Eddy Blog

Labrador Nature Reserve Singapore

by Eddy

The Labrador Nature Reserve or Labrador Park is a lush coastal park which has a rich biodiversity and was part of the British Coastal Defense during the Second World War. There is a fort and several machine gun posts still existing in the park.

I visited Labrador Park in 2009 before the completion of the Labrador Park Station of the Circle Line and the Berlayer Creek Walk. So I took the long walk through Labrador Villa Road

I’ve arrived at the beach front

There is a beach side restaurant at Labrador Park

House No 30 at Bukit Chermin Road which was built in the early 1900s and was occupied by the high ranking officer of the port, most probably the port master.

A replica of the Dragon’s Teeth Gate or known as Batu Berlayer to the Malays and Long Ya Men to the Chinese which once guided ships into Keppel Harbour. The British called the rock formation as Lot’s Wife as it reference to Abraham’s nephew’s wife who turned into a pillar of salt. The original rocks were blown up in 1848 by the British to widen the channel for bigger ships to enter. A replica was built at the spot of the rock formation in 2005 to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Zheng He voyage.

A Red Berlayer Beacon was constructed as a replacement for the Dragon’s Teeth Gate

Caribbean by Keppel Bay and the Marina at Keppel Bay in the distance

Harbour Front to the far left and PSA’s Keppel Terminal in the distance

A Machine Gun Port built by the British. There were several of these along Labrador Beach

The Labrador Jetty in the distance

The fruit and flower of the Fish Poison Tree. All parts of the tree are poisonous. The seeds when grounded up can be used as fish poison which would suffocate the fish but does not harm the flesh of the fish and thus can be eaten

The Labrador Jetty (formerly the BP Jetty) was a popular fishing jetty but have seen been closed due to safety issues

The rocky shores of Labrador Park

View of the Labrador Jetty from on top of the hill

Boardwalk up the hill

The Olive Restorante at Labrador Park

Fort Pasir Panjang or Labrador Battery was one of the 11 coastal artillery fort built by the British in the 19th century to defend Keppel Harbour against piracy and foreign powers. The guns were used during the Second World War in the battle of Pasir Panjang against the Japanese invading force advances towards the Malay Regiment in Bukit Chandu. As the fort were equipped with armor-peircing rounds and not high explosive rounds, it did little to stop the advance of the Japanese troops.

I end my journey here and I do plan to return to Labrador Nature Reserve soon especially through the Berlayer Creek trail which is now opened.

This also concludes my journey through all the coastal parks of Singapore which are publicly accessible.

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Venturing Bukit Batok Nature Park Singapore

by Eddy

The highlight of Bukit Batok Nature Park is the 10 storey cliff and the walk up the transmission tower. This used to be the site of a granite quarry which was abandoned in 1988.

Map of the Bukit Batok Nature Park

Beware of Falling Durians

Orchids around the park entrance

View of the Transmission Tower

There is a playground and several shelters where you can take a rest

A water stream from the pond

The rock face of the hill overlooking a pond

The pond was carved out after decades of dynamite bustling of the wall of the hill. The pond does look deceptively shallow but it is several storeys deep

There are turtles in the pond

A tree that has its roots wrapped around a boulder

Close Up on the Granite wall

Shelter half way up the hill

The memorial on the 120 steps up to the transmission tower commemorate the fallen soldiers during the battle of Bukit Timah Hill on February 11 1942.

The Battle of Bukit Timah Hill was one of the bloodiest battle in Singapore where the Japanese took the greatest casualties. In revenge, the Japanese Soldiers massacred the chinese living in the nearby village.

There was an earlier war memorial built by the Japanese for their fallen brethren. During that time, the Australian POWs were granted the permission to built their own memorial on the steps of the hill. Both of which were destroyed after the Japanese Surrender.

Maps

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

West Coast Park Singapore

by Eddy

The West Coast Park is a much shorter beach park compared to East Coast Park, nevertheless it has its own charm. There is a dog run, a jogging track, BBQ Pits and a Marsh Park. McDonalds is also located within the confines of the park.

The West Coast Park starts from the PSA’s Pasir Panjang Terminal on one end

A yellow caterpillar

A Cannon Ball Tree with fruits and flowers

A Rest Stop in the park

The Poly Marina belongs to Singapore Polytechnic’s Singapore Maritime Academy to enable its students to have practical experience on a real sea vessel

The Republic of Singapore Yacht was founded in 1826 and is the oldest sailing club in Singapore

There are warehouses and shipyards around the area

The Marsh Garden at West Coast Park

Boardwalk over the Marsh Garden

Cannon Ball Tree Flower

A Kapok Tree

The Kapok fruit when ripe produces fibre similar to cotton. These is use to fill stuffed toys or pillows. mattresses and so on.

The fibrous fruit of the kapok trees makes a feast for some red and black insects

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Thaipusam 2012 Singapore Part 2 – The Walk to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

by Eddy

The next leg of my Thaipusam visit was the 4.5km walk from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road. This little over 1 hour walk took me from Serangoon Road to Selegie Road and Prinsep Street then a right turn to Penang Road and a left turn into Clemenceau Avenue before reaching Tank Road.

The walk for the devotees starts with crossing to the opposite side of temple on Serangoon Road. There were traffic police on hand to stop the oncoming traffic to allow the devotees to cross. I could join them but I decided to cross at the next traffic crossing

This passes the old New World Amusement Park which was one of the “World” which offers nightly fun and games for the people from the 1920s to the 1960s. It was redeveloped as City Square Mall as a eco-friendly shopping complex and residential hub

The famous Mustafa Centre at Syed Alwi Road. This is probably the largest department store and supermarket in Singapore which if I am not wrong is housed over 4 buildings. The department store operates 24 hours.

The procession continues passed Hindoo Street across from Broadway Hotel

Opposite the housing estate at Klang Lane

Opposite the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Spectators taking photos of the oncoming devotees

The Jungle Tandoor Restaurant

The 3 Maidens of The Jungle Tandoor

Spectators waiting at the temporary fence after Upper Dickson Road

Opposite the Tekka Centre

Outside of The Verge Shopping Mall which is across the Tekka Centre

At the end of Serangoon Road and now waiting at the traffic light crossing into Selegie Road

Opposite Selegie Complex

Crossing Peace Centre at Prinsep Street

Outside Parklane Shopping Centre

Just pass PoMo Mall

Taking a rest and a drink opposite the School of The Arts (SOTA)

Doing a diagonal crossing from Rendezvous Hotel into Orchard Road

An ambulance standing by

Crossing the red carpet opposite The Cathay.

Opposite the Orchard Road Presbyterian Church

Crossing Park Mall at Penang Road

This man was actually be tugged by the hooks on his back while being pulled by someone and pulling the statue of the deity.

This devotee was walking on shoes made of nails

Into Clemenceau Avenue after the House of Tan Yeok Nee which is currently occupied by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and was previously the home of the Salvation Army between 1938 to 1991. The Istana Park is all the way at the back.

This devotee was asking for water but told that he needed to dance first which he did but in the end, he never got his water

The procession passes the Church of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic Church at Tank Road

The Teochew Building home to the Ngee Ann Kongsi and the former premises of the Tuan Mong High School

Queuing up to enter the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

Devotees entering the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

This is the end of my journey as only devotees can enter this temple and besides it would have been really crowded.

Since last year with the enforcement of the No Drums regulations, the Thaipasum walk seems dull compared to previous years.

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

2 Comments »

Lower Seletar Reservoir Singapore

by Eddy

The Lower Seletar Reservoir stretches from Lentor Road to Seletar Club Road overlooking Johor, Malaysia. Instead of the usual visit to the Lower Seletar Reservoir Park near Lentor Road, I ventured to the end of the Yishun Avenue 1 towards Seletar Club Road.

The shoreline is popular with anglers over the weekend

View of Johor from Yishun Avenue 1

The Dam control station

The dam bridge which creates the Lower Seletar Reservoir

Remains of an abandoned jetty

An angler trying his luck

It does appear that there was a water village here at the shoreline of Yishun Avenue 1 facing Johor

The construction of the Seletar North Link from the mainland to Pulau Ponggol Barat and Pulau Ponggol Timor

The Lower Seletar Reservoir

Seletar Airport

Maps

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Thaipusam 2012 Singapore Part 1 – Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

by Eddy

The last time I visited Thaipusam was back in 1999 and have not been since that time until today. There was an earlier blog on my 1999 visit if you are interested. In 1999, I only taken photos within the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road as the roads were really crowded with devotees making the 4.5km walk to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road. This year I thought I do the whole deal, without the kavadis, milk pots and piercings of course.

Since the partial road closures and the bus diversions, I decided to hop on the MRT for the first time this year. I actually vow not to talk the MRT because of the constant delays and system failures of late. Anyways, since that was my only option, I went on the train and it was actually quite empty at 7:30am and had a seat to my ride to Farrer Park MRT Station, the closest MRT station to the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road. The procession actually started at 12:05am in the wee hours of February 7 2012 but there was no way I would be there at that time and my camera wasn’t really apt for night photography. Morning was a good option and the weather was bright but it wasn’t exceptionally hot today.

The police cornered off one lane of the road for the devotees and spectators to walk the path.

There were already devotees who made the walk when I was there at about 8am

The girls were milk pots on their heads while making the 4.5km walk barefooted to the temple in Tank Road

Just in time also to catch the carrying of the shrine of the god to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

When I was entering, there was a devotee carrying the kavadis to make the long walk. Barefooted I entered the temple.

A Devotee making his offerings to the god Murugan

There were chanting and dancing within the temple

This devotee was getting mini milk pots hooked on to his body

A devotee getting his kavadi secured

I saw this one legged man who was getting his body pierced and subsequently making the walk on one leg and crutches

Offerings to the god Murugun

The piercing does enter the flesh but there is no bleeding

This devotee has his tongue, cheeks and body pierced

On the ceiling in the temple is this motif which looks almost like the horoscope we know today

Musicians in the temple

In the midst of all the chanting and loud music, there was a little baby girl who fell sound asleep

A devotee getting his cheeks pierced

Free vegetarian food and drinks were being served to the devotees and visitors to the temple on Thaipasum

Joining the devotees, I made the 4.5km walk to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road

Rating: 3.0/10 (3 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

2 Comments »

The Singapore Flyer Rainforest Discovery Park

by Eddy

When you are in the Marina Bay area, it is hard to miss the Singapore Flyer which towers at 165m. It is said to be the largest observation wheel in Singapore. It provides a panoramic view of the city and the neighboring countries of Indonesia and Malaysia on a clear day. Each revolution takes 30 minutes so that gives you a chance to view the city of Singapore at various points. Underneath the Singapore Flyer in the main atrium is the Rainforest Discovery Park which is the subject of this blog.

The Singapore Flyer

Tickets cost S$29.50 for Adults, S$20.65 for Ages of 3 to 12 and S$23.60 for those 60 and above

There are F&B outlets at the Singapore Flyer selling local, asian and western delights

The Viewing Capsule of the Singapore Flyer

The Yakult Rainforest Discovery Park is located within the atrium of the Singapore Flyer

The pond within the rainforest discovery park

The bridge to the Singapore Flyer Capsule landing platform

The waterfall is the highlight of the park

The Anchors which holds up the cables of the Singapore Flyer

The capsule of the Singapore Flyer

If you do happened to be around the area, do pop into the Singapore Flyer and explore the place. The Singapore Food Street at the Singapore Flyer offers several local favorites all under one roof.

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Singapore National Museum – Tracing Singapore’s History

by Eddy

The National Museum of Singapore was initially opened in 1887 and was called the Raffles Library and Museum but was renamed after Singapore’s Independence in 1965 to its current name after the library was separated. For the period between 1963 to 2006, it was known as the Singapore History Museum but after the 3 1/2 year restoration project it was reopened as the National Museum of Singapore.

There is an outdoor escalator which bring you up to Fort Canning Hill behind the museum

The modern extension was added in 2006

There are both the permanent and temporary exhibits in the museum

Although it is no longer called the Singapore History Museum, it still has a wide collection of Singapore’s past and it is certainly a great place to visit to remember where Singapore have been and what it has become.

Finds from old Singapore

Old Rickshaw used in the past. This require a lot of leg strength.

The abacus which is now replaced by the calculator

Straits Chinese (Peranakan) Lady

The Japanese Army Bicycles which were used to enter Singapore from Malaya in 1942

Leather helmet of the Japanese Solider

The tall building on the left was the Asia Insurance Building, at 15 storey high it is the tallest building in Singapore in the 1950s. Now it is the Ascott Singapore Raffles Place Serviced Apartment.

Riding the defunct Bee Chow Bus

Old Khong Guan Biscuit Can

Leveling the field of the Singapore Recreation Club in front of City Hall

Market in the 50s and 60s

Farm of old rural Singapore

Seal of Singapore Self-Government in 1959 prior to independence

Lee Kuan Yew giving his rally speech

Jurong Village Community Centre

Space Age looking Record Player of the 60s

Old Pink Black and White Television Set

Fashion of the 60s

Old Ricoh Camera

Hand powered Ice Shaving Machine

Maps

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

1 Comment »

A Visit to the Peranakan Museum Singapore

by Eddy

The Straits Chinese or Peranakan (aka Nyonya Baba) are the descendents of the Chinese Immigrants from China to the Indonesian Archipelago during the 15 to 16th century of the British and Dutch Colonial era. These Chinese were integrated into the local society and adopted the malay way of life and this is evident in their traditional dressing, notably food and culture. Some of these Straits Chinese intermarry with the locals. The Peranakan are the elite of Singapore and are loyal to the British Crown rather than to China. In the colonial era, the Peranakan are traders and act as middlemen for the British and the local Chinese community.

The females Peranakan are called Nyonya and the males are called Baba. Most Peranakans are of Hokkien, Teochew or Cantonese descent. They used a mixed of their chinese dialects peppered with malay phrases into their every conversation. Many Peranakans in Singapore adopted the Catholic faith but there are those who adopted the traditional chinese faith of Buddhism and Taoism.

The Peranakan Museum in Singapore is located at 39 Armenian Street in the old Tao Nan School built between the 1910-1912. The Tao Nan School was set up by 3 Hokkien philanthropists from the Singapore Hokkien Society to preserve the Chinese culture and heritage. The current Tao Nan School is located at 49 Marine Crescent.

Admission Fees for the Museum is as follows
$6 for Adult
$3 for Foreign Visitors above 60 and Full Time Students
Free for Singaporeans and PR above 60 and children under 6 years old, Full Time National Service men and Full Time Teachers
$20 for family

Portraits of the Peranakans of Singapore

The Artefacts

It is worthwhile to pay the Peranakan Museum a visit when you are in Singapore to appreciate the Nyonya Baba culture before you sink your teeth into that Nyonya Bak Zhang (Dumpling), Nyonya Laksa, Ayam Ponteng or Babi Assam.

Maps

Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)

Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)