Difference between revisions of "Bedok"

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(New page: {{SG neighbourhood |imagemap=Bedok locator map.png |englishname = Bedok |chinesename = 勿洛 |pinyin = Wù Luò |malayname = Bedok |tamilname = பிடோ }} {{Nofootnotes|article|date=...)
 
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{{SG neighbourhood
'''Bedok''' is a neighbourhood in the eastern part of Singapore. [[Bedok New Town]] is the fifth [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB) [[new town]]; its development started in April 1973 and continued over some 15 years.  
|imagemap=Bedok locator map.png
|englishname = Bedok
|chinesename = 勿洛
|pinyin = Wù Luò
|malayname = Bedok
|tamilname = பிடோ
}}
{{Nofootnotes|article|date=July 2009}}
'''Bedok''' is a neighbourhood in the eastern part of [[Singapore]]. [[Bedok New Town]] is the fifth [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB) [[new town]]; its development started in April 1973 and continued over some 15 years.  


The [[Bedok Planning Area]], an [[urban planning]] zone under the [[Urban Redevelopment Authority]], encompasses the Bedok New Town itself, the low-rise private residential areas along Upper East Coast Road, and in the districts of [[Kembangan, Singapore|Kembangan]], [[Siglap]] and Telok Kurau, and the high-rise private [[condominium]] developments in the eastern part of [[Marine Parade]].  
The [[Bedok Planning Area]], an [[urban planning]] zone under the [[Urban Redevelopment Authority]], encompasses the Bedok New Town itself, the low-rise private residential areas along Upper East Coast Road, and in the districts of [[Kembangan, Singapore|Kembangan]], [[Siglap]] and Telok Kurau, and the high-rise private [[condominium]] developments in the eastern part of [[Marine Parade]].  
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"Bedok" seems to be a very old place name. In the 1604 Manuel Gomes de Erédia's map of Singapore, there is a reference to the Bedok River called ''sune bodo'' ([[Sungei Bedok]]).
"Bedok" seems to be a very old place name. In the 1604 Manuel Gomes de Erédia's map of Singapore, there is a reference to the Bedok River called ''sune bodo'' ([[Sungei Bedok]]).


Bedok is one of the early native place names in existence around the time of [[Sir Stamford Raffles]]. In the first comprehensive map of Singapore Island completed by Frankin and [[Philip Jackson (surveyor)|Jackson]] and reproduced in [[John Crawfurd]]'s 1828 book, the place name appears on the south east coast of the island as a river, Badok S. (Sungei Bedok), around the "small red [[cliff]]", a part of present [[Tanah Merah, Singapore|Tanah Merah]].  
Bedok is one of the early native place names in existence around the time of [[Sir Stamford Raffles]]. In the first comprehensive map of Singapore Island completed by Frankin and [[Philip Jackson (surveyor)|Jackson]] and reproduced in [[John Crawfurd]]'s 1828 book, the place name appears on the south-east coast of the island as a river, Badok S. (Sungei Bedok), around the "small red [[cliff]]", a part of present-day [[Tanah Merah, Singapore|Tanah Merah]].  


The [[Malay language|Malay]] word ''bedoh'' refers to a type of [[slit drum]] made from a large hollowed log for calling people to a [[mosque]] for [[prayers]] or to sound the alarm in the days before [[loudspeaker]]s.  There was a prominent mosque in the 1950s at Jalan Bilal that still used the drum about five times a day. The "h" in the word ''bedoh'' was replaced with a "k", and, as with most Malay words that end with a "k", it is pronounced with an inaudible [[glottal stop]].
The [[Malay language|Malay]] word ''bedoh'' refers to a type of [[slit drum]] made from a large hollowed log for calling people to a [[mosque]] for [[prayers]] or to sound the alarm in the days before [[loudspeaker]]s.  There was a prominent mosque in the 1950s at Jalan Bilal that still used the drum about five times a day. The "h" in the word ''bedoh'' was replaced with a "k", and, as with most Malay words that end with a "k", it is pronounced with an inaudible [[glottal stop]].
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*[[Bedok Reservoir]]
*[[Bedok Reservoir]]


{{commonscat|Bedok}}


==References==
==References==
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*[http://www.bedoktoday.com Bedok Free Online Community Forums] (BedokToday.COM)
*[http://www.bedoktoday.com Bedok Free Online Community Forums] (BedokToday.COM)


{{Places in Singapore}}
{{coord missing|Singapore}}


[[Category:Places in Singapore]]
[[Category:Places in Singapore]]
[[Category:East Region, Singapore]]
[[Category:Bedok| ]]
[[id:Bedok]]
[[mr:बेडोक]]

Revision as of 16:57, 13 May 2012

Bedok is a neighbourhood in the eastern part of Singapore. Bedok New Town is the fifth Housing and Development Board (HDB) new town; its development started in April 1973 and continued over some 15 years.

The Bedok Planning Area, an urban planning zone under the Urban Redevelopment Authority, encompasses the Bedok New Town itself, the low-rise private residential areas along Upper East Coast Road, and in the districts of Kembangan, Siglap and Telok Kurau, and the high-rise private condominium developments in the eastern part of Marine Parade.

Etymology and early history

File:Bedok Town Centre, Aug 06.JPG
The town centre of Bedok New Town

"Bedok" seems to be a very old place name. In the 1604 Manuel Gomes de Erédia's map of Singapore, there is a reference to the Bedok River called sune bodo (Sungei Bedok).

Bedok is one of the early native place names in existence around the time of Sir Stamford Raffles. In the first comprehensive map of Singapore Island completed by Frankin and Jackson and reproduced in John Crawfurd's 1828 book, the place name appears on the south-east coast of the island as a river, Badok S. (Sungei Bedok), around the "small red cliff", a part of present-day Tanah Merah.

The Malay word bedoh refers to a type of slit drum made from a large hollowed log for calling people to a mosque for prayers or to sound the alarm in the days before loudspeakers. There was a prominent mosque in the 1950s at Jalan Bilal that still used the drum about five times a day. The "h" in the word bedoh was replaced with a "k", and, as with most Malay words that end with a "k", it is pronounced with an inaudible glottal stop.

A less popular version refers to an equally uncommon Malay term of biduk, a small fishing boat like the sampan, or more likely, a dugout canoe, as the east coast was dotted with many fishing villages.

Bedok New Town

File:Bedok resevoir view.JPG
A former housing estate opposite Bedok Reservoir

Bedok New Town covers a land area close to 9.4 km² with some 42% occupied for residential use. It was formerly a hilly region and hence the focal point of orientation of the town is the special landscaped park and sports complex built on the higher ground of the town. The residential blocks as well as the industrial area are planned based on the neighbourhood concept.

Residential development

There are some 58,000 units of flats built by the HDB in Bedok New Town. As one of the older towns, the majority of the flats are 3-room or 4-room. There are also some 2,700 and 583 units of executive and Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC) flats. It provides housing for some 200,000 residents.

Transportation

The Mass Rapid Transit station, Bedok MRT Station, serves the Bedok neighborhood and is centrally located, at the south-west corner of Bedok Town Center. Adjacent to the MRT station on the north side is the Bedok Interchange, a major bus terminal connecting residents with both intra-neighborhood feeder routes and intercity bus lines.

See also

File:Bedok Reservoir Estate, Jan 06.JPG
Bedok New Town, showing a housing estate near Bedok Reservoir


References

  • Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1

External links