Shrouded amongst the sleek concretes buildings and smooth cemented roads is a beautiful cluster of old and rustic houses that make up Singapore’s very last kampong.

While most of Singapore’s kampongs have given way to tall HDB flats, chic condominiums and massive shopping malls, Kampong Lorong Buangkok remains untouched by time and this little plot of land is a reminder of Singapore’s golden yesteryears.

One foot in and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a completely different country; low-rise single storey houses, old dirt roads and exposed telephone wires are surrounded by thick, lush greenery. If you’re up for a nostalgic experience, this is the perfect place to head to.

The land was originally a swamp that was later on bought over in 1956 by a traditional medicine seller, Sng Teow Koon. The land was then rented out to Malay and Chinese families to build their houses. At one point, around 40 families lived in the kampong, but as times changed and more people moved out, only about 30 families continue to reside in the premises. 

We love how everything here is much more relaxed and slow-paced as compared to the hectic hustle and bustle of the city.

There is only one main entrance to the kampong along a long, bumpy road. Look out for the sign that neatly spells out ‘Kg. Lorong Buangkok’ and you’ll know that you’re at the right place.

The one-storey houses here have evidently stood the test of time. Made of wood with zinc roofs, many of them were a little run down but yet at the same time, you have to remember that the houses here are least half a century old so that is inevitable. 

Instead of proper cement walkways, there were plenty of long, winding dirt paths connecting the various houses.

You may even chance upon a furry friend or two!

You also get to see the people who live here go about their daily activities. While walking in, we saw a sweet old lady coming back after doing her grocery shopping and we also saw a man doing some carpentry in the backyard of his home.

We love how the entire place is surrounded by such lush greenery; the beauty of Mother Nature!

We also realised that here, the electrical wires remained exposed, unlike the rest of Singapore.

All in all, it was certainly a humbling and memorable experience that we are sure to remember for a lifetime. Amongst Singapore’s fast-past city life which focuses on economic growth and keeping up with the times, it’s crucial for us to remember our past to remind ourselves of how far Singapore has come from our kampong days.

Kampong Lorong Buangkok 
7 Lor Buangkok
Singapore 547557
Nearest Station: Layar LRT Station

Whether you’re a history buff, or you’d simply like to find out more about our country, here are 12 interesting things that you never knew about Singapore.

1. WE ARE MORE LIKE AN ARCHIPELAGO

Despite our size, Singapore is actually made up of one main island and 62 smaller ones around us. You might be familiar with Pulau Ubin and St. John’s Island, but there’re others like Lazarus Island, Pulau Serangoon (also known as Coney Island), and Pulau Satumu (where Raffles Lighthouse is located at) as well.

2. WE PAY FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING

Now, it’s no secret to most that we’re known as a “fine” country, as we are liable to get charged for things like littering, importing or selling chewing gum, feeding monkeys, consuming food and drink on public transports and so on. But getting fined a sum of $1,000 for not flushing a public toilet? That’s news to us, considering how often we have come across exceedingly dirty public washrooms.

3. OUR NATIONAL LANGUAGE IS ACTUALLY MALAY

This is due to historical reasons, as the lingua franca of the island was originally Malay. English was made the primary language during British rule, and was used after independence, to unite the races. However, we do use Malay in other aspects, such as our national anthem, and military commands.

4. WE ARE IN THE WRONG TIMEZONE

Technically, we’re supposed to be running our clocks 30 minutes behind, as our correct timezone is in GMT+7.30. But we opted to follow in Peninsula Malaysia’s footsteps to be 30 minutes ahead of our original time in 1982, to facilitate better transactions between both countries. We are also in the same timezone as Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei and Perth.

5. WE ARE ONE OF THE THREE CITY-STATES IN THE WORLD

As it turns out, we are not alone – in being a city-state, that is. For the uninitiated, a city-state consists of one central city and its surrounding territories, and is being ruled by one independent government. And there are three of us today, including the Vatican City and Monaco.

6. WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE TO THANK FOR OUR EARLY START

Although Sir Stamford Raffles is the founder of modern Singapore, the person who was responsible for the development of this nation, was the first British Resident, Major-General William Farquhar. While Raffles drew up his plan for Singapore, Farquhar was the one who implemented these policies, as Raffles had to take up his post in Bencoolen shortly after. He was the one who set up our first police force to maintain law and order, cleared the country of pests (which was a serious problem at the time), attracted traders to our port, and distributed the land properly amongst the various communities. In short, he made sure this country didn’t end up a mess.

7. THE REASON BEHIND THE BUILDINGS ALONG SINGAPORE RIVER

If you were wondering why we’ve got a line of shophouses facing a slew of government buildings on the banks of the Singapore River, it’s all part of Raffles’ Town Plan, where he reserved the north bank for government offices (that’s where Parliament House and the Supreme Court are currently at).

At the same time, commerce buildings (where shophouses and financial buildings still stand) were built on the south bank of the river, as it resembles the belly of a carp, where wealth and prosperity are at, according to Chinese belief.

8. WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN “SANDCRAWLER”

I’m sure this is an open secret, but it’s so exciting to know that we can call the Star Wars series a part of our own. Lucasfilm Animation officially opened its first overseas production facility at the Fusionopolis this year to tap on the pool of Asian talent, and to support future Star Wars movies and other projects. Plus, check out the super cool statue of Yoda that resides in the building.

9. WE PLAYED HOST TO THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

Before the Youth Olympic Games, we were put in the international spotlight with the pageant’s 36th year in 1987. The event was held at the former World Trade Centre, and the winner during that year, was Cecilia Bolocco from Chile.

10. WE CAN VOTE IN THE BRITISH ELECTIONS

While Singapore citizens who vote in foreign countries may lose the right to vote in Singapore, this isn’t applicable for the British elections, as we are part of the Commonwealth. If we have taken up residence in the UK, we are allowed to vote in the general and local government elections there.

11. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST ORCHID GARDENS IN THE WORLD

Housed within the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the National Orchid Garden is home to one of the largest display of orchids in the world – we have over 600 species and hybrids, including the world’s largest orchid, the Tiger Orchid. On that note, we have a wider variety of trees in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve than the whole of North America. Not too shabby for a country that’s also known as the Garden City.

12. WE DON’T HAVE SINGAPORE NOODLES

Okay, so this is mainly for the tourists who might come here expecting to find this everywhere. But despite what you think, Singapore Noodles – a dish of thick bee hoon noodles fried with a type of sweet and slightly peppery sauce – isn’t our national dish. Instead, you should be focused on looking for delectable dishes (and ones that we are actually proud of), like chilli crab, laksa and Hainanese chicken rice.

About the writer:
Amanda Tan has written pieces for several publications, which include stories on food, lifestyle and beauty. She believes life is too short for regrets, and hopes to live in London (just for the experience). She is also a self-professed cake addict, and can never resist a slice, at any time of the day. If you’d like to share life hacks, travel tips and general advice, you can drop her a note at scented19@gmail.com.