The Decision

A quick update tonight to let those watching the Bach Family's version of House Hunters International that we have made a decision. Our first choice is the place I forgot to take pictures of on the first day. Ted went back there with us this morning and afterward we talked about it, went back and forth, and decided that we would like to make an offer on that one. I took some pictures today but I have to say what we like about this place isn't captured on "film." It's a perfectly wonderful place but what you can't see in the pictures is its location (primo!) and the homey feel we get being there. It feels like Somerville but in Singapore if that makes any sense.

There were actually two units available in this small complex and we prefer the one on the top floor because it is breezier and this view from the balcony is impressive. We can imagine ourselves sitting out there after the kids are in bed sipping some wine and, well, probably both of us typing away separately on different laptops. Ah, so romantic.

This place would be close to perfect if not for the bathrooms. They are perfectly fine bathrooms, too but after the museum-quality examples of modernity we have seen these past few days, they somehow disappoint. No jacuzzi, no marble, no glass bowl or glass much of anything really. But it does look easy to clean.

In this apartment, the tenants were moving out so there were boxes everywhere. I have rarely seen a maze like this. We tried to capture what we could. One feature that's really cool is the wrap-around corner windows, a nice touch.

The pool is a nice feature here too. It's hard to believe that if we were rating all the pools we have seen this gorgeous one would not make the top 5. Unbelievable! But I will be very happy swimming here every day because it is amazing. There is even a walkway (the main walkway into the building) that crosses over the middle.

One end of the pool has a koi pond beyond it.

Here is the koi pond and bridge over it. On past this, there is a decent sized yard.

One of the barbecue areas

The fishies

The children's wading side. Pretty big!

 

The playground is smaller but the kids loved it here today. There are also a few playgrounds outside of the complex within walking distance. 

 The second unit was already vacant but it was on a lower floor and the balcony view was less impressive.

Visitor parking lot view. And a piece of the playground. But not as pretty as the other one.

The owner had just renovated the kitchen so everything was brand new, including an oven! But the counters were so extremely low I think they were Ella-sized.

While most of this place lacks the oomph, the wow factor of some of the beautiful places we've seen, it is pretty great and I keep thinking about how we will spend our days if we end up living here. We could wake up on the weekdays and walk the kids to their schools, then I could walk around the Village, take care of any shopping, sit outside in the shade at a coffee shop reading a book, head back to our building and maybe go for a swim by myself, and then get the kids from school. We can hang out on playgrounds until it's time for everyone to be out of school, then maybe the kids will want to swim before dinner. When Ted gets home, we can meet him in the center (a block away) and have some nice hawker stand food. Maybe we'll grab some ice cream for the short walk home. Then, we'll put the kids to bed (and there will be no fighting or whining) and a sitter will be there so Ted and I can go out for a drink or two because it would only be a block away--we practically have to go out. Ahhhh, bliss. 

And if this one does not work out, we can always go with our second choice.