10 Misconceptions About Bukit Panjang As Told by a Bukit Panjang-er

Last Updated on 2022-06-25 , 2:34 pm

I know what you’re thinking. And no, we haven’t actually run out of topics to write about.

But considering this is what some of you might actually feel about the place, here are 10 misconceptions about Bukit Panjang.

1. Bukit Panjang? Across the causeway ah?

No, Bukit Panjang is a place in Singapore. Now that the Downtown line is fully operational, it’ll also be good to remember that Bukit Panjang is the first station for DTL.

2. Orh, so is it beside Jurong island?

No, it’s not.

In fact, it’s pretty much beside Bukit Batok (Please tell me you know where Bukit Batok is). I have to address this since someone actually asked me this question about Bukit Panjang before.

3. No good food in Bukit Panjang leh

When I say “Katong”, most of you would probably reply with “Laksa”. But what if I say “Bukit Panjang”?

(Yeah, figures)

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you…163 Hai Xian Zhu Zhou, a.k.a. 163 Ke Kou Mian.

This here, is truly the hidden gem of Bukit Panjang. To all you foodies out there, you might not know about Bukit Panjang, but surely you would’ve heard about the famous KKM?

That’s not all, you know. There’s also the Bangkit Market with 5 coffee shops (Yeap, you read that right). You really don’t need to worry about starving to death when you’re here.

4. Getting around BP is inconvenient

Eh, come on lah. We have a LRT line that operates until 1 a.m. and one whole list of feeder bus services.

Very inconvenient, right?

5. Getting in and out of Bukit Panjang is inconvenient

Now, this is actually one of my pet peeves. When people tell me that Bukit Panjang is very inaccessible, I show them this.

Please, tell me how is this considered inaccessible? With all these bus services coursing through Bukit Panjang, you can get to almost any part of Singapore with relative ease. (Bus 67 actually goes all the way to Tampines. How’s that for connectivity?)

6. No places to shop in Bukit Panjang

We have two malls smacked right in the middle of Bukit Panjang: Bukit Panjang Plaza and Hillion Mall.

Two. Malls.

Not to mention there’re also Shopping Centres like Greenridge Shopping Centre and Fajar Shopping Centre in the vicinity. Considering how small Bukit Panjang is, you can actually walk from one shopping centre to the other pretty effortlessly.

7. No place to hang out after 12am

There really aren’t much in the way of entertainment, but there are still some food options available. There is a 24 hours coffee shop located within the Bangkit Market and the McDonald’s at Bukit Panjang Plaza operates until 2:00 a.m. (On Fri, Sat, Sun and public holidays). So, you can still chit chat with your friends over some Kopi and Fishball noodles if you want to.

8. Bukit Panjang is an old estate

Well, yeah. Bukit Panjang is definitely not a young estate. But you must have heard of the saying “old but gold”? Besides, there are still BTO projects being constructed in Bukit Panjang as we speak!

9. Nobody wants to stay in Bukit Panjang

This is just not true. I would BTO for a Bukit Panjang flat in a hearbeat.

As I’ve mentioned before, Bukit Panjang is a small place. Hence, the number of flats here are actually very limited. Other than that, I’m pretty sure Punggol is the estate people tend to go for if there’s no choice (Your move, Punggol-ians).

10. Isn’t Bukit Panjang very dangerous?

Lemme guess. It was because of the wild boar. Somehow, this became the thing everyone remembered about Bukit Panjang.

I’m pretty sure otters are more of a menace nowadays though.

Bukit Panjang is still a part of Singapore after all. So please lah, how dangerous can it be? (stares at Yishun)

In conclusion:

I have no idea what else to say if you still think that Bukit Panjang is a sad little place.

Of course, if you stay in atas places like Orchard Road, there’s no way we can compare lah. At the end of the day, let’s just be happy that we stay in Singapore.

Featured Image: tristan tan / Shutterstock.com