khatib bongsu revisited





















went back to khtaib bongsu after a lapse of more than a year. my last visit there was in april 2007. then i could still drive my car all the way to where the fishing pond was. today, it is a slightly different scene altogether. the fishing pond has since closed down and the last two squatters have moved out of the area.

although that area is designated a protected area, residents of yishun still venture into it when they want to be close to nature and to enjoy the quiet and peace of the surroundings. my friend, who lives near the orchid country club, was surprised to hear that i, a resident of bukit panjang, know about khatib bongsu and know my way around the place. he frequents the place on weekends to indulge in his passion for nature photography.

the track that i had driven on has now become a narrow path, with creepers encroaching on both sides. the barrier at the entrance to it meant that it is no longer accessible to four-wheel vehicles; motor-cycles and bicycles can still sneak in. in fact we came across two motorcyclists today. we had to back-track after a certain point because the path was muddy and wet.

at this time of the year, this nature haven sees more visitors than usual because it is the durian and rambutan season. along the way we came across lots of discarded durian husks and rambutan skins.

the fruit trees are the legacies of the chinese and malay kampong folks who once lived as farmers and fishermen in this part of singapore.