Most people think of Singapore as a concrete jungle. Yes it is a concrete jungle, but it is also a nature’s paradise. In an earlier post “Connecting the dots”, I wrote about how Singapore had a far better biodiversity than some bigger countries, that there are 384 bird species, 318 butterfly species residing in Singapore and I most certainly did not know that although there was an increase in urban spaces there was also a bigger increase in green cover. For more on Singapore’s biodiversity listen to Lena Chan speaking at TedX Singapore’s The Undiscovered Country.
This series, which I call “guess where” intends to showcase some of the green, often unseen & unvisited by many, places that I love to run to and through.
This is guess where #23.
As a Scout many years ago, my troop and I would trek along what we call the ‘pipeline’. This is the pipeline that carries water from the reservoirs in the central catchment area to the water treatment plants. I cannot be sure so I have to find out a bit more, but I think this corridor or network of pipeline encircles the reservoirs of the central catchment area. These are the MacRitchie, Upper and Lower Peirce and the Upper Seletar reservoirs.
This stretch of the pipeline lies in the valley of Bukit Timah. To the west, the right of the picture is Bukit Timah, to the east, left of picture is BKE and the central catchment area. In the south, running east to west is PIE. Running along this corridor from the South, you will first hit, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Zhenghua Park and Chestnut Nature Park and if you care to run further, you will arrive at Mandai and the Zoo. I usually access this pipeline from the South through the Rifle Range Link from either Venus Road or MacRitchie Reservoir Park. From the opposite direction, you can access the pipeline from Dairy Farm Nature Park or Zhenghua Park.
This is where #23 is.
There are a series of small but steep inclines. Some of these must be negotiated at walking pace. A trekking pole will certainly help but these inclines make for a challenging jaunt. If you are not careful, you could be forced to take a tumble or even twist your ankle. You will have for company mountain bikers as there are many criss crossing mountain bike trails on Bukit Timah.
Running this corridor for me is not only challenging but also a karmic spiritual experience. I smell the green of the leaves and the brown of the earth, I hear the birds sing to me accompanying my thud thud heartbeat as I kick up that small steep incline. At the top of the incline, I breathe fresh air. Just nature, me and my Maker.
Take a break from urban Singapore, run trail.