Singapore is well known for two things – food and shopping. The sheer number of malls that are crammed on this tiny island is incredible. For a recent assignment I had to write a narrative on one the nature reserves (one of the remaining patches of trees between concrete and glass). I visited the Southern Tiers and had an incredible experience. Here is my narrative.

The day began and ended with rain. It was not the kind of rain that freckles your face with moisture, it was the kind that soaks you to the skin in seconds. Even though my shoes squelched with every step, my day spent walking the Southern Ridges with a friend proved to be an incredible experience. Minutes after we exited the protection of the Harbourfront MRT station the skies opened. Yet, as suddenly as the rain began, it stopped, and sunlight flickered between the branches that stretched above our heads. We continued our ascent along the Marang Trail, its thick foliage reminding me of tunnels and exploration.

Soon the trail met the ridge of Mt. Farber. Bathed in the now warm sunlight, the panoramic views of Singapore were stunning. The southern islands, ships, and skyline seemed to have shrunk into a child’s play set. The skyscrapers that usually awe me with their domineering size now glinted like glass Legos, and the huge ships in the harbour seemed like toys floating in an immense bathtub. We then reached the Henderson Waves. This bridge seemed an impossibility – it was both organic and wholly unnatural. Wood and steel combined to form curves of striking beauty. We soon found ourselves sitting, not admiring the view as one would on other bridges, but admiring the bridge itself. Its gradual incline and rolling sides had an almost hypnotic effect. We could not help but pause, and found it difficult to pull ourselves away to continue on our adventure.

From there we headed toward the Forest Walk. Ominous clouds began to fill the sky, but we decided to keep going with the hopes of finishing before it rained once again. Upon reaching the Forest Walk I was glad we decided to continue. On the hill beneath us a series of pedestrian walkways zigzagged and sliced their way down the hill through the canopy. With the help of my imagination, the treetops that crowded each side of the path formed intricate and beautiful green figures. Beneath us, a bike path provided a constant point of reference, and reminded us just how high we were. At times, the height of the path was slightly daunting, but it was thrilling. The end of the Forest Walk opened upon the Alexandria Bridge. As the bridge came into view we quickened our pace and felt the warning drops of the next downpour. As the raindrops thickened we found ourselves jogging across the outstretched leaf that is the Alexandria Bridge. We raced beneath the raindrops and managed to slip under the nearest bus stop right as the skies opened once again.