This country is even smaller than Jakarta - my city. But, the city was so green. Lots of plant and trees been well planted. Less pollution from vehicles and or even the weather was so humid, but it's OK to get sweated. It's so healthy.
When I visited this country, I always spent my time to see the green area. I needed to enjoy by myself. I am glad to share this experience with you.
Pulau Ubin / Tile Island
It's easy to reach this island. We needed to go to Changi Village Terminal. This terminal may be reached by MRT and stopped by at Bedok MRT Station and continued by double decker bus no 2. On the way to Changi Village Terminal, I saw trees everywhere - so green.
After I reached this terminal, I needed to walk for 3 minutes to reach Changi Village Point Terminal.
The bumboat was ready to bring 12 passengers to go to Pulau Ubin. By paying S$2.50 per passenger or direct pay S$30 without wait full 12 passengers, the boat will go directly. We paid directly to the boat captain. Around 10 minutes, the boat will reach Pulau Ubin pier.
In this island, we can rent a bicycle to see around or rent a minibus. The bike may be rented from S$2 - S$20. For the minibus, it's depend on the negotiation price.
It's the last kampong or village in Singapore. We can the original kampong on an island. The most I like from this island was the situation was so green and you won't believe that you were in Singapore. It's very different situation.
I rented a bike and started to see this small island. This island got some quarries, as Pulau Ubin produced granite for tile. That's why this it's called Pulau Ubin.
Lots of thing can be seen or do on this island. Like quarries, Chek Jawa - conservation area, camping, original kampong and even local cemetery. The beach water was so clean and even I saw lots of rare plants. And don't enter private area of National Police Cadet Corps, you'll get shoot.
Lots of local people visited this island. Pulau Ubin was liked a sanctuary to relieve the stress. Or they were doing mountain bike or even jogging. It's a nice place to do that.
After 3 hours to spent my time on this island, it's time for me to leave. I needed to wait the boat full 12 passengers and returned back to Changi Point Ferry Terminal.
I needed to get back to this island again. As, I didn't visit Chek Jawa yet. And need more time to enjoy it.
Fort Canning Park
I felt amazed with this small fort area. It was so green with lots of big tree. This fort was built on top of Bukit Larangan in 18th century. Singapore Government kept this area in a good way up to now.
There was a big tree which reminded me on movie "Avatar". In this fort, I saw not only fort, but a hotel, reservoir, cemetery - tombstone, a museum and a multifunction park. Even a small botanical garden which established by Raffles.
Lots of tropical plant been planted on this area. It's nice place to do jogging, running or just walking. This place was so accessible. We can reach from River Valley Road. This fort behind National Museum of Singapore. We can walked by escalator. And it's an easy place behind Park Mall. It's very accessible place to visit Fort Canning. It's good for children to learn their surrounding or learn about plants. As the information given was so communicative and very understandable.
In here, I was not just got fresh air but I got knowledge too about the history of Fort Canning. The most important how they kept the history together with maintain the green scenery. Two thumbs up for Fort Canning, I never got bored eventhough I had been there for twice.
Henderson Waves
I was flying to Singapore when I recognized Henderson Waves for the very first time. The airlines magazine mentioned about this bridge. A must see bridge in Singapore.
After walked around the whole day at Sentosa Island, I decided to fulfill my plan by seeing this bridge. In front of Vivo City shelter bus, I waited for the bus. The bus brought me to Henderson Road.
I felt wonderful to see this high bridge. It's the tallest bridge in Singapore with 36 meters high above Henderson Road. Actually, this place may be reached from Vivo City by walked through Mount Faber Park. If you know Jewel Box (sky lift to Sentosa Island), it's very near from that place.
It's another thing from Singapore that I like. I love nature, I love green and I love fresh air. I just knew that I can walk from Mount Faber Park to Kent Ridge or even direct through Pasir Panjang. Someday, I will do it, as on my last visit, got lots of rain.
This bridge was built to connect Mount Faber Hill to Telok Belangah Hill. People didn't need to walk down the hill and walk up the hill again. The construction looked like a wave. And the bridge was built above Henderson Road. That's why it called Henderson Wave.
Lots of people used this bridge for jogging, walking or just spent the time with friends or family, or even take photo on this bridge including me.
People can't pass this bridge by playing skateboard, rollerblading or cycling. They need to carry their stuff.
The view from this bridge was so awesome. Combination from green scenery with concrete jungle. So clean with fresh air.
This bridge was made of steel and wood. In some part of the bridge, there was information about the height of the bridge above sea level.
It's a nice place when you want to spent the time on this bridge. Like playing with friends, family members or even just spent alone. The weather was quite hot but it will become cooler at noon time.
At night time, this bridge will look awesome with LED light on the bridge.
The steel of the waves need to be repainted. As the color looked dirty. But, I liked this bridge and I had twice to visit this bridge. I will having my long walk from Vivo City to Kent Ridge and off course, I will pass through this bridge again. And I hope the green scenery from this bridge will still be the same.
Bukit Batok
When the first time I heard this place, I thought this will lots of coconut tree and coconut shell, in fact, this Bukit Batok got three meanings. Batok could be meant of coconut shell, stone or even cough. Anyway, for me, this hill was so great area.
I reached this place by MRT, as I stopped by at Bukit Batok MRT Station then continued by bus no 61. I told the driver to stopped me at the nearest bus station to Bukit Batok.
In the past, this area produced granite, just like granite at Pulau Ubin. This quarry before been called "Little Guillin". Right now, the quarry been closed. And this Bukit Batok became place for place to have sport activities or gathering.
On the top of the hill, I saw a memorial plaque of World War II. It was relate with Japan invasion at that time. And to commemorate their dead. The plaque was near to Bukit Batok Transmission Centre.
Near the quarry, I saw a big lizard walked. This lizard remained to komodo. But the lizard directly went to quarry when I tried to get the photo. Finally, I got it. The lizard was afraid of me.
In here, I found many warning sign board. Like no swimming, no poaching animals, etc. At least, people who came here, they will understand that they have to obey those rules. Even, people can not ride their bicycle, they need to dismount and push the bike. Bukit Batok was so clean and I didn't see much trash even the toilet was so clean too.
Lots of green areas in Singapore had well maintained. It was not just responsible from the government, but the local people been asked to maintain the area.
I had been to Botanical Garden, without pay and I enjoyed the garden. Still lots of place in Singapore need to be visited. Need to revisit again Botanical Garden, Labrador Park, Bukit Gombak, Bukit Timah, Gardens by The Bay and Pulau Kusu. I know in Jakarta right now, the government still establish some parks for Jakartans. But, all Jakartans need to maintain the parks and not to throw the trash.
Singapore is not just place for shopping but it's good to do something different there.
