TIONG BAHRU or CHINESE GARDENS?

[theodoros]

hi there,

happy new year, full of health !

we are a family of 4, with 2 babies and i will be a stay-in dad,
while wife will be working at the NUS, near clementi on the west coast.

we have only been here for 10 days, viewing properties non stop..and getting used to the weather...

we have found so far 2 great three bed flats that suit us, with very logical rental price, BUT... we are torn as to where to live!

1 is at park oasis condos(8-10 years old),with great views, massive pool, gym, bbq etc... right opposite chinese gardens mrt => which is a 30 minute mrt trip to the center and a 20 minute mrt+bus trip, to wife's work....
quite a few hawkers stalls, bakeries, 7/11 and food courts around the nearby hdb's and of course the lovely chinese gardens fields for walks with the buggy/kids.....

the other one is near tiong bahru at an older condo(20 years) with massive rooms, all new appliances... small pool though and no gym... etc.....
this is a great central location, very close to centre but it will be a 1 km walk to the mrt station and another 40 mins train and bus ride to the NUS... for my wife...

what would your advice be;

shall we live somewhere central and enjoy life near the river, china town, tiong bahru's wet market and food courts, etc.... or maybe choose a quieter kind of isolated life;? at chinese gardens;;;;

(a taxi to return at home nightime from the river, guess will be around 18-20$sg);;!!

wife doesn't mind commuting as she believes that it will be 'healthier' for me and the babies to be close to tiong bahru's wet market, china town, orchard, vivo shopping center,sendosa cable cars, etc...

i am torn... as i believe that she might get really tired travelling for 1.5 hours a day, back and forth...in the heat or rain.....


decisions...decisions....decisions..............................

would appreciate your valuable input,
as you know how life goes in here better than us!

ANY PERSONAL THOUGHTS/CHOICES.. WOULD BE GREAT!

regards and happy new year to all!

theo [/i]

[k1w1]

I would go to Parc Oasis. It's a nice condo and there will be lots of other families living there for you and your kids to meet up with. Even if that doesn't work out, it's easy enough for you and the kids to get on a train/bus and travel somewhere to meet people (you might want to check out ANZA - they have a playgroup for stay-at-home Dad's. It's called "Secret Men's Business", I think). I think keeping day-to-day work commutes as short as possible is a good idea...

The area around Chinese Gardens is beautiful, and I would move there in a hearbeat. Plus, Jurong has everything and anything you could need and is right by you there too.

On the other hand, if you were to stay central-ish in Tiong Bahru, you could look at getting a car for your wife to travel to work and back in. The drive would take less than 20 minutes, for sure, and then you and the kids wouldn't feel like you are living a million miles from everyone (which you might feel like in the beginning, as most expats live fairly centrally). You can get cheapish cars (well, cheapish for Singapore) and this might be something to consider, especially for family outings at the weekends etc.

[Addadude]

If I'm not mistaken, the older condo you are talking about is Theresa Ville - http://www.singaporeexpats.com/singapor ... -ville.htm

It's not really all that near to Tiong Bahru and Delta Road is a busy road - plus you are right beside the AYE expressway which is pretty noisy. I looked at a unit there myself some years ago, but found it (the unit anyway) a bit rundown.

Parc Oasis is newer and the location is convenient for NUS.

Perhaps, and I know I'm just adding more confusing options, you should check out the condos around Pasir Panjang Road. Thye should fall within your budget and are very close to NUS while being only a little further from Orchard Road than Theresa Ville. I like the Pasir Panjang area very much although there is quite a bit of construction work going on tere at the moment.

[theodoros]

thankyou all for the kind inputs.


it will be park oasis and we are very happy for the choice.

kindest regards

theodoros

[durain]

good choice. enjoy your stay in singapore.