pasir Ris Beach. Highlights of these beaches include at least 5 resorts, 2 bowling alleys at East Coast (undergoing renovations still?) and Pasir Ris, cinema at EHub, many many barbeque pits and campings etc. For the brave hearts, you can even add the Old Changi Hospital a distance away from the beach to check it out at night. Hehehe.
2) Its a food haven for the Muslims plus great 24hr supper chillout places. Ambience of Simpang Bedok with the TVs fixed on soccer on weekends and movies on weekday nights alongside with the best (so far as yet) Spaghetti Aglio Olio at Spize, seafood and authentic halal char kuey teow at Bedok Corner, Geylang Serai Mr Teh Tarik and Zain Cafe, Changi Village nasi lemak, and the list goes on. And on. I cannot list them all here, seriously. Its like I feel that I'm spoilt for choice.
3) Shopping malls like Tampines Mall and Parkway Parade boast of strong Isetan following. Basically you can find brands like Mango and Topshop easily in the heartlands without ever needing to step in town. Oh yes, there was even one year that Tampines came second to Orchard for being the most crowded in Singapore. The draw is there, for sure.
4) The gigantic Ikea, Giant and Courts. All next to each other. How convenient.
5) Expo. An alternative to Suntec City, it is less crowded although it is clearly not so during mega sales by Isetan, the now-defunct Metro, Popular and the numerous exhibitions ranging from cars to weddings.
6) The East-West line of the MRT. Most stations are very close to each other, making it only a 20 min journey from Bedok to City Hall. Plus, fares are definitely cheaper than the NEL. Yes, I care about that.
7) The Changi Airport. World-class, with restaurants like Popeye's and Earl Swensens, and cheap but good food in the canteens, the studying environment there, the viewing gallery, feeling close to flying by being up close with the cabin crews of various airlines...
8) Being connected with 3 major expressways; PIE, ECP and TPE. Despite the neverending traffic jams, the Easterners can save money on ERP with this network of roads. Plus, ECP is probably one of the most beautifully decorated expressways I've ever seen. Really, don't take things for granted, the ones at LA are nowhere near as nice.
9) The people themselves. There is an Eastern lingo in us, that we somehow love to identify ourselves as the East People. Its like, we're brothers and sisters and can connect with each other better because we all live in the same part of Singapore. Its a little hard to explain, but the East people would get it. Somehow.
10) Last but not least...
Its not exactly a good picture, and it was taken yonks ago. But this is the very scenery (well, part of it) that my balcony boasts of. At this time, Bedok Reservoir was clearly quiet. However, over the 8 years, water sports like canoeing, banana boating, dragon-boating, water skiing competitions (we were cheering for the participants from our window) have landed here. Plus, a Dutch theatre crew even staged an act as the closing ceremony of the Singapore Arts Festival here!! :p
I cannot envision living anywhere else. :)
They got married and shifted to Tampines, on the very day I was born. The first 8 years of my life, I slept at Bedok North on weekdays as my granny took care of me and my siblings, plus my kindergarten school was a few blocks away, and returned to my Tampines home on weekends. Then we shifted to Bedok South, about 15 min walking distance from the Bedok North house till I was 16, and currently, to my Bedok Reservoir home.
Needless to say, the East is like a bubble for me that I can't just seem to imagine to live out of. My Singapore roots are here, and there are just so many other reasons why I love and am proud of this part of Singapore. These are some of them, in no order of preference:
1) The hip and trendy East Coast Park, the classic Changi Beach and the up and coming home of the Downtown East, Pasir Ris Beach. Highlights of these beaches include at least 5 resorts, 2 bowling alleys at East Coast (undergoing renovations still?) and Pasir Ris, cinema at EHub, many many barbeque pits and campings etc. For the brave hearts, you can even add the Old Changi Hospital a distance away from the beach to check it out at night. Hehehe.
2) Its a food haven for the Muslims plus great 24hr supper chillout places. Ambience of Simpang Bedok with the TVs fixed on soccer on weekends and movies on weekday nights alongside with the best (so far as yet) Spaghetti Aglio Olio at Spize, seafood and authentic halal char kuey teow at Bedok Corner, Geylang Serai Mr Teh Tarik and Zain Cafe, Changi Village nasi lemak, and the list goes on. And on. I cannot list them all here, seriously. Its like I feel that I'm spoilt for choice.
3) Shopping malls like Tampines Mall and Parkway Parade boast of strong Isetan following. Basically you can find brands like Mango and Topshop easily in the heartlands without ever needing to step in town. Oh yes, there was even one year that Tampines came second to Orchard for being the most crowded in Singapore. The draw is there, for sure.
4) The gigantic Ikea, Giant and Courts. All next to each other. How convenient.
5) Expo. An alternative to Suntec City, it is less crowded although it is clearly not so during mega sales by Isetan, the now-defunct Metro, Popular and the numerous exhibitions ranging from cars to weddings.
6) The East-West line of the MRT. Most stations are very close to each other, making it only a 20 min journey from Bedok to City Hall. Plus, fares are definitely cheaper than the NEL. Yes, I care about that.
7) The Changi Airport. World-class, with restaurants like Popeye's and Earl Swensens, and cheap but good food in the canteens, the studying environment there, the viewing gallery, feeling close to flying by being up close with the cabin crews of various airlines...
8) Being connected with 3 major expressways; PIE, ECP and TPE. Despite the neverending traffic jams, the Easterners can save money on ERP with this network of roads. Plus, ECP is probably one of the most beautifully decorated expressways I've ever seen. Really, don't take things for granted, the ones at LA are nowhere near as nice.
9) The people themselves. There is an Eastern lingo in us, that we somehow love to identify ourselves as the East People. Its like, we're brothers and sisters and can connect with each other better because we all live in the same part of Singapore. Its a little hard to explain, but the East people would get it. Somehow.
10) Last but not least...
Its not exactly a good picture, and it was taken yonks ago. But this is the very scenery (well, part of it) that my balcony boasts of. At this time, Bedok Reservoir was clearly quiet. However, over the 8 years, water sports like canoeing, banana boating, dragon-boating, water skiing competitions (we were cheering for the participants from our window) have landed here. Plus, a Dutch theatre crew even staged an act as the closing ceremony of the Singapore Arts Festival here!! :p
I cannot envision living anywhere else. :)
posted by Ryu Arashi @ 8:52 AM
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