Showing posts with label Bukit Timah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bukit Timah. Show all posts

Exploring Bukit Timah - Hindhede Quarry

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 17:18      No comments

Finally, we found the last quarry, Hindhede Quarry. Actually, it's quite a short walk from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Following the route to the left of Bukit Timah Visitor Center at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, you will reach Hindhede Nature Park. It's a rather small park and I mean really small.

We risked and beat the weather to visit this park. However, after a downpour, the mosquitoes start rising and attacked us "viciously". Be ready with your insect repellents or get bitten! We were feeling generous and so gave them a free meal. Nah! We did not have our repellents HAHA!

This park consist of a picnic area, a few huts, playgrounds and the lookout point to the Hindhede Quarry. Don't be deceived by the huge map. The whole park is less than 400 meters of walk.

We were surprised how fast we reach the lookout point for the quarry. We spent sometime taking photographs of the quarry. Space is limited and it's hard getting good angles of the quarry. In the lake you can find fishes and tortoises. The view is nice but I still prefer looking down to Hindhede Quarry from Bukit Timah Hill.

After the short walk, we decide to scale to the submit of Bukit Timah Hill through the inside route. Our surprise finding; Mushrooms. They came in different shapes and sizes. We nearly missed them due to their colour that blends with the soil. Enjoy folks =)




Mushroom always reminds me of this rhyme. Super random!!

"大頭大頭,下雨不愁,
你有雨傘, 我有大頭。"
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Exploring Bukit Timah - Dairy Farm Quarry & Singapore Quarry

Monday, April 14, 2014 at 17:56      No comments

Left off at Dairy Farm Quarry last week. This week, we are there to conquer it. Since time permits, we visited Singapore Quarry too =)

We were here last week by the rocks and decided to leave without visiting Dairy Farm Quarry. Now, we are back! It's noon when we reached. We ate some bread before taking our time and climbed up the rocks to see what's above. We can also enjoy the view from the little elevation the rocks provide.

All that is above are more rocks of course and patches of flowers and grasses. It's amazing that grasses and leaves actually grow over the rocks. We also spotted some birds that flew around. I stopped and took some photos while dear chased after the birds like a kid.

We then continued our journey towards Dairy Farm Quarry. Before long, we were faced with an issue. We spotted a family clan of monkeys with super young wants which are size of a little bigger than my palm (so cute!). Okay, I'm exaggerating but there are around 15 of them playing in the shade; Chasing each other and swinging above and towards us.

To be frank, we thought for a moment and backed off. However, we saw other visitors entering and exiting this path and that is the only path in. Knowing the risk we're taking, we decided walk past the monkeys towards our destination. We clutched our hands tightly and walked through them without giving them eye contact.

We were relieved and proceed further =) Not long after we rejoiced, we hit another issue. The route is locked up and warns of trespassing. As law-abiding citizens, we decided forgo it and headed for Singapore Quarry right next to it. That means... we have to pass-by the monkeys again -.- The worst possible scenario, "Rise of the Planets of the Apes". HAHA!

We headed out through the monkeys and taken the route beside it towards the Singapore Quarry. The route is around 2km in? It's not too far a walk and the route is friendly; Roads! Not long after, we reached the Singapore Quarry. It's a magnificent view. We did mistaken this as Hindhede Quarry that we saw last week.

We spent our time resting under the shelter and of course photographing this place and telling the world that this is the Singapore Quarry. There are quite a few groups of visitors along with us. This place is safe and much more popular.

After 45mins of rest, we bid Singapore Quarry goodbye and headed for lunch at Beauty World Centre before spending the rest of our days being together =)

"Dear, thanks for always being with me & accompanying me wherever I go. Let's appreciate & be thankful for the moments we are together."

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Exploring Bukit Timah - Hike towards Dairy Farm Quarry

at 16:52      No comments

We've been to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and scaled up submit of Bukit Timah Hill a few times. However, they are still much unexplored routes that are waiting for us to try.

As usual, our exercise day together on a Sunday! We decide to climb Bukit Timah Hill again. We took the inner route in the woods which has less visitors. After some time, we reached a bunker and that's when we knew we were near the exit of this route.

This bunker gives dear the creeps. Maybe this bunker is left behind by the Japanese or British with skeletons filled in it. Or maybe this is the portal that connects the living world to hell and guarded by Cerberus. Haha! There again my imagination runs wild.

We rested at the shelter a few meters ahead. As we were catching our breath, I decided to train on my photography skills. I made this interesting huge tree with long roots my subject and started to take photos of it.

As I was finding a different point of view, I noticed this black mark on a tree and I went nearer for a look. I saw lots and lots of wings of a particular insect on the black spot. Wonders of ecosystem!

Climbing up further on the main route, I finally managed to catch a descent photo of a jogger. I love this photo! Especially the way the route winds up further and him jogging towards it. The harsh noon sun which cast the strong shadows adds more drama to the photo =)

Since we had conquered the hill a few times, we decided to explore the Quarry Road we have yet to take. That lead us to the great scenery below. We could see Hindhede Quarry and the high rise estates of Bukit Timah.

Next, we decided to go for the Dairy Farm Quarry. The route to Dairy Farm Quarry is more treacherous and deserted. There are much higher rocks and difficult terrains. We also spotted larger deadfalls that blocked the road which make the journey tougher. Thus, the sign right outside the route which says "...take care." =x

Anyway, we braved through the route and landed at Wallace Trail. This trail is friendlier and after a few kilometers of walking we finally reached the route to Dairy Farm Quarry.

We were drained and hungry and we weren't aware of how long this path to Dairy Farm Quarry is going to be. So we decided to call it again and try it another week =)

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