Hiking up Bukit Timah Hil

Bukit Timah Hill is the highest 'mountain' in Singapore and at the summit of 163.63m lays the highest point in Singapore. rich in history as well as flora and fauna. From the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve's Visitor Centre to the summit, there are three different trails to choose from, of which two were easy, one was moderate to difficult, and one was difficult. My friend and I had decided to take the moderate trail up, the green trail, and the difficult trail down which is the yellow trail.

[Trails]

We had decided to meet up at 9am, but somehow we started later at about 9:35 or so. Hiking is best done in the morning so that the sun will not be beating down on our backs. Another advise is to not bring a big bag because it will only be a burden. Trek light and stay light. This trail was pretty nice hike up, where we spotted a monitor lizard, a squirrel and lots of monkeys. We also came across the Sepui, Red Dhup tree.

The green trail starts at the visitor centre to the South View Path, continuing onto Cave Path to reach the Catchment Hut. To reach the summit one can either carry onto the main road or take the flight of stairs up, which we did so. For an unfit person as myself, I found the path quite hard initially, but it is pretty all right looking back and after completing the difficult path. If you have hiked before as I have, taking the moderate path would not be a problem.

Heading downwards was a bit of a problem for us because we were really quite lost thanks to the landslide sign. Most trekkers would start at the Dairy Farm car-park which we did not knew existed until we were on the trip down the hill. The yellow path should be as follows, starting with the Rengas Path, followed by the Seraya Loop, then the Jungle Fall Path, and finally the main road back to the visitor centre. Because of the landslide sign, we actually hiked all the way to the North View Path and went up again through the Seraya Loop just to head back to the Rengas Path.

Although the hike was really tiring as the steps were really high here and the path is not as simple as the green trail. We had to really watch where we tread so that we would not slip and roll off the path, or even down the hill. I don't have much pictures because we were tired and lost and I basically did not want to break my camera in case we slipped. The sights seen on this trail was another monitor lizard, lots of different ants and fungus that was featured on the National Parks Board. I personally am dead afraid of spiders, so when we did ran into one which was entirely blocking our path, I panicked and dared not move. Later on my friend saw a snake and we quickly speed away. It took us so much climbing up and down the stairs repeatedly to dare to take the 'landslide' path which eventually led us to the dairy farm.

It was a really memorable hike and I will return to complete the remaining two trails, and maybe if they are really easy, attempt the yellow trail again and go the correct way this time!

Ciao~

Andrea Trinity