7 Days Singapore - Part 2

We also hiked through several parks and trails. In the north, we set out on the Pierce Reservoir Trail, which is divided into several sections. At first, a beautiful path leads along the lake, with a non-slip boardwalk; after that, it becomes rockier and more rugged. We came across many joggers and trail runners. Every now and then we had to take shelter because of thunderstorms and it was raining so hard that the trails had turned into little streams in some places.

When we found a shelter and had a quick bite to eat, two little monkeys immediately came hopping over and wanted their share too. So we packed everything up again and trudged on through the rain - the monkeys were a bit too pushy for a leisurely break. In the end, we cut part of the route short because we were too soaked after hours of walking in wet clothes.

Luckily, the Balestier Market was right next to the hotel, offering a good selection of hot soups to warm us up. Shaw Plaza wasn’t far either - with a supermarket, a bakery, and an Indian restaurant that serves a wonderful Teh Halia, a ginger tea with milk.

Next on the agenda was Rifle Range Park. Boardwalks and treetop trails have been built through part of the nature reserve, where there are many lush plants to discover - accompanied by a sweet, rotten smell left behind by the many burst durian fruits on the path.

Since there are many flying squirrels, monkeys, and squirrels here, they probably enjoy cracking open the durians and rambutans.

The Chinese and Japanese Gardens are highly recommended. Both gardens were laid out on small islands accessible via bridges. The bonsai area is particularly lovingly designed, and some of the pagodas are accessible and offer a great view. There’s also a huge water lily garden with a wide variety of water lily species. 

Along the way, we came across a family of otters hopping from the fish pond to the river - the animals were impressively large compared to European otters.

We also spotted a monitor lizard that was apparently after a young moorhen; we were drawn to the area by the squawking and chirping and ended up startling it.

We only briefly passed through the nearby Jurong Lake Gardens - they’re more of a local recreational area for the surrounding residential complexes.

We continued on to Kent Ridge Park and across the picturesque Henderson Waves toward Mount Faber. Here, too, everything is very well-maintained and clearly marked, with drinking fountains and little highlights like a turtle pond. 

Just as we reached Mount Faber Park after climbing many stairs and slopes, a heavy thunderstorm rolled in, and we had to quickly tackle the entire descent again. It’s a real shame - the park has a lot more to offer, and we’ll definitely give it another try on our next visit.

Before the trip, I’d boldly claimed that a downpour like that isn’t a big deal when it’s warm. But after getting thoroughly soaked a few times - and realizing how unpleasant it is to walk around like that for a while - I’d much rather wait out the rain somewhere dry.