Bukit Panjang town, where I have been living since I was 11, is a nondescript place more well known for its LRT breakdowns than any fancy attractions, but it does have plenty to offer.
Its abundant greenery is part of the charms of this slow-growing estate in what some see as the far-flung west.
Construction work for Bukit Panjang town, which used to be kampung Bukit Panjang, began in 1981, with the first HDB flats completed in 1985.
The flats, parks and other amenities are built on low hills that extend all the way to Bukit Timah Hill, which gave the estate its name. In Malay, "bukit" means hills and "panjang" means long.
The roads here have also adopted the names of 1960s kampung tracks, such as Jalan Senja, Lorong Petir, Jalan Fajar and Lorong Pending.
The first residents moved in from kampungs nearby and some have been active in the estate's community gardens, offering expert farming advice to newbies.
You might meet one of these experts during a walk in the estate's many parks, drawing your attention to ordinary-looking plants and telling you of the many health benefits.
The trees planted in the 1980s and 1990s have matured, providing shade and greenery to the town.
Cosmetic adjustments have also been made in the estate, with the biggest change made to Pang Sua Pond, a storm water-collecting pond built in the 1990s.
Upgrading work was completed in 2017 to include Singapore's second-largest, man-made floating wetland, a multi-purpose stage, as well as several viewing decks and a 3G Wellness Centre.
A 480m-long boardwalk was built 7m above the water and the wetlands, connecting residents to Senja-Cashew Community Centre.
Besides terrapins, various species of fish can be spotted in the water. There have also been numerous sightings of otters.
The abundant greenery and wildlife here provide respite for residents and visitors, and they are what I love most about this town that I call home.