"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it."
Norman Maclean

Friday, March 31, 2006

In Search Of The Sebbiesaurus In Venus

Searching For Sebbiesaurus In Venus
Set out alone in search for the sebaraus again. This time my search began at the Venus Trail at Venus Drive off Upper Thomson Road. Luck was with me when I found some silvery fishes, each with a diffused black spot on the center of their body. On first look, they looked like lampans. But then they look like sebarau juveniles too. When I was about to attract their attention, the rain poured down on me. I donned my poncho and gave up my intentions when the rain water muddied the little stream and I lost sight of the silvery fishes.

I continued my trek towards the TreeTop Trail. The trails took me through the Singapore Island Country Club and the Kallang Service Reservoir. I reached the Ranger Station and the rain abated a little for me to continue my trek to the TreeTop Walk.

Met an army scout just after the TreeTop Walk. He had just trekked up the slope from the Upper Peirce Reservoir. Changed my mind to trek down towards the two secret spots when he told me that the trail was quite slippery and I should proceed very carefully. I was also afraid the fog seen from the TreeTop Suspension Bridge may decend onto the jungle floor when I reach the secret spots. If I got lost in these excessively marked trails, I would be the stupidest trekker not only in Singapore but also the whole world. Broken granites are laid on some trails. Wooden railings prevent people from falling into small streams and act as a guide to the trails. Wooden board walks make it easy for joggers to jog along in the "rough" jungle path. Wooden flights of staircase to climb "steeper" slopes.(In future maybe escalators). Directional signs at every intersection and every 30 to 50 metres or so. Rangers to assist if anyone ever got lost. I mean it is impossible to get lost.

But we have people doing just that.

They got lost.

Well, I didn't get what I set out to catch.
An embarassing experience with no fish to show off today.
Just some photos which I hope you guys enjoy.
But I'll be back to try again at the little streams to identify the silvery fishes.

TreeTop Walk


Entrance to Venus Drive Trail


The map from Venus Trail to the Tree Top Trail


Closer look


Beautiful vacant space


I began walking towards the wooded area. The path was laid with broken granite, making it difficult to get lost.


Found a secret bamboo spot which I shall keep secret from Uncle Wong unless he make me a bamboo rod.


Beautiful green bamboo.


Wooden railings also guide the hikers as they walk along the Venus Drive Trail


But I found a stream occupied by a pod of silvery lampan looking fish.


Can you see the fishes. I took this pic when the fish were there.


Heavy showers made me kept my camera. Out came my puncho and I walked all the way to the Kallang Service Reservoir before the rain was light enough to take a few pictures without getting the camera wet.


This is a protected place too.


Camoflaged buildings


An alternative route to the Ranger's Station


And it was a little bit foggy too.


Directional signs


A small stream from the forest


Finally I reach tyhe Ranger Station. Half the Trail is completed now and the rain is easying up.


Another trail leading to the Ranger Station


An air-con building in the nature reserve. Its great to be a ranger


Hiker seeking shelter from the rain.


I had my poncho donned and push on towards the Tree Top Trail


Another 100 metres and I'm there.


The Ranger's scrambler bike welcome me at the entrance of the Tree Top Walk.


Sponsored by HSBC. Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.


Entrance to the Tree Top Walk


Can buy 4D or not?


Down the stairs


Finally I made it.


One way street


The Ranger reading the New Papers at his station


Suspension Bridge support the TreeTop Walk


Tree Top


The rain was still pouring over the other side of the hill


No-return


Rain rain rain rain


Another trail at the bottom of the Tree Top Walk


Tree Top view


Getting foggy and I was a bit worried. In other countries, people do get lost in fog in the forest


Look back from where I can from


Upper Peirce Reservoir as seen from the Tree Top Walk


Nice view from Tree Top Walk


Another view


One way only


No turn back


But can turn a take a picture lah


A long walk back to the Ranger Station


Winding steps


Up up and up


On the left of this Map, are 2 secret spots.


Down towards the Ranger Station


Reminder


Secret spots will be recycled after the older fishermen retire and younger ones found them again and stake their claim to the secret spot once again.


2 Army scouts resting at the bottom of the TreeTop Walk


Path to the Ranger Station


Water pipes


Pipes going underground


Path to Ranger Station


Manholes


Reminds me to keep my secret spot a secret and stake my claim to it by telling everybody that this particular this spot is mine.


Reached the Ranger Station again via the Tree Top


Toilet at the Ranger Station


Terentang Trail


My hike almost completed


Way Out


Ranger pickup


Signs again


Country Club


SICC Club House


But I prefer to take the granite path


SICC


Multi storey carpark


MacRitchie Map


MacRitchie Trail. Maybe another day


Singapore Island Country Club


Back on Venus Trail


A long long walk


Up the slope


Couldn’t take these photos when tracking in because of the rain.


Small stream


Staircase in the forest.


Flower or fruit


Another staircase


Looked like a abandoned and ruin house


Bamboo


Tall and straight


The stream


Flowing towards Venus Drive


Bamboo again


More bamboo


Towards the Venus Drive entrance


The stream


Water from the downpour


And they merged into one


This is the secret spot which is home to the silvery fish


Could there be sebaraus


Cultivated vegetables and herbs


This could be a sebarau stream.


Saw some beautiful morning glory flowers before I set off for home. I'll be back.

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