My Blog, My Thoughts, My Reflections: Discovering Sembawang

Singapore is such a small place and i believe many of us always complian that it's either boring or well, there are not many places to go. One place which i will like to recommend is Sembawang. It's an area which i hardly go to .... coz. well, the truth is that there are no reasons why i should be there. I have very few friends who are staying at the far-north. I only know one who's at Woodlands and another couple who's staying in Sembawang.

It's an interesting place with lots to offer and discover. I was there yesterday morning with my colleagues and boss. We had a good time in the car talking about our fond memories of Sembawang and of course, the topic always ends up with food.

- FIRST STOP - SEMBAWANG COUNTRY CLUB -
The reason why we came to Sembawang yesterday morning was actually to visit Sembawang Country Club. We were going to host an event there and came to recee the golf course. I've been to some country clubs recently due to work but it's actually my first time at this club.

First of all, it was quite a scenic drive from upper thomson road. There was a stretch of road which was surrounded by lots of trees and nature. It was quite a breath-taking sight.

It was also only yesterday do i know that in the old days, the course was built by the British Royal Marines right in their own backyard, so to speak, in their camp for their own enjoyment. The airfore base is still there, taken over by the Singapore Armed Forces, who also manages the "Sembawang Country Club".

As explained by the staff, the club is one of the safest in Singapore. I wonder what he meant. Firstly, only SAF staff are allowed to be members of the club. And secondly, it is very near to Nee Soon Camp (just 1.2km away). OK ... now i understand.

The club is also known as the "Commando Course" as it is hilly and undulating with narrow fairways. The staff at the club also took us around the course in a buggy. Reminds me of the wonderful time when i was at the Vines Golf Resort in Perth some years back.

- SECOND STOP - SEMBAWANG PARK -
Most of us hardly go to Sembawang Park. I've only been there once several years back. And since we were near the park, we decided to check the place out. We saw squariels at one of the trees near the carpark.

Sembawang Park is a tranquil park with distinct blue dice design and it faces the Johore straits.The park has interesting links to the naval history of Singapore; the Beaulieu House, the Sembawang jetty and the remains of the 1920s Seletar Pier still stand in the park, reflecting the past.

The Sembawang Shipyard to the west of the park was a British Naval Base from 1938 to 1968. My colleague pointed the shipyard excitedly when we passed by. Well, she used to work there for many years. The park is also surrounded by other places of historical interest like the Admiralty House, Kampong Wak Hassan, Masjid Petempatan Melayu Sembawang and Sembawang memorial.

Original plan was to have lunch at Belieau House at the park. The seaside house served as residence for Senior Fleet Officers in the past. But there was a change of plans. Boss said that in the past, Belieau House serves chinese food. But seems that they have now changed it to western which boss wasn't keen. So recommended boss to this restaurant called Buckaroos which is across the stree (at Andrews Ave). Unfortunatedly, it was closed for lunch.

One of the places which i have always wanted to check it out is this place called Bottle Village. But i wasn't sure where it is. So i was excited when i saw the sign at the junction of the road. So change of plans, we decided to check out Bottle Village instead. I was surprise that none of my colleagues have heard about this place.

- THIRD STOP - BOTTLE TREE VILLAGE -

This little-known weekend haunt has a lovely seaside resort feel to it.The Bottle Tree Village is the brainchild of Mr Alex Neo, who was so fascinated by the Bottle Trees that he saw in Australia that he just had to have some of them shipped over to Singapore. The Village which occupies the former Sembawang Sea Sports Centre is now home to 6 of these Bottle Trees, also known as Brachychiton rupestris which are native to south-west Queensland in Australia. Each tree cost $30,000.

Two of the oldest and largest of the bottle trees (named after the bottle-like shape of its trunk) now in Singapore are more than 100 years old and it takes about four adults, holding hands, to hug the tree. A mature bottle tree can grow up to 12 metres tall.

Apart from bottle trees, grass trees, giant ferns and palms, also imported from Australia can be seen around the Bottle Tree Village.

I had lunch there and the view is quite nice as the decked area overlooks the Johor Straits. The only flipside to this idyllic escape, is that Bottle Tree Village is tucked far away off Sembawang Road.