Looking to move to a new neighbourhood? Nothing would be better than to hear from the residents themselves. We chat to James and Sarah Lloyd (pictured with daughters Sophia, Ava and Freya) From Wales and Ireland about living in Pasir Panjang in Singapore.
The Specifics
What’s the name of your street? We live in a small condo called Palisades, which is on Pasir Panjang Road in the west of Singapore.
If it’s in another language, what does it mean? Pasir Panjang is a Malay term that literally means “long sand”, a reference to the long sandy beach that once stretched along the coast in this area. Unfortunately, there is no sign of long sandy beaches where we are, but we can see the sea and hear the boats at night, which is fabulous.
What’s a common myth or misconception about your neighbourhood? That it’s miles away from anything. In reality, we can get into the CBD via the West Coast Highway in 15 minutes.
Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home? “Pasir Panjang Road, near Haw Par Villa.”
Which is your closest MRT station? Haw Par Villa (yellow Circle Line).
How long have you lived here and why? Five years. We realised we could get so much more space for our money going further out of town and it was a seven minute drive to our children’s amazing school – Dover Court International. It’s walking distance to the MRT, there’s a bus stop right outside the condo, it’s ten minutes to VivoCity, 15 minutes to the CBD by car, and walking distance to West Coast Park. We spend a lot of time in West Coast Park; so much so that our two-year-old calls it “my park”.
The Scene
When you walk out of your place, what’s the first thing you see? We’re off the main Pasir Panjang Road, so it’s actually quite a residential outlook from street level. It’s all low-rise houses directly opposite. The view from our balcony is the port, so it’s very industrial and quirky.
What’s the closest store to your front door? There’s a petrol station, which has a Cheers shop, and there’s a Starbucks a five-minute walk on Science Park Road (but annoyingly it doesn’t open on weekends!).
If your street was chosen for a remake of a film, which would it be? Titanic.
We’re sure your neighbours are great, but is there anything you wouldn’t mind a little less of? It’s a very small condo with amazing neighbours; it really is a lovely place to live. We have a very unique lift – I’m told it’s the only funicular lift in Singapore, one of three of its kind in Asia and ten in the world. There is only one, however, so when it’s under maintenance or you forget something it’s a big pain. When the lift is down the only other option is to walk up the stairs, which run on the outside of the building and are open to the elements. When I gave birth to my third child, two and a half years ago, the day I got out of hospital the lift was out of service and I had to walk up eight flights of stairs – ouch!
What’s the unofficial uniform of your street? Exercise gear! You see lots of people exercising as they make their way to the park.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street? At the beginning of January 2020, a one-armed monkey visited our balcony. In retrospect, I believe he was trying to tell us something! I had never seen a monkey near the condo before then and I haven’t seen one since.
The Superlatives
What are your three favourite places to eat or drink in the neighbourhood? We don’t dine out locally but just hop in a cab to Duxton, Dempsey Hill or Holland Village.
What are the best places to shop at in the neighbourhood? The bare essentials are available from convenience stores but there is no supermarket within walking distance, or any home or fashion outlets. There are facilities within an easy commute, though – for example, VivoCity which is the largest shopping mall in Singapore, is a 10-minute drive away and easily accessible via bus or MRT.
What are some fun or interesting things to do in the neighbourhood? Make a visit to West Coast Park or Haw Par Villa.
What’s one thing you’d never change? The uniqueness of the condo.
How about one thing you would change? It would be nice to have a supermarket a little closer; a small FairPrice or Cold Storage would do nicely. If the city gave you a million dollars to soup up your street, how would you use it? Move the port so we could have a sea view.
Beyond the ’Hood
What are your favourite Singapore spots for taking out-of-town guests? Brunch at Italian restaurant LAVO is the best! Gardens by the Bay is a must, too, as well as Marina Barrage and the Botanic Gardens. The kids love the Duck Tour, and we’ve just discovered the Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk – very beautiful scenery with lots of historical information about Singapore to read along the way.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, where do you go? The Asian Civilisations Museum and Chinatown.
If you’re missing home, what do you do? FaceTime!
Condo Facts
Name: Palisades
Facilities: Pool
Size: 18 units
Age: 35 years
Community vibe: Friendly and family-orientated
DO YOU LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD? Share it 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.
For more helpful tips head to our Living in Singapore section:
Where to live in Singapore: Bartley
The benefits of living in a service apartment
Guide to living on the East Coast
This article first appeared in the February 2020 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
