Macritchie Tree Top walk 01.01.2016

We started 2016 with a trail to Macritchie Tree Top Walk.
This is Boon Yee(9) and Boon Xin(7) first attempt (Read our 2011 experience)

The climb in numbers.
7am start.
3 hours, 7 km trail.
38 floors (FitBit) and 12000 steps.

Trip can be challenging but great company encouraged the kids to soldier on. Proud of them!
IMAG1571

Directional signs and maps to guide visitors. Keep to the boardwalk and track and you should not get lost.
IMAG1598
IMAG1618

New paths are being mapped across the terrain, more exploration for kids. Stop to enjoy nature, the ants, spiders, and squirrels.
tree top walk for kids
20160101 tree top walk3
20160101 tree top walk7
20160101 tree top walk1

I remembered the path was more rugged, with exposed roots last time. I would prefer mud over boardwalks anytime, for a more authentic nature experience.
20160101 tree top walk6

Parents need to control kids from dashing down slope, as they might find it hard to “brake”.
Some surfaces are rocky, exposed rocks can be sharp.
tree top walk muddt

We reached the suspension bridge after 1 hour.
Macritchie tree top walk with family

A wefie with Tan family to shout “Happy 2016!
DCIM104GOPRO

We are supposed to enjoy the moment, the serenity and the tree top expanse, but kids dashed across the bridge!
20160101 tree top walk4

Video : Tree Top walk highlight!

For first timers, there are two challenging points.
1) The steep incline after ranger station, with gradient of 40 degrees!
20160101 tree top walk10

2) … the endless steps after suspension bridge.
20160101 tree top walk8

Some fishes and pond skaters populate this pond and natural stream.
20160101 tree top walk9

* Take note of incremental weather notice.
– We had a close shave when a tree crashed 2 minutes after we walked past.
– After rain, kids might slip on wet boardwalk’s fallen leaves

Fitbit report, not shabby at all. We managed to finish the 7km Tree Top trail in under 3 hours.
20160101 tree top walk

Additional tips for families :
– Target 3 hours with 3 to 4 breaks for trail. Slow and Easy.
– Hydrate, rest every 20 to 30 minutes for water break
– Tree Top walk can be accomplished by families, recommended for kids 5 or 6 and above.
– The numerous steps are manageable, but I might recommend more stairs/steps to condition your calves and hamstrings
– Trail is not stroller friendly
– No U-turn on suspension bridge
– Ranger station (after 50 minutes) can be your first pit stop. Refill, toilet break.
– Bring Mosquito repellent
– Bring rain coat or cap, there are few shelters from rain
– No feeding of monkies. They will snatch any exposed plastic bag, which they have associate with food.
– Suspension bridge only open at 9am, but ranger allow guests to enter at 8.30am πŸ™‚
– Wear proper shoes, not sandals

Map of our trail.
1)Start from Venus carpark, 2)Reach Ranger (after 50 minutes), 3)Suspension bridge, 4) Heading back to Venus Carpark
Macritchie Tree Top walk map

More photos have been uploaded on our Fanpage album.
If Boon Xin can do it, your kids can do it too πŸ™‚

Jurong Fishery port with kids

Instead of sleeping, we decided to visit Jurong Fishery Port (JFP).

Jurong Fishery port with kids
Jurong Fishery Port

It was a bewildering experience for kids (and adults too) to see fishmongers scale fish, lugging giant baskets around and a small mountain of prawns. No, we are not buying any seafood tonight.

From the first whiff of fish, we know this JFP experience will be something which a classroom cannot deliver. The smell, the wide variety of catch which are hauled from the trawlers and the busy folks working during sleeping hours! We got Winston (BlogFather) and Edmund (EdUnloaded) to join us on our inaugural “fishing” trip πŸ™‚
buying fish at Jurong Fishery port
IMAG6919

δ½ θ¦δΉ°ι­šε—? (Do you want to buy fish?) Fish, Crabs, Prawns and Squids.
20150710 jurong fishery port5
20150710 jurong fishery port4

Pomfret (we like pan friend black), stingrays, sharks and even barracuda. I ran out of vocabulary to describe all the sea creatures.
20150710 jurong fishery port3
jurong fishery port smelly

Not only did we have to get used to the lingering fishy smell in the atmosphere, we have to tell kids to avoid kicking the puddles of water!

The bloody scenes might be uncomfortable for some. Fishmongers gutting and scaling the fish, chopping the fins and heads.
best time to visit jurong fishery port

Throughout the night, forklifts work non-stop to unload more crates from the trawlers. Boots and ice are everywhere.
20150710 jurong fishery port7

Measuring scale, and the fishes are darn heavy! Some are longer than the kids!
At Jurong Fishery port, each “lot” would have a trader where fish bidding will be conducted.

Surprisingly, a lot of Indian foreign workers (from nearby dormitories) were also shopping for their seafood.
20150710 jurong fishery port9

Some say market is fishy because fish are fresh. Well, I am not sure how much fresher can the fish gets πŸ™‚
IMAG6844
20150710 jurong fishery port

You should climb up the second floor gangway to grab a better view of the activities below.
IMAG6870
Jurong Fishery port visiting hours
20150710 jurong fishery port8

Video (Link): So many actions everywhere!

Everything is laid on the floor. Some are labeled with price tags.
Seeing so much seafood on the floor, it hits me that we are consuming (killing) a lot of fishes.

Reminded the kids not to waste their food.
Stingray Jurong Fishery port

The activities will ramp up from 0130 to 0400, but it might not be advisable for kids to stand in the way of busy hawkers. We left around 0130. In a few hours, the seafood will arrive at your neighbourhood wet markets.
Fish market Jurong

Not sure about the kids, but it was an enriching experience for myself. How many of us still scale and gut our own fish? We could see how Singapore imports her seafood, learn about fish bidding and distribution. Would have love to take a photo of the trawlers, but the jetty area is fenced up.

We have a few tips for you to enjoy your JFP trip :
– Bring NRIC and school pass, just in case we need to change pass.
– Jurong Fishery Port is free entry.

No1 rule – do not block the workers! The passageway can be narrow and kids are often distracted by the seafood around them
– It will be wet, puddles will stink. Some puddles will reach your ankle. Suggest to wear covered shoe (boots better). Bring extra footwear to change before stepping into car. (our shoes took 3 days to get rid of the fishy smell)

– Kids will be rare around Jurong Fishery Port, everyone will be looking at you(like tourists haha)
– You can buy the seafood, but Fishmongers might not entertain unless you buy half a dozen :p

Jurong Fishery Port is located at Fishery Port Road, po619742 (Closed on Monday). GPS (1.309301, 103.723287)
Website – http://www.ava.gov.sg/explore-by-sections/fisheries/fishery-ports/fishery-port-services

Best time to visit – Adults should target between 2 to 4am, and kids perhaps between 1230 to 0130. It might be congested and the baskets/trolleys might accidentally bump into the kids. The other fishery port in Singapore is at Senoko Fishery Port.

More fishes have been uploaded into our Fanpage album.