SINGAPORE'S MOST BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBOURHOOD // KATONG IS HIP, COOL AND REALLY BEAUTIFUL!
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Жыл бұрынKatong was dubbed as the 33rd coolest neighbourhood out of a ranking of 55 around the world by Time Out so I headed out to see why and checked out some of their recomendastions.
Did you know Tanjong Katong was once a popular seaside spot for holiday makers before land reclamation pushed the coastline back? Now the area is known for its rich Peranakan history which can be spotted all around with the beautiful shophouses painted in their trademark bold colourings and decorations. Peranakan food can be found on every street from a sit down meal to snacks and confectionary.
I stepped back in time and enjoyed breakfast at a popular spot that has retained its past life, watched the rain fall and listened to the traffic and chatter whilst enjoying kaya buns and and a hot Teh.
As the rain eased off and the sun started to come out I headed off to explore spots around this packed neighbourhood. Old and new sit together with something to look at along every road. Older hardware shops in between restored shophouses give glimpses of Katong of old.
I visit a few of my favourite gift shops and discover some new ones too in the search to find out if this really is the coolest neighbourhood around and why!
Come with me and let me know what you think.
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@LinksRoyal Жыл бұрын
thank you for sharing your day with us! awesome content!
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Thank YOU for sharing it with me!
@audreyang902 Жыл бұрын
Ty tang Isn' t she is lovely , dedicated mum.. Although she lived in suburb in .Uk. Able to adapt our local cultures. Especially, thier children It's a joy to watch thier children taste all local hawker food... I , always smile watching thier journey here.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Aww thanks for your kind words. We all love it here very much.
@hiddenblush Жыл бұрын
i love watching your videos every weekend
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!! ❤️ keep joining us!!
@anderslarsson1256 Жыл бұрын
Great video as always 🤓 will put Katong on the bucketlist, it looks amazing. I have never been there during my visits since 1992. Thiong Baru has always been a steady visit during all our visits 👍 /regards from Sweden
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Nice to hear from you again. Yea I love Tiong Bahru - I’ll be adding Katong to my list of places to take visiting family and friends as the shop houses are so beautiful and can pop in and out of all the little shops.
@gerardbyrne2440 5 ай бұрын
I so love Katong and all the Peranakan Culture. First place I visit every trip to Singapore.😊
@WONDERLUSTworld 5 ай бұрын
So lovely! Have you ever been to Melaka? They have an amazing Perenakan house museum. Not sure if you’ve seen our vlogs in that area. Jonty’s grandpa was born there so we went to check it out.
@VicariousWalker Жыл бұрын
I love the shophouse buildings in Katong. Will always try to get a bowl of the Katong Laksa when I go there
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Ooh yes - that’s a great idea!! Mmmmmm laksaaaaaaaa.
@healingpossibilities44 Жыл бұрын
I’m loving the little gifty type shops too. Great vlog reminding me of our visit to the shop houses. 🦋💜
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
This area was right next to the one we went to so can see that next time too!
@CKology Жыл бұрын
Such nicely put together, super well research. Perfect narration! Bravo 👏
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Aww thanks! Nice to hear from you again.
@tonyariel168 Жыл бұрын
Reminds me of the time I wanted to open a crystal shop in Joo Chiat Place 20 years ago, Katong area has a charming vibe till now, very nice video tour!
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Thank you! Did you ever open your shop?
@patriciagoulter Жыл бұрын
We love Katong. We have stayed here twice in the three times we have been to Singapore; most recently in December. Found some Singapore Christmas decorations there, at the shop you were in, with the bicycle, and the cats. Great for presents. Thank you so much, another great video. I want to come back!
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
That shop was Cat Socrates - my mum would call that an “itchy finger” shop as so many nice things you’d want to buy!
@cheeseizblue Жыл бұрын
@@WONDERLUSTworld love that cat zu zu!
@JapanHiroshima Жыл бұрын
very nice footage
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@leesiangchang5944 Жыл бұрын
Lovely n interesting video, thank you for sharing!
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Thanks for taking the time to comment such kind words.
@markjones2781 8 ай бұрын
Hmm, Katong/Joo Chiat vise-vie Tiong Bahru. Both totally contemporary retro vibes at the forefront of where it is happening in Singapore. I can't decide which is my favourite. Fortunately, they are only a (relatively) short bus ride away from each other and I can sample both at my leisure. Mind you, when I saw the hipster woman from the pink Peranakan Houses on Koon Seng Rd had a matching pink VW Beetle car, I sort of lent towards Katong/Joo Chia as the place at the heart of Singapore.
@WONDERLUSTworld 8 ай бұрын
Agreed - both such beautiful neighbourhoods. We are split - Jonty prefers Katong and Millie prefers Tiong Bahru!
@Sgscouser Жыл бұрын
Not sure whether u know that some of the elderly would drink their coffee/tea by pouring the beverage onto the saucer as it help to dissipate the heat.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Yes!! Jonty’s dad shared this with us one time when Jonty wobbled and his kopi spilt into the saucer 🤣
@snoozkopponwotblitz2507 Жыл бұрын
You can explore Marine Parade. Just a 10-15mins walk. You will find Parkway Parade (used to be the biggest shopping mall in Singapore when launched). If you like local food, you will find hawker centre. Where you can find lots of good local food. Have fun exploring. 😊
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Ooh thanks! So many more spots in such a small neighbourhood. We LOVE local food ❤️
@Dennis-kp2bc Жыл бұрын
Hi Wonderlust, I really love to go Katong just to wonder around the area. What I like about this place is it give you the old feeling of Singapore you the old building.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Agreed!! It’s a beautiful marriage between young (hip shops and cafes) and old (shophouses etc) - clearly a very affluent area historically. The houses are so intricate and beautiful!
@raelenesharp-rc2zw Жыл бұрын
Thankyou SO much for your fabulous videos. This one is just lovely and I cannot wait to return in October. I was last in Singapore briefly 17 and 15 years ago and first time there as in 1978…I’m looking forward to so many things, especially the vegan food and cafes/restaurants. I would love to purchase a few of the gorgeous Peranakan tiles, can you recommend a tile shop? Thoroughly enjoy your observations and comments…warm regards from Perth Western Australia
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Hello! Wow I’m sure things will have changed quite a bit. There are a few places to get the tiles. A few little shops in Katong and along some of the street seller shops in Chinatown, they are under like a tent cover. Both places worth just wandering around. Thanks for taking the time to get in touch. We’re going to be in Australia soon actually!
@reddotdiva Жыл бұрын
Yayy! you visited my 'hood. I've been staying in the East side all my life. My old school building is still in existence although no longer a school. Katong is in my blood.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Oh nice!! We’ve been a few times and always love it!! Any suggestion on places I missed? We’ll be back soon 😁
@rahimresad7045 Жыл бұрын
I love travelling in the bus too and seeing the progress and development in Ulu Singapore
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Yeah! It’s great. Our kids always love to get right to the front of the double decker buses.
@leewn2319 Жыл бұрын
The sea used to be right up to the boundary edge of Katong Park. If you walk from end of Fort Rd behind Katong Park, behind The Seafront on Meyer that stretch right up to The Makena you may see a low wall that looks like a low retaining wall, this is actually the old sea wall.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Oh wow that’s amazing. I’d read about that but would love to go and stand where it actually was. Thanks.
@kelvgan Жыл бұрын
Nice! Hope you come back soon for part 2 , 3 , 4 and on and on...the whole street till geylang serai will be full of discoveries. Thanks for coming, make jonty and the kids come along next vlog here and many more series
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Hehe thanks! Jonty and the kids usually come but we’ve had a few busy weekends, that’s normally when we go out exploring together and film, with other things going on so just me this week.
@kelvgan Жыл бұрын
Joo chiat is like jonker street with more modern twist with niche fashion shops, restaurants, bars, coffee house etc the old school owners are handing over to new found brands and businesses, so all the plus points to come down and wonder more often.😊
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
We’ll have to do that soon!
@michaelseet9320 Жыл бұрын
i lived in Katong for 45 years..i went to school in katong..i went to church in katong..i cycled all over in katong..i played football in katong..Chin Mee chin was 2 mins from the house i grew up in..
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Oh lovely! Has Chin Mee Chin changed much over the years?
@impopquiz Жыл бұрын
The half floor steps for the houses are actually to prevent flooding water from entering the house way back in the day if I’m not wrong.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Ah, you know I read that Katong used to be prone to flooding so that does make sense!
@SuccessforLifester Жыл бұрын
Long ago there was a yaohan and IKEA there too and Seaview Hotel. I cannot hang out there last time after school because our school forbade us to roam around in uniform and wanted us to go home. Else it was pretty easy for me to access the area
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Oh wow 😯 I love to hear about what areas of Singapore used to look like. Thanks!
@mindawareness Жыл бұрын
i waitjng for your holland village video....
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the suggestion!
@jeremychua4622 Жыл бұрын
A neighbourhood with the most different vibe. Has almost everything
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Yeah I would agree with you there.
@noorirwan686 Жыл бұрын
Yess very cozy alley, area.. i used to live at eunos crescent 20yrs ago. I chose to walk an hour to parkway parade/ecp by joo chiat n the katong area alley n route instead of by bus😊 Btw my fave hangout place during my teens 20yrs ago was orchard road/bugis junction n paradize centre
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Oh nice! Thanks for sharing. Does it look very different now to then? I’d be interested to know what’s changed.
@noorirwan686 Жыл бұрын
@@WONDERLUSTworld yes lots of difference looking at ur video, havent been there since moving to the west. Looking more like kampong Glam
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
It does have a bit of that feel, but has managed to keep a local vibe too!
@dennisleong7866 Жыл бұрын
You should get one of the Piranakan dress , you should be nice dressing on it 😊
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
I do have one actually. It’s in one of our Chinese new year vlogs 😀
@SuccessforLifester Жыл бұрын
I12 was more classy initially with carpet. And the basement has beautiful planted aquarium tanks. Too bad it became a generic mall after the latest revamp
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Oh wow carpet inside a shopping mall? I like the open feel of this shopping mall though.
@timfitzmaurice537 Жыл бұрын
Teh tarik is the one for me if Im not on cold soft drinks
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
I’m getting us to it! But I usually go for sugar cane or ice lemon tea.
@timfitzmaurice537 Жыл бұрын
@@WONDERLUSTworld Im somewhat addicted to lime juice myself - anywhere tropical and its my go to.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
That’s Milo’s pick. And he eats the limes too!
@SuccessforLifester Жыл бұрын
Joo Chiat area some years ago was almost like a little Vietnamese area with many working Vietnamese ladies. It still has numerous Vietnamese eateries.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Oh thanks for sharing. I’m always interested in the history of areas in Singapore.
@cheeseizblue Жыл бұрын
It has been cleaned up alot - residents fought back to protect the neighborhood's precious cultural identify. No new ktv pub licenses will be given out anymore. And a good 50% decrease in numbers in last decade or so, according to the police. Yay, joo chiat can finally return to its organic nature. (at one point it really looked like the old quarters of hanoi and full of illegal hostesses spilling over the sidewalks, nightmare on haha, JC street!)
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Woah! I had no idea about this aspect of its past! How long ago was this?
@cheeseizblue Жыл бұрын
@@WONDERLUSTworld the peak of this was around 2000 if I didnt recall wrongly. Almost every other shop for rent was taken by KTV pubs or illicit massage parlor. You would hear Vietnamese spoken at every corner, it smells like Vietnamese streets, fights breaking out amongst drunken unbuttoned shirt men, working ladies with clothes the size of handkerchief on them smiling with intent at any male passerby... Now, Joo Chiat-Katong is traditionally occupied by upper/ middle-class families with strong cultural lineage, so they fought back with a working group that gotten the attention at parliament seating. Joo chiat's sleaze cleaned up after numerous pubs and parlors were shut down by 2010s. Pandemic almost choked their last breath, all the working ladies couldn't fly in from Vietnam. when shops were slowly allowed to re-open for businesses, the pubs had to pivot to F&B. Also, there was a huge national uproar when one hostess spread covid to numerous patrons when she was infected by her boyfriend. Then we had to suffer another round of national lock down!!!! 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️😅😅
@bookwormfaith Жыл бұрын
oh nice! which kim choo did you go to?
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
One in Katong!
@leewn2319 Жыл бұрын
In the old days when u mentioned that u live along Katong Meyer Rd, people will associate u from a rich family.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Ooh fancy! I guess I can see why with all the shop houses about.
@audreyang902 Жыл бұрын
Do drop by The Cheese shop @ 267 , joo chiat rd..
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
😯 cheese is my favourite!!
@syarifahnajwa5491 Жыл бұрын
@@WONDERLUSTworld mine too🧀
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
🤤
@johnlim549 Жыл бұрын
Coolest or most beautiful neighbourhood? Which is which? I would pick Tiong Bahru estate as the most beautiful but Katong does have the coolest vibe in its food, cafes and shops 👍
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Hey there, I think I’d agree with you there. I love the style of buildings in Tiong Bahru. But I also love the shop houses of Katong. What do you love about Tiong Bahru?
@SuccessforLifester Жыл бұрын
Looks like you were on a solo trip? Where was Jonty??
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Jonty was at work, we’ve had a couple of busy weekends with other engagements so I filmed in the week.
@tonyquek6157 Жыл бұрын
East Coast is the best! 👍
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Hehe so you stay in the East? What are your favourite spots?
@tonyquek6157 Жыл бұрын
I grew up in the East, use to visit the beach along east coast before it was reclaimed to be Marine Parade now. Love the makan places n the former movie cinemas in Marine Parade n Parkway Parade. Reminiscing now 😂
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
I didn’t realise so much land had been reclaimed! When was that??
@tonyquek6157 Жыл бұрын
East Coast land reclamation project was completed in 1985 after 22 years of reclamation work.
@alanchiam4546 Жыл бұрын
Coolest and the most expensive place, too commercialised
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Although there are some new places here I feel it’s keeping its old style charm. There are lots of options too for a less expensive day out in the same area - just take a little more exploring to find.
@mindawareness Жыл бұрын
pls visit holland village.... really a nice place too
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
The second to say that! Thanks for the suggestion.
@gli7279 Жыл бұрын
I12 means I want to
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
I want to…spend money? 😆
@mindawareness Жыл бұрын
its raining heavt today
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
It was very on and off 🌧️
@gotmyonu1027 Жыл бұрын
Lets hope the overly ambitious govt won't turn this last remaining place into something unrecognizable!!!
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
There’s lots of other beautiful neighbourhoods out there! But yes, I’m sure they’ll protect and conserve this area and the shophouses!
@jeremychua4622 Жыл бұрын
Totally biased statement .. 😅
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Haha according to the internet! I really like Tiong Bahru actually as my favourite place to wander about and take my visiting family too.
@jeremychua4622 Жыл бұрын
@WONDERLUST I do have some family staying there as well, and I must agree ... a very diff. feel to the neighbourhood plus close to the city. We'll just have to share top spots ..😅
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Please do!
@dtang3288 Жыл бұрын
Tip: instead of showing so much of your pretty face and yourself talking, I'm sure viewers would like to see more of the Katong views instead.
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tip - and thanks for watching our channel! We actually have a new series of videos coming out really soon that will have none of my pretty face, and none of my husband’s pretty face either. Do subscribe so you don’t miss out and I hope the new content is more to your liking 😊 Have a great day!
@syarifahnajwa5491 Жыл бұрын
I love to see Mille beautiful face when she's talking🥰😊🙃🙂
@WONDERLUSTworld Жыл бұрын
Heheh - thank you!
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