Exploring Bukit Gombak: A Hidden Gem Beyond the Usual Tourist Spots

I have a strong motivation to keep discovering new places to explore. Even the most mundane neighborhoods in the city have something interesting to offer. I had the chance to prove that last Sunday when I spent the morning in Bukit Gombak.

If you Google places to visit in Singapore, you won’t find Bukit Gombak on any of the lists. There are no specific attractions designed for tourists. Everything in Bukit Gombak is meant for the residents to enjoy—from the nature park to the neighborhood shops, all of it is set up to meet their needs.

But that didn’t discourage me from visiting and exploring what the area has to offer.

Although I enjoy visiting places with attractions, parks, and tourist spots, I also love exploring neighborhoods like Bukit Gombak. I guess I got the inspiration from a Japanese TV show I used to enjoy watching—Japan Hour—where they would casually walk around a neighborhood to discover interesting things about the place. That show became my motivation, and now I find myself doing the same kind of walks.

Bukit Gombak is one of the neighborhoods where the MRT stations and tracks are still elevated. Nowadays, most of the newer ones are built underground, which makes this quite interesting to me!

I actually spent about half an hour just taking photos and videos of the trains arriving and leaving the station. It’s pretty cool because this isn’t something we can do with the newer underground trains.

Right next to the station is a sports complex, which is probably one of the best in the city. Although it’s not as large or elaborate as the Kallang Sports Complex, it’s still much better than those in other estates.

The best spot to hang out on a nice day is the park across from the MRT station or the sports complex. It’s not a very big park—it looks more like a pocket garden—but it’s surprisingly comfortable. That’s because there’s a constant, refreshing breeze that cools the area, and plenty of trees provide shade for almost the entire park.

Some people were having picnics, while others simply sat on the boulders, passing the time.

As for me, I was there to take photos!

A great reason for me to revisit this place is the amazing Sunday market! It has a wonderful variety of Malay-style delicacies. I’d love to shop for the ones that catch my interest, and I even took a video of the ones I discovered that day.

Bukit Gombak may not be a typical tourist destination, but it has its own charm, from its elevated MRT tracks to its cozy parks and vibrant Sunday market. Exploring hidden gems like this reminds me that every neighborhood has something unique to offer. I’ll definitely be back to uncover more little surprises this place has in store!