Changi Village and the furthest reaches of the East Coast Park

As the rains have started to come down more steadily, the weekends have begun with a completely grey hue. At 04:30 we were woken by the same dog that has woken me at 04:30 for the three weeks, then woke again at 08:00 by the thunder and rain of a wet Singapore day. Apparently Singapore’s a fun place when it’s wet because everyone stays inside. It’s almost better to get out in it, underneath an umbrella and go to explore while the populous maximus stays inside and watches reruns of Two and a Half Men with the ever tedious Charlie Sheen.

With this noble effort in mind, we got up, got out and ventured far from the city, well, as far as we could, to get some perspective. Heading further east to Changi Village on the number 2 bus we quickly left the concrete and steel behind. There is indeed a cycle path that runs from just east of Marina Bay all the way to the airport, from there you can continue, hucking your bike onto a small boat and puttering across to Pulua Ubin to continue the two-wheeled adventure. However I’m not sure how would get a bike to Changi Village without a car if you chose not to cycle all the way? What say you live in the west of the island, can you get the bike onto the MRT or do you cycle all the way? For me I can cycle from my place to Changi Village, it would even be a reasonably pleasant excursion, sweating aside.

Changi Village is not so much a village as such but rather more of a boat-quay and beach coupling that serves as a residential area for the pretty, wild but militarily-minded east. The proximity to the airport, military bases, manufacturing for aircraft companies and of course the Changi Prison makes it a sensible area to live if you’re employed in those industries. Changi Village has a short strip of eateries and bars which are of a western orientation. We took in some dumplings at the Airport Food Court which were pleasant enough, even the deep fried durian puff, like hot custard in a crispy shell. The bars advertise their happy hours and western style to the maximum which I think says a lot for the town itself but as hot as it was we weren’t too fussed for beers this early in the afternoon.

Down on the beach there’s not much in the way of public facilities; it is simply a beach and grassland for people to use in whatever way they choose. The biggest outlet is the Bistro@Changi, a small decked area with shade right on the last point of the East Coast Park. It is somewhat expensive at S$8 for a juice, but it is the only outlet for a rehydration stop if you haven’t brought your own. It’s like the far stop at the night safari; once you’re that far across the zoo, you have no other option. Clever huh.

The beach and waves are pleasant, it’s a million miles from the city, definitely, but it’s only a few hundred meters from Changi Airport’s runway. The spectacle itself is amazing; both if you’re into planes or even if you’ve never been that close to one as it’s actually flying. Planes land every couple of minutes and when Singapore Airlines immense behemoth of a plane, the Airbus A380, flies overhead, everything shakes just a little. That aside, it’s a pretty peaceful area and nice for a change of scenery.


Shovel