today, i went hunting for a heritage tree - the bodhi tree - at the pearl's hill city park. i had mentioned this conserved tree in my previous blog entry. i found the tree and at the same time discovered another gem within the city - a peaceful and tranquil sanctuary sitting on top of a hill just a stone throw away from the hustle and bustle of chinatown.
the park was built in 1974. it was built around an old service reservoir. that part of singapore must have been quite well populated to be served by a reservoir that was built as early as 1904. the reservoir sits on top of a hill. a few years before the park was built, from the top of the hill, one could have seen the outram prison. the prison was demolished in 1968. today, the view from the top is one of an open field. even the blocks of hdb flats which came after the prison are gone.
picture from national archives of singapore
pearl's hill service reservoir
within this quiet park, there is a lotus pond. the lotus plants that are growing in this pond are different from the variety that i see growing wild at kranji. the flowers look the same but the leaves are much smaller.
it was also near the pond where i came across the largest number of squirrels concentrated on one tree. i counted six squirrels on the same tree. they were the least people-shy squirrels that i have ever encountered in singapore.
