Sunday evening walk

When I was a child, the Fullerton Hotel was the General Post Office, Clifford Pier was where we took bumboats to Kusu Island annually and Marina Bay Sands , our Integrated Resort was was not even a dream back then. Lau Pa Sat or the Old market was hot and grimy and the Satay Club was located at the esplanade that was not at all like the Esplanade of today. This evening we went to Lau Pa Sat for Dinner and had satay next to this old market that is now a tourist attraction. Fullerton Hotel has taken over Clifford Pier and now houses a posh Chinese restaurant under its beautiful arches and Marina Bay Sands rises like triple Gods of Fortune bestowing good luck on us.

Marina Bay Sands (Casino and high-class entertainment)

Reflections of new office buildings and residences.Modern and cool. I prefer those with more character.

Inside the Clifford Pier now enclosed and air-conditioned.

The familiar facade of Clifford Pier now part of the Fullerton Bay Hotel.

The side of the Fullerton Bay Hotel.

Marina Bay Sands - how do you ignore a building like that?

The former General Post Office.

Lau Pa Sat or Old market in the background. Satay stalls do a good business on weekends on the road next to Lau Pa Sat when in the evening.

See the iron-wrought designs that characterise the Old Market.

MacRitchie Reservoir

MacRitchie Reservoir on a Saturday morning was bustling with water sport activity. Young people were rowing kayaks and canoes. Here's why I took these photos:

I have never seen 4 people on a kayak before.

I wanted to catch the coordinated movements of the two rowers but they switched to a leisurely rowing pace.

I tried my best not to tilt the camera.

Friends or just rowing partners? Anyway I am reminded of my school days.

I turned around and thought this looked like a very interesting scene.

Look at those muscles!

I wanted to capture the jade green colour of the water glistening in the sun.

MacRitchie Reservoir

I had not visited MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore's oldest reservoir and nature reserve for some months and was pleasantly surprised to see the vast improvement in the area that used to be a carpark next to the start of the boardwalk to the right of the multi-level carpark. My discoveries today:

The new cafe where we had breakfast before beginning our walk along the boardwalk on the fringe of part of the reservoir.

On a weekday morning, the place was heaven because there were not many people around. Spacious and green and the toilets are huge with nice lockers to keep your belongings if you do not drive.

Staghorn ferns decorate the trees.

Lamposts that want to blend in with the natural environment.

The cafe seen from afar.

I wonder what this little building used to be.

Good old-fashioned bridge across a canal.

Water gates that control the water level in the reservoir I suppose.

What a beautiful design!

The start of the boardwalk.

Ready, get set, go! Actually we took a very leisurely walk while others were brisk-walking.

Fish - I imagined them on a plate.

Kayaks for the youths.

Okay everyone, we have to practise hard for the coming competition.

Shady and cool. It was a lovely morning.

Ferns looking very confused.

The Petai tree standing tall and majestic. We were told to look out for the flowers.

Next to the Petai tree was this tall rattan plant with what looked like flowers or fruits from where we stood.


Reflections

Walking along these well-built boardwalks and steps was truly enjoyable.

Vines that have toughened with age.

Fungi growing on decaying wood.

Not totally hidden from view.

Fruits growing at the base of the tree, interesting!

The chesnut tree is huge.

A skink getting away from me.

A half eaten stinkhorn fungus. It must be poisonous for whatever ate it did was not able to finish the meal.

Luckily these were not snakes.

The water's edge.

Rain approaching.

In the background is the bandstand being refurbished.

When this butterfly spread its wings, I wished for a better camera.

A flower that made my day. I have yet to find out its name.

At this point the wind rustled the leaves and the sky grew dark almost suddenly. Luckily we met a nice old man who showed us a short-cut out of the jungle to Upper Thompson road and that was how we managed to escape the rains.