Singapore Jungle Walk

Hi

I'm happy to share that Singapore preserves few places for the nature lovers.

Those places are know as MacRitchie Reservoir and Bukit Tima Nautre Reserve.

Both parks are located at the North Central side of the island and are placed next to each other so, for those looking to explore alternative routes and jungle walks, the one could be reached from another :).

This map represents the MacRitchie to Bukit Timah jungle walk link:

 

This one represents around MacRitchie Reservoir route :) jungle trail and boardwalk combined

Both routes are around 12km long and maintained in jungle environment :) So, for that reason these make great local getaways from Singaporean urban jungle to the nature one :)

 

To say is that before the early 19th century, most of the Singapore main island was covered by primary forest. Soon after the British established a settlement in Singapore in 1819 and commercial activity took root, there was a demand for fresh water. However, it was decades before the settlement's first fresh water supply was established. 

Therefore, MacRitchie Reservoir (Chinese: 麦里芝蓄水池, Pinyin: Maìlǐzhī Xùshuǐchí) is Singapore's oldest reservoir. The reservoir was completed in 1868 by impounding water from an earth embankment, and was then known as the Impounding Reservoir or Thomson Reservoir.

The development of the MacRitchie Reservoir brought the forest devastation around the area to a halt. The forest surrounding the reservoir has been protected as a water catchment reserve.

 There are boardwalks skirting the edge of the scenic MacRitchie Reservoir and walking trails through the forest. Interpretative signboards along the boardwalks allow for a self-guided tour along the fringes of the MacRitchie jungle forest.

The boardwalk around the perimeter of the MacRitchie Reservoir brings the visitor through interesting secondary forest in the Central Catchment nature area which confines with Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. 

The boardwalk which hugs the reservoir also allows for easy exploration of freshwater wildlife. 

In addition to the boardwalk, another popular attraction is the HSBC TreeTop Walk, a 250 m aerial free standing suspension bridge spanning Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang which are the two highest points in MacRitchie. The bridge was completed in July 2004, and the TreeTop Walk was officially launched on 5 November 2004. The structure, which is 25 m at its highest point, offers visitors a panoramic view of Upper Peirce Reservoir and the surrounding lush rainforest. Jelutong Tower also offers a view of the Singapore Island Country Club golf course and the MacRitchie Reservoir.

Continuing from the TreeTop Walk the trail allows a detour to Bukit Tima Nature Reserve.

The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a small 1.64 square kilometre (400 acre) nature reserve near the geographic centre of the city-state of Singapore, located on the slopes of Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore's highest hill standing at a height of 163.63 metres, and parts of the surrounding area. The nature reserve is about 12 kilometres from the Downtown Core, Singapore's central business district.

The primary activities at Bukit Timah are strolling, running and hiking. There are specially-allocated mountain-bike trails. The Reserve is popular among athletes training for mountain-climbing. There are a number of hiking trails.

Bukit Timah is know for its variety of plants and animals as well :)

Starting from September 2014, Bukit Timah Reserve shall be under restoration. NParks said that it has found damage to the forests and an erosion of the slopes and trails over the years. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was visited by 400,000 people last year of 2013 - five times more than 20 years ago. 

Hope you'll have a chance to go and visit MacRithcie and Bukit Timah :)

Have a good day :)

Eva

Footnotes:

photos taken by Eva Kucich

MapMyWalk maps generated by Eva Kucich

sources taken in consideration and for additional information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukit_Timah_Nature_Reserve

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacRitchie_Reservoir

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/bukit-timah-nature/1132596.html

Kusu Island Getaway

:)

Kusu Island is one of the Southern Islands in Singapore, located about 5.6 kilometres to the south of the main island of Singapore. The name Kusu means "Tortoise" or "Turtle" in Chinese; the island is also known as Peak Island or Pulau Tembakul in Malay. From two tiny outcrops on a reef, this island was enlarged and transformed into an island holiday resort of 85,000 square metres today.

Located on Kusu island is the popular Chinese temple - Da Bo Gong 大伯公 or Tua Pek Kong (Grand Uncle). Built in 1923 by a wealthy businessman, the temple houses two main deities - the Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin 观音 (Goddess of Mercy). 

The former is highly regarded as having the power to confer prosperity, cure diseases, calm the sea and avert danger, while Guan Yin is known as the 'giver of sons'.

At the top of the rugged hillock on Kusu Island stands three kramats (or holy shrines of Malay saints) to commemorate a pious man (Syed Abdul Rahman), his mother (Nenek Ghalib) and sister (Puteri Fatimah) who lived in the 19th century. Many devotees will climb the 152 steps leading to the kramats to pray for wealth, good marriage, good health and harmony. The shrines are also popular with childless couples who would pray for children.

Kusu is popular by its legends. Some of the stories listed in the Singapore infopedia website of the National Library include these:

Legend has it that during the 9th lunar month in the Chinese calendar, a huge turtle saved a group of sailors from rough seas by turning itself into an island. The grateful sailors returned there the following year to make offerings of thanksgiving and the island has thereafter been treated as sacrosanct and has become a place of worship. (Prior to reclamation, it is said that Kusu Island resembled a sea turtle.)

Another tale is of an Arab named Syed Abdul Rahman who left Singapore with his wife and daughter on a journey in search of peace. Caught in a violent storm their sampan capsized. Lost in the open sea, a giant tortoise spotted them and brought them back to safety. They were beached at an unknown island which, from a distance, bore the silhouette of a turtle. Beside them, they found not only their lost sampan but food in it.

A traditional tale includes that of a sailing boat that foundered near Kusu Island and went down in strong waves. Two survivors, a Chinese and a Malay, swam ashore. Stranded on the island, they lived on shrubs and wild shoots. Their good friendship lasted until they died. Years later, when a ship contaminated by an epidemic dropped anchor near the island, the scourge miraculously disappeared and the sick regained good health.

About 170 years ago, two holy men, Dato Syed Rahman, an Arab, and Yam a Chinese, meditated and fasted on their pilgrimage to Kusu. Yam fell ill and Syed prayed fervently for him. The sudden appearance of a boat with food and water saved both their lives. As time lapsed, the two men regularly visited Kusu to offer thanksgiving. When they died, they were buried next to one another on the island. Later the Tua Peh Kong Temple and the Malay shrine were erected and dedicated to their memory.

The place is great getaway for a day or half day chill-out from Singapore's bustling streets as it is easy reachable by the ferry from South Marina Pear. It is nicely organised with well located picnic huts and maintained facilities as toilets and showers. The only treat are the monkeys looking to share picnic food :).

The ferry schedule could be found here http://www.islandcruise.com.sg/ferry-schedule.html and the adult ticket cost is 18 SGD.

Head for your picnic to Kusu and have fun.

Greets from Eva :)

Photos by Eva Kucich

Sources:

http://www.islandcruise.com.sg/kusu-island.html

http://www.islandcruise.com.sg/ferry-schedule.html

http://iyor08singapore.blogspot.sg/2008/02/legends-of-our-turtle-island.html

Singapore Skechers ELECTRIC Run

:) Hi

What's up in Singspore?! Second weekend of April 2014 and the Sketcher's ELECTRIC RUN arrived :) http://electricrun.sg/#ff_s=rsaok
Singapore is the first city in Asia where Sketcher's decided to run the event :)
Most of the people would agree that it represents a good marketing trick, but honestly, people are looking for fun and Electric Run it is.
What's great about is that all those who are not so into jogging or running are still invited to participate by walking or just being. The race/run/walk is a night one and filled with light effects, energy and great party time organized in a manner likely to suit all of the participants.
Well done Sketcher's and great to see you around. Looking forward to the same event next year :)

Orchid Gardens in Singapore Botanical Gardens

Hi lovely people,

This blog update shall reflect Singapore as the Green City.

Being sited in the equatorial and tropical part at the Globe, could be said that would be a natural fact seeing Singapore as the Green City. 

Frankly, that is not so easy to maintain but Singapore is doing it best to find sustainable solutions for keeping the city green. 

CNN managed to list 12 reasons due which Singapore is a green city. Have a look http://travel.cnn.com/singapore/none/12-reasons-why-singapore-greenest-city-914640 

Singapore has developed the 2050 year as strategic year to accomplish its green aims http://gs2050.wikidot.com

Today Singapore cherishes a number of gardens all over the island  https://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/

One is the orchid garden in the Singapore Botanical Garden :)

The The National Orchid Garden, opened on 20 October 1995 by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, is located on the highest hill in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Three hectares of carefully landscaped slopes provide a setting for over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids, with about 600 species and hybrids on display.

The distinctive feature of the National Orchid Garden is its design concept which presents the display of plants in four separate colour zones over most of its areas :the "spring" zone with its prevailing colours of bright and lively shades of gold, yellow and creams; the "summer" zone with its major tones of strong reds and pinks; the "autumn" zone of matured shades; and the "winter" zone of whites and cool blues. The colour zonation is achieved by a careful blend of selected trees, shrubs, herbs and orchids (mostly hybrids) with matching foliage and floral colors.

http://gs2050.wikidot.com

Garden city by name garden city by nature.

http://travel.cnn.com/singapore/none/12-reasons-why-singapore-greenest-city-914640 

i Light Marina Bay light art festival

Hi guys,
we are witnessing the iLight festival at Marina Bay.

iLight is Asia’s first sustainable light art festival held in the Marina Bay district of Singapore. The festival is organised and presented by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) with festival direction by Smart Light Singapore (SLS).

i Light was first held during 2010.

The ‘i’ in the name alludes to the festival’s innovative content, the intelligent use of lighting as well as its international line-up of creative talent. It is also an invitation to everyone to get involved in this free outdoor celebration of creativity in a community space.

This year 2014 the festival ends by the end of March. The respective number of exhibits are placed around Marina Bay adding to Marina Bay's already established spectacular views and laser shows. 

Walking around and enjoying it I have chosen some of the art pieces to share with you. Have a look and cherish :) 

The Beat

The Wishing Tree 

Happy Crockoo

The Guardian Angels

The Pool

:)

Some info is taken from Wikipedia; i Light festival marketing material

Photos: by Eva Kucich

Mosaic music festival in Singapore

Hi lovely people

Singapore is facing the last edition of Mosaic Music Festival of jazz sounds. The chief executive officer of the Esplanade Co Ltd said: but it was a good one!, and I agree on that.
This was my 4th one and I was enjoying each and every I've attended.

This year, I have to admit, the organizer knew how to close it in glamour. It must be said that opening by Dee Dee Bridgewater and closing by John Pizzarelli should be recorded as the success made by 10 years of Mosaic jazz festival tradition. Everybody cherished it and bow to the excellence of the performance. The artists were all excited to perform and proud to share it with the audience. I have nothing else to say than that I felt the sparkle in my hart.

With a great joy I have followed the performance of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Omar Sosa duo.
These artist I'm following for their interpretation on classic jazz or ethnic sound..and I met them before..isn't that great?!

The data are sourced from attending two concerts and consulting the Mosaic The Final Edition booklet.

Enjoy :)

Singapore...we are waiting for the circle of life effect and looking forward to another colorful event.