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\nView of a tranquil river behind Sembawang Road.
\nDespite many new developments coming up in Sembawang, the suburb retains much of its local character and is\u00a0popular with those who want to live next door to lush greenery and the sea.
\nBy Joanne Poh
\nIn many neighbourhoods across Singapore, generations-old local eateries are being replaced by hipster cafes and chic cocktail bars. But not in Sembawang \u2013 at least, not yet.
\nThis neighbourhood in the north of Singapore has managed to retain much of its local character.
\nWhile fashionable local joints selling flat whites rather than kopi have started to appear in Sembawang, residents are still more likely to head out for a hearty zi char meal rather than a stylish Sunday brunch.
\nA rich history
\nMany believe the area was named after the Sembawang tree, a local name given to a tree known as Mesua ferruginea. Specimens of this tree can be found in a carpark at Sembawang Park.
\nSembawang was formerly the site of the British naval base thanks to its seafront location. Today, the infrastructure of the former naval base is used for commercial purposes and has been taken over by SembCorp Marine.
\nMany vestiges of Sembawang\u2019s colonial and wartime past can be seen in the present day. For instance, on Bermuda Road, pillboxes from the Second World War remain. On Durban Road, the presence of underground bunkers is betrayed by ventilation shafts peeking out above ground.
\nSembawang is also where the former Japanese Theatre at Gibraltar Crescent is located. While the actual use of the theatre is unknown, it has been speculated that Japanese propaganda films were broadcast in the building.
\nBut the area is not just a living testament to Singapore\u2019s colonial and wartime past.
\nIt also happens to be home to one of the last surviving natural beaches in Singapore, the others being in Changi and Labrador.
\nThe original jetty and pier intended for British use are in Sembawang.
\nThe British did not manage to complete the former before the Japanese landed during the Second World War, and it was instead completed by the Japanese. The latter was bombed by the Japanese in 1942, and its remnants still stand today.
\nAn authentic neighbourhood
\nFor residents of modern-day Sembawang, its biggest strength lies in its retention of a certain authenticity, one that has been lost in the frenzied upgrading that has changed many other areas.
\nFor Toh Li Ling, who works in a bank and has been living in Sembawang for more than two decades, the appeal of the area lies in its tranquility.
\n\u201cSembawang is a peaceful escape, especially in the shipyard and park area. It is very relaxing to take a drive or cycle in that area and you are transported far from the hustle and bustle of the city,\u201d she said.
\nWhen it comes to good food, Sembawang residents are proud of their tried-and-tested local eateries.
\nToh recommends White Restaurant, which is home to the original Sembawang white beehoon and is arguably the area\u2019s most famous eatery.
\nFor a post-work beer and a generous serving of buffalo wings, she heads to Sunset Grill and Pub, an unpretentious joint at nearby Jalan Kayu.
\nBut her favourite place in the area is Sembawang Park due to its tranquility and seaside location. \u201cIt\u2019s less crowded (than East Coast Park) and (unlike Punggol) it\u2019s naturally old school and not fake retro,\u201d she said.
\nThe park is extremely scenic thanks to its views over the Johor Straits, and is popular with fishing hobbyists and for barbecues.
\nSembawang also has the distinction of being home to the only natural hot spring located on Singapore\u2019s main island at Gambas Avenue. The only other natural hot spring in Singapore is on Pulau Tekong. While the actual spring is enclosed within a brick structure, the water can be accessed through faucets some distance from the spring.
\nThe hot spring receives daily visitors, mostly the elderly, some of whom collect the water in buckets to bring home or soak their feet onsite. The waters of the hot spring are rumoured to have the ability to alleviate conditions like arthritis and eczema.
\nSembawang is largely residential, with a mixture of HDB flats and private homes dotting the landscape.
\nThe area is currently served by Sembawang MRT station on the North-South MRT Line and Sembawang bus interchange, as well as the Sembawang Park Connector and Simpang Kiri Park Connector which will in future form a loop that connects all of Singapore\u2019s major parks.<\/p>\n