Adventures At Home: Let’s Rediscover Jurong
Thinking of somewhere to bring bae for your next outing? Try Jurong. Really! It might sound like a stretch, but hear us out.
We managed to find plenty of date spots in this neighbourhood, thanks to the National Heritage Board's Jurong Heritage Trail guide. Plus, with many preferring to stay home these days, it probably won’t be so crowded. (Either that, or they're at one of these other "Let’s Go Paktor" places.)
In fact, your parents/grandparents may have gone for a movie date at the old Jurong Drive-In Cinema, the first and only open-air drive-in theatre in Singapore that closed in 1985. Or they might have snuck out for a quick bite together at the Yung Sheng Food Centre, Singapore’s first hawker centre.
But this is 2021, peeps. So here are some present-day places in Jurong to spend a wow West-side weekend with bae.
Brunch at Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre
What better way to start the day than to stuff yourselves with some of the best food in Jurong? The Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre was opened in 2005, but it has its roots in the old Yung Sheng Food Centre aka “60 stalls” (because the food centre had 60 permanent stalls) and Jurong Market I. Both of these places were known for being Jurong’s best makan spots since the '70s.
IMAGES (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT): INSTAGRAM/@FOODIE.MAT, @CHOCOCANDYCHIPZ, LEE YIK KEAT
The must-order menu: Feng Zhen Lor Mee and the tasty ngoh hiang at Xin Sheng Gor Hiong Prawn Cracker. Other great eats include the super thin-crust ButterNut pizzas, and Ng Kee Teochew Fish Ball Kuay Teow Mee Crackers. Confirm sedap. Lots more info here.
Still not satiated and want even more mouth-watering makan recommendations? Follow Benzo in our video above as he introduces you to the yummiest nosh in the vicinity of Jurong Camp - NSFs, NSmen, take note!
Explore Jurong Lake Gardens
The first national gardens in the heartlands, Jurong Lake Gardens offers scenic walking paths and viewpoint decks with vistas that look like they came straight out of a postcard, especially at sunset – perfect for a romantic stroll with bae.
Come back in 2024 for the reopening of the Japanese Garden and Chinese Garden. The Japanese Garden will feature the largest collection of water lilies in Singapore, while the Chinese Garden will have a Moon Lantern Terrace that lights up at sunset – perfect for living out your "Yanxi Palace" fantasies.
Watching the National Flag fly pass...
Posted by X-Current on Sunday, 8 August 2021
Kayaking at Pandan Reservoir
In the past, this used to be the centre of prawn farming in Singapore, which sustained the kampungs in the area until the mid-1960s. Today’s Pandan Reservoir has been transformed under the PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters programme to host water sports activities like kayaking, canoeing, rowing, sailing, and sport fishing.
Rediscover our nation’s story at the Singapore Discovery Centre
This edutainment centre offers a fun, interactive experience tracing Singapore’s journey from past to present. Originally called the SAFTI Exhibition Centre when it was opened in 1996, the Singapore Discovery Centre now offers an escape room (good practice for getting out of sticky situations with bae) and a laser tag battlefield and paintball park (where you can show or rather show off to bae what you’ve learned during NS). Alternatively, catch a movie at their massive 344-seater iWerks Theatre.
Your Insta-walk checklist here:
Fill up your Insta-feed with some amazing photos from around Jurong (bonus points for #couplegoals shots):
Jurong Lake Gardens
Head to the grasslands at Lakeside Garden to find the Insta-worthy lalang field and the lone tree atop a small hill. Also look for “A Bridge Between Habitats”, a dome structure which was built for birdwatching but doubles as the perfect backdrop.
IMAGE: NO MACHINE-READABLE AUTHOR PROVIDED. CALVIN TEO ASSUMED (BASED ON COPYRIGHT CLAIMS)., CC BY-SA 2.5, VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Old Jurong railway
You’re literally stepping on history here – these railway tracks of the old Jurong railway line once ran from Bukit Timah Railway Station to Shipyard Road (present-day Jurong Island). Be careful when walking down to the railway - it's steep and can be slippery, especially after the rain.
Raffles Marina Lighthouse
Head to the Raffles Marina at Tuas West, and walk to the hidden pier behind the clubhouse to find Singapore’s secret lighthouse in the west. After you’ve taken your shots for the ‘gram, head to Marina Bistro for some amazing views while you wine and dine.
Happening history sia
If you’re interested to go on a journey to the west with bae, you can follow NHB’s Jurong Heritage Trail. Get your trail map and guide here.
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