(Lower Peirce Reservoir,
Singapore - Pictures by Kiran)
The location
chosen for the morning walk on 5th April was just right for the kind
of natural beauty that we strive to look for, amidst the concrete blocks that
we normally see in Singapore. That was Lower Peirce Reservoir.
The Lower Peirce
Reservoir, Singapore's second-oldest reservoir, was built by impounding the
upper reaches of the Kallang River and was commissioned in 1912. The forest
that lines its banks is considered a mature secondary rainforest and is still
dotted with numerous rubber trees and oil palms – visible reminders of a past
when vast areas of Singapore were covered with plantations. The reservoir was
renamed the Peirce Reservoir in recognition of Robert Peirce, who was the
Municipal Engineer of Singapore from 1901 to 1916. It only acquired its current
name in 1975, after the Upper Peirce Reservoir was built.
Next to the
reservoir are a few semi-detached bungalows and there is a road that separates
them. As such there are a few entrances to the reservoir. However as the car
park stated in the location was very prominent, it helped all of us to get
together at the meeting point, albeit a bit late.
It was a
pleasant morning. The lush greenery along the side of the reservoir and the
tranquil atmosphere was just nice for all of us to fall in love with the place
and fully enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature.
Just before we
started off, we saw a group of elderly people exercising in the pleasant
weather. After the warming up session, we started off for a good start. We were
quite amazed to see the board walk that appeared to be just a few feet above
the water. As we moved along the board walk, the feeling was that we were
walking on water, with the greenery on one side and the water on the other.
You can also see the interpretative boards on the flora and fauna found in the
forest, bum rest, scenic view and picnic points located along the boardwalk.
Along the way,
there were good directional signs and informative boards, describing the birds
and reptiles that were the habitats. There are some majestic trees which are
over 100 years old in the forest. Some other interesting plants that you can
spot here include pitcher plants and the Nibong Palm. The common wildlife that
resides in this reservoir includes Long-tailed Macaques, Oriental Whip Snakes
and the occasional White-bellied Sea Eagle flying above the reservoir.
Freshwater species such as Snakeheads can also be found in the waters of the
reservoir.
As I was walking
along the timber boarding, I heard some holy hymns and naturally my feet took
that way. As I walked along the boardwalk, I heard a powerful chanting of
mantras (hymns) by Mr Krishnamurthy and Mr Ramanathan. It was such a lovely
experience, hearing the chanting of the Mantras in the tranquil atmosphere,
amidst the lush greenery. Hearing, chanting, remembering, obeying, worshipping,
praying, serving, rendering friendship and surrendering to the Lord are nine
great activities, as described in Srimad Bhagvad Geeta. We had the pleasure of
hearing the holy mantras in that wonderful atmosphere. The power of the
mantras, as described by Mr Krishnamurthy was to invoke different Gods,
including Varuna. And Lo! Obviously,
without surprise, it did happen. As we were about to finish the walk, there was
heavy downpour. We just managed to come to the shed at the exit and there were
a few lucky ones, who totally got drenched.
We waited for a
while for the intensity of the downpour to reduce, and then we started off to
Mr Krishnamurthy’s house, where we all were given a warm welcome by all the
members of Mr Krishnamurthy’s family. Needless to say, the brunch was
excellent, with the taste of the idlis, vadas and the halwa still lingering on
the taste buds. The first Sunday walk of the month reminds us of the walk of
life. There is love and peace in Nature. Just enjoy it, being in The service of
the Lord.
-
Kiran
Acknowledgement: Thanks to NParks web site for some
descriptions mentioned in this write up.
The Walk, from the eyes of a
child….
The morning walk for this month was on April 5th. It was at
the Lower Peirce Reservoir. We walked along many trails. Some of the trails
that we walked along were - Lower Peirce trail, Bamboo trial, and Hevea trail.
We had a wonderful time walking among the reservoir's trees, plants, and
bushes. After a while it started to rain heavily and we had to look for
shelter. We waited for the rain to stop but it did not. So we split ourselves
into groups. We got to the hosts' house for a nice meditation and brunch.
- Ananya
No comments:
Post a Comment