We love it for a bunch of reasons, but I think the best part is that the whole situation seems more realistic: closer to how we'd expect to live and closer to the experience of local Singaporeans. Sure, it was lovely to 'awaken to a dream on the edge of tranquility' at that condo, but there are more important things than awesome pools and lounge chairs. (Which, yeah, we miss a little)
We've moved into an apartment block in Clementi that was built by the Housing Development Board (called an 'HDB'), meaning it was government-built and sold to a Singaporean at a subsidized price. There are dozens of similar HDB blocks in Clementi, built primarily in the 70s and 80s - though as we see all over Singapore, construction is constant - cranes everywhere all the time! All the necessities for daily life have grown up right alongside the apartments, giving us a taste of true city living that we've just never had - the kind where you can walk three minutes to a grocery store or market or hawker/cafe centre.
So here we go - some pictures, and some things we're digging about Clementi:
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| Dining room/living room and doors to the porch/entryway |
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| Bedroom - we hooked the extra TV to our computer. Our Game of Thrones experience was instantly more awesome. |
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| Kitchen - so many cabinets! |
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| Bathroom - the toilet seat has seashells in it! |
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| Entertainment center - holy cow! Almost everything was left by the landlord - including the Santa-hatted Johnnie Walker. |
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| Clementi Community Centre |
Right across the street (literally, we can see it from our porch) is the Clementi Community Centre. They have a gym (we're thinking about joining) including a nice big basketball court. They also offer all sorts of classes - dance, sports, and probably other stuff too (we see the t'ai chi class out on the basketball court in the morning - it's neat!).
Less than 200m from the apartment, there is nice, paved walking/running/biking path along a canal - from where we enter, you can run 3+ miles in either direction. It is well lit at night and busy enough that I feel comfortable running alone - lots of other runners around too. So Jacob & I have no excuse for not exercising...
and we'll need to, because there are hawkers on the first floors of several of the apartment blocks, along with convenience stores and small groceries stores - and even clinics! Run out of milk? It's a 5 minute errand. Cut off your finger? There is a clinic (in my insurance plan!) across the street!
The MRT and a major bus interchange are an 8-10 minute walk away, making for easy commutes in the morning. (Crowded, to be sure, but easy). There is also the Clementi Mall with a regular Fairprice grocery store and a 'Fairprice Finest' (a slightly classier, better stocked and more expensive version) - both of which are open 24hrs. Oh, and on the top floor of the mall is a public library. Maybe the only way some people would go to the library...accidentally, while trying to shop!
There is also a wet market - meat, fish, produce - behind the mall, so we have lots of options! I went there Saturday morning with my little rolling shopping basket and felt very hip and earthy - though the illusion is a bit shattered by the fact that most of the produce I buy is imported from very far away - like our New York apples! Also, fair warning, parts of the market smell just awful. Best to undertake shopping with a 'kopi peng' (iced coffee) in hand to ward off the smell.
Finally, Clementi is closer to the city than where we lived before, so my commute is now 40-45 minutes, instead of 50-55. And I'm only on the train for about 20 minutes.
All in all, we're really happy with the place we've found - and can't wait to have visitors!!
Oh - for full disclosure, and because this post sounds really rosy - there are a few drawbacks: still no oven, sketchy gas stove that has weird colored flames, some small-medium cockroaches, a few gecko sightings, 9th floor water pressure, and a really loud ac unit outside our bedroom window. But we'll manage, somehow.
And so far - NO ANTS!!!!!!!!! This makes me so very happy!
