Singapore's heartland neighbourhoods

Neighbourhood #1: Bishan

Bishan with Mariana Wahid

‘Bishan has everything you can imagine – you don’t need to go to Orchard Road, Holland Village or the like. I have my regular hair stylist at Jean Yip located in Junction 8. When I feel like it, I can go for a walk at our local sports hub, Bishan Active. After work I never worry about food – my favourite mee pok seller is based on the second floor of the bus interchange. I enjoy being a Bishanite and, as far as I know, this is the only neighbourhood to have a bomb shelter that doubles up as a 7-Eleven.’ - Mariani Wahid

Neighbourhood #2: Novena 

Novena with Deon

‘I live on Newton Road, and I believe that my neighbourhood is stylish and convenient. For groceries I go to Cold Storage at United Square, for food there’s amazing chicken rice just five minutes away at either Wee Nam Kee or Joy Cuisine. I don’t play basketball myself but I think it’s pretty awesome that there’s a basketball court just outside Velocity at Novena Square. And if I do get bored, I’m just a bus ride away from town.’ - Deon

Neighbourhood #3: River Valley

River Valley with Phil Carroll

‘I rarely go outside a 3km radius of my home. I’m within walking distance of Orchard Road, Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay and a lot of other places abundant with food and drink. There’s Pawtobello on Mohamed Sultan Road, where I get to relax with my dog, plus a coffee shop along Killiney Road that serves decent beef kway teow and has a parrot that sits on the railing – I believe it belongs to one of the vendors there. But the best thing about living here is that it’s a 24-hour neighbourhood – my work sometimes keeps me up until 4am, and if I’m in need of a snack or cigarettes, it’s an easy stroll to SPC gas station’s convenience store.’ - Phil Carroll

Neighbourhood #4: Simei

Simei with Nurul Arif

‘This housing estate is the cleanest I’ve ever lived in. It also doesn’t try too hard to be trendy, unlike its sister Tampines. I chow down on a $7 large pizza for dinner at il Piccolo while sipping on my $1.80 hot teh in an alfresco coffee-shop setting – all at once. I’m looking forward to my manicure appointment with Chrissy from Nails Unlimited in Eastpoint Mall – she never fails to tell me how much she misses the beaches of her hometown in the Philippines.’ - Nurul Arif

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