Whether you’re already living in Singapore and looking to move to a new neighbourhood or moving here from overseas, nothing beats hearing from the residents themselves! We speak to Andrew & Kristen Talbot (from the UK and New Zealand) about the ins and outs of living on Mount Sinai Rise.
The Specifics
Where do you live? Mount Sinai Rise.
Exact words you tell a taxi driver to get home? “Mount Sinai Rise, off Holland Road.”
What’s the name of your neighbourhood? Mount Sinai, or Ulu Pandan Valley.
Closest MRT station? Dover – it’s a 10-minute walk.
How long have you lived here? Two years, and we’re staying longer!
Why here? This part of Singapore feels as though we’re well out of the urban concrete jungle.
The Scene
When you walk out of your place, the first thing you see is: Painted butterflies on the pavement, and kids’ trampolines in the driveways.
The closest store to your front door is: The Valle Bar.
Your street would make the perfect backdrop for a remake of: Any kind of family film in a suburban setting.
The unofficial uniform of your street is: The usual t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops, as well as kids wearing Nexus school uniforms; it’s the closest international school.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, you: Visit the Chinese temple a couple of streets away – often to catch the odd live show.
If you’re missing home, you: Head for a pub lunch, probably at Muddy Murphy’s.
A mandatory stop for out-of-town guests is: Dumplings at Din Tai Fung, followed by a walk around Marina Bay.
A common myth about your neighbourhood is: That this area is far from town; it’s not, and the transport links are good!
If you’re ever woken up at night, it’s almost always due to: Thunder and lightning!
A massive late-night rager on your street is likely to be: Maybe the occasional house party; the area is very family-orientated, so everyone is in bed early
The Superlatives
Your hands-down favourite neighbourhood joints are: We like Valle Bar, and the Mexican and French restaurants inside Ridgewood condo. On Friday and Saturday nights you can’t beat the atmosphere at Holland Village.
You won’t find better local food than at: The local market in Ghim Moh is brilliant for fruit and vegetables.
The strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street is: The shows at the Chinese temple sometimes have weird costumes! We love a good bargain.
The best deals in your neighbourhood are: Probably the public transport into the CBD in the morning; the bus runs direct from the bus stop near our house.
The guiltiest pleasure in your area is: Going to the restaurants in Ridgewood condo at the weekends.
One thing you’d never change is: The accessibility to the Green Corridor.
But one thing you wouldn’t mind seeing go is: Any kind of construction work!
The Condo
Name of condo: Ridgewood
Facilities: As well as regular condo facilities, you’ll find tennis courts, squash courts, a fitness corner, a minimart, a bar and a couple of restaurants.
Size: Over 400 units
New or old: Old – completed in 1981
Within walking distance of a supermarket? Yes, we can walk to Cold Storage Jelita.
What’s the community vibe? There are some community activities such as a Halloween Trick-or-Treat party, and group fitness activities.
Are the facilities kid-friendly? There are three different playgrounds and a hard court that children play on; they roam freely around the condo with any problems
Like this? Read more at our neighbourhood guides section.
This article first appeared in the July 2017 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
