Bukit Timah Estate

Bukit Timah Railway Station
Bukit Timah Railway Station

Bukit Timah Estate

 

Mention Bukit Timah to most Singaporeans and you are almost guaranteed to spark a conversation about one of three subjects: The hill itself; how expensive property is; and the preponderance of good schools. So is this all there is to the area? And do the facts that the majority of people routinely roll out about it actually stand up to scrutiny?
One thing is for certain, no one can deny the existence of the hill. Most Singaporeans have been to the top at some time or other, and can account for every one of its 163.63 metres. Most also know the misleading nature of its name. Bukit Timah, or “Tin Hill” in Malay, is actually a mispronunciation of Bukit Temak the original name of the hill, after the popok temak trees that once covered the slopes.
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Three not so hidden Gems

Little India, Jalan Besar and Farrer Park

 

Little India
Little India

 

 

As places become more fashionable, and are mentioned in forums, websites like this and in offices and restaurants across the nation, there is one cast iron consequence – prices rocket. See Tiong Bahru for the perfect example. The key – especially in an island the size of Singapore, is to spot the new trends, the new places that are going to be the places to live in 5 years’ time. And then you need to strike while the iron is hot and the prices are still reasonable. Three areas that could very well fit into that category, all within a stone’s throw of each other are Little India, Jalan Besar and Farrer Park.

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Tanjong Pagar: Past Present and Future

Tanjong Pagar
The Tanjong Pagar District that sits along the fringes of Chinatown and Raffles Place

 

Tanjong Pagar

Even in a country which has seen radical changes in the last 100 years – especially in the last 25 years – the development and transformation of Tanjong Pagar has been remarkable. From a quiet, sleepy fishing village to a thriving business centre with a lively night scene and home to the world’s busiest port, the story of Tanjong Pagar is like an exaggerated story of Singapore itself.

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Woodlands – No longer simply the Northern Gateway

Woodlands
Woodlands

Woodlands – No longer simply the Northern Gateway

 

The area of Woodlands came into prominence with the building of the Johor-Singapore Causeway in 1923. It was from here that Singaporean residents would come in order to get across to Johor Bahru, and from there the rest of the Malaysian peninsular. Likewise it would be the first part of Singapore witnessed by those coming in the opposite direction. The customs checkpoint at Woodlands is something still very much remembered by the older generations of both Singaporeans and Malaysians alike.
Development proper began in the 1980’s with the building of several HDB residencies. These were added to and expanded upon, the last project reaching completion in 2004. Overall there are now a total of 112,175 HDB flats in the area, housing approximately 192,700 residents.

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