It was the 1st day of Year 2006! Woke up early in the morning for a much anticipated walk in MacRitchie and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Already, heavenly signs were showing it wasn't exactly the "perfect" day for trekking in the woods (worse for amateurs like us). A slight drizzle welcomed us as we embarked on the 15km or so expedition to conquer the Tree-Top Walk and Bukit Timah Summit. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one, small step. Indeed, I believe we were all caught offguard what obstacles lurks ahead of the 'fellowship' (L.O.T.R has always been a cult fav for me).
What a challenging way to kickstart into the New Year! Ok, so we cheated abit by taking a shortcut from Thomson Ridge... blah. The tropical rainforest was damp and the soggy mud greeted us the moment we took the well-trodden rocky path to the innards of the forest. The flora and fauna were rich and thick. Fallen logs are seen just off the trekkers' path. The spirits of the team were high and we were busily engaged in deep conversations about each others' lives which we barely touched on normally. We took a slingshot across SICC but shortly after, plunged into the woods again. Enjoyed a refreshing toilet break at the Rangers' Station where we could see many other trekkers like us. Then, armed with our umbrellas (quite a queer sight for forest trekkers don't u think?) we continued our 'quest' for the Tree-Top Walk. It was a boardwalk that snaked itself to the "entrance". The wooden planks were wet and slippery... it was a fantastic sight (above 8-10 storeys I estimate; I wished I could say it was worth the hassle... but... it wasn't a "WOW" but more of a "Oh, so this is it uh" kinda feeling) The morning mist sifted through the trees in a distance (reminds me of the 'Misty Mountains in L.O.T.R) and the watery body of MacRichie Reservoir was captured in the horizon to our right. We also took a climb to the 5-story high Jelutong Tower... it was already pouring by then. At the top, it was unsheltered and we were standing right next to the lightning rod... gosh... we could've been barbecued instantly right there and then by a single bolt from the heavens. We got uneasy and decided not to test God wrath in that instant. Held a mini-discussion and decided to go ahead to our mid-point destination of Bukit Timah Food Centre for lunch, despite the heavy downpour. 1.5hrs elapsed and we finally got out of the woods and started walking on gravel road leading out to our rest point. Except for a few cars that drove by us and a family of monkeys atop a tree, the isolated road was primarily deserted.
Had an array of dishes for lunch, we were famished! After the heavy lunch, we began the journey to conquer Bukit Timah Summit. We took the shortest route upwards, the 45-degree slope leaves us gsaping for breath. The summit this time was even less exhilarating than the previous one at MacRitchie. The thick canopy of foliage blocked every possbile attempt to have a view from the top. How disappointing... lucky for us we didn't take the longer routes up, otherwise it would have been even more exasperating.
We then make our way back to MacRitchie where we 1st started. As it was already 4pm, not wanting to be caught in the woods in the dark, we quickened our pace without a respite. The same snaking gravel road back... this time, we met several joggers, cyclist and a bunch of trekkers at the forest crevice. The smouldering heat and blinding rays were a discomfort as we had to wrestled with our fatigue and weary feet. Personally, I find Iy's mental tenacity admirable. Blisters formed at the back of the soles of my feet. Water-proof BandAid proved futile in easing the pain as they keep slipping off. I struggled a bit with each step. Suddenly, as Os remarked, "Seems like someone just turned on the tap." The imminent dark clouds that hang overhead let loose its floodgates. "My God, how worse can this trek get?" I thought to myself. The huge droplets of water plummeted us huddles beneath our brollies. Except for Jo who had a bigger brolly, we were soaked despite our futile attempts to keep dry. On our way to seek refuge at the Rangers' Station, we trodded past a rest stop which a number of trekkers took shelter.
After a brief respite at Rangers' Station, Os, our guide, wanted us off the slippery, rocky trrekkers' path in the woods and lead us to a shortcut to SICC. We observed many without umbrellas and ponchos walking, frolicking openly in the rain. I was reminded of the time I took my IPPT at Maju Camp where I ran the 2.4km in the rain. It was a great experience! Little rivulets of water formed on the road and gushed thorugh the drains and canals. After 45 mins or so of walking, it was civilisation again! Whew... what a way to enter 2006!
An unforgettable trip... I took with me memories of the jungle, the all-too-familiar smell of sweat soaked shirt sticking to your skin, mosquito-ravaged hands and feet and lastly... a pair of soggy, muddy tracks shoes.
