Bukit Batok is also known as the "Coughing Hill" in Malay but if you are not feeling well please stay home and not make it a real coughing hill. TheBoringIsland brings you to Bukit Batok Nature Reserves that is famous for the "Red Cliff" situated at the former quarry. It is also home to common and unusual nature park residents.
After all Bukit Batok Nature Park is a hill, so do expect some gentle sloop but the path is well laid with concrete tiles for better grip. Try not to get confused by Bukit Batok Hillside park which the boring island has a separate review on that.
It is a small park but do not forget to look up to the tree, look among the bushes for flowers and look beneath your feet for moss. Why do we say "look up to the tree" you may ask. You will soon find out below.
Keep your eyes peeled on the trees for the Colugo (flying mammal) camouflaging itself by hugging onto the tree trunk and staying motionless. In the evening time, you may find them gliding across the path to the opposite tree.
"Yo check out my camouflage"
On a sharp contract to the Colugo is the active white-crested laughingthrush. They sometimes will follow you if they are in a curious mood. Often you will find them banded together for a nice photoshoot session.
Walking up the hill keep a lookout for "tasty-looking" fresh mushrooms, please do not eat that of course!
Let's not miss out on the playful as usual monkeys who will not be shy to feast in front of the audience. Again we urge everyone not to feed the wildlife as they have the means to live off nature and for the safety of both humans and wildlife.
We at TheBoringIsland have an unexpected chance of meeting an unusual visitor to the park which leads us to say "Oh did we forget to mention meeting wild boar in the central of the park?" The wild boar is not alone, it is being flanked by a flock of chickens.
After clearing the park central, behold is our very own "red cliff" of Bukit Batok in our backyard. Not to be alarmed by a rather loud noise that sounds like rock crushing down onto the trees and quarry because it is for real. There has been continuous erosion on the red cliff for a long time.
You may observe large rocks laid on the side of the path leading to the quarry. If you take a closer look at these rocks you will see drill marks on the rock where dynamites are inserted in order to blast the rock from the hill. This stands as the testimonial of time from the early development of Singapore.
There is also a more solemn side of the park which lies the original site of the two World War II memorials built by the allies prisoner of war to commemorate those fallen in battle. Though the memorials are no longer there by the end of the war, the details are inscribed on the steps leading up to the broadcasting tower at the top of the hill.
Follow us on the trail here (3.8km): Bukit Batok Trail - Google My Maps
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok Station
Nearest Carpark: Bukit Batok Nature Park carpark
Comments
Post a Comment