It was indeed a pleasant sight to see
more than 20 people gathered at the Labrador Park by 8 a.m. to start our
monthly walk on a cool and pleasant day.
Just a stone’s throw away from
apartments, busy wharfs, offices and shopping centres, the Labrador Nature and
Coastal Walk provides a wide variety of habitats to explore – mudflat,
mangroves, coastal forest, rocky shore, park land -there is a myriad of experiences
which was waiting to thrill and enrich our senses as we embarked on this walk. The
places to be seen and enjoyed were just too many to see in a matter of an hour
and half. Having experienced the Bukit Chermin Boardwalk last year to enjoy the
expansive waters of Keppel Harbour and multi-million dollar luxurious
waterfront apartments, this occasion we ventured out first to the Berlayer Creek
mangrove, still alive in Singapore despite habitat destruction all around.
We commenced the walk along the Promenade
that overlooks Sentosa Island, first crossing Dragon’s Teeth Gate, a symbolic
replica of the original rock outcrop that used to serve as the gateway to
Singapore’s western entrance, acting as a navigational guide to sailors
centuries ago.
Progressing along the boardwalk, we
traversed through two look-out points perched over the creek, to observe the
surrounding mangroves and get closer to the rich biodiversity. Some kids in our
group were overwhelmed with joy to see a monitor lizard and a small snake
roaming around in the mangrove forest.
We experienced the fascinating connection
between the landscape and historical journey back to the 1870s and marvelled
how Labrador had transformed from a thick coastal forest and mangroves to what
it is today - a tranquil nature reserve with relics of Singapore’s World War II
past- a machine gun post, a gun bunker, remnants of an old fort and a display
of a quick firing cannon. Thereafter west rolled through Singapore’s only
coastal cliff vegetation to enjoy a spectacular view of Singapore’s offshore
islands from the lookout deck. We went down the cliff and into the park to soak
in the breath-taking view of the South China Sea and passing cruise and cargo
ships.
Mother Nature was in Her Full Glory!
While all of us were engrossed in Prayers
and Meditation in the well laid out place in the Park itself, children in our
group enjoyed the nearby banyan tree swings to their hearts’ content.
Our hosts Upali and Ritesh had made an excellent
altar and a sumptuous fusion of North and South Indian dishes for brunch. Our
heartfelt thanks to them.
Please visit our Sri Aurobindo Society’s
Facebook page to see more photos of the walk/meditation and the altar
arrangements.
-
S. Ramanathan
************
I was at
Labrador Park with the other Society members on the 2nd of November
for the monthly walk. The weather was very nice. Not too hot. Not too cold. I
reached the park at around 8a.m. We started off with a simple warm-up and then
walked through the park.
When we were
walking on the boardwalk, we spotted a snake on the handrail. Upon seeing and
hearing us, it jumped back into the grass. It was hard to see it after that as
it camouflaged well, but we managed to find it, and took many pictures.
After the walk,
we headed to a shelter where the prayers were going to take place. Behind the
shelter, there was a huge tree with many vines hanging on it. My friends and I
climbed the trees and swung from the vines. We had great fun.
We soon had to
stop playing so that we could eat. There was all sorts of food - Idli, rice,
noodles, to name a few. And they were delicious. After eating, we continued
playing on the tree.
Soon, it was
time to go back home. I was sad as I was having such a great time and didn’t
want to leave. I hope that I can go to Labrador Park again and I look forward
to the next walk.
-
Priyanka Patel
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