🇸🇬 Exploring Dover and Clementi Forest
Here's something a little more local. I explored the Dover and Clementi forests with a chapalang[1] group comprising mostly retirees, but also young'uns like my girlfriend and some others. We found the event on Peatix and decided to join.
I have memories of exploring forests in Singapore with my dad and uncle. There used to be one near my place where the newly developed town Tengah now stands, having had all the forest flattened.
All I remember was us foraging for durians, and one falling directly on my dad, leaving a red mark on his back... I believe it's up there as one of the worst fruits you want falling on you from height.
Anyway, the same fate might soon happen to the remaining forests as much of them may give way to further development of the country.
Whatever I explored on this day were the remnants of a larger sprawl of forest that had already partially given way to new housing. Dover more so than Clementi, but both might soon go, only a matter of time.
Anyway, have a read! ...and let me know if you want me to lead you into the forest too :)
Dover Forest
We started at Buona Vista MRT and headed to Ulu Pandan Park Connector to enter the Dover forest. Following along the canal, we headed into the forest on the left side of the park connector,
The main sign that you're "in" Dover forest, if not the fact that you're surrounded by trees, is the "A" tree — so called because it's shaped like the letter A.
I honestly don't recall if it's the tree in the next photo or the one after. The first one had already fallen over. Both kind of fit the bill. Here's what it should look like, anyway.
There was another tree that we spent some time climbing around. Funny thing, forests look denser from the outside, but there's actually quite a lot of room once you're inside.
Those interested in nature might fare better at identifying the flora, fauna, and funga within the forest. You'll have to make do with my highly detailed description of the next photo:
The next two photos are going to be even more egregious... so if you can identify the one on the right, please contact me!
Right: Possibly the remains of a mop head or a basal rosette of some plant?
Afterwards, we exited the forest and went along the park connector to find another entry in.
Entry 2
A little ways down the park connector, we were led into another part of the forest where some people used to inhabit.
As far as I know, these areas used to be kampungs[2] and farms. Most of them have been vacated and cleared for development, but some areas, like this forest, are the last of their kind, and still see visitors (or residents...?) to this day.
There is evidence of some human activity, as we found a Buddhist shrine with a fairly recently-smoked cigarette. The person was nowhere to be seen.
We also found a ang pao[3] with a horse symbol on the floor, and this year is the Chinese year of the horse, so it must have been placed there recently.
There were some plants being grown within this part of the forest, just small ones like local chilis and whatnot.
After this, we exited again, the same way we came in, bringing us back to the park connector.
Clementi Forest
After exiting Dover forest, we made our way to Clementi forest, accessible mainly from opposite Ngee Ann Polytechnic. It was a short walk continuing along the Ulu Pandan park connector.
At this point, it was pretty sunny and we were both tired and feeling the heat. Still, we pressed on... not wanting to miss anything.
Mid-way towards Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), we hopped into a part of the forest to find some communications shack, a relic of wartime Singapore, I believe.
We got out and continued until the bus stop opposite NP (although I always fancied it being abbreviated as NAP instead) and went down to the tunnel right there.
This was a spot where we took shelter for a while and ate some food. The guy who led the hike wanted this to be a "Chinese New Year" hike, so we each brought CNY food and shared it around.
It wasn't quite the right food for me to get over my fatigue, despite the fats and sugars (and no matter how many I ate), but after that was done we continued into the forest.
The tunnel is part of an abandoned rail track, and much of the track was submerged in pretty still/muddy waters because it was built on lower ground than its surroundings. We went along the path on the side.
The path eventually led into a part of the rail corridor, which is a track that ran from Tanjong Pagar into Malaysia. I have recollection of having ridden the train once in my youth.
Exiting into Rail Corridor
Before exiting into the rail corridor, we passed by some tall "Avatar" trees. Civilisation! The train tracks have been turned into a walking path, one which I sometimes take to get to work by bike.
That wasn't the end of it! We continued to crawl around some canal nearby which let us wash our shoes a little. The view was also unreal, nothing like the sights you'd see in Singapore!
Of course, I wouldn't recommend doing this in stormy weather.
After Canal
The canal brought us back to another part of the rail corridor. Rather, it runs underneath the track, so we found a way up to the path.
At this point, we were TIRED. But... there was actually another thing to visit! Apparently, there's a small pagoda statue inside the forest, accessible via the rail corridor.
Sadly, we called it quits and walked on to have lunch. Otherwise, I think I might've been extremely dehydrated.
Anyway, lots to see in Singapore! I'm thinking I'd like to visit the forests around my neighbourhood in Bukit Batok before they're gone or fenced up, and maybe the ones around Kent Ridge as well.
Hit me up if you're keen to do some exploration!