Hidden away in a quiet corner of Singapore is a place where families gather on weekends – for fishing, picnics or just to enjoy the sea breeze. It’s been a while since I last came to Sembawang Park – accessible only by one or two buses; or if you drive, via a long and somewhat narrow road leading from Yishun. This had been a favourite hangout for families in the know who do not wish to wrestle for a shady spot along the beach at East Coast Park.

Here’s also one of the rare places where you can probably find a good spot to park your hatchback car, open the boot, fold down the back seats, and turn it into a nice resting spot to enjoy the sea breeze. And oh, you do not have to worry about the shade too.

Driving into Kg Wak Hassan, this would be the perfect lane to find a good spot to do just that. However, it is an extremely popular location and most drivers usually end up parking their cars at the nearby carpark. Even then, it’s just a stone’s throw away to the beach.

Many fishing enthusiasts can be seen mounting their fishing rods and waiting for their fishes to bite while the rest of their families just simply laze on the mat covered grass where they enjoy the cool sea breeze and the passing clouds. Kids are often left on their own where they create their own orchestra of music which is probably best appreciated by themselves.

Further away from Kg Wak Hassan, families can be seen setting up tents and preparing food for the afternoon. Occasionally, some home-made crab nets can be sighted as the families prepare themselves for a huge catch from the beach. For those who wish to reach out further into the waters, a small jetty keeps them dry for as long as 15 meters away from the coast. This is, however, not exactly very friendly to visitors who are on heels or have phobia of water as the jetty is made of planks with gaps wide enough to put your fingers through.

If the rough waters is not your cup of tea, there’s always the restaurant if you prefer cooked food. Just next to it is the park where it’s ideal for a stroll after a heartening meal. I thought there was a store that rents bicycles, but then again, I could have remembered wrongly.

The Sembawang Park is a really nice place for afternoon picnics and get togethers; and because it’s far away from urbanization, it’s almost a good place for star gazing, save for the mosquitoes that feast on you when night falls. So, before commercialisation hits this remote part of Singapore, perhaps it might be a good idea to just pop by and simply enjoy the sea breeze.

And don’t forget the sun block if you intend to stay under the sun for long.