From a kampong hiding in Hougang to Singapore’s link to Christmas Island and an almost Disneyland – these interesting facts will change how you see the Lion City.
Beyond the iconic architecture and hawker culture, our island hides a treasure trove of quirky facts that’ll surprise even the most patriotic Singaporean. Let’s dig into six interesting things you probably didn’t know about Singapore (and yes, they’re real).
1. We could have had our very own Disneyland in Singapore
North-siders, ever wondered why the MRT ride from Khatib to Yio Chu Kang feels unusually long? That’s because an MRT station was supposed to be built at Lentor to serve a proposed Disneyland theme park. Sadly, the Magic Kingdom never came to town due to Disney demanding 300 hectares of land for a low cost (amongst other things). But the stretch remains a reminder of what could’ve been.
2. Step inside a place frozen in time, aka Singapore’s last kampong
In a city of shiny skyscrapers, we have one surviving kampong: Lorong Buangkok. Tucked away in Hougang, this slice of nostalgia is home to a handful of families and has resisted urbanisation since the 1950s. It’s a living time capsule with zinc roofs, chickens, and all. Our team discovered fascinating facts about this little community when we visited the area (you don’t need to be part of a tour group to enter Kampong Lorong Buangkok).
3. The USB thumb drive was invented in Singapore
Before the concept of the Cloud originated, your work and photos owed a lot to Singaporean engineer Henn Tan. In 1999, his company Trek 2000 created the first USB thumb drive, changing how we store and transfer data forever. So, the next time you plug in a flash drive, give a nod to this homegrown innovation.
4. Singapore used to be half an hour behind our current time
Before 1982, we were on a quirky GMT+7.5 time zone. It all started in colonial times when local mean time was based on longitude (because science). Eventually, to sync with Peninsular Malaysia and make life easier for cross-border travel and business, we jumped forward by 30 minutes to GMT+8. So technically, we used to have a bit more time in the morning… if only that stayed!
5. Southeast Asia’s first McDonald’s opened at Liat Towers
The year was 1979, and Orchard Road got its first taste of American fast food. McDonald’s at Liat Towers wasn’t just Singapore’s first – it was Southeast Asia’s. Yes, we were exclusive even then. Over 500 people queued on opening day, and the fast-food frenzy hasn’t stopped since (hello, McSpicy).
6. Christmas Island was once a part of Singapore
Christmas Island, known for its red crab migration and dramatic ocean cliffs, used to be under Singapore’s jurisdiction. The remote island, located about 1,300km south of Singapore in the Indian Ocean, was administered as part of the Straits Settlements, just like Singapore, Penang, and Malacca. When the Straits Settlements were dissolved in 1946, Christmas Island was transferred to the Crown Colony of Singapore.
But we didn’t hold onto it for long. In 1958, the island was sold to Australia for £2.9 million. Australia wanted it for its phosphate-rich land, which was perfect for fertiliser production.
These little-known facts are just the tip of the iceberg. Got more to add? Slide into our DMs @Honeycombers or drop us a comment on Instagram.
