Bishan is a neighbourhood measuring approximately three by three kilometres. HDB flats here are generally more expensive due to its location in the central region.
In 1870, immigrants from China arrived and established Bishan as a burial ground. There were rumours that the Bishan HDB flats would be unpopular as cemeteries bode bad fengshui. Their fears proved unfounded when Bishan became one of the most popular towns.
Bishan MRT Station in Singapore is currently the only subway station built on ground. Other stations are either built on an elevated station platform or are built underground.
Bishan Park was constructed in 1988 and is one of the biggest and most popular parks in Singapore. Amenities in the park include a children's playground, a frequently-used dog run, cycling and running tracks, as well as a couple of Food and Beverage outlets. Many types of plants can be found in the park.
A flower garden called Frangipani Garden and a vegetable garden called Green Vibes Garden accompany the scenic lakes and shaded lawns to offer some of the best relaxation spots for picnics and family gatherings.
Although the houses in Bishan are expensive, the benefits of its good location are plenty.
戴婉盈
Lindsey Tay Wan Ying
5C ( 5C CL )
I live in an estate called Potong Pasir. The name “Potong Pasir” literally means “cut sand” in Malay. From 1910 to 1937, it was dominated by sand-quarries. In the mid 1950s, Potong Pasir was one of the most important farming areas in Singapore.
The government started to develop Potong Pasir in the 1980s after acquiring the land and the villagers moved out.
Potong Pasir is a quiet and peaceful town with lots of greenery. The residents can enjoy a tranquil river view as the Kallang River cuts
through the estate. Another unique thing of this estate is the slanted rooftops of several blocks of flats here! I am proud to be part of this neighbourhood.
The first few HDB blocks were built by 1984. From then till now, Potong Pasir retains a characteristic idyllic feel unlike other areas where the urbanization rate is more rapid.
Potong Pasir is classified under the Toa Payoh township. A politically notable fact about this estate is that it its opposition member-of-parliament Mr. Chiam See Tong held the ward
from 1984 to 2011. It was the longest-held opposition ward in Singapore.
Potong Pasir is a quiet and peaceful town with lots of greenery. The residents can enjoy a tranquil river view as the Kallang River cuts through the estate. Another unique thing of this estate is the slanted rooftops of several blocks of flats here! I am proud to be part of this neighbourhood.
魏恺萱
Ashley Gooi,
5C ( 5C CL ) .
除此，这里还有个公园，它建于1988年，不仅是居民休闲的好去处，也是大家喜爱做运动的地方。那里除了有儿童游乐场、狗儿公园、自行车道和跑步区，也有售卖食品和饮料的商店。如果你在这里走一走，随时可以找到各种不同种类的植物。这里还有一个风景秀丽的人工湖泊以及绿草如茵的草坪，是一家人放松身心，聚会和聚餐的好去处。
虽然碧山的地价昂贵，但这里的位置优越，我希望我的家永远住这里。
我家住在波东巴西。波东巴西的马来语是“切沙”的意思。 这是因为从1910年至1937年，波东巴西是一个采沙场。在50年代中期，这里是我国著名的蔬菜种植区。
接下来的几年，波东巴西迅速发展。70年代左右，政府开始征收波东巴西甘榜土地，重新发展地段，建屋局开始建造组屋。现在波东巴西的发展步伐虽然落后于许多组屋区，却保留了浓浓的甘榜古早味和人情味。这里的另一个特征是斜坡式屋顶，居住环境清幽宁静，生活步伐虽比较慢，却给人一种轻松自在的感觉。
波东巴西这个小组屋区是让我觉得自在和自豪的家园，我希望可以永远生活在这里。
我家住在淡滨尼。淡滨尼位于我国的东部地区，很久以前这里因曾经有大量的铁木树而得名，现在它已是新加坡的第二大的商业中心区。
这里的设施齐全，交通便利。我家楼下有一个游乐场，附近也有游泳池以及图书馆。爸爸妈妈有空时会带我们去淡滨尼图书馆看书或到对面的公园去骑脚踏车。我住在这里很开心，也觉得自己有一个幸福美满的家庭。
这里还有许多特别的标志性建筑， 其中之一就是淡滨尼中央公园中间约五层楼高的钟楼。如果你路过旧淡滨尼路，还会看到有一个类似于巨型陀螺形状的便是新生水的水箱。
我觉得很荣幸淡滨尼区曾经获得几个奖项，其中一项新加坡记录是用徽章做出来的最大标志，另外还有一项由塑料袋做成最大的新加坡地图的世界纪录。除此，它让我最值得骄傲的就是1991年荣获由联合国获颁世界居民奖的殊荣。我爱我的家园。
Tampines is located at the East region of Singapore and it is the largest residential estate in Singapore. It is so named because of the presence of a large forest of ironwood trees tempinis in the 1900s.
There are a few quirky landmarks that not many know exist. In the middle of Tampines Central Park lies a clock tower that is about 5 storeys high!
If you travel along Tampines Road and spot 2 structures that look like giant spinning tops, do not be alarmed as they are actually water storage tanks for Singapore’s Newater plant. There is also a quarry park that is not easily accessible but you would be rewarded with a scenic view of a huge quarry pond if you venture there.
Tampines boasts a number of awards ranging from national to world records. It holds the
Singapore record for making the largest logo out of badges, the world record for creating the largest Singapore map with plastic bags and its greatest honour was the achievement of the World Habitat Award for Excellence in Housing Design by the United Nations. The award is given to recognise the innovation and success of new residential areas.
黄淑雁
Ng Su Anne
5C ( 5C CL )
Ang Mo Kio was developed in the 1970s. It used to be a huge rubber plantation where the immigrants Chinese, mostly Hokkiens, were engaged in rubber-planting and tapping. With a history of nearly 40 years, the town has become a thriving community. Many facilities have been established for its residents including wet markets, hawker centres, community centres and a library.
Ang Mo Kio houses the one and only HDB block in Singapore with a distinctive circular design. It is aptly called ‘The Clover @ Kebun’ as it is composed of four cylindrical blocks and looks like a clover leaf from the top view.
As one walks around the blocks in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, gigantic red tomatoes will greet them. These sculptures are a result of a play on the town’s name and rich history.
Tan Dun Liang
5C
The name Ang Mo Kio is actually a combination of two Hokkien phrases, “ang mo dan”(rambutan) a fruit which grew abundantly in old kampongs and “kio”(bridge). There were many concrete bridges in Ang Mo Kio. Its former name was ‘kou-teu kio’, Hokkien for ‘Ninth Bridge’.
Sembawang was the place where I grew up for the first eight years of my life. It was named after the ‘Sembawang’ tree and used to be a rubber plantation but was later converted into a major naval base for the British Army. This explains the black and white colonial bungalows which were built as colonial barracks found there.
One of the places that I miss is Sembawang Park. It was where my family bonded during
weekends, cycling and relaxing by the beach. There is also a wide range of fauna and flora. As many species of birds have made the park their nesting grounds, it is a popular place for avid bird-watchers.
A unique spot in Sembawang is the famous Sembawang Hot Spring located at a wooded area about 100 metres off Gambas Avenue. It is the only natural hot spring in Singapore
and believed by locals to have healing properties.
Can you guess what is unique about the roof of Sembawang MRT station? Well, it has a unique kampong-styled roof to preserve the kampong atmosphere of Sembawang!
Although I have moved out of Sembawang, it will always be a place full of fond memories.
Chloe Loke
5C
讲起新加坡的美食，无人不谈鸡饭。新加坡曾经最有名的鸡饭在海南街，因此得名“海南鸡饭”。很多人误认为来自中国海南，这是谬误，就如扬州炒饭不是来自扬州一样。为什么我会喜欢吃鸡饭呢？是因为鸡饭里有黄瓜，再加上卖鸡饭的老板和我的爸爸是好朋友，每次我们去买鸡饭的时候，他都会给我们特别多的鸡肉。
随着世事变迁，海南街上的一些知名鸡饭店已经被拆除，而遍布全岛的鸡饭却良莠不齐，其中的一些不仅鸡只不好，还放了大量的味精，令一些外国来的游客大感失望。
那么新加坡哪里的鸡饭最好吃呢？我们吃过很多地方，若要选出最好吃的鸡饭，就是这家位于汤申路上段的“甘榜山鸡饭”。我会把这道美食介绍给我的亲戚、同学以及朋友。
记者：今天我将要访问的是一个爱吃美食的小孩。请问我们现在可以开始采访你吗？
小孩：当然可以！
记者：你能告诉我什么食物能代表新加坡的饮食呢？
小孩：那一定是非“肉骨茶”莫属！
记者：“肉骨茶”有什么特别？
小孩：好！让我慢慢地告诉你肉骨茶的由来。在清朝末年，华人初来南洋创业，那时的生活条件很差，只能以劳力换取微薄的薪酬当车夫和苦力。他们为了长时间维持体力和适应热带地区的气候而需要进补，但因为没有能力花费太多钱来购买昂贵的中药食材，当时的中医师便把闽南及潮汕一带的饮茶加以改良，并且加入当地出产的胡椒，以及当归、川穹、肉桂和甘草等材料配置成肉骨茶包，让他们在早上出门前炖煮排骨，配上白饭。在那时候，肉骨茶是属于穷人的食物。
记者：那你还是否记得第一次吃肉骨茶是什么时候？
小孩：怎么可能忘记! 那是我五岁的时候，爸爸带我第一次品尝肉骨茶。爸爸吃肉骨茶时一定少不了中国茶，还有我最喜欢的油条。
记者：非常感谢你与我们分享了这么多关于“肉骨茶”这道美食的信息。
冯政维
5E ( 5E CL )
黄洁儿
5E ( 5E CL )
我家住在碧山，它在新加坡的中部。由于它的位置很优越，这里的组屋价格一般比其它地区昂贵。
我曾经听长辈说这里有一个碧山亭，它是早在1870年就由来自中囯广东的先辈建筑而成的，也是广东人埋葬祖先的福地。虽然这里曾经是墓地，但今天碧山已成为最受欢迎的市镇之一。
这里的交通四通八达，碧山地铁站是我国目前唯一建在地面的地铁站，不像其它的地铁站不是建在高架上就是地下站里。
Potong Pasir 波东巴西
Tampines 淡滨尼
Ang Mo Kio
Sembawang
鸡饭
肉骨茶
我喜欢跟家人一起骑脚踏车。因为不但可以锻炼身体，又可以跟家人聚在一起，真是一举两得。
每个星期天早上，我和家人都会从家里骑脚车到碧山公园去。不到半小时，我们就到达了环境优美的碧山公园。这里有一条长三公里的天然运河，贯穿整个公园。这里还有三个游乐场和我最喜欢的麦当劳快餐店。我们通常会沿着脚车道，一面欣赏自然风景，一面呼吸新鲜的空气。
Bishan 碧山
李俊衡.
5F ( 5I CL )
我最喜欢和家人一起到海边去骑脚车。每当公共假期，爸爸总喜欢带我们一家大小到东海岸去。爸爸会先去脚车店租六辆脚踏车，大中小各两辆给我们骑。
大哥大姐会率先在前面带路，我和妈妈在中间，爸爸和二哥则包尾，在后面看顾着大家。我们一边骑脚车，一边看周围的风景，有说有笑，真快乐！
当我们遇到卖冰淇淋的小贩时，我们会自动停下来，回头对着爸爸笑，爸爸就会让我们选购冷水或冰淇淋，然后休息一阵子，边吃边说笑,再继续往前骑。
我们也喜欢玩自拍！我们计划将来去台湾骑单车环岛游，所以现在要加油锻炼体力！
合家乐
骑车乐
林冠轩
5F ( 5I CL )
出游乐
如果有时间，我还喜欢跟家人一起下象棋。因为下象棋可以提高我们的智力和耐力。它既可以提高我的注意力，也能让我学会数学计算，是一种非常好的活动。
我喜欢跟家人一起到东海岸去钓鱼、踏脚车和野餐。
我们每一次到了那里，就会先把东西放到树下，然后外公拿出他的鱼竿和鱼铒准备去钓鱼。妈妈则会带我和哥哥去租脚踏车。我们踩着脚车在东海岸的脚车道上迎着风，快乐漫游。
我喜欢和家人一起去东海岸游玩。我们在那里一起度过了许多美好的时光。我和哥哥从外公那里学会了怎样钓鱼，也学会了辨识各种鱼类。
我也喜欢跟家人一起放风筝。看风筝在空中越飞越高，让我觉得很有满足感。
黄睿怡
5F ( 5I CL )
Welcome to the very first edition of students’ e-publication!
Through stories written by our Primary 5 students, we hope to connect with all our readers as they inform and entertain.
为了庆祝新加坡独立50周年，培群小记者在这里为大家介新加坡的美食、我们住的地方，还有我们常做的活动。
Editor's Notes
Yu Shun Hang & Yeo Xuan Wen
5A
