Besides our beloved Changi Airport, which is an attraction in itself whether you are travelling (or not), all is definitely not quiet on our eastern front.
Heading east, here are some fun activities you can consider doing during the upcoming March school holidays.
1. Be a horse whisperer
Tucked away in the east is the second site of Gallop Stable—a horse-riding school that rescues ex-riding horses, giving them a second chance at life.
Entrance to the stables is free, and on weekends, you can buy a bag of feed for $2 to feed the ponies and bunnies on-site.
For the more adventurous, Gallop Stable offers fun pony rides for children aged three and above for $10.
As part of their school holiday programme (which runs from March 14 – 17), you can sign up for an hour-long stable tour where you get to feed and groom horses.
2. Unleash your inner Spiderman
Climbing El Capitan is probably beyond the realm of possibility for most of us. However, that does not put an end to our climbing aspirations.
Located at two locations (Changi and Pasir Ris), Upwall Climbing is an air-conditioned rock-climbing gym offering different levels of climbs for children as young as three years old.
A full-day gym pass costs $22, and auto belay lanes mean that beginners need not be daunted by the prospect of fiddling around ropes as if their life depended on it.
3. Go ‘cycling’ on water
Flanked by the Johore Strait, Pasir Ris Park offers a calm stretch of water to indulge in some water sports.
But besides the usual kayak rental, why not try water biking?
Imagine a bicycle with its wheels ripped out and replaced by a catamaran-shaped float, allowing you to ‘cycle’ on water. This is essentially what the activity is all about.
It is perfectly safe and suitable for children aged seven and above. Just don’t go paddling into Malaysia by accident.
4. Let loose at a giant playground
Located at the former Big Splash site at East Coast Park, Coastal PlayGrove is home to Singapore’s tallest outdoor play area.
It features a 4-storey vertical net play area called the Vertical Challenge, slides on the third and fourth floor and a wheelchair-accessible water play area.
And the best part is, entry is free!
5. Learn what life was like for POWs
Reopened in 2022 after a three-year refurbishment, the Changi Chapel and Museum sheds light on the lives of prisoner-of-wars (POWs) and civilian internees during the Japanese Occupation and their eventual liberation.
With hundreds of artefacts spread across eight exhibition zones, Changi Museum is a poignant reminder of a past we should not forget.
So, what’s brewing in the east?
Land use in Singapore is a delicate matter, which is why the Government regularly develops concept plans to guide the development of Singapore.
When we have limited space but multiple competing land-use demands, how do we decide what goes where?
This Government takes a balanced and long-term approach when planning for Singapore’s land use.
Balancing economic, social and environmental considerations, this Government aims to provide a quality living environment that offers growth opportunities and jobs for the people, and safeguards our clean and green landscape.
In the coming years, new rail lines will make eastern Singapore even more accessible.
Besides the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) due for completion in 2024, five new MRT stations on the Cross Island Line (CRL), including an interchange with the East-West Line at Pasir Ris, will be built by 2029.
Next, a new Bayshore housing precinct with over 6,000 HDB flats will be built near East Coast Park, creating more attractive housing options for Singaporeans.
Lastly, there are plans to set the Changi region ablaze and transform it into an economic hub for aviation and technology-related sectors by capitalising on the connectivity and synergy of Changi Airport.
Eastern Singapore has long been an unofficial enclave of yuppies. But with the changes ahead, the area might give our downtown core a run for its money in the battle for Singapore’s commercial hub.
Photo Sources: Gallop Stable/Upwall Climbing/Waterbike.sg/NParks/ Changi Chapel and Museum/URA