Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – Patience is key, but I don’t have any.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a good place for people who want to catch a glimpse of (in order of abundance) mosquitos, monitor lizards, unique flora, migratory birds and otters.

If you want to encounter anything rare, patience is needed, and there are many viewing ‘hides” for people to sit patiently hoping something appears, very much like fishing, and the excitement of capturing a photo of anything unique, is very much like reeling in a good catch. Sadly, I do not have the patience and the protection (from mosquitos) to stay in one place, hoping something appears.

For people like me (walking through the reserve briskly, depending on luck for a glimpse at rarity), Sungei Buloh is pretty small, and can be completed within a short few hours.

There are supposedly 3 routes, although my friends and I managed to cover almost the whole of the reserve in one smooth (almost) continuous journey.

There are warning signs around the reserve with crocodile images, and a caucasian couple who frequents the reserve claimed they saw a crocodile in the water before. I’m pretty skeptical though.

Overall, it wasn’t much of an experience, but still an experience, nonetheless. For me, it’s not a place I would go to again, but if anyone of you is interested, remember water and mosquito repellants. Not sure how effective the mosquito repellants would be if you are alone or with a group of friends and everyone has mosquito repellants on them. It would be better to leave one of your group members without any mosquito repellant, that way, the repellants would be much more effective.

Here’s their website: Sungei Buloh

 

from Punggol to Changi

With all the fun Alex (otherwise known as Alien) and I had on our first photography outing together, it was time to arrange another one; and since it was so much fun, we wanted someone else to join us. Our fat friend – Patrick; or just Pat, as we know him.

This time, an out-of-the-way location was on the cards, since fat-pat had a car. Since the first outing was organised and planned by me, someone else had to take up the responsibility, and pat suggested Punggol, so Punggol it was!

After this location, which was just by the sea, I remember us getting into the car, and driving off. However, I do not remember how we got to our next location.

After enjoying some time with the mosquitos (this I remember) at the unknown location, we proceeded to Changi Village, and had lunch at the hawker centre there. Pat introduced us to the famous Nasi Lemak, with a relatively short queue, in comparison to its usual patronage; and I have to say, it would have to take something much nicer than that to get me queuing.

There’s something else you need to know about Singapore – most Singaporeans look at a queue, and either 1 or 2 things goes through their mind; there’s a bargain/sale/free gift; or there’s good food. That is why you’ll see many queues in Singapore.

For me, I would rather settle for something else.

The 3 photos above are all taken within and around the Changi Village area. There’s even a plant/flower wholesaler nearby.

Find out more: Changi Village

Haji Lane, Arab Street, Kallang River, Singapore Flyer

This was the first photography outing with someone else other than me and my D60. We first met up at Bugis MRT Station, proceeded to have lunch at a nearby hawker, and made our way to the first destination – Haji Lane/Arab Street.

Arab Street is a stretch of road running from Rochor Canal near Sim Lim Square, and hitting into a T-junction at Beach Road. Here, you can find many coffee-shops, cloth wholesalers, some quirky shops and a Mosque .

Just along the Mosque, there’s a row of unique shops selling stuff from sweets to toys and teddy bears.

Find out more: Arab Street

Haji Lane is located near Bugis, just alongside Arab Street. It’s well known for quirky and unique fashion, which can be pretty hard to find in Singapore.

It’s very much a place for people who want to be different, and dress different.

Find out more: Haji Lane

We moved on to Kallang River, and if you are new to anything Singapore, our rivers, aren’t rivers; just like how our mountains, aren’t mountains. Anything that has water in Singapore, looks like a drain – even our beach waters. Having said that, there wasn’t much photography to be expected, except a little bird here and there; although it’s the longest river in Singapore.

Find out more: Kallang River

Walking along Kallang river brings you pass Singapore Flyer, The Float @Marina Bay, the back of Marina Square (opposite) and ends you up at The Esplanade and along the way on the left, you’ll be able to catch a cityscape view of Singapore’s CBD (Central Business District) area.

Although we did explore Singapore Flyer, we did not ride on it nor am I posting the photos I took of it, as I’m pretty unhappy with the results, except for the one below.

It was taken in an indoor Rainforest – the size of a round basketball court. As with everything Singapore, space is limited.

There’s a small pond in the Rainforest and somewhere around that pond, sat this cock-eyed dragonfly. If it had muscles, it wasn’t moving a single one…

Find out more: Singapore Flyer

Crossing a flyover/bridge from Esplanade (towards CBD), will get you to Fullerton Hotel and one of Singapore’s major icons – The Merlion.

Find out more: Merlion