We assembled at University Cultural Centre at 7.00am on Sunday February 13, close to the area where the Battle of Pasir Panjang was enacted, near the intersection of Clementi Road and the AYE (Ayer Rajah Expressway) here in Singapore.
First image shows the early morning arrivals by cab at the UCC, second and third image's are of the UCC (University Cultural Centre)
The walk - the red line in the above map - was 6.55 klms long and we saw and experienced many amazing things, not only was it about the Battle of Pasir Panjang, but we did learn a lot about the history of the area, the flora, the fauna and the architecture.
The accounts of this battle are well documented on this amazing resource page that can be found at this link, as well as in a newspaper report in the Straits Times of 13 February 1967 entitled “Fire and Death on Opium Hill” (on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Battle).
We started our walk at the rising of the sun.
and as Jerome Lim mentions on his website:
"One of the interesting reminders of the military past of the ridge is an outpost, a collection of four flat roofed buildings that served as a lookout point over the southward facing slopes of the ridge.
The roofs made the cluster of buildings, which are set on three levels, easily camouflaged. Much of the area is inaccessible to the public as the buildings are in dilapidated state and it was a treat for me to see the buildings.
Peeking into some of the rooms of the buildings, it was easy to identify the functions of the rooms as well as to recognise that the lookout would have been self-sufficient. There was one room that was obviously used as a kitchen and another with the remains of an old bathtub – but other than that, very little evidence of anything else remains."
and as seen in the following images, it was certainly worth the experience:
but to try and imagine what it must have been like in these bunkers, day in day out, without modern conveniences ... is very difficult to comprehend. Looking out from the bunker, this is all that you can see:
we then continued on with our walk...
You may not have any interest in The Battle of Pasir Panjang, but the walk itself is well worth doing.... either join in next February for the guided walk or do parts of this walk - especially along the Kent Ridge area - on your own or with a group of friends.
Being out and about and exploring these little known parts of Singapore will certainly brighten your day!
Blog posts that maybe of interest on the walk
or the area are:
or the area are:
But perhaps this one here by
Jerome Lim sums it up beautifully:
Jerome Lim sums it up beautifully:
If you are in Singapore, check the National Parks
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1 comment:
Enjoyed my "walk" and your photos! Thanks for sharing!
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