Neighbourhoods in Singapore
Nadia is from Barbados where they met and got married, and Derek is from Ireland. Nadia works as an Attorney-at-Law, while Derek is the CEO, Singapore and Malaysia of an e-commerce company. They chose to live near Bugis Junction.
The Specifics
What’s the name of the street where you live? Fraser Street.
Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home? “Duo Residences, 1 Fraser Street, next to the Andaz hotel.”
What’s the name of your neighbourhood? Bugis.
Closest MRT station? Bugis (East West Line).
How long have you lived here? Just over one year.
Why here? It’s five minutes away from the CBD. We love the location and we feel it’s close to everything we need – work, shopping and dining options like Bugis Junction, Bugis Plus, Haji Lane and Arab Street.
The Scene
When you walk out of your place, the first thing you see is: Parkview Square, which is very beautiful and impressive.
The closest store to your front door is: 1855 The Bottle Shop.
Your street would make the perfect backdrop for a remake of: Anything Gotham City-related because of Parkview Square!
Your neighbours are great, but you wouldn’t mind a little less: Our neighbours are great – no complaints here.
The unofficial uniform of your street is: Athleisure wear – there’s a Virgin Active Fitness Club downstairs so I guess it’s comfortable for running errands while looking chic.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, you visit: The National Library, Singapore Art Museum and the historic Kampong Glam district.
If you’re missing home, you: Well, since I (Nadia) am from Barbados, I play some Rihanna tunes, but when my husband is missing home, we go to an Irish pub for a few pints of Guinness.
A mandatory stop for out-of-town guests is: Haji Lane.
The Superlatives
Your hands-down favourite neighbourhood joints are: Alley on 25 and Blu Jaz Cafe.
You won’t find better local food than at: Bugis Junction and Haji Lane.
The strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street is: A guy wearing a veil during his stag party in Bali Lane.
We love a good bargain. The best deals in your neighbourhood are: Blu Jaz Cafe and Good Luck Beerhouse for drinks, The Hangar and Juice Clinic for meals, and HYGGE for handmade trinkets and personalised gifts.
The guiltiest pleasure in your area is: Mr Stork on the top floor of the Andaz hotel next door, and the lap pool at our condo. Also, getting your nails done with a glass of wine at The Nail Social on Haji Lane.
One thing you’d never change is: The juxtaposition of Duo Residences’ modern honeycomb design and architecture with the old shophouses on Haji Lane and Arab Street. We hope those old shophouses stay forever. But one thing you wouldn’t mind seeing go is: People who don’t clean up after their dogs!
The city gives you $5 million to soup up your street. You use it to: Assist with the preservation of the old shophouses.
Condo fact file
Name of condo: Duo Residences
Facilities: Herb garden, outdoor cook-out deck, grill terrace, party lounge, spa pool, 50-metre lap pool, outdoor sitting lounge, games terrace, swing terrace, hobbies terrace, sauna, gym, kids’ pool, sky pool, aqua gym and jacuzzis
Size: 660 units
Supermarket: Cold Storage at Bugis Junction
Community vibe: Relaxed
Kid-friendly: Yes
For more helpful tips head to our Living in Singapore section.
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This article first appeared in the July 2019 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
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