Sungei Buloh

SUNGEI BULOH NATURE RESERVE

Tucked away at 30 Neo Tiew Crescent, in the north-western end of Singapore, is the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, an ideal place for birding. Between September to March, the Reserve is an important refueling point for migratory birds from as far as Siberia. All year round, this 87-hectare Reserve is also home to mangroves, freshwater plants, mudskippers, crabs, shellfish, water snakes, spiders, moths, monitor lizards, and birds like herons, bitterns, sunbirds, coucals, kingfishers, doves, bee-eaters, tailorbirds, woodpeckers and munias.

Admission is S$1 and the Reserve is open from 7.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays, and from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. There are 10-minute audio-visual shows which give an overview of the park at 9.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m., 1.00 p.m., 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays, and hourly from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.

Allow 2 to 5 hours at the Reserve, and another hour of traveling time from the city centre. Remember to bring a pair of binoculars, as well as some food and drinks along!

To get to the Reserve, take the MRT to Kranji MRT Station, then ride Bus No. 925 from the Station. From Mondays to Saturdays, you'll have to alight at Kranji Reservoir Carpark and walk about 20 minutes to the park. On Sundays and public holidays, the bus stops at the entrance to the Reserve. The bus fare is S$1.30.

As you walk to the Reserve, you'll pass Kranji Reservoir Park and the picturesque Kranji Dam. Standing at the Dam, you'll be treated to a panoramic view of the city of Johor Bahru across the Causeway.

Both the Reservoir Park and the Dam are historically significant. On 10 February 1942, troops from the 4th Regiment of the Japanese Imperial Guards landed close to the shoreline between Kranji River and the Causeway. The tide was low and they got stuck in the mud. The Allied Forces comprising of soldiers from the 27th Australian Brigade and Singapore volunteers from Lieutenant-Colonel Dalley's DALFORCE released oil from the nearby Woodlands Depot and set the oil slicks ablaze. The Japanese troops were caught in the burning oil slicks and the first wave of Japanese invading forces was killed. However, the victory for the Allied Forces was short-lived. Fearing that the Japanese invading forces would cut them off by landing from the west at Sarimbun and Jurong, the Allied Forces were ordered to withdraw south. Unfortunately, this allowed the Japanese invading forces to land at the Kranji Dam area and sweep into Singapore. You'll find a commemorative plaque in Kranji Reservoir Park.

KRANJI WAR MEMORIAL

After visiting Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, hop on Bus No. 925 in the direction of Woodlands Road. Stop to visit Kranji War Memorial, located opposite the Singapore Racecourse.

Kranji War Memorial is dedicated to 24,346 soldiers and airmen of the British Empire and Commonwealth (9,295 of whom were British) who lost their lives in Singapore in service to the British Crown during the Second World War. The Singapore State Cemetery, where Singapore's first and second Presidents, Yusof Bin Ishak and Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares, were buried is located next to the Memorial. The Memorial is a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban Singapore.

The Memorial is open from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. daily. Admission is free. Remember to sign the guestbook, which is tucked away in a wall close to the entrance.

SINGAPORE RACECOURSE

Just opposite the Memorial is the Singapore Racecourse Horseracing is a popular spectator sport in Singapore. Each race day, between 20,000 to 30,000 race-goers converge at the Racecourse. If you're in the vicinity on a race day, don't miss the excitement. Place some small bets of S$2 for that adrenaline rush!

Races are held on selected Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of each racing month. Generally, the first race on Fridays start at 6.30 p.m. and the last race at 10.00 p.m. (if there are 8 races) and 10.30 p.m. (if there are 9 races). For races on Saturdays, the first race starts at 2.00 p.m., and for races on Sundays, the first race starts at 1.30 p.m. Check the Racecourse's website for further details.

Race-goers must be at least 18 years old. Admission to the Lower Grandstand (non-air-conditioned public level) is S$3.00, while admission to the Upper Grandstand (air-conditioned public level) is S$7.00. The dress code for the Lower and Upper Grandstands is casual. Shorts, singlets, slippers and sandals without back straps are NOT allowed though. Cellphones are also NOT allowed to be brought into the premises.

Kranji MRT Station is conveniently located next to the Racecourse.

THE NIGHT SAFARI

The Night Safari, the world's first nocturnal zoo, is not that far away from the Singapore Racecourse. Take your dinner early then head for the Night Safari.

If you're wondering where you should have your dinner, before heading to the Safari, look no further than Woodlands. Just 2 MRT stops away, suburban Woodlands has been described as Singapore's "Little America" because of its sizeable expatriate American community. The Singapore American School is located in Woodlands, and as a result, many expatriate American families choose to live here.

Located next to Woodlands MRT Station is a shopping mall called Causeway Point with a cinema and about 250 shops and food outlets. The mall is open from 10.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. daily. If you can't decide on what to eat, you can't go wrong with the Samsui Chicken dish at the Soup Restaurant on the 3rd floor of Causeway Point. The chicken is tender and juicy, and you eat it with lettuce and a yummilicious ginger sauce. One order is sufficient for about 4 to share. Although the chicken is its signature dish, many of the other items in the menu are also good. The restaurant is open for lunch from 12.00 p.m. to 2.30 p.m., and for dinner from 6.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.

To get to the Night Safari from Causeway Point, you can either take a cab or take the MRT 4 stops down to Choa Chu Kang MRT Station. From the bus interchange next to Choa Chu Kang MRT Station, take Bus No. 927 to the Night Safari. It used to be possible to take Bus No. 926 from the bus interchange next to Woodlands MRT Station to the Night Safari, but at the time of writing this article, it appears this service has ceased operations.

At the Night Safari, there are over 1,200 animals of over 110 exotic species to watch out for. The animals are in 8 zones that recreate various geographic regions like the Southeast Asian rainforest, African savanna, Nepalese river valley, South American pampas and Burmese jungle.

The Night Safari is open from 7.30 pm to midnight (daily). The last ticket sale is at 11.00p.m. Show Times are at 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. (daily) at the Entrance Plaza. Allow about 3 hours for the visit.

Admission to the Night Safari is S$15.45 per adult. You have to pay an additional S$5 per adult if you want to ride the tram, but I recommend you skip the tram ride and save the S$5. You can see much more on foot. We understand the ticket is expensive and we're trying to obtain discounts for users of our website. We'll keep you posted.

To return to the Hostel from the Night Safari, you may have to catch a cab, as the MRT may not be in service by the time you're done.

~ Happy Touring ~

SUNGEI BULOH WETLAND RESERVE, KRANJI WAR MEMORIAL, THE SINGAPORE RACECOURSE & THE NIGHT SAFARI
Ixoras	SUNGEI BULOH NATURE RESERVE Tucked away at 30 Neo Tiew Crescent, in the north-western end of Singapore, is the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, an ideal place for birding. Between September to March, the Reserve is an important refueling point for migratory birds from as far as Siberia. All year round, this 87-hectare Reserve is also home to mangroves, freshwater plants, mudskippers, crabs, shellfish, water snakes, spiders, moths, monitor lizards, and birds like herons, bitterns, sunbirds, coucals, kingfishers, doves, bee-eaters, tailorbirds, woodpeckers and munias. Admission is S$1 and the Reserve is open from 7.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays, and from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. There are 10-minute audio-visual shows which give an overview of the park at 9.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m., 1.00 p.m., 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays, and hourly from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. Allow 2 to 5 hours at the Reserve, and another hour of traveling time from the city centre. Remember to bring a pair of binoculars, as well as some food and drinks along! To get to the Reserve, take the MRT to Kranji MRT Station, then ride Bus No. 925 from the Station. From Mondays to Saturdays, you'll have to alight at Kranji Reservoir Carpark and walk about 20 minutes to the park. On Sundays and public holidays, the bus stops at the entrance to the Reserve. The bus fare is S$1.30. As you walk to the Reserve, you'll pass Kranji Reservoir Park and the picturesque Kranji Dam. Standing at the Dam, you'll be treated to a panoramic view of the city of Johor Bahru across the Causeway. Both the Reservoir Park and the Dam are historically significant. On 10 February 1942, troops from the 4th Regiment of the Japanese Imperial Guards landed close to the shoreline between Kranji River and the Causeway. The tide was low and they got stuck in the mud. The Allied Forces comprising of soldiers from the 27th Australian Brigade and Singapore volunteers from Lieutenant-Colonel Dalley's DALFORCE released oil from the nearby Woodlands Depot and set the oil slicks ablaze. The Japanese troops were caught in the burning oil slicks and the first wave of Japanese invading forces was killed. However, the victory for the Allied Forces was short-lived. Fearing that the Japanese invading forces would cut them off by landing from the west at Sarimbun and Jurong, the Allied Forces were ordered to withdraw south. Unfortunately, this allowed the Japanese invading forces to land at the Kranji Dam area and sweep into Singapore. You'll find a commemorative plaque in Kranji Reservoir Park. KRANJI WAR MEMORIAL After visiting Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, hop on Bus No. 925 in the direction of Woodlands Road. Stop to visit Kranji War Memorial, located opposite the Singapore Racecourse. Kranji War Memorial is dedicated to 24,346 soldiers and airmen of the British Empire and Commonwealth (9,295 of whom were British) who lost their lives in Singapore in service to the British Crown during the Second World War. The Singapore State Cemetery, where Singapore's first and second Presidents, Yusof Bin Ishak and Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares, were buried is located next to the Memorial. The Memorial is a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban Singapore. The Memorial is open from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. daily. Admission is free. Remember to sign the guestbook, which is tucked away in a wall close to the entrance. SINGAPORE RACECOURSE Just opposite the Memorial is the Singapore Racecourse Horseracing is a popular spectator sport in Singapore. Each race day, between 20,000 to 30,000 race-goers converge at the Racecourse. If you're in the vicinity on a race day, don't miss the excitement. Place some small bets of S$2 for that adrenaline rush! Races are held on selected Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of each racing month. Generally, the first race on Fridays start at 6.30 p.m. and the last race at 10.00 p.m. (if there are 8 races) and 10.30 p.m. (if there are 9 races). For races on Saturdays, the first race starts at 2.00 p.m., and for races on Sundays, the first race starts at 1.30 p.m. Check the Racecourse's website for further details. Race-goers must be at least 18 years old. Admission to the Lower Grandstand (non-air-conditioned public level) is S$3.00, while admission to the Upper Grandstand (air-conditioned public level) is S$7.00. The dress code for the Lower and Upper Grandstands is casual. Shorts, singlets, slippers and sandals without back straps are NOT allowed though. Cellphones are also NOT allowed to be brought into the premises. Kranji MRT Station is conveniently located next to the Racecourse. THE NIGHT SAFARI The Night Safari, the world's first nocturnal zoo, is not that far away from the Singapore Racecourse. Take your dinner early then head for the Night Safari. If you're wondering where you should have your dinner, before heading to the Safari, look no further than Woodlands. Just 2 MRT stops away, suburban Woodlands has been described as Singapore's "Little America" because of its sizeable expatriate American community. The Singapore American School is located in Woodlands, and as a result, many expatriate American families choose to live here. Located next to Woodlands MRT Station is a shopping mall called Causeway Point with a cinema and about 250 shops and food outlets. The mall is open from 10.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. daily. If you can't decide on what to eat, you can't go wrong with the Samsui Chicken dish at the Soup Restaurant on the 3rd floor of Causeway Point. The chicken is tender and juicy, and you eat it with lettuce and a yummilicious ginger sauce. One order is sufficient for about 4 to share. Although the chicken is its signature dish, many of the other items in the menu are also good. The restaurant is open for lunch from 12.00 p.m. to 2.30 p.m., and for dinner from 6.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. To get to the Night Safari from Causeway Point, you can either take a cab or take the MRT 4 stops down to Choa Chu Kang MRT Station. From the bus interchange next to Choa Chu Kang MRT Station, take Bus No. 927 to the Night Safari. It used to be possible to take Bus No. 926 from the bus interchange next to Woodlands MRT Station to the Night Safari, but at the time of writing this article, it appears this service has ceased operations. At the Night Safari, there are over 1,200 animals of over 110 exotic species to watch out for. The animals are in 8 zones that recreate various geographic regions like the Southeast Asian rainforest, African savanna, Nepalese river valley, South American pampas and Burmese jungle. The Night Safari is open from 7.30 pm to midnight (daily). The last ticket sale is at 11.00p.m. Show Times are at 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. (daily) at the Entrance Plaza. Allow about 3 hours for the visit. Admission to the Night Safari is S$15.45 per adult. You have to pay an additional S$5 per adult if you want to ride the tram, but I recommend you skip the tram ride and save the S$5. You can see much more on foot. We understand the ticket is expensive and we're trying to obtain discounts for users of our website. We'll keep you posted. To return to the Hostel from the Night Safari, you may have to catch a cab, as the MRT may not be in service by the time you're done. ~ Happy Touring ~	Oops, can't remember the name from Science class

Periwinkle		Ditto

Bouganvillea		And ditto

Japanese Invasion in WWII		Kranji War Memorial



Remember to sign in the Guestbook		You can spend hours just reading the headstones

Some who died were only in their teens		Just a portion of the headstones



The view from the elevated ground		It'll take a few more hours to read the names on the walls



The Resident Gecko		Late President Sheares' Grave