Parks in Singapore (1): Opium Hill Park (Bukit Chandu ブキット チャンドゥ）

28 Dec 2009 (Mon): It's heartening to know that efforts have been made to preserve the indigenous flora of Singapore.
During my restful holidays, I thought that after the feasting, some fresh air and tranquility would be just perfect.A. took me to this place where I have never known. He knows every nook and corner of this island well.
We turned into Pepys Road after coming in from West Coast Road. It was a straight narrow road uphill after that, passing some condominiums and lush greenery. Absolute tranquility - quite out of this world. There were two small car parks for vehicles. We sighted the first one and parked our car there. Then we walked to the top of the hill. There is a museum and archives on World War II. Beside it there are some short houses that blended with the flora. We walked into this small entrance with signs which was the 'end' or 'beginning' of a bridge covered with leaves and branches which were not overly protruding.

Along the way there were signs to inform on the flora and the history of the place. I have always enjoyed reading about the folk uses of plants:

This used to be the oil deposit in the British colonial days. It was called the Normanton Oil Deposit, as the board informs.

Mid-way on the bridge we spotted an old British army house in the distant.

Ferns and other tropical parasitic plants decorated this walk-way 'in the air'. The birds were chirping occasionally. No human voices were heard even when some people were walking on the bridge. Everyone seemed to prefer silence to words.
After some turns we exited and saw another 'bump' on the hill. We walked upward and came to another flat trail that leads to the Kent Ridge Park. Very lush and clean. No litter was sighted.
We saw two pavilions and told ourselves to come back one of these weekends for a picnic. From the pavilion, the panorama of the sea and the PSA Pasir Panjang Wharf which was undergoing expansion unfolded.

Part of the wharf will be built on reclaimed land. The works are currently being carried out by Hyundai. We spotted its site office from the peak.
We saw another car park some height below from the pavilion. We turned back to the route we had came from. Along the way, old stones and trees lined the path.

If we were lucky we would be able to see some birds.

A. said that he saw a kingfisher the last time he was there.
A 'project' on weeding out exotic plants such as the Australian Wattle, Bearded Smilax, Batai/Albizia and Koster's Curse which that are overcrowding the indigenous species is currently underway - as we found out on our way back to the bridge.
This park is almost unknown to tourists and many locals, which was great for us as we had serenity and peace on a hill top all to themselves. But we thank the National Parks for its great work.