Dairy Farm Nature Park

Dairy Farm Nature Park

Singapore's newest nature park, the Dairy Farm Nature Park, was officially opened to the public on 5 September 2009. Before that, blogger friend YG had given a sneak peep of Dairy Farm Nature Park with his posts.

On the way to Singapore Quarry at Dairy Farm Nature Park.

I visited the south-western end of Dairy Farm Nature Park where the Singapore Quarry stood before the park was opened to the public too. (Here is the earlier Dairy Farm Nature Park post.)

Dairy Farm Nature Park (from The Sunday Times graphics)

According to NParks site and the write-up in The Sunday Times of 6 September 2009, this brand new nature park has two unique features that I found interesting.

The first feature that I would like to highlight is the Wallace Education Centre, a former cowshed now turned into a learning centre. It houses the Wallace Environmental Learning Lab (WELL) and an interpretative centre where visitors can learn about the changing landscapes of Dairy Farm Nature Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve through various exhibits.

The other must-see feature at Dairy Farm Nature Park are the rare Little Grebe at the Singapore Quarry wetland reserve. The birds are just a small part of the rich biodiversity on the 63-hectare park. Visitors who walk or mountain bike along Dairy Farm Nature Park's nature trails can witness the amazing fauna and flora available in the area.

The Dairy Farm Nature Park is open from 7am to 7pm daily with free admission for visitors.

To get there, take bus service SMRT 700, 700A or 966 and alight at bus stop along Petir Road between Chestnut Ave and Dairy Farm Road. There are two public car parks along Dairy Farm Road.

As I was not aware of the rare Little Grebe (even if I did, the quarry was closed at the time of my earlier visit) and the Wallace Education Centre, looks like I will need to perform a follow-up visit to the Dairy Farm Nature Park soon.

Have you seen the new Dairy Farm Nature Park and its amenities?

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Seen This Scene That

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OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009

Image: OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009

OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009

Billed as Singapore's first mass participation cycling event on public roads, OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009 will cater to healthy cyclists of all ages from six years upwards, from beginners to professional riders.

Roads around Singapore leading out of and into the F1 Pit Building at Marina Bay area will be closed to traffic for this inaugural OCBC Cycle Singapore public sporting event.

Bike rentals for OCBC Cycle Singapore carnival are now closed although you can still lug your own cycle and wheels to store them at the F1 Pit Building one day before the mass cycling event.

You need not come in first during the OCBC Cycle Singapore race to win attractive prizes. Attend as a team of 4 contestants, dressed to impress, and you may just win the OCBC Mighty Saver Kids Ride's "Best-Dressed Bike" contest.

Personally, I'll likely skip this event. Getting a truckload of 5 bicycles from home to the starting point, and back, is too huge a logistical task. Perhaps next year I'll be more 'kaisu' and register early to rent their bikes.

Would you be cycling soon?


OCBC Cycle Singapore 2009 Details:

Event Date: 22 February 2009 (Sunday).

Expo Dates: 20, 21 Feb (11am-9pm) and 22 Feb (8am-6pm).

Venue: F1 Pit Building, Paddock 1 - 2nd and 3rd floors.

Race Pack/ BIB Collection: 20, 21 Feb (Friday,Saturday) 11am-9pm

Read more:
1. Route Map, Cycling Categories and Fee at OCBC Cycle Singapore
2. Seen This Scene That Explores More Cycling Places.

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Siglap Park Connector’s PIE Bridge

Siglap Park Connector’s PIE Bridge

Cyclists who make their way across the PIE via the Siglap Park Connector Bridge have to cross a bridge that has ramps on both ends. You take off along a zig-zag slope to the top of the bridge, cross the PIE and then make headway down another zig-zag slope to continue the journey along the park connector.

Thoughtful touches have been added to the PIE bridge to reduce hazardous occurrence along the bridge. For instance, there is a large mirror to warn cyclists of approaching traffic coming from the opposite direction around a blind corner at the Lengkok Tiga end.

Another measure taken to prevent accidents is the do-not-cycle-on-bridge rule. There are many prominent signs on this PIE bridge of the Siglap Park Connector to warn cyclists not to cycle across the bridge for their own safety as well as the safety of others.

Not all individuals heed the no-cycling warnings. I was the witness of several individuals cycling across the PIE bridge. They struggled up one end and flew off the bridge on the other end of the Siglap Park Connector.

Here’s one of the photographic evidence of a cyclist flouting the do-not-cycle-on-PIE-bridge rule.

For your own safety, look out for possible speeding cyclists (like those on a Tour de France race) when you use this bridge across the PIE along the Siglap Park Connector, on foot.

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East Coast Park: Eastern Coastal End Walk

East Coast Park: Eastern Coastal End Walk

Like the rest of Singaporeans who make East Coast Park the most popular park in Singapore, we come to the eastern coastal end for quiet walks often. For a sensory feast of sandy beaches, bright open spaces and tall Casuarina trees sashaying to the rhythm of sea breeze, this coastal end of East Coast Park near Changi is the best place to be.

While you would expect plenty of leisure park activities like picnics, jogging, in-line skating and cycling, the human traffic is surprising lower. One good feature is the absence of BBQ pits along the eastern end of East Coast Park to pollute East Coast Park's fresh air.

Our family's favourite all-time activity at East Coast Park, however, is to sit along the beaches. There are plenty of grass patches that allow a poncho to be used for seating arrangements along this end of East Coast Park. We like to stare at the mesmerizing foam patterns as they wash up to shore, watch distant ocean-going ships cross paths in the horizon and read patterns in the ever-changing clouds as they drift by.

The eastern coastal end of East Coast Park in Singapore starts where the National Service Resort and Country Club (NSRCC) is situated at the end of East Coast Walk. From there, it is a short leisurely walk along tree-lined paths that display markings for bicycle and jogging lanes.

Walk past the chalets of the National Service Resort and Country Club (NSRCC) and be greeted by manicured greens of the NSRCC golf course.

This section will end at the mouth of Sungei Bedok where a canal leads out to sea. There are two concrete promontories on either side of this canal where friends have revealed that angling at these spots can be very successful. Even if your fishing does not turn out as expected, the glorious sunsets over East Coast Park should melt a frown into a smile.

Do you have places to recommend for a visit?

Read more about East Coast Park in Seen This Scene That:

1. East Coast Park's Castle Beach

2. Camping at East Coast Park

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West Coast Park Singapore: Best Playground In The West

West Coast Park Singapore: Best Playground In The West

I do not know about you, but for my family, 50-hectare size West Coast Park Singapore seems to possess the best kids’ playground in the west of Singapore. This area is located at West Coast Park Car Park 3. This was our conclusion after my family of five turned up for a visit to West Coast Park last Friday evening. West Coast Park’s Adventure-land and children’s playground were also highly recommended by two of my regular readers, yg and panzergrenadier.

Besides personal preferences, various other factors guided us to our conclusion.

Size Matters
When it comes to playground fun, we find that size does matter. The larger space at West Coast Park allows a larger piece of real estate to be developed into playthings for children’s enjoyment. With more plaything structures, the choices increase. This allows even the most finicky child to find something agreeable to his or her taste.

Eclectic Selection
More than that, we find that the selection of playground structures appears more eclectic than the common garden variety allocated to HDB neighbourhoods. Playground planners must have applied more industry to source for such challenging playground structures to seduce kids.

Adventure Park
There are eight playground areas in West Coast Park 3 for your children to select. The ‘toys’ at the Adventureland area 8 are the most challenging and my favourite. Items like Uneven Spring Balance, Spinning Pads and Jungle Bridge require strength and balance to perform. Zipping down the flying fox contraption brought back memories of scouting days as I ‘tested’ the ropes to ensure my kids personal safety. The low, narrow and zig-zag patterned balance beams seemed to mirror the standard obstacle course (SOC) from my National Service days of long ago. For girls and boys who’ve never stepped onto Pulau Tekong, this is the kiddy version of Basic Military Training’s (BMT) introductory grounds that all National Servicemen must go through.

Children’s Playground
A multiplex of interconnected structures form up to provide playground entertainment for children who raid West Coast Park’s playground. Children can pretend to be train drivers at the head of this structure, while others can climb its belly to play passengers on this playground train.


Open Natural Spaces
A sheltered stage with night lighting fronts an open space near beachside. Soccer players, kite flyers, Frisbee throwers and practitioners of other sports and games are free to utilize this huge open area. Short strips of boardwalk allow nature appreciation at the marsh garden and a pond, located at the fringe of West Coast Park. Bird watchers will love the bird watching opportunities here.

Fast Food Convenience
At the end of a day’s exertions, replenish fluid loss and restore empty stomachs at the lone fast food restaurant at McDonald’s where gourmet coffee and cakes are served too. Personal hygiene can be practiced at the public washrooms here as well.

Other activities
Overnight camping is allowed. Cycling, roller blading, in-line skating, walking, jogging and other activities are also common sights here. Nine barbecue (BBQ) pits are available for rental at West Coast Park. For more information on online booking of barbecue (bbq) pit, check my bbq post here. http://seenthisscenethat.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-to-book-barbeque-pit-at-changi.html


Tranquil Sunset & Sea Views
Lastly one of the main reasons why a place is called a park is the tranquil setting where wide spaces surrounded by greenery are premium features highly sought after by park users. A short pier at the rocky shore is the perfect place to enjoy the sea breeze and watch a lovely sunset over West Coast in a tranquil setting.

Easy Accessibility
For maps, click Map of West Coast Park here. Free car parking is available next to the park along West Coast Highway. Bus stop. Service 176 stops directly in front of West Coast Park. Alternatively, services 30, 51, and 143 bring you to the front of Clementi Woods Park (West Coast Road) and a 5 minutes walk through West Coast Link will lead you to West Coast Park Area 3 (near to the Adventure Playground).

All these reasons make West Coast Park Area 3 our current favourite park in the west. Do you know of any other playgrounds in the western part of Singapore?

Developed rashes after playground activities?
Visit Singapore Skin Doctors
www.singapore-skin-doctors.blogspot.com (Ad)

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You may also like to read my other posts on Singapore parks:

1. Garden Hill Park

2. Taman Jurong Greens Park
3. Book BBQ Pits
4. Street Map of Singapore's West Coast Park

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East Coast Park: Castle Beach, In-line Skates, Barbecue (BBQ) Pit and More

East Coast Park: Castle Beach, In-line Skates, Barbecue (BBQ) Pit and More

Castle Beach
If you ever need help to learn how to build sandcastles at East Coast Park, look no further than Castle Beach near Area E along East Coast Park. This fairy-tale structure that stands more than three times my height, doubles as a convenient meeting place and a focal point for photograph hunters as well as novice sandcastle builders.

While not as elaborately designed as Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, the East Coast Park version still looks pretty despite its low-budget appearance. A notice board on Castle Beach reveals that it is a non-profit organization proving sandcastle team building activities for children from under-privileged background, high-risk families and physically challenged conditions (website of non-profit Castle Beach here)

In-line Skates and Bicycle Shops
Teenagers and teens-at-heart who like in-line skating and cycling but did not bring their in-line skates or bicycles will rejoice at the presence of in-line skate rental shop and bicycle rental shop. The in-line skate and bicycle shops are conveniently co-located opposite the reflexology garden .

I spoke to two teenagers minding the in-line skate shop as there were no signboards detailing their charges. They revealed that in-line skate rental costs $10 for the first hour, free for the second and $7 per hour thereafter. Rentals of in-line skates must be returned to their in-line skate shop on time or risk incurring extra charges. The bicycle shop owners displayed their charges prominently. It offered a range of bicycles to choose from, with prices ranging from $6 per hour to $12 per hour for top of the line bicycle models.

Book Barbecue (BBQ) Pit
Barbecue (BBQ) Pit number 51 at Area E stands as the nearest barbecue (bbq) pit to Castle Beach for those interested to book a bbq pit for an evening barbecue. If the barbecue (bbq) party bombs out because of rain, you can always treat your friends and guests to ready-to-eat meals at East Coast Seafood Centre or East Coast Lagoon Food Village.


Fitness and Foot Reflexology Corners, Printed Lanes
Children and their health-conscious parents can work out at the fitness corner nearby as well as at a small foot reflexology garden. Visitors to East Coast Park's beaches can also look for pictures printed into lanes at East Coast Park's shore to decide what to do. Walk if you see the big foot imprints under your feet. Or cycle / in-line skate if you see the logos for cycling / in-line skating. Despite these aids painted onto the lanes, keep an eye out for other East Coast Park users who blatantly ignore these guidelines.

Car park, Meeting Point
The nearest car park is at the car park E2 near the East Coast Lagoon Food Village of East Coast Park. Standard coupon parking rates still applies here. As there is a popular food centre next to this car park, expect to queue for a parking lot during peak dining hours and on weekends. If you come by other transport means, arrange to meet up with your family and friends at Area E Meeting Point. How would you recognise such a Meeting Point? Look for a brightly coloured stack of yellow cubes that stick out from the ground of East Coast Park.

As a note to my readers from overseas, East Coast Park is a 15-kilometre long stretch of sandy beaches, 185 Hectare in size, on Singapore's southern shores that is open to the public without admission charges. If you do visit our little island, a visit to East Coast Park is a worthwhile half-day to full-day tour to meet locals, sample local cuisine and experience a piece of Singapore life.

See more places. Live more life.

Related Reads:
1. East Coast Park: Eastern Coastal End
2. East Coast Park Big Splash Playground
3. Camping In East Coast Park
4. How To Book A Barbecue Pit

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