Are you on the lookout for a rustic getaway? If you don't have time for a real backpacking trip, take heart. There is a kampung located close by.

It is Kampung Senibong, and it commands a majestic view of northeast Singapore. On land, it is hidden by a façade of semi-detached houses. Even the solitary road that leads into the kampung seems to an average driver to serve only a condominium in the vincinity.

Life for the people is simple. Some take their boats out to fish. Others made a living of selling Thai and Malay food by turning the front of their homes into a functional store. When not in school, the children rush for the cool waters of Johor Straits, while frolicking near a suspended platform.

Such is the loveliness of the place that at least four Chinese restaurants have opened to sell seafood (certified Halal) in the area. The restaurants, on top of regulars, entertain busloads of tourists on a daily basis. A noteworthy restaurant is Senibong Village Seafood. The restaurant boasts of an incredibly wide range of live seafood, and a wide range of beverage, including beer and top-grade wine. The intelligent and conscientious service provided by the staffers to the diners is commendable.

Satay, served on the house, is an incredibly juicy and delicious treat. The restaurant also scores with its delectable cooking, creative presentation, and the quick serving of food, which is maintained even with a huge influx of tourists.

It is truly romantic to dine at the restaurant under the twinkling stars, opposite the bright orange lights of Singapore, and opposite the loving gaze of a beloved one. Add the toast of white wine, with cheerful laughter of the kampung children playing in the background, the quest for a rustic getaway is complete, seemingly far yet reassuringly near to Singapore.

Senibong Village Seafood Sdn Bhd
Lot 1055, Kampung Senibong, Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru
Tel: 07 - 338 1188

Open for lunch and dinner
20% off for dishes ordered between 2 to 5 pm daily.