But it took me 7.5 hours to accomplish this feat, and that was because I stopped once too often to take pictures. Logged the journey using my Garmin Forerunner, and below is the coverage of my walk. (The loop is actually the McRitchie Reservoir)
Time 08:30 hrs – Lining the Pipeline Reserve are the Rain Trees (Samanea saman). This tree was introduced into Singapore in 1876 from South America. This tree offers much shade as its canopy covers large areas.
Despite the fact that I was using speed of 1/1000 sec, I was still not able to freeze them in action. This Pacific Swalow was taken near the SICC - it just caught an insect and decided to rest on this sign. Could not miss the opportunity for some closed up.
Along the Pipeline Reserve, there were many spider webs glistening in the morning dew. Took this shot of this yelow flower with a drop of dew on the blade of grass. I called it Awakening!
When I was doing my National Service, the instructor always tell us "never stand in the skylight", for you can be easily seen. Well this Collared Kingfisher (Halcyon chloris) made that mistake, and provide me with the opportunity to take couple of "shots".
This unknown bird perched on a tree with no foliage, which is a delight to people like me who cannot wait to get a few shots of them.
This Land Snail (ID unknown) was also out foraging for food. This is unlike the common Giant African Snail, to me this specimen is better looking than the Giant African Snail.
Time 12:00 Noon - I arrive in McRitchie. Half way in my trek, and I was already quite tired. (Must be the heat).
This skink was sunning itself when I accidentally scared it, and it scurried into the undergrowth. Looking at the belly, you will notice that it is golden in colour. This is the Many lined or Common Sun Skink (Mabuya multifasciata). Skink has smooth scaly skins and is diurnal (active in the day).
To prevent collection of water on their leaves, a lot of plants have leaves with tips. Called it Drip Tip (that was what the sign said). By preventing accumulation of water, and as the leaves have special waxy coating, water will be drained off much easily, and thus prevent algae forming on the leaves. (Algae tends to grow on branches but seldom on leaves)
Time 15:00 Hr - Having looped round McRitchie, I was on my way to the Treetop walk, and noticed many rattan. Rattan comes in many size, and the most obvious trait will be the barbs. They have different design, and this type of rattan tends to be a "creeper", and the barbs (thorns) help in the process of creeping up. But woe to the person who accidentally brushes into one of them, the only way to unhook is to move backward.
And copying the design from the rattan, man has build barbs around these pipelines. I used to walk on top of these pipelines, just to cross from one point to the other. Now it is no longer possible.Time 15:30 hr - At the tree top walk, I met a fellow nature lover who has vast knowledge on plants. He explained to me many plants and its flowers and leaves. I was most appreciative, and he told me he was looking for Tongkat Ali. Then he found it, and showed me the Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia). Most of us are familiar with the roots, but not the complete tree. Tongkat Ali is an aphrodiasac use in this part of the world. It is extremely bitter, and occasionally people will mix it with honey before partaking it. Time 16:30 hr - Finally I reached home. My legs were sored and my feet hurt. But it was worth it. Now I wonder whether my Semakau kakis and Climbing Crabs kakis are interested in this endurance walk!
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