Changi Village -- Enclave Where Languor Is Charm ▶▷▶▷▶▷▶▷
Wednesday, October 31, 2007Text -- Irwin Yeo
Changi Village sits, like a forgotten village stuck in a time limbo, in the Eastern corner of mainland Singapore.
Source: NParks website
Unlike the rest of the cosmopolitan island state, the slow pace of life in Changi Village is, in my opinion, a refreshing change.
While some may dismiss this as languor and an air of dismal, I see it in a different light. As Singapore pushes on at a frenetic, neck-breaking speed, we need a place to put our concept of time in perspective. And Changi Village, is that very place to provide us with a respite from worldly pursuits.
Food Paradise
Besides a relaxed atmosphere, it is an open secret that the area has lots of good food. Flanked by coffeshops, eateries and fast food outlets, the Nasi Lemak at the main hawker centre is by far the best. Hundreds throng the small food stall everyday, all for a taste of the scrumptious rice and side dishes.
The lip-smacking Changi Village Nasi Lemak
Source: TheAge.com
The place holds dear to me, for it is one of the few places I go to, to satisfy my gastronomical craves, espcially when late at night.
Besides hawker fare, the zi char at the coffee shop also serves great food, the likes of chilli pepper crab and tender venison on hotplate. If local savoury food is not to your liking, there's always Subway, which opens till 12 midnight everyday.
Road to BMT
Singaporean males who have to go through their Basic Military Training (BMT) at Pulau Tekong would be familiar with this area, which they have to pass by on the way to the SAF Ferry Terminal, where the fastcraft back to dreaded Tekong awaits.
Besides Tekong, adventure and nature seekers looking to visit Pulau Ubin (arguably Singapore's last bastion of unspoiled nature) also have to come here to take a ferry there via the Changi Jetty.
Conclusion: Holland V of the East
The area is often touted as the "Holland V" of the East, albeit with much affordable and heartland-style food and leisure spots. Naysayers may say the place is tainted with so-called "unsavoury" characters like transexuals, who have no qualms soliciting customers for sex openly. But, in my opinion, while there exist some black sheep within the transexual community, this is a rather misunderstood group which does not really deserve the bad light it has been receiving. The situation may be as such in the 90s, but today, it is a much cleaned-up Changi that we see now.
Changi Village -- Holland V of the East, albeit more for heartlanders
Source: Wikipedia
In short, visit the place for a short reprieve of the hectic city life that we are so used to leading.
By singaporeroads at 10:41 PM