Was supposed to go back TP meet Ray in the noon, but someting cropped up on Ray's side so had to change my plan. Initially I wanted to go hiking tmr, but since Ray asked me to make myself available tmr instead, I decided to go today instead. The past few times I've gone hiking at Bukit Timah wif Laibao, we keep missing our destination - Macritchie Natural Reserve. So, I wanted to try to find the place by myself. Prepared 3 bottles of water, a packet of sulphur (i'm scared of snakes..), some extra clothes cuz I'm going out at nite, a poncho in case it rains, a swiss army knife n lighter (usual hiking stuff), n of cuz, my watch, hp n camera.

it was already quite late when I reached the visitor centre - 1430. I went to the information counter to get a map. I didn't bother to look at the map den, n it was until I got quite deep in the forest den I realized he had given me the Macritchie map instead of the Bukit Timah map.. bah.. nvm.. i tikam my way thru, relying on my trustworthy watch for directions, n guess wad.. I found a shortcut via Catchment Path to Belukar Track (or sth.. I 4got the spelling) instead of having to go thru Dairy Farm, as wad mi n Laibao did the previous times. Before that, I was struggling with trying to scale/hop up n down the rocks/trails at Rock Path n Cave Path. Quite miraculous, cuz didn't get bitten by any mosquito. The ngage/camera combi proved itself to be very effective, as I could mms Laibao "guess where i am now", with a pic of the Belukar pipes attached. Along the way, I saw a monitor lizard scurrying in front of me (click here for the album), n a blue dragonfly whizzing about.. nice sia..

As I walked along the track, i heard rifle gunshots from nearby. I traced the sound n found myself at the rifle range liao. Woohoo.. After 2 hours of searching n walk ard, I've finally got to a point shown on the Macritchie map. There was a canal nearby the rifle range, with LOTS of monkeys sitting on the railing. I was abit scared to walk past at first cuz the monkeys looked menancing, but when I finally decided to walk near, the monkeys seemed oblivious to me. Since I was in a location shown on the map, the rest of the journey wasn't a problem, except that I had to find the shortest way to Macritchie cuz time was running out, n the map actually stated dat the time taken to hike thru dat area would be 4-5 hours! If i dun get out before nitetime falls, I'd definitely be in trouble. using my watch + map again, I managed to trace a shortcut to Macritchie.. heng arh..

this time, I came across a tall viewing tower, which provided a really nice scenery of the entire natural reserve from up above. U can find the fotos from the album. As I continued along the way, I came across this path whereby the entire trail was made of boards, built above a swamp. kind of like the marsh garden in Pasir Ris/West Coast, only that it was MUCH longer. Quite a great view along the way. After some perseverance, I finally caught the sight of some people fishing, with a golf course nearby. Dat means I've reached the reservoir. However, I continued to walk n ended up in a forested area again. Then i realized dat the reservoir was not the end of the trail. To reach the bus stop I would have to pass some more forested area. As I walked along Lornie Trail, lots of army guys were jogging thru, n past me. Finally, I walked thru a bridge, n thru the last forested path to Lornie Road. The moment I made my way up of the steep path n out of the forest, the bus stop was standing juz before my very eyes. It was 1735 den.. ard 25 mins ahead of my targetted time.

I took 93 n 28 to the Post Centre at Paya Lebar, n stopped there to wash my face, change my clothes, n have a quick snack before heading off to Orchard to meet up with Ridzwan. Damn.. Was half an hour late again.. Muz really try to change my bad habit of being late liao.. Aniwae, it's been more than 7 years since Ridzwan n mi have last met each other. Was surprised we could still recognize each other at the MRT station. We went for dinner, n had lots of tings to catch up wif.. after all, it's been more than 7 years...

After dinner, we walked around HMV n Annex. At heerens, I remembered dat there are bdays approaching, n I have to start scouting for a gift. Ridzwan's bday is approaching too, at the end of March. Hope wun have to go broke again dis month.. wahahah

today i discovered that Ridzwan was actually staying juz ard a 20-mins walking distance away from me. We took a bus back to bedok, n sat at Mac, trying to figure out how to activate his GPRS (starhub sux.. i called them n 10 mins den got technician assist me). we went home after dat.. I wanted to walk home, but my leg was already starting to become sore after one entire day of non-stop no-break walking. Took a bus home instead.

Wow.. when I reached home I shitted blood.. old syndrome returning.. haha..