Compared to glitzy neighbour Vivocity, the ambience at Telok Blangah and Bukit Merah is decidedly laid-back. But that itself is an attraction.
Before there was Tiong Bahru in the 1930s or Queenstown in the 1950s, there was Telok Blangah.
Snobs may well consider the shopping here to be stuck in a 19th-century time warp, what with its small neighbourhood shops being overshadowed by the glitz of the sprawling Vivocity nearby.
However, Urban uncovered some nice surprises, such as the nyonya snack store in Telok Blangah rise run by Shreen Peck, 57, and her husband, 61. Ask Lim why he chose this spot for his business and he says: The ambience here is very laid-back, very quiet and nice. (This couple looks so familiar to me, I have often seen them before...)Currently, driving or using the feeder bus service are the best ways to navigate these two neighbourhoods, which include the sprawling Mount Faber. The upcoming Telok Blangah MRT station on the Circle Line should make shopping here more of a breeze soon.
To find out more about the variety of shops and eateries in HDB estates, visit www.hdb.gov.sg/where2shop.
Fast Facts:
At 105m, Mount Faber is Singapore's second highest point after Bukit Timah Hill. Today, the 36m-high Henderson Waves bridge - the highest pedestrian bridge here - links Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill Park.
Recommended shops:
Teck Neo Pineapple Tarts, 01-303 Blk 35 Telok Blangah Rise, Tel: 6275-1330
Ms Black (black glass jelly soya milk) 01-1702, Blk 111 Jalan Bukit Merah, Tel: 9101-4528
Tian Tian Hainanese Curry Rice, 01-253 Blk 116 Bukit Merah View, Tel 9821-0200







