SINGAPORE SHORT STORIES

Continued from previous post .... Navigating around Sungei Buloh is a breeze. There are a few trails one can take to explore the place. Each trail is graded as 'Easy', 'Medium' or 'Difficult' in the map and the duration for completing each trail is also indicated on the map. My wife and I chose a combination of routes that cut across the different grades of trails. There are observation decks built around the reserve for visitors to observe the rare birds on the lowlands. Yes, rare birds were the first sights that greeted us, along the way we were intrigued by the other sights of nature at Sungei Buloh. First, the freshwaters. The freshwaters were at a height just some tens of centimetres from the wooden boardwalks we were trekking on. Surrounded by the freshwater at this height, the feeling we had walking on the boardwalk is surreal! It was unlike Singapore! It felt as though we were in Venice! If you want to experience something which is unlike the brick and ...

Mention Sungei Buloh wetland reserves to Singaporeans, you will realise that though the name rings a bell to many, many Singaporeans might not have visited one of this last natural gems residing in our city. I am one of these Singaporeans who have not visited Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve until recently. The photos of bird watching on low land come to my mind whenever I think of Sungei Buloh, as such if I do not like bird watching, Sungei Buloh will be a boring place to me..this is what I have always thought until my recent visit to the place. Sungei Buloh has more to offer besides its famed watching of rare species of birds. As a natural reserve, Sungei Buloh is located in the far-flung end of Kranji and it is definitely not easy to get to this place by public transport. The reserve is not as open as any other parks where you can enter and exit at any point. One need to pass through the entrance at the visitors' centre, admission is free on weekdays but a $1 charge is levied on wee...

Despites being a modern city, Singapore still has within its limited land space, areas dedicated to farms for the growing of vegetables and rearing of livestock to contribute to a certain percentage of its food needs. Many of these farms are located in Kranji and a number of these farms, mostly well-established farms have banded together to inject vibrancy and fun of farming by forming a group called ‘Kranj Countryside’. Some of the ways this group has explored to reach out to more Singaporeans include the setting up of the Kranji Countryside website, the establishment of shuttle services from Kranji MRT station to farms and as well as the construction of farm resorts for Singaporeans who wish to experience farmland living. I am not a regular visitor to these farms though I love all things green and rural. I am a regular visitor to the parks in Singapore but I seldom go to farms for one reason: the farms in Kranji are difficult to access via public transport. Though you may argue that ...

SINGAPORE is the southern-most COUNTRY of the Asian Continent. SENTOSA is the southern-most ISLAND of Singapore that still falls within the Asian territory. Palawan Beach is the southern-most beach of Sentosa. A mini-beach that is connected to Palawan Beach, south of the beach is the southern-most mini-beach of Sentosa ….. Hence the Southern-most point of the Asian Continent is the mini-beach off Palawan beach! It has been years since I set foot on the Southern-most point of the Asian Continent, however the same excitement filled me as my Dear and I visited the place some weeks ago. There is now a watching tower at the point, offering visitors an unparalleled bird-eye view of the surrounding seas and most parts of the Sentosa island! The bridge connecting to the point from Palawan Beach truly rocks from side to side. A most beautiful southernmost point of Asia, replete with the sun, sand and the seas! Next time, I must go to the northernmost, westernmost, easternmost point of Asia too...

Amidst the blazing afternoon sun today, my Dear and I made our way to Kampong Lorong Buangkok. The visit was a timely one as there is such a high buzz being generated over the last kampong in modern Singapore. After alighting from Bus 854 from Eunos, it was not difficult to find our way to the kampong. The entrance of the kampong was distinct as you could see from the picture: the 'ulu-ness' (rural charm) is evident from the attap-roofed buildings and more unkempt conditions. A signboard with hand-written text welcome my Dear and I to the last kampong in Singapore: As we entered the kampong, I spotted a middle-aged woman talking to an old man. I had seen the old woman before on TV. She was none other than the owner of the kampong land. In the documentary, I learnt that the whole kampong land was passed to her by her late father. She has kept the land and have not gone on to sell the land to the government. If she were to sell the land, she would be an instant multi-millionair...

Kampong Lorong Buangkok is Singapore last standing kampong, thus if you are like any other Singaporean who have not been to Kampong Lorong Buangkok yet... before its expected demolition in the near future, its now high time to give this last Kampong of Singapore a visit! I will share with All readers of my experience to Singapore's last kampong soon. But if you are fretting over how to go to Lorong Buangkok by public transport, here is the guide: Take SBS Bus 70, 103 or SMRT Bus 854 (click on these hyperlink and type in the bus service number to see the list of bus stops for the service). Then alight at this bus stop right in front of Saint Vincent De Paul Church . If you click on the hyperlink embedded in the text "Saint Vincent De Paul Church", you can see a map showing the vicinity of Lorong Buangkok, can you see the 'U intersection' of Gerald Drive and Lorong Buangkok? That will be the starting point of Kampong Lorong Buangkok! Have fun visiting Kampong Lorong...

Last Saturday, my Dear and I decided to reinvigorate our bodies and souls with a one-day outing with nature at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. My First visit there! There are many routes to enter the reserve; we took one that was more official: entering via Hindhede Road. For Singaporeans who would like to know the way to get to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, just take a bus from the city and alight at the bus stop opposite Bukit Timah Shopping Centre. (e.g bus 170 outside Fu Lu Shou Complex will bring you there). Thereafter alighting at the bus stop, just proceed straight (not in the direction of Beauty World) until you hit an overhead bridge. Cross the bridge and you will arrive at Hindhede Road. Enter into the carpark and you will soon reach the Visitor Centre of the natural reserve. As expected, what greeted us were the “Permanent Residents” of the reserve: monkeys, yes, there was plenty of them, around the carparks, young and old, mothers and sons. Some of them were climbing all over t...

Singapore is a small island surrounded by sea. On weekends, I would try my best to go to one of the many beaches in Singapore to take a break from the hustle and bustle of work and the city life. What I find satisfying is the increasing number of beach goers, be it runners, skaters, folks going for picnic, BBQ or camping, kite-flyers, love birds .... I am starting to see an increasing array of different beach lovers, this bodes well for Singapore as I can see that its effort in giving its residents the greenery despites our tiny land mass is gaining traction! However, the refuse strewn around may be increasing with more goers to the beaches too! Beaches are really relaxing for all goers there. The moment I am at the beaches, I immerse myself to the rhythm of the waves, sashaying upon the shores... the winds embracing me in all directions, the rich aroma of BBQ assailing smoothly my nostrils.....time seems to come to a standstill as I embrace all my six senses with nature.....

Though Singapore is a tiny country, it is regretful many Singaporeans have still not been to the interesting places on this little island. We often hear Singaporeans bemoaning that Singapore has nothing much to offer, besides the dozens of shopping centres in the city/orchard area. This is a hasty conclusion. Singapore has an array of interesting places and events it can offer to Singaporeans and visitors. Follow my blog and I will show you the slew of interesting places I have visited on this little island. You may click on the label ‘Places’ and ‘Events’ in my blog for a writeup of places I have visited and events I have partaken in this little country! Being a local nature buff, my quest for unexplored natural parks in Singapore (parks hitherto unvisited by me) led me to Labrador Park. My Dear and I set foot on Labrador Park last Saturday, our first visit of the park despites having lived on this little island for years! Little wonder Labrador Park is hitherto not as well known to S...

My Dear and I visited Labrador Park yesterday 17 Jan 09. It was our first time there at Labrador Park, a park which was not commonly known to many Singaporeans. Even for a street-wise guy like me, I still do not know its existence till recently. There we went.. to Labrador Park. It is a park unlike many others, for it is a gem of a park which combines rich historical past, marine and corral biodiversity with splendid waters, winds and scenary. We were quite lucky to catch sight of an interesting weather phenomenon (see picture). There were some gaps among the thick overcast clouds, sending the rays of the blazing hot sun in amazing scattering to the sea. It looks like the arrival of a divine being to Singapore! (Visit to Labrador Park: to be continued)

My Dear and I went trekking at Macritchie Reservoir, the part off Venus drive towards tree top walk. This was my second visit to Macritchie Nature Reserve. For the write-up of my first visit, please visit my earlier posts: Tree top walk Tree top walk (part 2) This second visit was even more exciting than the first! The natives of the Macritchie nature reserves came out in full droves from their 'homes' to welcome us! There was a monkey crawling threateningly along the bars of the tree top walk towards us, less than 15 cm away from us. We could not turn back as the tree top walk rangers did not allow walkers to retreat. Thus we braced ourselves walking towards the monkey, keeping our food and drinks out of sight of the primate's view. Luckily the monkey was not interested in us else a monkey's attacks would be unimaginable. Do not fool around with the Singapore monkeys in our nature reserve! These primates are not innocent monkeys like you have read. These primates h...

Recently, I visited one of the most amazing places on earth: smack right here in Singapore, and that is Semakau landfill, an offshore landfill that is located some kilometres away from Singapore. What is so amazing about Semakau Landfill, you may ask? The fact is that Semakau Landfill is the first world’s offshore landfill that is built right from the bottom of the seabed! Semakau Landfill has been described as the ‘Garbage of Eden’ by the New Scientist and what is so amazing about this landfill is the fact that it is built entirely from non-incinerable ash, these ash are used to landfill the sea between two small islands (Pulau Sakae and Pulau Semakua) as well as around the 7km perimeter bund encircling the two islands. When the lands were reclaimed, nature flourish on the island on its own will and right: mangrove swamps, trees blossomed here by forces of nature and exotic birds like the herons have made this island, reclaimed entirely of non-incinerable ash their homes. Dolphins ha...

By Day, Changi Beach is a quiet, relaxing place for family gatherings, outings, BBQs, jogging and cycling. By night, Changi Beach becomes transformed into an even more relaxing place with the cool comfort provided by night. It is comfortable and is a breeze strolling Changi Beach at night. But somehow or rather, personally, I find the tranquilty in Changi Beach is to a extent skewed a little to the eerie side. I always have the feeling of a ghostly feeling walking along the beach at night. In my latest outing to the beach on Friday, just two days ago, I saw two police cars parked on the pedestrian trail of the park as four or five police men were seen shining their bright torches amidst the dark at a patch of sand on the boundary of the sea. They were then walking up and down, as if tracing for some leads. I cannot imagine what they are finding out or what they have discovered on the side of the beach. The eerie feeling invoked in me after seeing all this, intensified. As I walked ...

Of late, I have developed an affinity with the natural attractions of Singapore, visiting the Southern Ridges and the Treetop walk in Macritchie Reserves both within a span of one month. I am not sure whether this affinity arose due to the need to seek solace from the increasing stress in the society, which was made even worse by the current economic crisis or it just developed naturally. Since young, I have always like the beaches: East Coast Park, Changi Beach and Pasir Ris Park, all situated in the east. Living in the east of this island, these are green perks, which residents in other areas would only envy. After every visit to the parks and natural attractions, I feel refreshed and rejuvenated, ready enough to face the onslaught of the challenges of the coming weeks. The NParks Guide offers a list and description of all the natural parks and attractions in Singapore. Looking at the guide, I felt ashamed as well as happy: ashamed for not knowing and visiting the so many different ...

(Part 2) As I made my way down the tree top walk, I surmounted what seemed to be endless flights of stairs. Stairs after stairs, my usually strong legs slowly gave way to weariness. The descent proved equally or more tiring than the ascent to the tree top walk. And the terrain and slope were not particularly helpful too. Concrete gave way to mud, which gave way to gravel. The bends and turns of the road seemed never-ending, at this juncture, I could hear some complaints from trekkers nearby that they regret coming to trek here. Personally, I find that if the navigation course through the forests was smooth-sailing, then it would defeat the purpose of coming to trek! Ruggedness, sweat and discomfort are the hallmarks of such treks. I was perspiring profusely, and at times panting as my strides were fast among the undergrowths. I was inevitably exhausted from the trekking at times, and it could get lonely at times doing solo, and it was scary at times, witnessing how large trees had fal...

Part 7: Hort Park Our last stop of the Southern Ridges trail is the Hort Park. This is our last stop, but not the last stop of the trail as there are still the Kent Ridge Park and the West Ridge Park for those determined to complete the whole of the Southern Ridges Trail. I have described the Hort Park as a Jewel in the whole of the Southern Ridges, and here are the whys: Generous offering of manicured and splendid gardens Beautiful murals Landscaped building with open-air cafes offering al fresho dining Wonderful, tranquil, breathtaking scenary Garden Home After a long long day, treking the different terrains of the Southern Ridges, seeing so many flora and fauna and people, it is time to relax and unwind as we laid our backs on comfortable wooden resting cubes, stretching our backs and admiring the beautiful sky that is fast fading as night fell. A popular saying is that it is the most beautiful at the moment just before night falls and to validate this saying, I captured the foll...

Part 6: Alexandra Arch This is the Alexandra Arch, a bridge linking the Forest Walk to the Hort Park. Alexandra Arch proves a little bit disappointing as it is just a bridge, nothing impressive, save for the design maybe. However, Alexandra Arch led my Dear and I to the Hort Park, the BEST atttraction of the Southern Ridges trail, and it is even better than Mount Faber, in my opinion. It is the Jewel of the Southern Ridges Trail! In my next post, I would be showing you why the Hort Park is this Jewel.