February 9
Singapore
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The Sidewalk is very quiet at 08.15 on a Saturday. After some reasonable sleep I breakfasted on noodles, pork and cabbage, followed by an oolong tea and an orange. Probably very healthy.
Right: Very quiet on a Saturday morning |
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My journey to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve took and hour and three quarters. I hadn't realised that you could go so far on the island. Mind you, half an hour was spent waiting for the bus at Kranji. Only about an hour was actually spent in motion.
The bus dropped me and a few others in an isolated car park. I followed them over the road and down a path into the Reserve. There were immediately some worrying signs. My sun tan lotion and insect repellent wouldn't be proof against this!
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There were mangrove swamps, trees and water in abundance. I saw some white birds over the sea - egrets I think - and heard some calls but didn't see much else living, except for a large spider.
After almost an hour I stopped at the main centre to replenish my water bottle and to have a sit in the shade. There were lots of people with tripods and big lenses but I've no idea what they were hoping to see. I did spot a tortoise sitting on a rock. There was also a small wading bird wandering around but it fled as soon as it saw me.
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I spotted a bus timetable at the information desk, which told me that the bus only ran every 90 minutes and that the next one was due in 40.This gave me time for a stroll back to the entrance but meant that I missed part of the Reserve.
There was a sign at the entrance reminding people that dogs and other pets were not permitted. Unfortunately, some of the dogs couldn't read and I met three of them happily playing.
I made it back to the bus stop, spotting a tiny mud skipper en route, and waited ten minutes for the bus, which arrived a few minutes early. Just as well I didn't cut it fine!
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At Kranji MRT there wasn't a great deal of choice of eating places so I caught the train two stops to Woodlands, one of the larger suburban centres. I joined the throng of people, ignored Burger King and Macdonald's and ordered a laksa and iced tea at Toast Box, a local chain. The laksa was good, the tea cold but very sweet. Up goes the blood sugar! I made the mistake of shopping in the mall, emerging with three polo shirts at what seemed to be a reasonable price. About the same that I would normally pay in the UK but for probably higher quality shirts. |
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I took a busy train for over half an hour back to the city centre, alighting at Doby Ghaut, by the HSBC. Their machine sold me some notes to replace those that I had spent on shopping, not to mention eating and drinking.
From there, I walked the mile or so back to the hotel, taking photos as I went. It was hot, I was tired and a lie down seemed an attractive proposition.
An hour later, after a cool shower - the hot water seemed to have vanished - (my fault for turning the controls the wrong way) - I emerged into the warmth again.
My usual waitress waved at me as I entered The Sidewalk, so that my beer arrived as soon as I had sat down. It's a shame that this "local" is so far from home.
Some years ago, I watched a couple making dumplings here. Feeling the need for food but not yet for dinner, I ordered six of them. They were good and I added some chilli, at which point they became excellent.
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With it being too early for dinner, I walked through the plaza beneath the hotel, full of guitar and music shops, then past the post box and down to the river.
I took a few photos, watched the boats and then walked back to The Sidewalk. There, I ordered prawns and kang kong (water spinach) followed by an iced tea. I also bought a bag of pineapple, which I ate back at the hotel whilst writing my diary.
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