Hiking the Green Corridor

Hiking the Green Corridor after our fun trip to Bukit Brown cemetery (blog review), this is part 2 of our day hike.

Recently, the Green Corridor (or some call Rail corridor) has been hot in the news.
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/railcorridor (all news about Green Corridor)
CNA report (Green Corridor features)

 

Steven and Isaiah joined me on the second part of our trail on the green corridor. Thank you Kelvin for the lift.

From Bouna Vista MRT, head to the underpass at Exit B (Green line) and you will see a track (GPS 1.309262, 103.791150).

Some segments of Green Corridor are not ready yet. Photo below shows the stretch towards Tanglin Halt, Tanjong Pagar direction.

But we did notice the pavement condition seems ready for exploration.

Green Corridor should be ideal for walking, jogging and cycling. Go and explore 🙂

I had wanted to cycle the Green Corridor  trail from Kranji Close to Tanjong Pagar, almost 24km track.

Our trail from Bouna Vista to Hillview is about 8k, and it will help me understand whether the trail condition is suitable for my foldie (or maybe too much mud).

However, the first obstacle for cycling will be the huge amount of human traffic! Many folks are excited about the newly reopened rail corridor.

Along the Green Corridor trail, the trumpet trees are flowering and littering the grounds with sakura-like carpet. Get the latest updates from Nparks fanpage.

Hiking the Green Corridor
Hiking the Green Corridor

I would like to share nostalgic photos from KTM trains of yesteryears. Our ride from Tanjong Pagar to Johor Bahru was cheap and fast!

The Green Corridor holds many nostalgic memories for me. I can still remember the good old KTM train cutting across the green forestation on our way to JB. The kids were still so young then.

Taking the train at Tanjong Pagar

*Old train blog posts here and here

Along Upper Bukit Timah

Checkpoint after Bukit Panjang (GPS 1.378927, 103.760366), near to Lot 10 (after Mindef stretch). This was where the station-master exchanged token with train driver.

Photos taken from train cabin, can you identify the landmarks below?

Singapore Old train photos
Singapore Old train photos
Iconic Green Corridor

Back to present day, this is one of the checkpoints along Green Corridor. From the elevated point, one can look down the “green valley” (GPS 1.326578, 103.781538).

Steven looking out for insects and birds.

The other side of the “river” will be old Holland road.

(Photo below) From other hikers, I learnt that the ferns have matured and creep up the trees. From far, it seems like the tree is dressing up!

Plants along Green Corridor

Do look out for interesting flora and fauna along the trail. We spotted many insects, lizards and even some giant plants below.

The plants and flowers enhanced the walking experience. Slow down your pace and enjoy the sights and sounds.

Steven playacting with the huge leaf, we did not exert any strength.

Below checkpoint is more popular on Instagram, Old Bukit Timah Railway Station (GPS 1.334265, 103.781295).

And the nearest MRT is only 500m away, King Albert Park.

The tracks and building has been conserved as heritage. And I suspect some F&B will be popping up soon.

Image credit Isaiah

Truss bridge (iconic black iron bridge) is popular for selfies, but be prepared to queue :p

The gravel pavement adds to the experience. You will encounter two such bridges along the path, the second one is at Rail Mall.

Truss bridge Green Corridor

Road works ongoing along Bukit Timah road. Coast to Coast hikers will walk under the Truss bridge.

You may refer to Nparks’ map for 8 different entry points to the new stretch of Green Corridor. Entry 4,5 will bring you to Hindhede Quarry and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Image credit Nparks

You will also spot many distance markers, informing you distance to Woodlands or Tanjong Pagar (opposite direction).

Green Corridor trail will be partial pavement and dirt track. Take note dirt tracks might become muddy during rainy days.

No more “commissioned” graffiti at this wall.

On hindsight, it was a good deal to release KTM railway line back to Singapore control in 2010. Read article from the TheGreenCorridor.org

Singaporeans now have so much more greenery to explore!

Spot the Singapore Quarry bridge (GPS 1.354975, 103.769589) above, we could exit left via the steps and walk towards Dairy Farm Nature Park.

The second truss bridge at the Rail Mall (GPS 1.357837, 103.767642).

View of Rail Mall from the top.

Is Green Corridor and Rail Corridor referring to the same thing? Does not matter, I love the trail!

Beautiful bridge Green Corridor

The last 300m towards Hillview MRT was muddy.

Love our trail walking.

Singapore is fortunate to have all these small pockets of nature to explore. I hope more families will appreciate our greens and rich animal diversity.

I would like to see more secondary forest (Clementi, Dover) protected around us. We still need BTO and industrial land but I hope future planning will protect more greens.

Hiking the Green Corridor soon? Get the latest Green Corridor updates :
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/railcorridor and
http://www.thegreencorridor.org

*You may read our previous posts on Green Corridor and KTM rides here (train from Tanjong Pagar), here or here (train from Woodlands).

-Do explore Queenstown and Tanglin Halt’s rich heritage here.  Tanglin Halt will be torn down soon.

–Our family’s hiking adventures are documented here  https://sengkangbabies.com/tag/hiking (when can we scale Gunungs again)

-Our Coast to Coast hikers can detour along route and explore the Green Corridor too. Read my C2C review.

More photos can be found on SengkangBabies Facebook album

Bukit Brown cemetery and Green Corridor photos

If you love nature, do pop by the following posts:
– Hiking Green Corridor
– Clementi Forest (photos)
Kranji Forest (photos)
– Bukit Brown and Avatar trees

ps.. Updated Apr 2023.  The new Green Corridor start point is at Kranji MRT. Refer nParks link.

15 Feb – The fall of Singapore

15 Feb 1942 marked the The Fall of Singapore.

Chinese New Year 74 years ago was sombre and no one was in a celebratory mood.
Japan brought World War 2 to Singapore and occupied us for the next three years.
water rationing singapore

Fast forward to 21st century, Singapore is prosperous, families have the freedom to choose their lifestyles.
Basic food, sanitation and accommodation needs are fulfilled, we worry about career advancement, PSLE, COE and holidays.

I keep reminding my kids how fortunate Singaporeans are today.

But the World is not so safe. Terrorist bombings, radicalisation, North South Korea and South China Sea tensions are teachable moments for the kids. No one owns Singapore a living and we should not take Singapore’s peace and progress for granted.
Kranji War Memorial

** Every 15th Feb, SCDF’s nationwide siren, sweet potatoes and Total Defence comes to mind.
No one can guarantee that basic necessities like water and food will be available during period of tension.

Eating sweet potatoes is symbolic of the tough times which families encountered during Japanese occupation. Food was scarce, sweet potato and yam became sustenance substitutes.

Some schools are still letting kids taste sweet potatoes in school today but kids might not understand the significance. We heard some schools even let kids grow their own sweet potatoes (West Spring Primary School)

Those who grew up in the 80s and 90s, will have experienced water rationing.
Someone will inform households that water-tap will be cutoff at certain hours. When the water truck rolls into our neighbourhood, it was a novelty to bring buckets down to queue for water. (Although parents will have already stockpiled water beforehand hee hee)

We learn from young that water might not always flow from our tap.
Water rationing might be due to drought (Youtube link about water rationing in 1963), or if Malaysia decided to cut off Singapore’s water supply.

During Mahathir’s reign in the 80s and 90s, it was not uncommon to find newspaper articles of Malaysia politicians threatening to cut off Singapore’s water. (Newater is another teachable moment for the kids)

At 6.20pm on 15th Feb, sirens will blared across Singapore. During an emergency (War or terrorists), sirens might warn us to hide indoors or shelters as part of Total Defence campaign. Do you know that some MRT stations are also bomb shelters? (more details on SCDF website)

I hope kids will only experience war in Call of Duty.
the Fall of Singapore

To commemorate the 74th anniversary of the fall of Singapore, a series of heritage tours and talks has been organised (schedules here, but mostly booked)

We have a few other recommendations for families :
– Visit Kranji War Memorial
– Eat sweet potato
– Implement your own water-rationing at home, perhaps for 4 hours. (It might be too cruel to cut off internet :p )
– Discover nearest bomb shelter (MRT or HDB) in your neighbourhood (your storeroom not counted)

Every household can do the following activities :
a) Learn about CPR and evacuation (know how to react during earthquake overseas)
b) Rehearse your fire evacuation drill, or get a first aid box.
c) Blood donation, adult volunteers are always mobilised during emergencies to donate precious blood.

IMAG2968

Singapore is not going to War, but do we know how to respond during an emergency?
How can we let the next generation know that the World out there is not as safe as Singapore?
Do you have any other tips and ideas to share?

#NeverAgain

ps.. pop by 2014 Total Defence exhibit “What will you defend?