We walked and we bashed and we crashed! Started our trek at MacRitchie and our final destination would be Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Did our research and the total distance to cover would be about 11km. I estimated we would need at most 4 hours to complete it whereas Lynn said 5 hours. She was right in the end. Nope...we weren't moving like snails, in fact our walking pace was good. Rather, it was an oversight on our part that got us lost deep in the heart of the forest, which we had to bash through!
The duo started out excitedly, cam-whoring away & snapping at whatever that caught our attention- ants, color of tree thrunks, pollution and even canoeists! Nearing half-way through, we were even thinking of what to eat for lunch as our tummies started to growl in protest. When we saw the signage directing us to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, we grew even more excited. We continued to trudge through the supposedly 5.8km trek to BTNR, totally unaware for what was installed for us.
We dutifully followed this signage until we reached the fateful cross-junction where we had to decide whether to go right or left. Despite the 'Danger' board in front of us, we chose to take the right path, which was so not right! We came to a dead end where we saw a group of workers doing up the pathway and before us, there were no other links to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Instead of turning back, we decided to explore a different path, which the workers did not object us from doing. They even directed that we can head towards it. There were no trails but just an opening to the forest and we were simply intrigued by the idea that we are actually going to have to bash through the forest, giving the trek a more authentic feel! And so, we proceeded.
The deeper we ventured into the thick dense vegetation, the greater the sense of amiss I had but it was too late to turn back. I didn't want to take the risk of getting even more lost! We both had no idea where we were heading as there were no clear paths ahead of us. Just vegetation,more vegetation and tons of spider webs! The fear of being lost in the heart of the jungle came upon me and I shuddered to think that this possibility was not that remote. With every step I took, the fear grew. The only consolation I had was the red/white tape that was tied around trees, which became my 'guide'. Without it, I would think we could still possibly be stuck in the forest and having to be air-lifted by the helicopter by the rescue team!
I was praying furiously and I know Lynn was doing the same thing. There was nothing else we could do but pray harder and walk faster! At a point where we no longer could see any more of the 'guide', I thought we were finished. Just then, we heard voices and I almost wanted to scream "HELP". We moved towards the voices and finally we were back on the trail! Hurray!!! But alas, we discovered we were not yet in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, but at the Tree Top Walk, which meant that we were still in MacRitchie!!!! After checking with the ranger, we then realised we had 5km to the reserve and we had made a detour during our bash through the forest!Nothing could describe how shocked we were when we realised that we had overlooked an important signage at the cross-junction, which marked the start of our adventure. Feeling stupid we were but we still wanted to complete our mission. At long last, we came to the end of the MacRitchie stretch and were heading on the right path this time round. By then, it was almost 1.30pm. We had been walking non-stop for the last 4 hours! Totally spent and famished with increasing fatigue setting in.
Eventually, we didn't go to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, but Bukit Timah Plaza. We had no more fuel left to go on. So we parked ourselves at Pizza Hut as the last resort where we had our lunch and cold drinks at long last. The satisfaction of having our tummies filled and thirst quenched was indescribable. Despite the soreness that followed, we still deeply love every moment of the trek. Lynn kept saying she love the bashing moment and it was the ultimate!
Once again, Lynn was right.
What a trek! And did I mentioned that it all took place in Singapore????
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