Back-packed And Ready

Since all 3 of us enjoyed our first guided tour of Seletar Camp Nature Walk last Saturday, we have signed-up for another free tour this coming weekend too.

An emailed sent by Wild Happening In Singapore recently offers several free tours organized by the various government and interest-activist groups.

There are so many different and similarly interesting guided tours available this weekend that I wished we could go to all of them, but can only manage to go to one.

We picked Nature & Heritage Trail organized by NUS' Toddycats group. The tour will last for 4 hours. Each hour on a specific topic and experience after a short break.

As the tour details stated, we will visit the National Biodiversity Museum showcasing Singapore's diverse flora and fauna... some had long gone with the encroachment of its habitat for human development, while others still hardy and survived despite the odds.

After a short break, another hour will be spent walking through Kent Ridge Park and visiting the Normanton Pond. There, behold of the living specimens the museum showcases.

Malay Regiment Sculpture at Reflections

We will then continue for another hour tracking through the Heritage Trail to learn about Singapore's past. Then onwards to visit the Reflections at Bukit Candu Museum, to witness and honor the Malay Regiment who fought a fierce fight during World War II to defend our island against the invading Japanese Imperial forces.

There are two sessions being conducted starting at 8:00am and 9:00am. We picked the second one that will end just about 1:00pm.

I was very happy to receive a successful email reply from the organizer the next day after registering on-line for a spot since there was limited number of 30 people per session.

Sport Connection Shop on 3rd Level Tampines Mall

To equip ourselves for the walk, since I am the official camping cum biking, cum nature walk equipment carrier, I got myself an ideal biking/hiking Karrimor Airspace K41 Cinder Haversack for S$90.00 bought at Sports Connection located on the 3rd storey of Tampines Mall.

My new black haversack props away from the back of my body to allow ventilation so I will not get too hot and sweat so much and with reduced friction straps against my skin for more comfort.

An attachment pouch for S$10.00 to keep my cell-phone to the haversack's shoulder strap sits ideally on my left chest that will allow me to hear when the phone rings, and provides easy reach for it too.

I also bought a convenient one-hand, flip-top cap water bottle that can be secured to the bag while on foot or strapped to the bike's water-bottle holder while riding at half-price of $11.00.

Now only to pack our camera, binoculars, insect repellent, water and snacks... topping off with our enthusiasm for the historical nature and heritage learning experience about our island this Saturday!

Like a child eager to learn, I get excited just by counting down the days!

Today In Seletar

The Seletar Nature Walk tour group with Keng Seng extreme right

Today's walk in nature took place at Seletar East Camp.

It was my army camp for the most part of my army life of two years as a medic, more than 2 decades ago... it was that long ago.

Being an army camp to so many divisions, it was a tightly secured camp then, with the Main Gate serving as the first security screening for only authorized army personnel.

For some years already, unknown to my knowledge, the place is no longer an army camp, but in its place a recreational place for golfers and nature lovers.

The familiar Seletar Army Camp main gate

When an email I received from Wild Happenings In Singapore I subscribed offered free nature walk tour in Seletar Camp, I jumped to the opportunity to see that place again.

Unknown to me, though precarious to see that the guardhouse was unmanned and closed but with the red over-sized warning signs still so prominent, I still thought the place was reserved for military use.

Wifey, Sonny and I waited outside the camp's main gate for the tour guide Mr. Keng Seng to meet us and the rest of the group this afternoon.

The Seletar Map without the military divisions camps

When everyone finally arrived, only then I got confirmation the camp is now open to camp as it is no longer a military base... the dilapidation condition of the guardhouse should have been a dead giveaway.

The free tours were given to the public to show the rustic nature of the area. The numerous mature trees and varied plants and shrubs there were the focus of the tour, since most of the species are no longer common-sight around urban Singapore.

Stepping into the camp brought back many memories of my army days. Flashes of young faces of my camp buddies appeared in my mind's eye, as we walked further inward the camp.

Almost in Britain until the coconut trees gave it away

Strangely, throughout my stint there, I had never been to the small roads with the colonial houses that the tour took us. It was in fact a totally new experience for me from the familiar sights when we stayed on the main road.

Keng Seng impressed us with his knowledge of the tree and plant names. Knowingly, he has a business doing landscaping. Growing up in a then village in Lorong Tai Sing, a stone's throw away from my former village of Lorong Ternak, inspired him to be what he is today.

Still a kampong boy at heart, his knowledge about the many local fruit trees growing in abundance there and their natural uses and cures, almost mistaken him for a herbalist.

Majestic Rain Trees amongst the colonial then military homes

The many scientific and Greek derived names of the flora there was definitely too much information to handle... the name of the previous plant got lost after the next was told. I am well known to be bad with names.

Though Chinese, he is still fluent in spoken Malay since he had been growing-up and mixing with the Malays from the nearby village. He knows a lot about the traditions and food the Malay people then used from the trees found in the village and the jungles then.

It is quite unfortunate that the rustic place like Seletar is going to be gone when the bulldozer come to clear off the treasure it holds. In replacement is a redevelopment into an Aeronautics Hub to serve the expanding industry, this part of Asia.

Sonny on the tree deck in Keng Seng's garden

There were just so many beautiful trees and plants... both native and those that were brought in centuries ago. I took so many photos of flowers and fruits that I have no way to show all of them in my blog, even with so many posts.

I still have so many other photos of blooms from my many bike rides and nature explorations that I have no opportunity to post.

So I have decided to create another blog to especially showcase the beautiful flora and fauna this island holds openly around the common paths and secretly in tucked-away pockets of nature.

I will try to include details of the whereabouts of my finds for reference. It may be here today, and wiped out in the next due to redevelopment or whatever.

A Military Open Mobilization field now a golfers' driving range

It will be more of a photo-blog of nature than it is a about photography... both of which I know very little... well, nothing about.

Since I am bad with names, the photos will be without its proper names, but hopefully I will find them myself in the months ahead and fortunate enough from the readers who happen to chance upon my blog.

So today, we were at Seletar Camp admiring its beauty and enjoying the laid-back environment unlike anywhere in our daily urban jungle homes and workplaces... for tomorrow, it will become a restricted area again, this time for the high-fliers.

Cool colonial homes shaded under majestic Rain Trees

Saga Seeds used by kampong children for playing Congkak

The unique Buah Sampan or Boat Fruit husk

Buah Rambutan or Jungle-Haired Fruits

The Buah Cempedak or Fragrant Jack Fruits

Our Simple Pleasures

Sunday's Simple Pleasures

Wifey with Whitey at Gallop Stable in Pasir Ris Beach Park

Wifey has been quite energetic lately... to my liking.

Since coming back from her follow-up medical check-up last tow weeks for her asthma condition, she has bounced back slowly, but surely to be her own adventurous self again.

After her spontaneous suggestion for an outing to Labrador Park last Saturday, she surprised me again when she wanted to join me for my Sunday biking.

"Yes! That's wonderful, dear!" Was my immediate answer to her.

And immediately too, I started thinking of a biking route that was easy and that I would follow her pace... she could take her time and turn back if she felt like it too. No problem. I was really happy to be able to go biking with her again.

Stopping at Nipah Lookout

"Can we take the cab to Pasir Ris Beach Park," was her request, "I want to see the ponies that you mentioned and the boardwalk too."

"I'd love to, my dear!"

I love nature and I love being and doing stuff together with her too. It promised to be a nice Sunday with  just the two of us. Unfortunately Sonny was having his Malay Language tuition class that afternoon.

Like always, we left after our 4:30PM afternoon prayer. Took a cab that was only S$4.80 to reach the park.

Sunday is like a joyous, carefree holiday of the week for the people there. In-line skates, cyclists, joggers, and soccer matches filled the park with joy and happy noises.

Ponies Feeding Area for children

We took our leisurely walk with ice cream cones in our hands until we reached Gallop Stables where Wifey finally got to see the ponies, especially Whitey. He was still there, at the same place where I met him once.

Yep! Donna from Just Me was right. Those ponies were in fact Arabian Horses as it stated in the information board. That lady really knows her horses.

We walked further and talked, and before we realized it, we reached the Pasir Ris Mangrove Boardwalk.

Stopping at Bakau Lookout

Once inside, the sound of the people outside was dampened by the lush mangrove trees. In its place, the sounds of birds chirping and rattling leaves when the wind blew.

The show that day was not as exciting as I had witnessed the last time I was there alone. Wifey did not get to see terrapins or monitor lizards, but just crabs and mud skippers.

Wifey was quite disturbed by the sight of pieces of rubbish that got pulled-in by the tide and stuck in the mangrove roots, spoiling nature's beautiful foliage and habitat. I thought it was rather unfortunate too.

We spent some quiet time in there just listening to the sounds the birds and observing life in the mangrove. Just being together was a nice retreat for both of us.

Out from Mangrove Boardwalk to Garden Roof Walk

We spent hours there until it was too dark and nearing dinner time. Sonny joined us at Downtown East foodcourt directly after his tuition class ended.

The place was packed and the food we ordered came late. It was Youth Day the following day. School was closed on Monday, so most students were out enjoying the long weekend. We had to cancel our plan later to watch a movie.

I was on leave off work on Monday too, but to accompany Dad for his colonoscopy procedure at National Cancer Centre... which went really well.