Serangoon.
Another Singapore commute, bus 950 from Kotoraya bus station to the Woodlands interchange where buses taxis and of course more transit trains will disperse the crowds across nation. For me today, downtown Singapore via the suburb of Serangoon, and more specifically 4A Rosyth Road - and a little piece of family history to discover.
The now well rehearsed checkpoint routine - passport ready, Singapore Immigration card ready and accepted and it's all looking pretty good on this hot, sunny Monday morning. Busier than Yesterday of course, being a working day and traffic queues look pretty horrendous. Thankfully, buses have their own lane, speeding things up considerably.
Up to the MRT and figure out a plan to 4A Rosyth Road, Serengoon. Woodlands to Bishan for the line to Serengoon and the transport interchange, sounds simple enough. ￡1.10 and about 40 minutes, this seems to be the slow train, painfully slow infact. No matter since I get a better opportunity to see some of Singapore's suburban life from the elevated line. Actually, nothing exciting to spot, just the same mundane housing blocks, interspersed with green space, a pond occasionally. A little further on, an area of undeveloped land - forest, some reservoirs and marshlands, I bet a few snakes in there! More housing blocks, then a couple of streets that seem to have a bit of character. Just before Khatib Station a few of those Chinese shop houses extending for a few streets in this neighbourhood. As though the tide of development has spared these little streets, perhaps the last remnants of how Singapore used to be prior the British withdrawal. As much as I would like to Investigate, I just haven't the time, so onwards to Serengoon.
A common feature in Singapore - transport interchanges integrated with giant shopping malls. The Serengoon bus station is underneath the Nex mall and is referred to as Sentral. After much deliberation and a false start with bus 109, it's bus 103 and 50p for the short ride to Rosyth Road. 4A, it's where I used to live late 1960's but I don't remember any of it having been so young at the time. All the same, a poignant few moments sharing in the little bit of history that affectionately remains with mother, and at least I can imagine the scene -the scene all those years ago on a little street in Singapore. Onwards, to downtown Singapore and the tourist trail, but not before a cool off at the mall, and of course a visit to Starbucks - no wifi here, the first Starbucks in the world not to have wifi I bet.
Another Singapore commute, bus 950 from Kotoraya bus station to the Woodlands interchange where buses taxis and of course more transit trains will disperse the crowds across nation. For me today, downtown Singapore via the suburb of Serangoon, and more specifically 4A Rosyth Road - and a little piece of family history to discover.
The now well rehearsed checkpoint routine - passport ready, Singapore Immigration card ready and accepted and it's all looking pretty good on this hot, sunny Monday morning. Busier than Yesterday of course, being a working day and traffic queues look pretty horrendous. Thankfully, buses have their own lane, speeding things up considerably.
Up to the MRT and figure out a plan to 4A Rosyth Road, Serengoon. Woodlands to Bishan for the line to Serengoon and the transport interchange, sounds simple enough. ￡1.10 and about 40 minutes, this seems to be the slow train, painfully slow infact. No matter since I get a better opportunity to see some of Singapore's suburban life from the elevated line. Actually, nothing exciting to spot, just the same mundane housing blocks, interspersed with green space, a pond occasionally. A little further on, an area of undeveloped land - forest, some reservoirs and marshlands, I bet a few snakes in there! More housing blocks, then a couple of streets that seem to have a bit of character. Just before Khatib Station a few of those Chinese shop houses extending for a few streets in this neighbourhood. As though the tide of development has spared these little streets, perhaps the last remnants of how Singapore used to be prior the British withdrawal. As much as I would like to Investigate, I just haven't the time, so onwards to Serengoon.
A common feature in Singapore - transport interchanges integrated with giant shopping malls. The Serengoon bus station is underneath the Nex mall and is referred to as Sentral. After much deliberation and a false start with bus 109, it's bus 103 and 50p for the short ride to Rosyth Road. 4A, it's where I used to live late 1960's but I don't remember any of it having been so young at the time. All the same, a poignant few moments sharing in the little bit of history that affectionately remains with mother, and at least I can imagine the scene -the scene all those years ago on a little street in Singapore. Onwards, to downtown Singapore and the tourist trail, but not before a cool off at the mall, and of course a visit to Starbucks - no wifi here, the first Starbucks in the world not to have wifi I bet.
Hi Paul, Loved your blog. I have 2 Indonesian friends coming over to KL and they want to go to Singapore. It's getting even more expensive for Malaysians to go down south now with the exchange rate at RM 3.02 to a Sing dollar. Ouch! Really enjoying reading your posts and the beautiful pictures of the birds at the Jurong park. You really have a flair for writing. The length is just right, never boring and I feel really tempted to go to S'pore.
ReplyDeleteHello Ann, thanks for your compliment. Yes I feel the Malaysian economic bubble could burst or at least deflate. I'm seeing apartments rented out for as little as 300rm/month and that's near KL. Anyway, if you get to S'pore, enjoy.
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