My 2 recent local escapades
Geylang Serai-Hari Raya Celebrations
Ok, I remember years ago, a group of friends and I stumbled upon the Geylang Serai outdoor market when it was at its heat of preparation for Hari Raya. In the vague recesses of my memory, I thought that it was a very nice experience. So recently, I dragged Art with me to relieve the experience. Now about 10 years later, the market is undergoing a renovation (like Singapore is a country in perpetual construction can...it is never developed and in completion) and a temporary market is set up near the MRT. It is like a Pasar Malam times 100 and sprewn over several different directons. It is really really crowded and hot! And of course in my craze, I led the both of us into the thick of each crowd that I see in my demented and over-excited attempt to soak up the atmosphere of the events. Lots of Kerbaya and bedlinen and curtains on sale. We emerged from the experience bathed in sweat and dizziness. The photos suck, cos I am not good with night shots, and there were simply too many people around. And being the 'petite' sleuth that I am, as you can see, I could mostly capture only walking heads. The third photo is of Katong Complex whose surroundings is infested with outdoor shops.
Pulau Ubin-Chek Jawa
On the bumboat ride to Pulau Ubin-this looks so 'sua-ku' and touristy but oh well what's the harm right? *wink* =)
The oh-so-sute mongrel which greeted everyone with curiosity at the arrival hut. He was playing with the policemen there by trying to chew on their well-polished shoes. They tried to maintain their composure by gently nudging him away (while trying not to use force as I was staring hard at them). I fed him a bit of Art's mum's muffins =)
After trekking in a drizzle on a dirt-path for 40 mins, we FINALLY arrived at Chek Jawa (Look at Art's shagged face..hehe). All the other visitors whizzed past us on their bicycles, but due to the rain, there were long streaks of dirt all the way from their backs to their shorts, and overall, they formed a really raggedy and dirty-looking bunch (HA!)
On the Mangrove Boardwalk
Scenes from and of the Boardwalk
Verdict: Well overall it was a nice day out. We had dropped by the Greenhouse manned by the GVN first to drop off some dog and cat food for the strays at Ubin (Aside from being dirty, they are actually healthy looking with bright eyes and gullible guises). The walk to Chek Jawa itself is rather tiring, and I can't say that Chek Jawa itself is really worth the 40min trek, though of course it will be good for cyclists. The scenary is alright, not much of a deal, and I think Sungei Buloh is more interesting. But please do not take my 'tourist' gab seriously..ya know..the musings of a city gal who expects paradise upon a trek to nature. I think that this conservation initiative is of course a great one, in a country where heritage and nature is almost nothing compared to obsessive urban and consumerist developments.
Ok, I remember years ago, a group of friends and I stumbled upon the Geylang Serai outdoor market when it was at its heat of preparation for Hari Raya. In the vague recesses of my memory, I thought that it was a very nice experience. So recently, I dragged Art with me to relieve the experience. Now about 10 years later, the market is undergoing a renovation (like Singapore is a country in perpetual construction can...it is never developed and in completion) and a temporary market is set up near the MRT. It is like a Pasar Malam times 100 and sprewn over several different directons. It is really really crowded and hot! And of course in my craze, I led the both of us into the thick of each crowd that I see in my demented and over-excited attempt to soak up the atmosphere of the events. Lots of Kerbaya and bedlinen and curtains on sale. We emerged from the experience bathed in sweat and dizziness. The photos suck, cos I am not good with night shots, and there were simply too many people around. And being the 'petite' sleuth that I am, as you can see, I could mostly capture only walking heads. The third photo is of Katong Complex whose surroundings is infested with outdoor shops.
Pulau Ubin-Chek Jawa
On the bumboat ride to Pulau Ubin-this looks so 'sua-ku' and touristy but oh well what's the harm right? *wink* =)
The oh-so-sute mongrel which greeted everyone with curiosity at the arrival hut. He was playing with the policemen there by trying to chew on their well-polished shoes. They tried to maintain their composure by gently nudging him away (while trying not to use force as I was staring hard at them). I fed him a bit of Art's mum's muffins =)
After trekking in a drizzle on a dirt-path for 40 mins, we FINALLY arrived at Chek Jawa (Look at Art's shagged face..hehe). All the other visitors whizzed past us on their bicycles, but due to the rain, there were long streaks of dirt all the way from their backs to their shorts, and overall, they formed a really raggedy and dirty-looking bunch (HA!)
On the Mangrove Boardwalk
Scenes from and of the Boardwalk
Verdict: Well overall it was a nice day out. We had dropped by the Greenhouse manned by the GVN first to drop off some dog and cat food for the strays at Ubin (Aside from being dirty, they are actually healthy looking with bright eyes and gullible guises). The walk to Chek Jawa itself is rather tiring, and I can't say that Chek Jawa itself is really worth the 40min trek, though of course it will be good for cyclists. The scenary is alright, not much of a deal, and I think Sungei Buloh is more interesting. But please do not take my 'tourist' gab seriously..ya know..the musings of a city gal who expects paradise upon a trek to nature. I think that this conservation initiative is of course a great one, in a country where heritage and nature is almost nothing compared to obsessive urban and consumerist developments.
posted by Candida at 10/13/2007 09:37:00 PM
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