Most of my friends started to get a bit more active during Phase II, reason being that going to shopping malls are becoming a chore with all the checking in and out of apps. It gets really crowded on weekends so no difference towards social distancing. Wearing a mask is also a great deterrence.
Going for small walks or what they call hikes can be a good way to de stress and get closer to nature. The only thing is you have to avoid the crowded timings like mornings and early evenings. Other times are really not as crowded as malls. Here are 2 of the hikes I went with my colleagues and my pole dance class mates.
At the start of the walk
As I live nearby, this park connector is no stranger to me. Its my training ground for all my marathons etc. This park connector connects you from Bouna Vista all the way to Jurong East. The total distance is about 6km at most. Recently the park connector has opened to the other side of the canal making it a full loop to walk. It is also very well liked by many walking parties, nature photographers, cyclists too, it gets crowded early in the mornings and early evenings where most people will come out for some breath of fresh air and some exercise.
This park connector is basically built along a canal. There are some wild life around like monitor lizard and cranes. Recent year, there were small pavilions made to allow some exercise goers to rest or when it rains too heavily they can seek shelter. There are also some fountain features at certain parts adding some cameo moments. The roads are well paved and they have separate the riding paths to the walking/running path.
Three of u
Esta and Lijing are my buddies in pole dance class and we decided to go this park connector as Lijing is healing from a feet injury
so going to a trek might not be that conducive for her. We took about 2 hours to finish the walk and total of 9km. Ending the night with a good dinner at the little quaint restaurant, the French Ladle in Pandan Valley. It is a small french cuisine shop but the food is good and affordable.
With Lijing
Walking along the loop
For this nature reserve, I went with my office colleagues, both of them are non Singaporeans so they were very interested to go. I personally have never been there before too. Heard about it but I am not a big fan of wetlands so I was never excited about it. The whole loop around the nature reserve is only 5km plus. There is a lookout tower too which can see from over the border to Malaysia Johor Bahru. This place is very crowded during weekends, most people will drop by here before heading to the farms in the Neo Tiew estate to finish up their weekend.
Entrance of the reserve
At the Bolly Wood Veggies
More fun at Bolly Wood Veggies
Yin mun, Me and Catherine
There are many nice viewing galleries along the loop for visitors to view the animals in the wetland. Mostly birds and monitor lizards. We also spotted small alligators, monitor lizards and turtles. There were not many monkey surprisingly. The rest rooms are only available at the entrance and along the way we did not spot any other restrooms, so it is best to settle everything from the beginning. There are no cafes, shops etc at this attractions. For some meals , you can head over to the farms like Bollywood Veggies , Kranji Farm Resort. They are accessible through driving , cycling or you can take the special shuttle bus which cost $3 for one ticket that takes you to all the places and finally back to Kranji MRT. Do check out their timing and schedules. For the farms, you need to make reservations to avoid long waits during the weekends.