Magic Monkey Monday

Monday (23/09/13):

After much celebratory dancing at the realisation that when not at work, Monday morning blues are non existent; we decided that some wilderness was much needed to escape the concrete and bustle that dance along hand in hand when living in any city. Hello Bukit Timah nature reserve.

Having rolled up in a town with a turgid and desolate atmosphere, thick enough to cut with a very blunt spoon, expectations were low. But after a further 20 minutes or so aboard the bus we entered the sprawling natural metropolis. It was stunning. Full of exotic flowers, creepy crawlies, vines and trees that had so successfully managed to reject the boring vertical constraints of gravity that they all towered above us at a good 2-3 times the height of anything we're used to at home. There were over 20 varieties of palms!

It even had monkeys! They patrolled the reserve, desperate for any scraps of food (despite the masses of tasty growing fruit) that we may be willing/unwilling to part with. We were told that they would quite aggressively aid us in parting with our snacks. This, coupled with the signs explaining how barbaric it was to feed the monkeys, left us worried of digging into our bag for anything. Exchanges with monkeys were therefore confusing emotional entanglements during which we'd both be wrestling with the want to bond with the furry little rogues and fearful that they may have caught a whiff of our snacks. In the 37 degree humidity we ambled on, peckish, gawping at the natural delights, all the way to the steep summit. As we battled the humidity, we were surprised at the number of elderly women (local endurance athletes?) marching up the hill as if they were browsing the aisle in the local supermarket.

Serene views, colourful frogs, well decorated squirrels, moody toads, lush wilderness- magical.

Massive Lizard. Bigger than my chunky walking boot.

We then spent the evening in Chinatown where we discovered the cheapest beer in town! The guy serving us was a great chat. A little man, harnessing a huge character. Good times.