First‑Ever Causeway Drive in 2 Years – A Mother‑Son Love‑Letter in Motion
Picture this: It’s midnight, the world is still wrapped in holiday hush, and a young man named Hou packs his phone, his lunchbox, and an undying love for his family. The big moment: he’s about to step back onto the Causeway he hasn’t crossed in two years. The road that once felt like a closed‑vote was opening, and his heart was ready to sprint.
Why the First‑Mover Vibes?
- “I drove into Singapore on March 17, 2020, before the lights went off at the border,” Hou says. “On April 1, 2022 I wanted to be the first occupant of the newly lit road.”
- Historical, but for him, it’s personal: “I wanted to see the checkpoints reopen again, kill two birds with one stone.”
How the Plan Grew (Over a Lockdown Night)
He’d originally set his dinner at 11pm, chatting with friends. But the dead‑pan speed‑closure at Tuas Checkpoint had pulled him out of the comfy sofa. He rolled out at 8:30, got his GPS ready, and went to the road that feeds into the Woodlands Causeway. He was ready to double‑check the “traffic police” atmosphere, just in case the two‑year pause hadn’t made the checkpoint a museum.
From Queues to Quick Moves
By 11:45pm, the line had started moving. The immigration checkpoint took only 25 minutes, faster than he imagined. Why? He guessed his Malaysian‑registered vehicle was one of a few left parked in Singapore during the pandemic, giving the police a lighter load.
The Tissues-So-Heavy Crossing
Crossing into Johor, the tears were streaming in. The early‑morning‑after‑journey feel – looking close to home but having to navigate miles – was both “heart‑breaking” and hilariously realistic. He arrived home at about 1am, opened the door to a sleeping wife, and they yawned together before falling asleep. He typed back to 8world: “If I’m too tired to drive daily, my wife said I can stay in the dorm. But home wins. I see my kids grow up, I have my wife next to me, and now we’re eating breakfast together.”
Back to Singapore: Speedy Clearance
After breakfast, Hou was back over the Causeway, heading back to work. The immigration clearance time? Five minutes. Who knew? He explained: a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) probably takes a few days for Malaysian vehicles, but his car was a Singapore staple, so no obstacles. One puzzling detail: some friends were faced with a “no VEP” bicycle‑swinging “stay put” warning, while Hou sailed through the gates.
In short: A 54‑year‑old stainless‑steel factory foreman, Hong’s journey proves that distance isn’t a roadblock. Even after two years of border‑tightening, an old friend, an electric engine, and a family living in both sides can squeak merrily onto the old Causeway. It might form the most intimate? The joyous? And deeply emotive story you could listen to or re‑watch between tomorrow’s bustling mornings and the whispering light at midnight.
