Singapore Spot a Spot / 点出景点
URA – The city gallery Pt 2
The Pinnacle @ Duxton; this is not only the first 50-storey Public housing in Singapore, it is also first in the world with two unique sky bridges linked up the total 7 blocks of building together.
Also, the roof garden offers a panoramic view of the city skyline.
Fort Canning Park is one of the most Historic Park in Singapore. Now, it has transformed into a young and dynamic ground for party and celebration events. With the un-selfness greens and lawns, it’s also a must see ground for variety of arts, heritage and nature trails.
Nicole Highway; this is one of the Major Highway in Singapore. The bridge was named after Sir John Fearns Nicole, the Governor of the Colony. The building on the right near you is the Golden Mile Complex. This unique typewriter shape-like offices cum shops complex is one of the earlier integrated multiple operation mix-development in Singapore.
Chinatown; a must go spot for tourists’ exploration. Those roofs in red color are the conservation shop houses.
Orchard road district is the most famous shopping paradise in Singapore. The second left is the Hotel Grand Hyatt Singapore, the most right with the leave capping is the Marriott Hotel; this is one of the iconic landmark in Orchard road.
Orchard road; viewed from Tanglin road direction.
The one at the center is the Mandarin Gallery and Mandarin Orchard. This is a Hotel development, the most eye catch is the top part UFO like revolving restaurant at the top floor – Top of the M. You can get 360 degree of Singapore city view without rotating your body.
URA – The City Gallery Pt1
This is one of the World’s largest Architectural models that showcasing the Singapore’s central area. It’s at the 2nd floor of URA Building and is opening for public.
Enjoy some of the recommended tourist spots below.
The ECP – East Coast Parkway expressway, where one of the major express way leads you from the Airport Terminal to the city.
The bridge shown in the middle of the picture is Benjamin Sheares Bridge. This is the longer bridge in Singapore; spanning 1.8km over the Kallang Basin. It’s named after Dr. Benjamin Henry Sheares; the 2nd president of the Republic.
Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel, height 165m from the ground.
Marina Bay Sand, world-class luxury integrated casino Hotel. Below the sea shell-like shape buildings are the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest that under part of the Gardens By The Bay.
The enclosed water is the Marina Bay where you always see Fire works and many others celebration events like National day hold it at this place.
Gardens By The Bay.
The Tree of Life
Baobab tree has many other names. Bottle tree, tabaldi, monkey bread tree or dead rat tree just to name a few.
It has a life span of up to many thousands years though the tree age can’t be verified by the tree ring, as bottle tree doesn’t produce annual rings like some others.
I see that these trees living in a corner of the Singapore Botanic Gardens are much younger compared to those living in Africa in terms of its stature.
There are many remarkable and iconic Baobab growing in Africa. Judging by the shape, this tree undoubtedly could be one of the famous trees in Madagascar.
The Baobab tree is also called the Tree of Life. Reason being it not only provides shade but food and water for living beings. The bark can be used as rope or cloth where the leaves are used as condiments and medicines. The tree trunk can store water up to hundreds of litres during rainy season and the tree are able to produce fruit later on in the year when everything around them is dry and barren. The fruit named Monkey Bread is rich in vitamin C and it’s edible. It is easy to see why baobab is referred to as The Tree of Life.
The matured trees are usually hollow. It magnanimously provides a sheltered space for human and animals sharing with him the same roof and joining him as a family.
The fame of this tree can’t be denied. The Baobab tree is also being selected and featured in some Disney’s movie like ‘The Lion King’. So the next time you see a tree, you may be chancing into the Tree of Life, a tree of fame on this fertile earth.
PCN – Sungei Punggol
This park which located along Sungei Punggol is also part of the PCN (Park Connector Network) in Singapore. You may wish to start your journey from Lorong Buangkok where the last Kampong in Singapore is situated. Alternatively, you can start the trail from Punggol Point and trail inwardly alongside the river.
Surau Kampong (the last Kampong in Singapore) – I wish it could be prolonged as long as it should be.
From the fruitful rewards of the rainforest trees, might pack along unstoppable echoes of cicadas.
You may be able to spot some fishes swooping from the water, or some dragonflies laying their eggs along the river.
Sight of Godzilla but it’s so much miniature.
According to the information board, this floating wetland is the first and one of a kind in Singapore.
Under the Active, Beautiful, Clean waters (ABC) Programme, it provides natural habitat to biodiversity beautifies the landscape and improves the water quality in the reservoir.
A lookout view of the Wet land under a concrete vehicular bridge.
You may hide away from the weather in this appealing Eggplant shape-like shelter.
Or just go on with the adventurous journey….
PCN – Punggol @ Promenade
Punggol @ Promenade is one small part of the PCN – Park Connector Network in Singapore. Stepping onto this piece of green in the morning, you’ll be stunned by the wonderful scene of the surrounding.
The fresh air accompany by the scenic landscapes are always so alluring. People gather around. Joggers, cyclists, even stalkers are here seeking for moment of calm and serenity.
Awakening of Sungei Serangoon / Serangoon reservoir.
Thousands of rippers flowing like million of shrimps. A common scene on this old Sungei Serangoon.
It flows by the side of Sengkang and Hougang estates, the point ended and reaches the heart of the heartlanders.
One side of the trail is meant for cyclist while the other for strollers or joggers. Another course of action is to choose the middle path to fasten your body’s bolts and nuts!
Sitting on the wooden bench while enjoying this beautiful moment of dawn, looking into the mist between the forests, what could be better than a lifetime in this minute?
Besides health seekers doing their leisure walks, you’ll discover some fairies around the corner waiting for your exploration.
They are always there, humming and listening to the footsteps of passer-by.
The sunlight cast a silhouette on the Halus Bridge, at the same time casting away our worries and defilements.
When the bridge faces the sun, he shows his fantastic countenance!
Welcome! The river of the rising sun!
A warm smile from the Sun above Sunrise Bridge, will lead you to the enchanting mangroves and wetlands.
The curvy timber design walkway lures people for a dance of Waltz!
Birds of the wild enjoy loitering around for a simple breakfast.
And what about the wild flowers happily wearing the newly crocheted web gifted by brother of nature?
Not just one or two…but uncountable!
A rigid but wave-like timber platform bridge leads to further side of Punggol.
A mangrove calmly present you with a new beginning of the day.
As you step down from the bridge, a reddish-soiled path welcome you like a red carpet as you start the next scenic trip to Coney Island.
Amazing root-way of this Kapok tree
This is one of the Heritage tree in Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Kapok tree.
According to the information board, this tree loves the sun and is fast growing. In the past, people made used of this white cottony pulp to stuff cushions, pillow, mattresses and life jackets etc.
This tall tree is native to tropical America. The broad, straight trunk is the distinctive feature of this old tree.
Standing next to it you’ll be amazed by how huge and tall the portrait of this tree is!
I have no clue and there isn’t a sign stating how old the tree is. By the snake crawl-like roots, it’s enough to judge and convince he is a decisive and fortitude man.
This also crocodile like roots exposed the hard side of nature. So, do these roots inspire you? Have you wonder how deep can he penetrate and how far he has traveled?
An afternoon stroll to Tampines forest
Got a chance to stroll into Tampines forest, a getaway place from the city and hassle. An unfinished road leads us to nowhere, a land where we can rest and rejuvenate.
An earthy ground that touches our soul and the sound of nature, we chat around while enjoying the voices of cicadas.
We dream like an infant in the arm of a warm caring mom.
All these raw yet un-cosmetic folks symbolize the most original face of nature. They don’t choose friend yet they made friends un-doubly.
They have no plans and strategy to survive. They just lived without asking for any reasons.
They lived in an inclusive, supportive and uplifting society.
“What is the secret of longevity?” I asked in silent. He replied in the wind, “we live everywhere”!
My sweet Jumbos tree
I spotted a Eugenia Jumbos tree near Eco Garden in Singapore Botanic Gardens. The floor are lying full of ripen fruits. It looks like a dropping bell at a glance.
Eugenia Jumbos has many common names; water apple, Malay apple and rose apple etc.
Eugenia Jumbos is native to Southeast Asia but naturalized in India.
The flesh is crunchy and watery, and the taste is sweet and fragrant. Some time you can find it in the Rojak food. Rojak is a kind of an Asia food that mixes with different kind of fruits, and stir with prawn paste and peanuts topping.
So next time if you happen to see this rosy cheek along the roadside, please greet him with a hello, because he is so shy that needs somebody to be more initiative than him.
Hello, my sweet Jumbos tree!
Who is going to protect them?
This is one of the Locust tree in Singapore Botanic Gardens, name Hymenaea courbaril. It is a common species in tropical America and used it in furniture, flooring and for decorative purposes.
Beside tall and widely spread in radius and this tree is also protected by lightning protection system. It safeguards the tree from damage due to lightning.
The tree shades us from rain and sun, and giving us oxygen without any pay back. So what is in our mind when we look at him under his unconditional love and protection?
Are we able to feel grateful about that? Being protected and protect them in return?
A seclude path to heaven
I was so enthralled by this sloppy path next to the tomb wall of Fort Canning Hill. The fascination came from the tomb walls which were the collection of tombstones salvaged from the old Christian Cemetery. They were the pioneers from the western country in the 18th Century, one of them is George Coleman.
It is situated on both sides of the Fort Canning Centre. This is the back of the tombstones where it caught my eyes with the lovely afternoon beam.
Standing above the stairway and making guesses. Trying to inject the image of a holy land into my rocky mind! This could be the path where the most honorable contributors of the past saunter in and out daily, presenting us with the warmest and innocent smile.
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