Toa Payoh, Bishan & Ang Mo Kio

No, NParks has closed Toa Payoh Town Park for redevelopment, and it's expected to reopen in 2030. It's the 4.8-hectare pond park many people remember from 1970s wedding photos, at the corner of Lorong 2 and Lorong 6. The dragon playground isn't inside it, so that stop is still on. Until the park reopens, NParks points visitors to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

It stands in front of Block 28 on Lorong 6, across the road from SAFRA Toa Payoh. From Toa Payoh MRT, take Exit A and walk eight to 10 minutes along Lorong 6. Exit A's signs also point to the town park, which is closed. There's very little shade, so we'd go early and bring water.

Kong Meng San Phor Kark See at 88 Bright Hill Road is Singapore's largest Buddhist monastery, free, about five minutes from Bright Hill MRT and usually open to visitors from 8am to 4pm. Dress modestly, take your shoes off in the halls and skip photos indoors. Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery at 184 Jalan Toa Payoh is a 1902 National Monument, open daily 8am to 5pm. Go to Bright Hill for scale and Toa Payoh for the monument.

Two quieter stops are Bidadari Park and Harmony Centre. Bidadari Park, by Woodleigh MRT, is 13 hectares around Alkaff Lake, open 24 hours and wheelchair-accessible except the Woodland Experiential Trail and Marshland Boardwalk. Harmony Centre, the interfaith gallery MUIS opened in 2006 at Masjid An-Nahdhah, is at 9A Bishan Street 14, behind the stadium near Bishan MRT. Call 6478 4310 or email harmony@muis.gov.sg before you go, and dress modestly.

Sometimes. Smooth-coated otters turn up most often along the river here, but nobody can promise them, and herons are the likelier sighting. Get to the river by about 9am, while it's cool. If an otter family appears, give it room, don't chase or feed it, and keep your drone in its bag.

Three self-guided routes of 1.5, 2.5 and 1.5 hours using public transport, covering 5.5 to 12 km of the town. The Iconic Landmarks route starts at Ang Mo Kio Town Centre and passes the Clover Block, the only block of circular flats HDB built, and another route begins at Chu Sheng Temple, a short walk from Yio Chu Kang MRT.

Early. Bird owners usually arrive from about 5.30am, hang their cages from poles and let the birds sing, and many stay until late afternoon. The club is near 159 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, at the foot of Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West, with room for more than 1,000 cages. Competitions are held regularly. Ang Mo Kio and Mayflower MRT are the nearest stations.

NEA's list includes 17 markets and hawker centres in Toa Payoh, Bishan and Ang Mo Kio. Toa Payoh has Lorong 8 at Blk 210, Kim Keat Palm, Vista, West, Blk 75, Blk 93 and Woodleigh Village. Ang Mo Kio has 628, Blk 724, Cheng San, Chong Boon, Mayflower, Teck Ghee Court, Teck Ghee Square and two Kebun Baru centres, and Bishan has Shunfu Mart. We'd start with Lorong 8 at breakfast.