From Viz to HV (Holland Village): The Short(ish) Cut

We learned about this when we stayed at Holland Crest. There's a 'short cut' that allows Viz residents to walk to Holland Village (HV) in about 10-15 minutes (leisurely walk). Instructions are below but be warned: the walk involves using a drain gutter sidewalk .. that bit of cement next to the drain! This sidewalk is not 'maintained' and is actually next to a house. I don't recall any jumping involved but you will need...

1. A torchlight if you're walking after sunset
2. Anti-mossie spray, as you'll be walking through a fairly dark/secluded area with mosquitoes.
3. Good slippers/shoes

The area you'll be walking, in between Jalan Hitam Manis (Chip Bee area) and Viz, is fairly secluded and DARK at night, so just take the usual precautions.

So here are the instructions (Click on image to enlarge):

Map 1: From Viz to Stairs

1. You start from the sidegate, past the tennis court. Bring your access card to get back in.
   
2. The sidegate will take you on a narrow path past Holland Peak (tennis courts), and then Holland Crest (4 storey building that's gone en-bloc in 2006 but has yet to be torn down).. Holland Crest is distinguishable by its red bars on the balcony.
3. The path will bring you to a set of stairs leading to the road in between 2 HDB blocks. Take the stairs down but do not go in between the HDB blocks (if you do, you'll be heading towards the hawker centre/wet market).
4. Instead head right 'up' the gentle slope towards the park and abandoned playground.
   

[Note - Going in between the 2 HDB blocks (Blks 101 and 103) will bring you to the Commonwealth Market where there's some pretty decent hawker food. I'll share this in a future post on eating spots nearby]

Map 2: Stairs to Park/Abandoned Playground

1. Go through the park and look for the abandoned playground. You should have a massive construction site to your right (the former Holland Mansions).
2. Look for rows of 2 storey terrace houses (Jalan Hitam Manis) ahead of you. There are actually 2 rows of terrace houses, separated in between by a drain.
   
3. Go to that drain and use the sidewalk to reach Jalan Hitam Manis.
4. Once at Jalan Hitam Manis, head to your left, going past Jalan Kuning and Jalan Puteh Jerneh. You'll reach ACS International School at the L junction as you continue to follow Jalan Hitam Manis.

Map 3: Jalan Hitam Manis to Holland Village

1. Continue along Jalan Hitam Manis until you reach Taman Warna.
2. Turn left at Taman Warna, heading towards Chip Bee Gardens eateries (follow the lights and noise LOL).
   
3. Once there, Holland Village should be straight ahead of you.
4. The total walk should be a very leisurely 10-15 minutes, or faster if you're fitter than us. Which is likely as we're quite unfit LOL.

That's it. Follow the instructions backwards to head back to Viz (doh). Just bear in mind the drain sidewalk (remember where it's at when you exit it), and bring torches as it can get pretty dark around the playground area.

Tags: viz@holland, viz holland, viz @ holland, queensway, holland, property, singapore