Our new condo near Bright Hill MRT

Looking at Singapore apartments and want to get recommendations from other expats? ELENA MARIE DICK and PHILIPP KLAUDT are from Germany, though Elena has spent most of her life here. We talk to them about their condo near Bright Hill MRT.

About your neighbourhood

What’s the name of your street? Lorong Puntong, off Sin Ming Avenue.

If it’s in another language, what does it mean? “Lorong” means small road or alley, and “puntong” means stump or burnt end (like a cigarette butt or tree stump). The name most likely refers to the road being a dead-end.

What’s a common myth or misconception about your neighbourhood? Everyone thinks it’s way out in the middle of nowhere, but it’s really not! We’re surrounded by greenery, and Bright Hill MRT is just down the road. You can reach Orchard in just 15 minutes by MRT. It’s actually the best of both worlds: quiet and convenient.

Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home? We haven’t taken a taxi in years! Usually, just entering the address in Grab does the job.

Closest MRT station? Bright Hill MRT on the Thomson-East Coast Line.

How long have you lived here? Why here? We just moved here three months ago. We chose this area because it’s a lot more affordable than other areas, and we love that it still feels quiet and green. The MacRitchie Treetop Walk trailhead is just opposite our condo!

About your condo

Name: Thomson Impressions
Size: 288 units
Age (new/old): New (built in 2019)
Facilities: Pool, gym, tennis court
Distance to nearest supermarket: 15 minutes on foot
Community vibe: Very local and tranquil

Neighbourhood highlights

When you walk out of your place, what’s the first thing you see? A small Buddhist temple.

What’s the closest store to your front door? The closest store is a small Cheers at the gas station on Upper Thomson Road. Honestly, we’ve never even been inside, but it’s definitely the nearest one.

If your street was chosen for a remake of a film, which would it be? Planet of the Apes – but replace the apes with wild chickens. Our street is definitely ruled by chickens and not by humans.

What’s the unofficial uniform of your street? Activewear – there are lots of people heading out for walks or jogs as we live right next to MacRitchie Reservoir.

We’re sure your neighbours are great, but is there anything you wouldn’t mind a little less of? We love our neighbours, but those monkey armies at MacRitchie are another story. Cute from afar but slightly terrifying up close.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street? The wild chickens! They’re everywhere, like unofficial residents of Lorong Puntong. They even wake us up in the morning

Things to do around Lorong Puntong

What are your three favourite places to eat or drink in the neighbourhood? There’s so much great food around Upper Thomson! We love The Roti Prata House for its crispy pratas; Ming Fa is our go-to for comforting fishball noodles; and we also enjoy checking out cute brunch spots like Columbus Coffee.

What are the best places to shop at in the neighbourhood? The easiest spot is Thomson Plaza; it has groceries and plenty of everyday essentials all in one place.

What are some fun or interesting things to do in the neighbourhood? MacRitchie Treetop Walk and Bishan Park are just steps away. Bright Hill Temple, Singapore’s largest Buddhist temple, is also in our neighbourhood.

What’s one thing you’d never change? The greenery, the peaceful vibe and all the good food!

How about one thing you would change? It would be great to have a supermarket closer by – the closest is FairPrice at Thomson Plaza, which is a 15-minute walk away.

If the city gave you a million dollars to soup up your street, how would you use it? It would be a sheltered walkway to the MRT, as we always seem to get caught midway when it pours.

Things to do in Singapore

What are your favourite Singapore spots for taking out-of-town guests? Apart from the usual tourist spots like Chinatown and Marina Bay, we like to bring our guests to Al-Azhar, which has the best butter chicken in town! We also recommend Lantern Bar for a nice view of Marina Bay Sands.

When you’re in need of a dose of culture, where do you go? We love spending a day on Pulau Ubin. Cycling along its rustic paths, you really get a glimpse of Singapore’s past with the old kampong houses and quiet trails. After exploring, we usually stop for a fresh seafood lunch by the water; it’s the perfect mix of nature, history and good food all in one day.

If you’re missing home, what do you do? If we’re missing home, we head over to Paulaner for a beer and a Bratwurst! The vibe and music make us feel like we’re right in Germany.

Fact File: About Bright Hill Temple

Elena and Philipp mention above that Bright Hill Temple is close to their condo – and they’re right that this is Singapore’s biggest Buddhist temple complex. Known officially as the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, it’s located on a massive 800,000 square feet of land, or the size of 14 football grounds, and is also home to one of Asia’s largest indoor Buddha statues, a 55-ton, 13.8-metre bronze. The complex is open daily and anyone can visit its various halls – from the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas to the Hall of Universal Brightness – along with a pretty Zen garden and pools. You just need to be in proper attire (shoulders and knees covered) and keep noise levels down. Outside of busy festival times, such as Vesak Day and the Qingming Festival, it’s a very peaceful retreat! The temple, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2021, was built initially as a lodging for monks. Find out more at kmspks.org.

How to feature in our Street Talk column

Share your neighbourhood highlights with others – just email us at contribute@expatliving.sg with “Street Talk” in the subject line. Include your name and street, and we’ll be in touch.

This article first appeared in the December 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!