Bedok

Bedok is a neighborhood situated in the eastern part of Singapore, as part of District 16. Bedok New Town is considered to be the fifth HDB new town in Singapore and houses 58,000 HDB units, which are home to more than 200,000 residents.

As expected from a residential area as important as Bedok, residents have access to a variety of amenities and facilities. Bedok offers also one of the best waterfront avenues in Singapore, Baywater, which is located along the Bedok Reservoir that spans across 88 hectares, in the north part of Bedok New Town.

Historical background

The name “bedok” is mentioned for the first time in 1604, in a map of Singapore created by Manuel Gomes, who wrote about sune bodo (Sungei Bedok), as a reference to the Bedok River. The name Bedok appears once again in the first detailed map of Singapore, designed by Frankin and Jackson, and reproduced in the 1828 book of John Crawfurd. In this map, Bedok refers to the east coast of the island, as well as the river, Bedok S., and is located around a small red cliff, which today is part of Tanah Merah.

Bedok has been developed since 1973, with new roads such as Bedok Plain, Bedok Highway and Bedok Heights being open and offering easy access to the surrounding neighborhoods. In 1979, the New Upper Changi Road was inaugurated, and later on, between 1983 and 1988, the Bedok Reservoire and Kaki Bukit were rising at the horizon.

As expected, there is not much left of the old Bedok area, but this is only because the neighborhood has made room for new and modern condos, apartments and rooms for rent. However, due to the presence of the Bedok Reservoire Park, the area is scenic and offers the perfect setting for many outdoor activities.

Amenities and facilities

Bedok is quite a large HDB estate and houses mostly 3-room and 4-room condos and apartments. Besides the 58,000 HDB units, the neighborhood is also home to 2,700 and 583 units of executive and Housing Urban Development Corporation flats. The area around Tanah Merah MRT is dominated by private houses. The Baywater region situated near the Bedok Reservoir, and Bedok Court, that offers amazing views out over the HDB estates to the ocean, are some of the most popular neighborhoods for those who prefer spectacular views.

These are great choices when searching for rooms for rent, roommates and flatmates. Since is home to many commercial buildings, such as Siglap Shopping Center, Bedok Point, Tampines Mall, IKEA & Courts superstore and Crescendo Building, and also the beautiful Bedok Reservoir Park, the area attracts more and more young people who prefer to live with roommates or choose one of the many rooms for rent.

Moreover, Bedok is located just a stone throw away from the foodie haven of East Cost Park, famous for its mouthwatering seafood, like barbecue sotong (squid) and its beachside dining establishments. For more barbecued seafood, there is always the Bedok Corner, situated where Bedok Road meets Upper East Coast Road.

The Bedok Reservoir Park is a great setting for outdoor activities. It covers a surface of 417,000 m2 and is accessible from Bedok Reservoir Road. By 2016, it will also be linked to the East Coast Park by a 3,8 km green corridor.

The park is an oasis of relaxation and a favorite spot for joggers and water sports enthusiasts. It is also a great destination for fishing, canoeing, boating, bird watching and, above all, relaxation. Finding itself under the spell of over 14,000 wetland plants and serenity spots, such as the Floating Deck, this park invites to meditation and relaxation in the heart of nature.

Bedok is home to prominent schools, like the United World College, which includes kindergarten, primary and secondary courses, and Bedon West Primary School. The Singapore University of Technology and Design Changi campus is set to be inaugurated in 2015.

Transportation

The Bedok neighborhood is served by the Bedok MRT Station, situated at the south-west corner of Bedok Town Center. Adjacent to the MRT station, there is the Bedok Interchange, which is a major bus terminal that connects to intra-neighborhood routes and intercity bus lines. SMRT Buses also operate in Bedok, having as destination Yishun and Tampines Retail Park.

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Photo credits: Flamingo figurines at Bedok by Dickson Phua – used under CC BY