A Quiet Escape: Discovering Hidden Gems at Changi Beach Park

I’ve been planning this trip for a few weeks now, but it keeps getting postponed due to the unpredictable weather. Planning anything during this season is always a challenge because the weather can shift from sunny to stormy at any time of the day. As a result, I have to base my weekend plans on the most likely weather conditions.

Take today, for example. Although I had prepared to visit the Republic of Singapore Air Force Museum, I quickly changed plans when I noticed the weather was perfect for outdoor activities. Instead, I decided to take a bus to Changi Village to enjoy the beach there.

Changi Village is located on the far eastern side of Singapore, and the best way for me to get there is by bus. The journey takes about 1.5 hours, which is relatively long. Generally, bus rides take longer compared to traveling by MRT. However, there are still some places in Singapore, like Changi Village, that are far from any MRT stations.

The bus ride itself was quite comfortable, and I enjoyed it as an opportunity to relax and unwind.

As soon as I got off the bus, I immediately noticed the difference in the vibe here compared to the city. Everything feels more laid-back, and time seems to move slower than it does in the bustling city. The quaint neighborhood evokes a sense of nostalgia in me that I rarely experience during my walks around the city.

Surprisingly, there’s also a Hindu temple in this area that I hadn’t heard about before. I noticed chanting coming from across the road, which caught my attention and piqued my interest to check it out. The temple, called the Sree Ramar Temple, was established in the mid-20th century.

From here, I decided to head toward the coastal area to begin my photography walk. It’s been years since I last visited this place, so I found myself trying to recall the directions to the shore. A lot has changed since then, especially the restaurants and shops, which have clearly grown in number and variety.

There are more restaurants and shops now than I remember from my last visit. This shows that the area has become more popular, although it still can’t compare to well-known spots like Siloso Beach. I suppose it’s because this part of Singapore’s coastline isn’t designed for swimming or resort activities. It’s essentially an open area near the shore. However, I hope it gets developed in the future to make it more inviting for both locals and tourists.

From the shops to Changi Beach Park, it took me about 10 minutes of slow walking and navigating my way. I was also stopping to take photos as I walked, so it took me longer than expected to reach the park. However, as soon as I spotted the tiny bridge, I knew exactly where to go to cross to the other side.

As I stood in the middle of the bridge, I couldn’t help but pause to capture a photo of the view. This is a private jetty, but I noticed that some of the boats are used to transport people to the Pulau Ubin side.

It’s interesting how the lighting on this side of Singapore looks different from what I’m used to in the city center. I’m not sure why, but my photos here seem to carry a hint of nostalgia. They almost have an old-film effect, even though I haven’t changed my editing style.

Finally, I reached the shore. The breeze felt chilly because it was drizzling slightly. Thankfully, it didn’t turn into a full rainstorm; otherwise, I would have been very disappointed. I’m glad my long journey didn’t go to waste.

I saw these two brothers throwing stones into the sea, something I used to do with my cousins when we were younger. I can’t believe kids these days still enjoy the same simple games we did back then. Since I was already there, I decided to throw a few stones myself to see if I still had the technique. Sadly, I don’t anymore—lol!

There are no amenities along the shore, so if you plan to hang out here, you should remember to bring items like a mat and portable board games to keep yourselves entertained while you relax on the beach.

There's also a playground for the kids to enjoy the white sand and the equipment.

At the end of the trail along the Beach Park, there’s a large hand sculpture that serves as the main landmark in the area. I saw a group of people taking turns to get selfies with the sculpture.

This spot also seems popular for fishing because I saw a bunch of fishing poles. I'm not entirely sure whether fishing here yields a good catch, but it seems that people have been doing this for such a long time, so I’d take that as a "yes, there are fish."

The waves seem stronger on this side of the beach park, so I took the opportunity to crouch down and capture photos of the waves splashing onto the shore.

From here, I decided to take a walk along the boardwalk, which I believed would have fewer people since it’s just a passage from the beach park to a nearby restaurant.

As the day came to an end, I couldn't help but appreciate the calm and simple beauty of this hidden spot in Singapore. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most peaceful experiences are found away from the bustling city. I look forward to returning, and who knows, maybe next time I’ll catch a glimpse of more hidden gems along the shore.