I was up for anything, since it was the only holiday period that I was going to have before the stress period starts. So, Sungei Buloh it was then. And because I had never been to Sungei Buloh, I thought it would be a nice experience. Which it was because after kinda losing a few calories, all of us piled up again when we went for a hearty dinner afterwards in neighboring Johor. Heh. Here are the pics depicting my day that led me to donate a few drops of my blood to the fellow swamp mosquitoes.
Welcome to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve!! Home of Water Monitor Lizards & all other creatures you've never seen before!!
Bet you didn't know this; Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong himself held the opening ceremony of the Reserve...Interesting...
Mind the rules before entering the reserve & they will serve you well.
Our first guest, a water monitor lizard roaming the brackish waters of the swamp.
The native fruit of Tahiti can also be found here in Singapore, you know. But beware, because when the Noni fruit gets ripe & falls off its tree, it gives off a stinking smell. Like somebody who just can't stop farting.
These are the roots of the local mangrove. They're called prop roots because they're kinda like props that hold up the mangrove trees. Another type of root is the pencil root where they stick out like arrows. The roots are in such a way to adapt to the swamp environment.
This fat worm can only be found here in Sungei Buloh & we were told by this Mat & his family that fish LOVE these juicily plump things.
Here's his son holding a tiny crab in the palm of his hand. Mind you, he's only five years old. Brave boy.
Remember that fat worm?? It was used to catch this fish here. It's a young swordfish & when it grows bigger, it can grow to be game fish that rich people in other countries so love to catch.
The wild pandan plant of the swamp. Mommy wanted so much to pluck a greenling from it but alas, it produced no nice pandany smell.
The Golden Pacific Plover surrounded by the Gong Gong snails, its utmost favorite source of food.
Looks can be deceiving & although this pond looks harmless, it's very deep. Hence the sign.
A miniature garden of water lillies.
An unbloomed lotus sits prettily amongst the floating lily pads.
We met up with the family again & this time, they caught bags full of the Gong Gong snails. Yech...
I spy with my little eyes...a water monitor lizard crawling down the trunk of that tree.
Somewhere in all that mud is a type of crab that can only be found in the swamps on Sungei Buloh.
The gnarled tunk of some kind of tree. The poor thing was eaten by pesky termites.
Another water monitor swimming in the brackish waters. These creatures are common in Sungei Buloh.
The fruit & flowers of the tempeh leaf.
The small green chili plant found in Sungei Buloh's vegetable garden.
Ch-ch-ch-chip & Dale, Rescue Ranger!! No lahh, this is just Chip. Dale, the shorter one is camera-shy!!
Terrapins swimming amongst Kois & Arowanas.
Greedy terrapins clomouring over one another for food.
A water monitor swimming away from the food fiasco.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeelp!! I'm stuck in a caveeeeee!! Ummm...because I ate too much?? Heh.
The Eye Of The Beholder.
Yet another water monitor. I can actually feel its cold hard eyes staring me down as I took a snap of it. Yeeeesh.
That same water monitor slinking away into the dense mangrove.
Sis Lenny & her terrorist sister, Fatin Bin Laden.
When your parents just refuse to go home & start comparing each others' cars, you take pictures on rocks & pretend you're in another country & NOT in Singapore.
Good night!! Says Nini...
And so it was. After our hike, we piled up on our calories by going for a seafood dinner in Johor. I know, I know. The Alonsos are very greedy people. Especially this Alonso. Go figure.
Laterz...
Lenny GodGilla Xabs
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