Changi Village Hotel stands in a swathe of lush greenery that is sanctuary for several species of birds, seemingly unperturbed by the area’s chequered history. The Singapore Airshow site, Changi Airfreight Centre, Airport Logistics Park and the industrial parks at Changi North and Loyang Industrial Estate are less than 15-minutes’ drive from the hotel. A free shuttle service connects the hotel to Changi International Airport.

Despite its proximity to many business-oriented precincts, Changi Village is undeniably laid-back. Over weekends, this serenity is briefly interrupted as the hive of activities injects a measure of excitement and a change of pace.

Visitors keen on soft adventure and nature must take a stroll on the Changi Point Boardwalk or head over to Pulau Ubin, the final bastion of village life in Singapore. Remnants of granite quarries and prawn farms are today masked by nature’s cover. On the island’s eastern extremity, the sandbanks of Chek Jawa await the intrepid explorer. A bicycle offers ample opportunities for physical exercise and represents the most effective mode of transportation here.

Changi Village has a surprising array of food outlets that attract Singaporeans seeking a respite from the daily grind. Little shopping options exist but on Saturdays, a flea market operates from dusk to midnight.

A short bus ride away, Changi Prison Chapel and Museum articulate Singapore’s wartime history during the World War II. War veterans and their families continue to visit this chapel to remember the war’s fallen heroes and heroines.

It does not matter if one relishes the quiet ambience or seeks echoes of the past. Changi Village’s rustic charms promise to soothe and rejuvenate.

Changi Point Boardwalk
In front of Changi Village Hotel and to the left of the Changi Point Ferry Terminal

The Changi Point Boardwalk hugs the coastline offering views of Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong and Malaysia’s Johore state. Cool mornings and balmy evenings are best for such a stroll, especially combined with a sunrise or sunset. The boardwalk is also popular with anglers hoping to land a sea bass, grouper or even a sting ray.

Pulau Ubin (Granite Island)
Ferry charges
S$2.50 (passenger), S$2.00 (bicycle)
Ferry operation
0530 – 2130 hrs (boat departs when there are 12 passengers)

Just 15 minutes by boat from Changi Point, Pulau Ubin exudes a rural charm that is a throwback to the 1970s. Today, about a hundred villagers continue living here and most still depend on their wells for fresh water. A bicycle is the best way to take in the island’s verdant nature, granite quarry, prawn farms, Taoist and Buddhist temples and villages. An information kiosk is located near the jetty.

Changi Prison Chapel and Museum
1000 Upper Changi Road North
Opening hours: 0930 – 1700 hrs

The museum moved from its original location at Changi Prison to the present lush surroundings in 2001. Its exhibits recount the Japanese occupation of Singapore – then re-named Syonan-to (Light of the South). There are also heart-warming stories of heroes and heroines as well as artworks by prisoners of war. Paintings by Bombardier Stanley Warren in the St. Luke’s Chapel have been faithfully replicated in the museum. Books on the war are stocked in a library and visitors can read these on the spot and a museum shop offers a variety of exclusive souvenirs.

Chek Jawa Wetlands (Pulau Ubin)
Chek Jawa Wetlands (Pulau Ubin)
Opening hours: 0830 – 1800 hrs

Walks are conducted once each quarter (S$60 per group of up to 15 people)
Online bookings for guided tours at www.nparks.gov.sg. Rubber boots are ideal. Sports shoes are fine (but they will be grimy at the end of the walk). No slippers permitted for safety reasons.

Come face to face with life on the wetlands of Chek Jawa at low tide. You would be surprised by its rich bio-diversity and its role in the food-chain. Keep a look out for ships passing close to shore or jets taking off and landing at nearby Changi International Airport.

Changi Beach Park
Changi Beach Park
Nicoll Drive

In spite of its dark past as the site of the Sook Ching massacre by the Japanese soldiers during WW2, Changi Beach Park is a popular camping ground for Singaporeans. On weekends, families and many foreign workers relax in this park. A bistro and a bicycle rental kiosk are located near to car park no. 2.

Sree Ramar Temple
51 Changi Village Road
Opening hours: 0600 – 1200hrs and 1830 – 2100 hrs

This temple began humbly as a shrine under a tree until a British Indian Army officer secured a plot of land around the shrine at the end of World War II. Construction was completed in 1949 and the temple’s auspicious orientation to the sea and the east make it a guardian for Changi Village. Besides serving the growing Hindu congregation, the temple is unique in having statues of Lord Buddha and Guan Yin the Goddess of Mercy to cater to the needs of non-Hindu devotees.

Flea Market
Blocks 1, 4 and 5, Changi Village Road
Opening hours: 1700 – 2359 hrs (Saturdays)

On Saturday evenings, a pasar malam (night market) springs up and there is no telling what one might find here – an antique dresser or rare movie posters. Other enterprising vendors sell hand-made jewellery, cupcakes, branded leather goods and clothes. Out-of-print books sometimes also surface at this flea market.

Dining Out

The food centre at Block 2 and the stalls and restaurants along Changi Village Road collectively offer a huge variety of local and regional cuisines. For something truly Singaporean, head to the food centre and try roti john – a grilled French bread/egg/onion ensemble created during the colonial era – and wash it down with local drinks in a variety of flavours including coconut, pineapple and lemon with jelly.