Hello, I blog!
I share all my sporadic and toilet thoughts in here, because I am random like that.
The skywatcher
Venus, Mars and Saturn are slowly closing in for a triple conjunction coming Thursday – where they will be the closest they can get to one another – but are already forming really pretty patterns in the sky as of now.
In view of this, I’ve been using my parents’ rooftop garden as my little observatory, photographing the planets as the gradually gravitate towards one another. Hurhur. Thank goodness for the occasional clear nights in between the stormy days we’ve been having as of late.
Planetary conjunction as on 6th August 2010.
The sky appears pink in the pictures, no thanks to the light pollution that continually plagues Singapore. On a completely dark sky, the planets are supposed to appear much brighter than you see here, especially Venus.
Apparently, we’re also reaching the peak period of the perseids meteor shower as well, which coincides with the maximum planetary conjunction (Venus, Saturn and Mars) this coming Thursday. Oh, did I mention that the crescent moon will be joining the three planets for a quadruple conjunction too?
Planetary conjunction as on 9th August 2010.
Look ma, I caught a meteor!
Nah, I kid. It was actually a passing airplane. The skies here a wee bit too bright for proper meteor watching.
Lemme’ have clear skies this Thursday! I just hope I am able to crawl out of bed of witness and photograph the whole thing. (Going for some procedure coming Thursday morning where I’ll be all drugged up with IV, supposedly leaving me pretty much zonked out for the rest of the day … but I’ll haul my ass up to the rooftop by hook or by crook!)
Breathing in Nature
After my appointment at the cardiologist’s earlier in the day, I set off for some scenic exploration in the western parts of Singapore yesterday, particularly Hindhede Nature Park and Little Gui Lin å°æ¡‚æž—.
Major thanks to the mum for driving me around. Recent health events left me with sliiiiiight physical limitations but I wanted to be up and about anyway, so yay! Thankfully, the scenic spots we explored today were pretty accessible without too much exertion as well.
The weather was pretty awesome for photography. Clear blue skies with little white fluffy clouds to add some character and variation to the captures. A little too warm for my liking, though – but this is Singapore and I am a Singaporean (who is unfortunately, still yearning a little too much for cold weather) – so I’d better get used to this all over again.
We stumbled upon the Hindhede Nature Park by mistake, actually. En route to Little Gui Lin å°æ¡‚æž—, we made a wrong turn and while trying to right that wrong, somehow spotted a sign leading to Hindhede Nature Park and decided to take a look around.
Hindhede Quarry.
The Hindhede Quarry was located within the Hindhede Nature Park. A mere ten minute walk along a wooden boardwalk would easily take you there. There were a couple of little huts along the way (mmm, picnic!), and quite a few playground fixtures (which I soooo wanted to play on, but nearly impossible with a DSLR dangling from my neck).
The lookout point overlooking the quarry was quiet. It helped that it was a weekday and barely a soul was there. (So I could enjoy the view and take my time without any kids and families ruining the atmosphere. Heh.)
Hindhede Quarry, with satellite towers in the background.
I was looking around for a boardwalk that takes you right next to the water’s edge but there was none. It would be really great if we could get up close and personal with the rock formations at the quarry too. Mmm, ideas for boardwalk extensions, anyone?
There were a few more quarries in the vicinity but I’d leave those for another time, as they involved longer treks. Oh, and yes – keep a lookout for some squirrel sightings as you walk on the boardwalk! I spotted this really adorable fella, but it scooted away and eluded me when I tried to photograph it. :(
Little Gui Lin å°æ¡‚æž— was just a short drive away from Hindhede Nature Park. (You know, judging by the maps in the street directory, I’ve decided that people living in the western area of Singapore are really, really lucky because they have loads of nature spots in that area to unwind. The eastern park – where I live – has barely anything.)
Rock formations at Little Gui Lin å°æ¡‚æž—.
Little Gui Lin å°æ¡‚æž— is actually really, really pretty. However, being located right next to a built-up housing estate takes some of the beauty away. Facing the lake, the sound of engines rumbling from the cars and buses on the main road directly behind is clearly audible – which is really a pity. Ah, well. Ear plugs should work, huh?
Oh, there is a school directly beside Little Gui Lin å°æ¡‚æž— as well, which means dating students were aplenty, not to mention groups of rowdy students just looking for a place to hang out. But they were mostly confined towards the far corner of the park, so it wasn’t too bad.
Hello there!
Strolled around for a bit, and found a couple of really awesome hiding spots (which were unfortunately, already occupied by dating couples so I’ll try my luck again next time). The park isn’t that big, so it should be a pretty friendly place to explore. There used to be a hiking trail lurking around somewhere but I heard that it was closed a few years’ back because of landslides (!!!).
Guilin Park, with condominiums playing peekaboo in the distance.
Note: The condominiums you see in the picture are located a couple of streets away. Whereas directly in front of that lake (and the rock formation) were several high-density housing blocks.
Yeah, like I said – I really envy the people living in the immediate vicinity of Little Gui Lin å°æ¡‚æž—. Imagine waking up to a view like this every single day. I guess having a scenic spot so close to a housing estate has its pros and cons.
The place is really accessible as well. There’s a bus stop just in front of it, and it is a mere five-minute walk from the train station. Or perhaps I shouldn’t rave too much about how accessible it is before the place starts to get overly crowded. Hmm.
Would most definitely continue poking around the various scenic spots in Singapore. Perhaps one or two a week – sounds like a good plan, no? And yeah, to also return to those I’ve already visited to satisfy my shutterbug urges.
(The above exploration only took slightly less than two hours. I couldn’t exert myself too much at the moment, but managed to see a lot despite it all. (; Having a car – and a mum willing to drive you – really helps. But … I want to head back again to have a thorough walk around in a few weeks. Who’s in?)
Wanderlust strikes again
Back in Singapore in familial surroundings, I was totally devoid of that sense of wanderlust that took over during that one month in Vancouver. Perhaps it is the hot weather – now that I am back home, swimming in the humid air of quite possibly the world’s largest sauna, I am missing Vancouver’s cool temperature terribly.
But after lazing around (battling jet-lag, I suppose) for quite a while, I felt this strange urge to be up and about again. Singapore has its fair share of scenic spots – although incomparable with Vancouver’s snow mountains, glaciers and what-have-yous – but at least, it’s something.
I started off with East Coast Park, since it is nearest to where I live. (I intend to explore Southern Ridges and Little Gui Lin å°æ¡‚æž— next.)
Enjoying the wind at Bedok Jetty, East Coast Park.
So I hopped aboard a squeaky bright yellow mountain bike rented from one of them bike kiosks at East Coast Park and set on my way on a late Sunday afternoon, weaving in and out among flocks and flocks of families, kids and dating couples.
Methinks my biking skills were fairly rusty (like the bike I was riding on), considering how I had a little trouble maintaining my balance near the beginning. Also, I nearly crashed into a couple of young Malay boys – one of whom shot me a look of death – at one point. My fault. I was daydreaming.
Oh, hello!
Since I was cycling at my own leisure time (sans the competitiveness that naturally follows when a group of friends cycle together), I could also stop at any scenic spot at my own will to take photos, admire the view and enjoy the breeze.
One thing about the seabreeze in Singapore is that it leaves you feeling all sticky afterwards. Erps. Stupid humidity. But at least it cools me down anyhow. I’d prefer nice, fresh but sticky seabreeze than suffocating in still air.
Bedok jetty.
Stopped to purchase a huge cup of sugarcane juice (sugar boost!) mid-way and subsequently wobbled on the bike thereafter, trying to balance the juice and the bike at the same time. (Riding a bike with an attached basket does not work – the juice always threatens to fall over even when wedged against your other belongings in the basket.)
Made a couple of stops around the Bedok Jetty area (see picture above) and finally, at the 360° Cable-Ski Park to people-watch before riding back towards the west-end of East Coast Park to return the bike and head home.
I always loved people-watching at the 360° Cable-Ski Park.
Cable-skier against the sunset.
First of all, you have the cable-skiers strutting their stuff – occasionally showing off when they know there are people watching. Second, you have the gawking passers-by. Third, you have the occasional picnicking couple on mats along the grassy areas surrounding the lagoon indulging in the occasional PDA (which also seems to correspond with increased wipe-out rates from the cable-skiers).
Finally, you have the fellow photographers. Like this one.
Fellow photographer at work.
As it turns out, fellow photographers can sometimes turn into unwitting models for other photographers. This fellow was apparently, reviewing his previous snapshots taken from his spot on the edge of the lagoon – although from my angle, he looks like an introspective, emo-esque individual contemplating suicide next to the lagoon. (Uh, oops.)
I miss cycling, and I hope to make this a weekly affair.
And I’ll arm myself with my camera, of course.
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