Eastern Singapore

From Singapore Hotels & Singapore Lifestyle

Eastern Singapore is one of Singapore's most eclectic neighbourhoods with a good mix of ethnic groups living here as evidenced by the places of worship catering to the religious needs of the diverse communities. There are numerous Churches of various denominations, several Mosques, Chinese Temples, Hindu Temples and a Sikh Temple.

Until the 1970s, when a huge chunk of the east coast shoreline was reclaimed, the sea was right at the doorstep of many of the bungalows that lined Tanjong Rhu, Fort Road, Meyer Road and Marine Parade Road. The latter was a true marine parade with a beach and pier that attracted courting couples and families who came to stroll in the evenings and enjoy the fresh sea breezes.

Millions of visitors' first encounter with Singapore starts with the lush east coast while travelling into town from Changi International Airport. The area could be aptly described as Singapore's "riviera" with coconut groves and sandy beaches on one side of the coastal highway, and expensive Condominium blocks on the other. The east coast is packed at weekends as Singaporeans escape for a day at the Beaches, but during the week the Beaches and picnic areas are virtually deserted.

Here, a short distance east of the Singapore's city centre are some of the city's oldest neighbourhoods. Geylang and Katong are both largely Malay districts rarely frequented by foreign visitors, partly because of their lack of obvious attractions. Geylang is as close to a "Little Malaysia" as you'll find, a grubby, bustling district that has been the focal point of Malay culture since the 19th century when plantation labourers made it their home. It's not so obviously Malay these days, but is best known as the centre of Singapore's red-light activities.

Katong, centred around busy East Coast Road and Joo Chiat Road, has strong Peranakan influences and offers some tasty dining and excellent shopping possibilities.

Stretching for several kilometres along the seafront, from the city right up to Tanah Merah, is East Coast Park, a popular recreational haunt and another good feeding and watering spot.

Today, instead of the sea lapping the shores of these houses, it's Marine Parade Road and the parallel East Coast Parkway (ECP) highway stretching all the way from the Tanjong Rhu/Fort Road end to Changi International Airport. Part of the reclaimed land has been transformed into a park which has become a pleasant waterfront playground for the residents of the east coast. In the place of rambling seaside bungalows, there are now high-rise apartment blocks with sweeping views of the sea.