It is not just the bright lights of Johor Baru that beckon bargain-hungry shoppers. On this side of the Causeway, there is cause to do some retail therapy, too - at Woodlands.
The estate, once home to rubber plantations and poultry farms, is now one of the island's most populated areas. Yet this northern neighbourhood is one of Singapore's best-kept secrets in terms of great haunts for cheap beauty deals and yummy bites.
For women, this includes snagging elusive beauty brands from Indonesia and India.
Just ask Noormala Ramli, 51, who has been living in the area for 15 years.
The administrative assistant pops by the AlBakarah Woodlands specialty store at least once a week to track down products by popular Indonesian cosmetics brand Mustika Ratu.
'This is the nearest place where I can get the brand besides Geylang Serai,' she says of the shop at Block 302 Woodlands Street 31.
A TINGE OF NOSTALGIA
Urban also discovered Lakme, a cosmetic brand from India, which is rarely found outside its usual Singapore stockist, Mustafa Centre.
But lo and behold, there it was, at an outlet in the vicinity of Woodlands Centre Road - the International Agencies Department Store in Block 2A.
This area was among the first in Singapore to be developed in the 1970s. It may have lost its cachet compared to the seven-storey Causeway Point, but it still retains its laid-back charm with one-of-a-kind shops.
Wong Ah Kong, 69, chairman of the Woodlands Town Centre Merchants Association - and who also runs�the 29-year-old Wong Seng Lee Department Store at Block 2A - has seen first-hand the changes around this part of town.
'It was very busy here when the old bus interchange and Emporium department store were around,' he says. 'But in 1997, when the new town centre was built, business started to slow down.'
But there are those who still cherish the old quarters of Woodlands, such as the byways of Marsiling Lane.
When Urban was there, visitors included senior procurement manager Wong Yuen Kiong, 41, who wanted to buy a bicycle for his seven-year-old daughter from the workshop of former national cyclist Yusoff Hasbi.
'The environment here is not so noisy and congested,' he said.
'However, there used to be even less traffic when we first moved in. Now, I notice more and more people living in the area.'
To find out more about the variety of shops and eateries in HDB estates, visit www.hdb.gov.sg/where2shop
EAT
Champion Bread
01-53 Block 306 Woodlands Street 31
This bakery is famous for its delectable breads - 400 pieces are made each day, to be exact.
Favourites include its cream cheese bun, a double whammy of cheese filling and topping ($2.50 for small and $3.20 for large).
Come Ramadan, the shop turns into a Hari Raya cookie haven, boasting more than 10 types of sweet treats. Hot faves include (clockwise from top left of photo 1) crystal pandan ball, green pea cookies and mini donuts, which go for $10 a container or $25 for three.
Rasa-Rasa Food Fiesta Restaurant
01-118 Block 2A Woodlands Centre Road
Restaurateur Steven Pang, 45, is conquering the halal food market one stall at a time.
Besides this four-year-old eatery, Pang - who has 15 years of experience in the trade - runs two other stalls catering to Malay Muslim diners.
Favourites here include ikan tiga rasa (Malay for 'grouper in three flavours', Photo 2, seasonal price) with its sweet, sour and spicy tang.
Up the saltiness another notch with ikan empat rasa (Malay for 'grouper in four flavours', seasonal price) and deep-fried kangkong (from $6).
The best part: Spend at least $50 here and earn a membership that deducts 10 per cent off your bill on subsequent visits and gives an additional 5 per cent discount on your birthday, too.
SHOP
Romeo Hair Studio
01-20 Block 1A Woodlands Centre Road
The three young lads manning this eight-month-old barber shop know a thing or two about close shaves.
Using just using a sharp blade, they can slice your mane in creative ways such as this cornrow-lookalike hairdo or popular tribal motifs.
A 45-minute session for the entire head costs clipping just one side is $10. Less over-the-top haircuts start from $6.
Wong Seng Lee
01-146 Block 2A Woodlands Centre Road
Even fashion snobs would do a double-take at the trendy T-shirts here that give high-street names a run for their money.
The tops are sourced from Thailand by the owner's 35-year-old son.
Prices start from $19.90 and rarely cross the $30 mark.
Rollite Cycling Development Bicycle Shop
01-255 Block 18 Marsiling Lane
Tucked at the corner of this sleepy Marsiling Lane neighbourhood is a bicycle garage run by former national biker Yusoff Hasbi, 57, who competed from 1968 to the 1980s.
While the friendly owner largely focuses on repairing all types of bikes - except motorised ones - he also sells rides that cater to children (from $70) and adults (from $98).
Al Barakah Woodlands
01-295 Block 302 Woodlands Street 31
Forget expensive serums and masks. Check out these age-old remedies popular with Indonesian women.
Top of the list is lulur, an exfoliant made of grains, tropical herbs and spices.
It is said to be used in pre-wedding beauty rituals for Javanese princesses.
Try the Lulur Mas Sinangling body scrub ($5), along with the Bengkoang Whitening cream ($5).
The latter contains jicama, which is commonly found in local food fare such as popiah and rojak.
This root is known for its whitening properties and can help clear dark spots.
International Agencies Department Store
01-126 Block 2A Woodlands Centre Road
This family-run business began in the 1940s and lives up to its name as a department store. Besides jewel-toned saris (from $50 to $7,000) lining the walls, there are accessories and cosmetics including those from renowned Indian brand Lakme.
These facial cleansers ($5.80 each) target specific skin types.
Try the Strawberry Facewash with Gentle Exfoliant for smooth skin or the Deep Hydrating Mask to treat dry skin.
The brand's water-based foundation ($6.80) has a light texture and sunscreen protection for those with normal to dry skin.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.
