Offer to move to Singapore from UK. Advice Sought

[katbh]

^ god I would not want to live in any of the areas in your circle with the exception of perhaps around little india if I was feeling adventurous. That is the most mind numbingly boring ring of where to live - one way to turn of potential employees!

[Hannieroo]

The problem with orchard is it's just shopping. It's actually quite hard to find somewhere to even eat that isn't upscale pre book or junk. I live at the bottom of toh tuck and there are some lovely condos around here and at the top on jalang kechil ( I think that's what it's called), plenty of supermarkets, 15 minutes to orchard and 8 minutes door to door to the new mall Jem which is a very viable shopping venue. Oasis, sephora, marks etc but without the awfulness of Ion.

[x9200]

^ god I would not want to live in any of the areas in your circle with the exception of perhaps around little india if I was feeling adventurous. That is the most mind numbingly boring ring of where to live - one way to turn of potential employees!

North-Western part, vicinity of the Botanic Gardens / Bukit Timah Rd. are pretty ok. Also good balance distance-environment for those working in the Orchard area. I agree, Orchard Rd. and its direct "offs" have nothing really attractive. Some very few shops and the rest may just disappear with no damage to the universe.

And I also agree with Hanni, Bukit Batok area is a well balanced location (well, I live there too) this includes the price-wise. Comparing to the nearby big cluster of the condos along Upper Bukit Timah, it has much better traffic situation if one needs to commute downtown.

[Mi Amigo]

^ god I would not want to live in any of the areas in your circle with the exception of perhaps around little india if I was feeling adventurous. That is the most mind numbingly boring ring of where to live - one way to turn of potential employees!

Wow, do you enjoy making sweeping generalisations to wind people up? We live in Tanjong Rhu, having returned for a second stint a couple of years ago after a spell out further East. I wouldn't call it 'mind numbingly boring' - quieter maybe, compared to some of the more hectic areas, but enjoyable to us for that very reason. I've just come back from a long walk to the Indoor Stadium, then along the river, through Gardens By The Bay, across the Marina Barrage, and back again. Boring to some perhaps, but not to others.

On the other hand, let's let everyone believe this is a terrible area to live; that'll keep the rents down.

[katbh]

^ can't say I see much street life at Tanjong Rhu.....other than other expats taking their evening constitutional ....would not call this exciting ville .....And your nearest mall is a jumped up skating rink and movie hall. Not my cup of tea - and that was what I was offering... my opinion.

Why not move further east where there is life - Tanjong Katong, Joo Chiat, East Coast Road, Marine Parade - and not so far that end you end up in bayshore....

[x9200]

So what is "life" in your opinion? From my POV there is nothing like this (i.e. street life) in Singapore at all, any place. The closest it gets are some coffee shop clusters in more remote suburbs like CCK or so where people may act more naturally. For everywhere else the differences are not even incremental.

[the lynx]

Based on your image, I'd strongly recommend anywhere along River Valley Road, Zion Road, around Novena MRT station, and also the places mentioned by Mi Amigo and x92, for the expat feel and convenience (ease of travel to Orchard shopping belt by your wife's standards).

But for a wholesome lifestyle, Toh Tuck/Upper Bukit Timah area like what Hannie mentioned has character. Cheaper day-to-day amenities are much easier to find there.

I'm very familiar with the west but not so familiar with the east side of Singapore so I will leave to other regulars like zzm9980 to suggest places.

[Mi Amigo]

^ can't say I see much street life at Tanjong Rhu.....other than other expats taking their evening constitutional ....would not call this exciting ville .....And your nearest mall is a jumped up skating rink and movie hall. Not my cup of tea - and that was what I was offering... my opinion.

Sure, if stuckmojo and his wife want 'exciting ville' (did he specify that?) then T. Rhu is probably not for them. But the circle on the map also includes parts of Geylang - I wouldn't call that 'mind numbingly boring' either. The real point I was trying to make is that making a comment like that doesn't really help much if it's so general as to be inaccurate.

Why not move further east where there is life - Tanjong Katong, Joo Chiat, East Coast Road, Marine Parade - and not so far that end you end up in bayshore....

Decent areas for sure, but the downside with those suggestions is that they are out East whereas stuckmojo's place of work will be in the West side (Toh Tuck Avenue). Also there are no MRT stations nearby (yet), which was something that he mentioned.

stuckmojo, in addition to the other suggestions from x9200 and Lynx, you might also want to consider Holland Village. It's a bit of an expat cliche in some circles, and not really my cup of tea (but I'm not the one looking); however it is quite a popular area nonetheless and does have some 'street life' (albeit mainly expat-centric) and an MRT.

Good luck in your search.

[stuckmojo]

Thanks all, really valuable comments.

We shall be looking at all the places you suggested. It seems as the further away you move from that circle, the better value for money you get.

I'll do some research.

Thanks again

[x9200]

Thanks all, really valuable comments.

We shall be looking at all the places you suggested. It seems as the further away you move from that circle, the better value for money you get.

If you go too far from the center you will have less quality places (in the Western sense). The density of shopping/entertainment/service infrastructure drops roughly linear fashion and the rental price does it exponentially (or I think along gaussian curve TBP). You need to find the right spot to serve your life style and commuting needs but unlikely this spot is within the Orchard/CBD area

[Hannieroo]

Just before HOlland Village is Ulu Pandan. Loads of condos there. 5 minutes on the bus to HV and 15 to Orchard. Walkable to Dover MRT and you're against the traffic ( it's my return home on the school run) and takes me 15 minutes in the car. Ridgewood has nice amenities. Couple of restaurants, bar, dr and shops in the complex. Right near Dempsey which has some nice places to eat. Sixth Ave might have something too.

I don't know if your wife has done expat before but the lunch and shopping thing gets old very quickly and you can find yourself feeling a bit stifled. She might find orchard tiresome sooner than she thinks.

[stuckmojo]

Just before HOlland Village is Ulu Pandan. Loads of condos there. 5 minutes on the bus to HV and 15 to Orchard. Walkable to Dover MRT and you're against the traffic ( it's my return home on the school run) and takes me 15 minutes in the car. Ridgewood has nice amenities. Couple of restaurants, bar, dr and shops in the complex. Right near Dempsey which has some nice places to eat. Sixth Ave might have something too.

I don't know if your wife has done expat before but the lunch and shopping thing gets old very quickly and you can find yourself feeling a bit stifled. She might find orchard tiresome sooner than she thinks.

Thanks Hannieroo, I have extended my search to the area including the Keppel viaduct up to Holland village now.

Realistically, I won't have time to look at too many places, but if I can create a reasonable shortlist (one/two condos per area) then I'll be ok.

As for things to do for the wife, good point. I'm aware it will be very difficult for her to find any job, so we'll be looking at alternatives, including volunteering and studying.

[the lynx]

Thanks Hannieroo, I have extended my search to the area including the Keppel viaduct up to Holland village now.

Realistically, I won't have time to look at too many places, but if I can create a reasonable shortlist (one/two condos per area) then I'll be ok.

As for things to do for the wife, good point. I'm aware it will be very difficult for her to find any job, so we'll be looking at alternatives, including volunteering and studying.

Shortlisting straight to the area(s) will do you less mental pain. Ideally you should look for the ones near your work since you'll be doing the daily commute.

As for volunteering and studying, plenty of options. The volunteer scene here is pretty ok and there is a myriad of courses and classes (unless you're talking about diploma stuff, aren't you?)

[zzm9980]

^ can't say I see much street life at Tanjong Rhu.....other than other expats taking their evening constitutional ....would not call this exciting ville .....And your nearest mall is a jumped up skating rink and movie hall. Not my cup of tea - and that was what I was offering... my opinion.

Well, maybe you should tell us what you do for excitement? Your sweeping generalization could be applied to most of Singapore. It's not like excitement abounds anywhere on this little red dot.

At least Tanjong Rhu is walking/biking distance from Gardens East, and biking from East Coast Park.

If I had friends coming here from the US who were in their 20s/30s without families, I'd suggest they live in the areas near the lower mid section of mojo's circle. If they were a bit older and or monied up, Robertson Quay (also in the circle). On a budget, along the green line in the lower south west area of the circle, or west of there (Tiong Bahru or Bukit Merah). This is based on things that may be remotely exciting to do, and really that just puts you in relative vicinity to more bars, trendy cafes, and coffee shops, than the rest of Singapore.

East Coast by Marine Parade/Joo Chiat/ Siglap is a decent compromise if you have a family. The 'bar scene' on Joo Chiat is decidedly slanted towards local's preference though. It's Orchard Towers for the Singaporean Chinese.

[Hannieroo]

Yes, a long commute affects you both and gets old fast. Every day.

I try to have a day with no plans, two days with a social/fun plan and two days of volunteering. This works for me. Look at meet up. They have groups for everything from museum trips to nights out and walking trips. Something for all.