Strictly speaking, the Portsdown road residential area is a not a park. There are many old black and white apartments and some detached houses that have been there for ages. All these houses probably belong to URA and are rented out mostly to expatriates and some locals. While many have been fully refurbished and well occupied, some apartments have certainly seen better days and are undergoing various forms of conservation works to preserve their conditions.
Nested in an enclave between the busy AYE (Ayer Rajah Expressway opposite of the Science Park), the rustic Tanglin Halt estate and the newly developed Fusionopolis high tech zone, it feels almost like Alice in wonderland. The beautifully lined up trees, trimmed bushes and eyeful of greeneries offer visitors a huge respite from the hustling and bustling slew of activities just a stone throw away. Once you enter into this special twilight zone, you’ll immediately feel yourselves being transported into a serene sanctuary, almost like another world of its own!
Yet at the fringe of portsdown road, there are some interesting art schools and eateries to bring your families there to unwind and enjoy its unique ambience. The most historic must-visit place would have to be the famous Colbar restaurant. It was literally moved piece by piece (rock by rock, wood by wood, and metal by metal) a few hundred metres across to its current site due to residents’ feedback when a new road connecting AYE to Commonwealth/Queenstown area destined the building to be bulldozed over. There are sign boards in this restaurant explaining the historical significance of this place. As for the food it serves, if you enjoy hearty and greasy English breakfast, you would have a field day! Otherwise, just stick to the standard zi-char items. Oh yes, it’s a great place to enjoy a couple of beers with buddies in the evening too…so long as you don’t mind the mozzies that happen to come out for their dinner too! :-p
While you are making plan for your first or next exploring trip there, do allow your eyes to feast on these photos below.
God bless you!
Francis How
11th January, 2015
John How (Teacher for life) - His teaching passion lives on... 