Toh Wen Li

Who says Singapore is boring? Enjoy the view on these five public bus rides, hop o� to explore the sights, and see the island from a fresh perspective

Hop on for a scenic spin

TOA PAYOH INTERCHANGE> BUONA VISTA TERMINAL 145

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SHOPHOUSES, MONUMENTS AND CRANES

BUKIT PANJANG INTERCHANGE> LIM CHU KANG ROAD 975

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LIM CHU KANG HERITAGEROAD

SEMBAWANG INTERCHANGE> LORONG 1 GEYLANG TERMINAL980

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LEAFY AVENUES AND NATURE WALKS

Photo

TEXT: TOH WEN LI PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI, NG SOR LUAN, DESMOND FOO, TIMOTHY DAVID, TOH WEN LI, LIANHE ZAOBAO SUNDAY TIMES GRAPHICS: LEE HUP KHENG, LIM KAILITEXT: TOH WEN LI PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI, NG SOR LUAN, DESMOND FOO, TIMOTHY DAVID, TOH WEN LI,

Interchange/terminal

NOTE: The 518 and 975 buses are loop services.

AYER RAJAHEXPRESSWAY

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Sembawang

Punggol(temporary)

Pasir Ris

BuonaVista

Toa Payoh

Lorong 1 Geylang

BukitPanjang

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Interchange/terminal

NOTE: The 518 and 975 buses are loop services.

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NOTE: The 518 and 975 buses are loop services.

SELETAREXPRESSWAY

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BuonaVista

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TAMPINESTAMPINESEXPRESSWAYEXPRESSWAY

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Pasir Ris

Service 145: Central Fire Station.

PASIR RIS INTERCHANGE> ORCHARD 518

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SIGHTS AT ORCHARD AND MARINA BAY

TIP: The loop takes more than 2½ hours – perfect if you want some time alone with your thoughts. Alternatively, hop on at Bedok North MRT station or Moulmein Road. Do not forget to head to the bathroom �rst. Your bladder will thank you later.

Orchard Road areaGo “window-shopping” as the bus takes you past popular malls such as Far East Plaza, Tang Plaza, Ion Orchard and Wisma Atria.

Benjamin Sheares BridgeSingapore’s longest bridge takes you across Marina Bay, with a �nal view of the ArtScience Museum on the left, and the Singapore Flyer (below) on the right. It then curves to the east and crosses the water again with a view of the pointy-roofed Costa Rhu apartment blocks. Look to the left for a glimpse of Suntec City, The Concourse and Golden Mile Complex, as you journey back to the east.

The integrated resort looms large, with the Singapore Flyer to the left and the ArtScience Museum and Helix Bridge (above) to the right.

Bras Basah RoadKeep an eye out for the School of the Arts, Rendezvous Hotel and Raf�es Hotel.

Suntec City Fountain of Wealth

Marina Bay Sands

TIP: Try to sit on the right side of the bus on this route, which takes more than 1½ hours. If you ride the bus in the opposite direction – starting from Buona Vista Terminal – expect different views of Bras Basah, Bugis and Chinatown. It may also be harder to get a glimpse of the Keppel Harbour cranes.

TIP: This route takes you through tree-lined avenues in air-conditioned comfort – a relaxing 1½-hour ride, but you will not see many of these attractions without hopping off. Visit safedistparks.nparks.gov.sg to check how crowded a park or nature reserve is before heading down.

TIP: The ride takes less than 1½ hours. You can cut the travelling time down to an hour if you alight before Khatib MRT station.

TIP: Watch out for traf�c if you alight on Lim Chu Kang Road. The entire route takes about 1½ hours.Do not do this trip after dark – you will not be able to see much, aside from your re�ection. Service 172, which begins at Choa Chu Kang Interchange, will take you down Jalan Bahar, where more cemeteries are.If you want to explore the farms and nature reserves in Lim Chu Kang, opt for the Kranji countryside express bus, which stops at Kranji MRT station every day.

PUNGGOL TEMPORARY INTERCHANGE> SEMBAWANG INTERCHANGE 117

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YISHUN DAM AND SELETAR AEROSPACE

Kampong GlamLook out for Sultan Mosque on the left. You can alsoalight before the mosque to explore Arab Street.

ChinatownKeep an eye out for the Sri Mariamman Temple and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (right), both on the right side of the bus.

Tanjong Pagar RoadOld shophouses and Housing Board blocks are juxtaposed against the HDB’s Pinnacle @ Duxton, Singapore’s �rst 50-storey public housing project.

Keppel HarbourAfter turning into Keppel Road, look left for a view of large cranes (right).

Holland VillageDisembark at Block 46 in Holland Drive and walk over for some grub at the popular dining destination.

Cable carsSpot them in the distance after HarbourFront MRT station.

Christian cemetery(right)To the left, as you ride down Old Choa Chu Kang Road and approach the junction with Jalan Bahar.

Chinese cemetery

Henderson WavesLook up after Telok Blangah Heights to get a glimpse of the Henderson Waves bridge (right). Alight if you fancy a stroll through Mount Faber Park or Telok Blangah Hill Park.

Old Hill Street Police Station

Boat QuaySpot Parliament House to the left of the bus.

Central Fire Station

Hai Inn Temple

Cheng Tai Nursery

Lim Chu Kang heritage roadStretching between the junction with Ama Keng Road and the junction with Sungei Gedong Road, this road was built in the 1800s to serve the gambier, pepper and rubber plantations and used to be lined with single- and two-storey residences and shophouses. Broad-leafed mahogany, angsana and rubber trees can be found here.

Neo Tiew estateThis abandoned HDB estate next to the junction with Neo Tiew Road consists of three-storey blocks of �ats and had a wet market and playground. Residents moved out in 2002 after an en bloc sale, and it was later used by the Singapore Armed Forces for training.

Sembawang Hot Spring ParkAlight at Block 114 in Sembawang Road and walk to the park located off Gambas Avenue. Relax at the hot spring (right), enjoy the greenery and cook some eggs while you are at it.

Chong Pang CityYishun New Town’s �rst neighbourhood centre.

Springleaf Nature Park

Plant nurseriesAlight opposite Dieppe Barracks and walk down Bah Soon Pah Road to explore the nurseries. Beware of oncoming traf�c as there is no sidewalk.

Thomson Nature ParkAlight before Tagore Drive to explore nature trails and check out the ruins of a Hainan Village.

Lower Peirce ReservoirHop off before Sembawang Hills Food Centre, cross the road and walk down Old Upper Thomson Road towards Lower Peirce Boardwalk. There are nurseries in the area too. This bus also passes MacRitchie Reservoir.

Seletar Aerospace ParkAlight at Seletar Aerospace Drive, before Seletar Aerospace Rise. Cross the road and see if you can spot the broad-leafed mahogany heritage trees near the bus stop. Keep walking towards Seletar Aerospace Park – home to black and white colonial bungalows-turned-restaurants such as Wheeler’s Estate and The Summerhouse.

Lower Seletar Reservoir ParkAlight opposite Block 816 in Yishun Avenue 1 and walk to Lower Seletar Reservoir to soak in the views.

Orto recreational parkAlight at the bus stop opposite Yishun Sports Hall or walk over from Lower Seletar Reservoir. Check out The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum and try your hand at prawning or �shing (right) before enjoying a meal at one of the eateries there.

Seletar AerospaceSpot the planes on the right.

Yishun Dam

7 Singapore Polo Club and Mount Pleasant heritage roadAlight opposite the Singapore Polo Club and walk down Mount Pleasant Road. Take a stroll down the heritage road that begins after Denham Road and soak in the sights of saga trees and elegant pre-war homes (right).

Hay DairiesAlight opposite Lim Chu Kang Lane 4 and walk down the lane to visit Singapore’s only goat farm.

Police Coast Guard and jetty (right)The bus makes a u-turn here. Buses leaving Bukit Panjang Interchange after 10.50pm terminate at the Police Coast Guard stop.

Can you spot….The different bus stop designs? Look out for the quirky yellow-blue angles in Tampines, the hefty beige-brown slabs outside Far East Plaza, and house-like bus stops along Tanjong Pagar Road.

for route 980 ---> the art was fine originally, should still say "sembawang interchange"it was the food centre, listed below in the highlights, that needs to be changed to "Sembawang Hills Food Centre"