Singapore's east side is mostly residential, but although it doesn't boast as many famous attractions as downtown or Sentosa, there are more than a few sites around here that are worth visiting...
This is the only area in Singapore where you can visit a "sort of" rural community that somewhat resembles how Singapore's society used to live in bygone days...
There are also some excellent beaches around this side of Singapore and, of course, the unique ethnic quarters of Geylang Serai, where the city's Malay community lives and Katong, where Singapore's Peranakan community used to flourish in the old days.
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If you are looking for something to do with your little ones, you'd probably be happy to know that Singapore's best theme parks are all clustered in Pasir Ris, just a stonethrow from the MRT station
Geylang, also known as Geylang Serai, is the home of Singapore's mostly-Muslim Malay community: The only ethnic minority that was present on the island before the arrival of Sir Raffles and his fellow Brits.
Located in the eastern side of Singapore, pretty much away from the center, this relatively large area was not influenced heavily by large urban redevelopment projects and managed to maintain some of its "old world charm"...
The name Geylang is derived from the Malay word Kilang, which means food processing plant, and the area was, indeed, a centre for coconut and lemongrass processing in the old days, and many home-style processing plants operated around the region...
An insight from 'Metropolasia-Man':
Did you know? Singapore's mostly-Muslim Malay communityis theonly ethnic minority that was present on the island before the arrival of Sir Raffles and his fellow Brits... Many of whom, however, used to live in floating villages around the mouth of the Singapore River, before they were evacuated to Geylang.
Geylang started to develop as a residential suburb around the second half of the 19th century, after the Brits evacuated the Malay floating villages around the mouth of the Singapore River and their dwellers had to move here. A few years later, the area started to gain popularity among Singapore's then wealthy families, such as the Alsagoffs, the Alkaffs and the Aljunieds...
Large areas along Geylang Road and the neighboring streets underwent major renovations and preservation in the last decade or two and the area is quite popular for its shops, authentic restaurants and entertainment venues... The area around the central section ofGeylang Road, south of MRT-aljunied (especially between Lorongs 6 and 24) is the hub of Singapore's thriving sex industry...
Most of the brothels within Geylang's red-light district are legal... However, as it normally happens in the sex business, things went out of hand along the years and hundreds (if not thousands) of "street walkers" from across Asia can now be seen in the numbered streets (Lorongs) on both sides of Geylang Road.
A 'sexy' insight from 'Metropolasia-Man':
Although Singapore's thriving sex industry is regulated (just like almost everything else in this well-organized country), it somehow managed to get out of hand, and today, hundreds ,if not thousands, of "street walkers" from across Asia can be seen in the numbered streets (Lorongs) on both sides of Geylang Road.
A visit to Geylang Serai should probably start with the Malay Village, where you can see a reproduction of an old Malay Kampong (village), as it looked like more than 150 years ago, with the typical houses, day-to-day paraphernalia, a scene of a traditional Malay wedding, arts and crafts and so on... there is also a small museum and some shops and restaurants within the complex.
The Malay Village is open daily, 10am - 10pm and the entrance is free, unless you want to visit the museum (where you will have to pay an admission fee of SG$ 5 for an adult and SG$ 3 for a child). For more details, call them on 6748 4700
How to get there ? From MRT-Paya Lebar (located along the East-West line, which is marked with Green): Walk out of the station to Boscombe Rd., turn left to Sims Ave. and walk along it until you see the village on your right hand side. Turn right to Geylang Serai and after a few steps you will see the entrance to the village, on your right (all in all, it's less than a 10 minutes walk from the MRT station).
Geylang Serai Market is a large and popular wet market that has long become one of the area's landmarks. The 40 years old market was pulled down in 2006 and will be reopened in 2008. Meanwhile, the stall owners are operating from a temporary market site, located in the open field between MRT-Paya Lebar and The Malay Village. The market is a good place to taste special Malay snacks.
After visiting the Malay Village and the museum, walk out of the gate and turn right to Geylang Serai. Cross Changi Rd. and continue Along Joo Chiat Rd. (which is like the continuation of Geylang Serai)
Joo Chiat Road is lined with pre-war Peranakan shophouses, where you can still find all sorts of vanishing trades... Traditional furniture shops, authentic eateries and nightclubs of all types are dominating the street's business scene.
Down at the bottom of Joo Chiat Road, near the junction of East Coast Road, lies the centre of old Katong, with some beautifully restored buildings that have been converted to shopping and entertainment centers. This is where Singapore's Peranakan community used to flourish in the old days and Katong Village, where the old police station used to be, is now housing some restaurants and cafés.
A small insight from 'Metropolasia-Man':
The wealthy Peranakan community flourished in Katong in the old days, and created a rich and unique "Katong culture"...
Not too far from Katong, eastwards along the coast, lies the leisure and entertainment area of Singapore's East Coast. Here you will find some of Singapore's best and most popular food centers, including the East Coast Lagoon Food Centre and the East Coast Seafood Centre, on the other side of the small lagoon.
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Otherwise, there is a large and lovely beach park, with all sorts of restaurants, bars and recreational facilities...
The major attraction around here is the Ski 360 complex, where you can do Cable water skiing, Wakeboarding or Wakeskating... all with a pulling cable (as opposed to the more 'usual' boat...), quite a nice experience, for children and adults alike...
The beach park, the lagoon and the dining areas around it are popular both day and night, and the food centers remain open until fairly late.
Ski 360 is open daily, 10am - 10pm (Till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays). Ski passes rates are SG$ 32 per hour (midweek) or SG$ 42 (weekend), and SG$ 48 per two hours pass (midweek) or SG$ 64 (weekends). They usually have all sorts of promotions, like special evening rates and so on...
How to get there ? From Katong Village: walk down to the bottom of Joo Chiat Road, turn left to Marine Parade and walk a few steps until you get to the bus stop opposite block 72 (bus stop No. 92051), from which you can board any of the following lines: 31 / 43 / 48 / 196 / 196e and 197. Alight at Laguna Park bus stop, cross Laguna Park residential complex and use the underground passage (between blocks 500c, 500d and 500e) to cross under East Coast Parkway and onto the beach park and the lagoon.
From the City: travel to MRT- Bedok station (located along the East-West line, which is marked with Green). From the Bedok bus Interchange (next to the MRT station), you can take line Nos. 196 or 197 to Laguna Park and proceed by foot (see instructions above)
On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, you can take line 401 from Bedok bus Interchange directly to the lagoon and the food centre.
Changi area, at the eastmost part of Singapore Island (near the airport), has some nice and interesting places too...
The Changi Chapel & Museum is dedicated in memory of those World War II POWs (prisoners of war), civilians and soldiers alike, who managed to survive the horrors of Japanese captivity, thanks to their courage and will power...
In the museum, you can see the inhuman conditions that POWs had to suffer, alongside a collection of their personal effects, including letters, photographs and paintings which they draw while in prison.
The chapel, in the middle of the open courtyard, is a replica of similar chapels that were built by POWs across Southeast Asia and became "a torch of hope for those desperate men and women... "
The museum is fairly authentic way and the visit creates a strong experience.
How to get there ? From MRT-Tanah Merah (located along the East-West line, which is marked with Green): take SBS bus No. 2 (this bus goes all the way to Changi Village, so you can combine the visit to the museum with an excursion to the village and its sites...)
You can also alight at MRT-Tampiens (on the same East-West line) and take bus No. 29 from there.
Changi Village is one of Singapore Island's remotest residential suburbs and, possibly, the closest it can get to a rural community (although there are some true villages on the outlying islands, and you can read about them in the Outlying Islands section...)
It's a very pleasant place, with lovely ambience, good food centre, shopping facilities, beautiful beach park and a very nice sandy beach. This is also the place from which you can take the boats to Pulau Ubin Island, in the middle of the strait, between Singapore and Malaysia.
The bus will take you up to Changi Village Bus Terminal, right in the middle of the "village" and next to the food court.
A couple of minutes walk from here, across the bridge, lies the Changi Beach Park: an extremely long (and beautiful) park, stretching along the sandy beach, with plenty of coconut palms, green lawns, recreational and picnic facilities.
The 2.5 Kilometers long Changi boardwalk renders some gorgeous beach views. It starts just a minute away from the Bus terminus (next to the Ferry Terminal, on the creek) and curves along the beach and the cliffs, via the Sailing Club and all the way to Changi Beach Club.
How to get there? From MRT-Tanah Merah (located along the East-West line, which is marked with Green): you can take SBS bus No. 2 to the Bus terminus, or SBS bus No. 9 to the village and the beach park (it actually has a few stops along the beach park)
Another option is to travel to MRT-Tampiens (also located along the East-West line), and to take SBS bus No. 19 from the neighboring Bus Interchange, to Changi village, as well as to the beach park (it makes a few stops along the beach park).
Stretching along almost seven kilometers of sandy beach, Pasir Ris Park is, probably, Singapore Island's most beautiful beach park.
Alongside the lovely beach, there are wide lawns, plenty of coconut trees, nice walking trails, picnic sites and recreational facilities. The main attraction, however, is the Mangroves Forest Reserve, where you can walk on wooden boardwalks and watch this tiny yet magnificent ecosystem. There is also a bird watching tower within the reserve. Along the beach, there are a few nice 'alfresco' cafés, as well as one or two inexpensive seafood eateries, which means that you don't have to worry about food either...
The park is open 24 hours a day and the entry is free (entry is also free to the Mangroves forest reserve).
How to get there ? Getting to Pasir Ris park is very easy... simply travel all the way to MRT-Pasir Ris (the last station along the Green marked East-West line). The entrance to the park is less than 10 minutes walk from the station: Walk to the end of the Pasir Ris Bus Interchange (adjacent the MRT station), cross Pasir Ris Drive 3 and enter the park through the concrete-path (under and along the MRT railway bridge). You can also cross Pasir Ris Drive 3, turn left and after a few minutes walk turn right and enter the park through Pasir Ris Green.
Right next to Pasir Ris MRT Terminal there are two themed parks which can make a great day-out for families with kids, especially if you combine them with a visit to the neighboring Pasir Ris Beach Park and its unique Mangroves Forest Reserve.
Wild Wild Wetis a fairly good waterpark and although it is not one of the world's best or biggest, it has some great rides, like the Tsunami wave pool, some water slides (including one for water rafting boats), "River tubing" on an artificial river, a large 'alfresco' Jacuzzi with manmade waterfalls, and some other nice rides...
Most rides, however, are suitable for kids above 10 years old (not that much for tots...)
The park is open From Monday to Friday (except Tuesday) 1 - 7 pm and from 10am to 7pm on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. At the time of writing, admission prices are SG$ 15.50 for an adult and SG$ 10.50 for a kid under 12. Babies (under 3) and seniors (above 55) can enter free of charge. There is also a family ticket available for SG$ 42 (2 adults and 2 kids).
For more information, visit the official website of Wild Wild Wet
Escape Theme Park, just a stone's throw down the street from Wild Wild Wet, is, again, not one of the world's most amazing theme parks, but it's not bad at all and it's the best in Singapore (and it is also close to other family activities)...
Other than the ultimate Go-kart racing, there are some other exciting rides like the Inverter (swings through cycles of 360 degrees) and the Wet & Wild (Asia's highest flume ride), as well as some "milder" activities that are more suitable for small kids...
Escape Theme Park is open on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and school/public holidays only, from 10am to 8pm. At the time of writing, admission prices are SG$ 17.70 for an adult and SG$ 8.90 for a kid under 12. Babies (under 3) and seniors (above 55) can enter free of charge. There is also a family ticket available for SG$ 42.80 (2 adults and 2 kids).
For more information, visit the official website of Escape Theme Park
Escape Theme Park and Wild Wild Wet are both part of Downtown East, a large leisure & lifestyle complex that also boasts some other attractions you might want to know about (if you are already there): eXplorerkid, for example, is a large indoor-children-playground with a and various play-stations, suitable mainly for small kids... It's located within the E!hub, a massive shopping mall on Pasir Ris Drive 3, that is well distinguished for its flamboyant exterior décors.
There is also a pretty good Bowling-alley at the E!hub (Orchid Bowl, at #01-111), and the Cathay Cineplexes on the 4th floor, where movies are played almost 24 hours a day...
From the MRT station: Walk to the end of the Pasir Ris Bus Interchange (adjacent the MRT station), cross Pasir Ris Drive 3 and turn right, walk across the small canal, and you will see the entrance to Wild, Wild Wet and the E!hubon your left side.
Otherwise, there's also a free shuttle bus from the MRT station, every 30-40 minutes or so...)
