Tamy Ambarchi from Sydney, a distributor from SMT Baby and Kids, shares with us about living at Jervois Road.
The Specifics
Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home? “Jervois Road, off River Valley, near the Malaysian Embassy.”
What’s the name of your neighbourhood? River Valley.
Closest MRT station? Tiong Bahru.
How long have you lived here? Eight years.
Why here? We managed to find a flat with an outdoor deck that was just great for kids and a dog. It’s a great location near the river and also near the children’s school; it’s also central, but quiet.
The Scene
When you walk out of your place, the first thing you see is: The Malaysian Embassy. The closest store to your front door is: Two petrol stations, which can be very handy for late-night ice-cream cravings!
Your street would make the perfect backdrop for a remake of: The 90s US soap opera Melrose Place, because everyone living here has their own unique story.
The unofficial uniform of your street is: Flip flops, like much of Singapore.
Which celebrity would be most likely to move in next door, and why? Adam Levine from Maroon 5, just because I’m sure he would love to live next door to my family.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, you: Head to Tiong Bahru, which is nearby – it’s full of life and has a great market!
If you’re missing home, you: Eat a Caramello Koala. Luckily, they are available at Little Farms at Valley Point, just down the street.
A mandatory stop for out-of-town guests is: Ting Heng Seafood Restaurant at Tiong Bahru.
You’d swap houses in a second with: The owners of one of the black-and-white houses on Bishops Gate.
A common myth about your neighbourhood is: The local rumour that the area was a cemetery.
If you’re ever woken up at night, it’s almost always due to: The man across the street who occasionally yells.
A massive late-night rager on your street is likely to be: Us, starting with a few wines and beers by the pool with the neighbours, and continuing on to karaoke.
The Superlatives
Your favourite neighbourhood joints are: 2It is a nice local pizza place at Valley Point – great on a Sunday evening with the kids. Japanese restaurant Ichigo on River Valley Road is set behind wooden doors and has perfect Japanese atmosphere, food and of course sake. I also nominate Five Star Chicken Rice, because you just cannot beat driving past and picking up some takeaway chicken rice – just like a McDonald’s drive-thru, but better!
Also on River Valley Road is Century Cellars, a great local bottle shop with a good stock of wine and beer.
You won’t find better local food than at: Henderson Road Hawker Centre – a good mix of local food plus a bit of a market to wander around.
The strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street is: A monitor lizard in our swimming pool!
The guiltiest pleasure in your area is: Lots of little massage places at Valley Point and across the road that offer a 24-hour service for a sneaky foot massage with no happy ending.
One thing you’d never change is: My neighbours!
But one thing you wouldn’t mind seeing go is: The cranes and constant construction in the area.
The city gives you $5 million to soup up your street. You use it to: Build a water park to send my kids to when they have energy to burn!
Why should your neighbourhood be featured in a guidebook? This is a lovely little neighbourhood; very central, but quiet and full of trees and small condos. There are a lot of lovely heritage houses to walk past, and it also has easy access to the river.
What’s the word on your street? Whether they’re newcomers or “old hands”, we’d love our readers to get to know your neighbourhood. Help us by sending an email to 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 August 2016 edition of Expat Living. Subscribe so you never miss an issue!
We have a whole heap of Neighbourhood Guides to help you get to know your hood, or if you are thinking of moving! Or check out more about Living in Singapore.
