Nature Trail at The Southern Ridges

When I saw this amazing verdant greenery in front of me, I think I fallen in love with Singapore again! I didn't expect to see such picturesque country scene in cosmopolitan concrete jungle Singapore! I thought I was in another country. 

The picturesque scene is taken during a three hours nature trail during the Southern Ridges walk, starting from Kent Ridge Park, to mount Faber park, passing though HortPark, Floral Walk, Alexandra Arch, amazing Forest Walk on elevated walkway at Telok Blangah Hill park and beautiful architecture Henderson Waves. When you are at HortPark, do collect the informative brochures for The Southern Ridges and HortPark. But I think it will be best if they provide the brochures at MRT at Kent Ridge, Labrador Park and HarbourFront as it makes it more convenient for the public. 

For the first time since 2009, I felt immense gratitude to our National Parks for their foresight in planning this conducive bridges Forest Walk that make this nature trail possible. It makes it more accessible and easy for the public to explore nature in this tiny island. 

I love nature. I really do. Nature walk is really therapeutic perhaps due to the abundance of oxygen produce by the trees. Nature is important to our well-being and I believe in the healing power of nature. Every time I go for nature, I feel so happy and blissful. Actually happiness is free really. To be at one with nature, to see animals and birds and to enjoy fresh clean air are something we take for granted. We must continue to ensure the preservation of nature. After all forest is the green lung for the earth. 

Before you go for the walk, you can download the map for the walk from National Parks Board here. Make sure you bring at least a big bottle of water, some snacks, umbrella in case it rain.

Stay tune for my next post on Labrador Park. Meanwhile, here are my previous posts on previous nature walks.

How to go there?

Depending on where you want to start the walk, you can alight at HarbourFront Mrt if you want to start from Mount Faber park or Kent Ridge MRT if you want to start from Kent Ridge Park. 

First posted on 14 June 2015

Beautiful countryside scenery in Singapore.

 So beautiful!

Lovely Singapore

 Stopping and admiring beautiful flowers in nature.

 At Reflection at Bukit Chandu, a museum remembering the soldiers who fought during World War 2 against the Japanese.

 Sharing by former minister, George Yeo

Map of Kent Ridge Park

 Look at the dark overcast sky, weather was great and cooling as long as it don't rain.

 Bright cheery flower greeting us

 Glasshouses

 Vertical Greenery 

HortPark

 Alexandra Arch is an 80m-long bridge which looks like an open leaf across Alexandra Road.

Changing LED lights start at 7pm daily.

 My cousin told me this is banana tree.

 We saw banana plant and flower.

 Embrace the nature on the Forest Walk and listen to the birds chirping, a tall bridge in the midst of secondary forest. Meanwhile I felt thankful to the construction workers and engineers who built and designed this elevated walk.

 Beautiful architecture Henderson Waves

 Green lung in Singapore

 View of Singapore public housing and busy port

View of Sentosa cable car from Mount Faber

You can download the map from the National Parks Board website here

Are These Bananas?

This Wednesday at Gardens by the bay, I saw these fruits hanging on a tree outside the Flower dome.  They look like bananas but someone told me these are not bananas. Anyone has any idea what are these fruits? Can it be eaten?

Update: They are Kapok trees

Jacky Chan and Stars: Believing Love Can Win

The COVID-19 shows the best and the worst in mankind. In western countries, there are blatant racism with French newspaper writing the headline, "Yellow Alert", and even the Wall Street Journal even published the article, China is the Real Man of Asia. Alas white supremacy still exists in Europe and United States of America. 

Singapore Chinese are not spared. Recently the Straits Times reported Singapore Prime Minister shared that a tour group of Singapore Chinese were turned away from an attraction in Australia due to anti-Chinese sentiment. 

From the Straits Times 

He pointed out that a tour group from Singapore, comprising Singapore Chinese, had been turned away from a tourist attraction in Australia after they were mistaken as being from China, because of anti-Chinese sentiment.

"That is foolish and illogical," PM Lee said in Mandarin."Even though the virus started in Wuhan, it doesn't respect nationality or race. It does not check your passport before it goes into your body. Anybody can be infected," he said. "(The outbreak) is a problem that all countries must work together to solve."

Let's hope there is medication for COVID-19 soon. Thank you to all the professional medical staff who are helping to save many lives while putting their own lives at risk. 

Jacky Chan leading in this song dedication, Believing Love Can Win" for medical staff

Singaporean Singer Lim Jun Jie composed this song, "Stay with you" for medical professionals.

Praying at Singapore Waterloo Street Kuan Yin Temple

Today is the 15th day of Chinese New Year. This morning, I went to pray at Waterloo Street Kuan Yin temple.

This new year is the year I feel upset due to the coronavirus. Due to this virus, many families are separated in China and other affected countries including in Singapore on this festive season. I pray that there is a cure soon for coronavirus soon. 

May all sentient beings are well.

How to Wear the Surgical Mask Correctly?

Singapore has confirmed 4th case of coronavirus. Three of the patients had stayed at hotels in Sentosa.

Recently, I noticed many people coughing in the public transport(buses and MRT) and I'm surprised that they did not wear masks. A World Health Organization doctor said that wearing surgical mask works but you need to wear it correctly. The blue colour (waterproof) of the mask should be on the outside and the white colour on the inside as it is made of absorbent material. So if you cough, it absorbs it. Remember to wear mask if you cough or sneeze.

River Hongbao Show 2020

After work today, I went to River Hongbao show at The Float@Marina Bay. For the past few years, I would visit the River Hongbao show with my cousins. However this year due to the  virus from Wuhan, they are reluctant to visit the show as it is normally crowded at night. My colleagues also mentioned about not going to crowded places like the Chinatown. 

I went to the River Hongbao show at around 2pm and there were not many people this afternoon. I left the place after exploring all the intricate lanterns and buying U magazine as I had to clean my room and help with some housework in late afternoon. 

Lately when I'm in the buses or MRT, there would be people around me coughing. I hope the medical community will be able to find a cure for this virus soon. May all sentients beings be well and safe. 

Website: http://riverhongbao.sg

The popular God of Fortune

Heart Sutra Concert at Singapore Esplanade Theatre by the Bay

Yesterday I finally got to listen to Imee Ooi live at Singapore Esplanade Concert theatre! I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours plus concert. The concert started at about 7.35 pm and ended at about 10.05pm with 20 minutes intermission. Besides singing the Heart Sutra in 8 languages (Mandarin, English, Sanskrit,  Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, Japanese and Tibetan), she also sang the Great Compassion mantra with Jing gang (8 male singers) and Om Mani Padme Hum at the start of Heart Sutra concert. 

Whenever I feel frustrated or upset, I'll listen to the Heart Sutra by Imee Ooi to meditate and calm down. By chanting the Heart Sutra, I feel more at peace. I need to recite the following verse "照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄" (Clearly perceived the empty nature of the five skandhas, and transcended all suffering) to remind me of the impermanence nature of life and it is foolish to be angry for long since my identity as a human in this space and time is just a vehicle for me to experience life in this transient temporary material world. No matter how I take care of my body in this human realm, it don't last forever. It will be returned to the earth one day. 

照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄  means perceiving the five aggregates (skandhas) making up a person* is but an illusion (emptiness), and with this he was delivered from all sorrow and suffering.

five aggregates: : material form , sensation , discrimination, thinking , and consciousness. 

Heart Sutra is one of the Avalokiteśvara bodhisattva  (觀世音菩薩 ) (practices. In this samsara world, the imperfect world, I'm glad we still have the Dharma, the teaching of Buddha. However Buddha said that once you cross the shore, you also have to stop clinging to the Dharmma. Just let go. The Dharmma is just like a boat that helps you to cross the shore.

Although music is not really encouraged, but I think producing Buddhism music is a way to reach out to the young in the spread of Buddha's teaching.

Inside the Esplanade theatre Singapore.

I paid for $104 (second most expensive price). I sat on first row but was blocked by the speaker.

So happy to hear Imee Ooi sing live. Great awesome performance. Fans could pose with her at the end of concert.

 The Great Compassion Mantra by Imee Ooi and the Jinggang 

Local Vegetarian Dishes at Grove at SingPost Centre

Grove is a vegetarian eatery that has a good selection of local dishes like nasi lemak, roti prata, toast and noodles. It is conveniently located at SingPost Centre next to Paya Lebar MRT station. Last month,I went to try their nasi lemak blue pea and curry. I read of raving review but I was quite disappointed. I don't find the rice so fragrant. Maybe I should ask for more chili sauce. Perhaps I should try the nasi lemak blue pea again and see if it is better. You know quality varies with different chef.

For the curry, I opted for roti prata which is the kind that you can buy from supermarket and cook yourself. I like their dry truffle noodle which comes springy noodle.  

Grove at SingPost Centre

Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar

 Nasi lemak blue pea ($8.80). The otak laste like tofu.

 For curry, you can choose roti prata, bread or rice. ($6.80)

Chinese New Year Decoration at Chinatown 2020

Chinese New Year is early next year. It will start on 25 January next year and it will be the year of the Rat, which is the first zodiac sign in Chinese zodiac. 

This Tuesday, I had lunch with my youngest brother at Chinatown. When I saw the cute rats decoration in Chinatown, I immediately took photo of it. This year design is much better than last year pig decoration. 

I'm looking forward to Chinese New Year and reunion dinner with my family. Hopefully next year is a great year!

 Singapore Chinatown. It was raining this Tuesday afternoon.

Its time to shop for Chinese New Year!

Fried Ice-Cream at Green Ba Vegetarian Restaurant

I was excited to see fried ice-cream and avocado pasta available at Green Ba restaurant so I went to try. Inside the fried dough is vanilla ice-cream with chocolate chips and mango. I find the fried dough quite thick compared to another fried ice-cream at other restaurant in Chinatown near Bukit Pasoh area. 

If you love avocado, then you won't dislike the avocado pasta with corn and tomato. I must say avocado pasta is quite an acquired taste. At least the pasta is creamy rich with avocado with small pieces of avocado. 

Green Ba at Marina Square #02-103

Nearby MRT: Esplanade and Cityhall MRT

 Avocado pasta. I think they can still improve on the taste.

 Fried ice-cream