Written by: Rannel Wong (4E 2023)
As an individual who frequently visits NorthPoint, a mall in Yishun which is close to my home, I have experienced various changes the mall has undergone to improve itself. Having lived close to NorthPoint, there are various activities one can spend their time mesmerised in, and along with the recent improvements such as the addition of a South Wing to the mall, NorthPoint only impresses me each time I visit.
Firstly, with the development of the South Wing, it has brought about many more shops and dining areas. Before, NorthPoint was a simple place with the basic, common shops and islandwide restaurants. Now, after the development of the South Wing, upon getting out of the lift at the basement one level, a strong aroma of delicious delicacies, and many different cuisines such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino and many more await me. The dining area is designed in a way such that it seems like a clone of a busy street at ChinaTown during Chinese New Year. There are several thoughtfully placed lanterns, a path similar to that of stone and pebbles and the designs of the restaurants are surprisingly fitting into the Chinese New Year theme. The sight of several joyous families having dinner or simply queueing up for their ticket to eat at “Paradise” warms my heart. Upon walking by this Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant, I can only hear the satisfying sizzling og delicious food on the grill waiting to be devoured and the amazed “oohs” and “aahs” of the younger audience as the teppanyaki chefs perform their stunts with smiles, happy to please the audience. Food cooked and grilled with love always tastes the best. The hot oil burns my tongue but the savoury flavour and the texture of the food makes up for the pain. Many people feel that the new dining area is an amazing improvement, and personally, I feel so too. No longer will I have to go to the same restaurants I always go to for meals. Instead, I can try new cuisines and new experiences with different people. Therefore, I wholeheartedly welcome this change to NorthPoint.
Secondly, a new carpark has also been built along with the South Wing. Previously, I found my family and I having to wait almost an hour for a slot in the carpark of NorthPoint. However, now that there is another carpark within the same mall, the carpark waiting time has been reduced significantly. Drivers in a rush or who are simply impatient used to repeatedly press their car horns out of frustration and anger. Now, they no longer have to do that as the new carpark offers almost double the space for drivers to park their cars and do their shopping. I welcome this change as the carpark is also much more vibrant and cleaner than most other carparks, with the prettiest shade of blue plastered along the walls and almost no litter in sight. Compared to the older carpark where litter can be seen almost every step along the way was accompanied by musty, disgusting, faded light green coloured walls. The new carpark is much quieter and the drop-off or pick up point is gorgeous with tyres as decoration. Various escalators to bring drivers to their cars and many food posters for people to admire. The posters contrast the beautiful blue with the black backgrounds. Furthermore, the posters are huge, covering almost two-thirds of a single wall panel, which makes it impossible to miss. Again, many people welcome this change as they do not need to wait for a parking lot for as long as they used to, and the carpark is so vibrant and clean. Personally, I agree with them. Having such a large space and a beautiful surrounding to look at makes me feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Lastly, there were direct underpasses connected from the various parts of the mall to the bus interchanges and the MRT station at Yishun, which is very convenient. I often see many busy people rush through the underpasses to either go to the mall or MRT station. Despite the walls of the underpass looking rather plain and empty, with only some posters of bus drivers to thank them for their service, the direct underpasses are my favourite part of the mall. Being able to walk through a long, well-lit passage with several other busy people makes me feel like I’m in the subway underpass in New York. Not only that, but the direct underpasses make it so convenient to go from one place to another without the hassle of having to stop and wait for traffic lights. In the past, before the direct underpasses were built, getting to the MRT station from the mall was extremely troublesome and time-consuming. In order to get to the MRT station, individuals would have to exit the mall and cross a busy road. The waiting time for traffic lights to turn red and for the green walking man to light up is extremely long, which wastes a significant amount of time. Hence, the addition of these direct underpasses are much more convenient and save time.
All in all, NorthPoint has seen several changes and improvements since it was first developed. These improvements have helped to improve the quality of life of the individuals who go there, which includes me. The changes have impacted me positively and have changed me too by allowing me to try new things. Hence, I welcome the new changes and will look forward to more of these improvements to come.
MJR World of Words 