sunday hike at southern ridges

By Bernie Baskin, Feb 13, 2012, View comments

When I was a kid, Sunday afternoons were meant for running around in the woods, cycling at bone crushing speeds down dangerously steep hills, home run derby with tennis balls and makeshift bats, and all the other mayhem that little boys in Arkansas get up to. But somewhere along the way, Sunday afternoons turned into laundry folding, hardware store runs and the week's forgotten errands. I guess that’s how life goes, but every now and then it’s healthy to get some fresh air and go for a long Sunday afternoon hike. My favorite in Singapore is the Southern Ridges Trail, so a few days ago we saddled up on the motorcycle and drove to the trailhead.

Southern Ridges takes anywhere from two to four hours depending on how quickly you choose to hike it. The trail is roughly nine km long and spans the hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park. There’s plenty of history along the walk, beautiful architecture (including Henderson Waves bridge) and it’s one of the few remaining places in Singapore to glimpse wild monkeys … monkeys!! Sorry, I love seeing wild monkeys in Singapore – for some reason, it strikes me as bizarre and quite exciting that I live in a place with simians roaming around in the trees. Unfortunately we didn't see monkeys this time, but I did manage to photograph ants. I call this photo "the dance".

For the best experience, I’d recommend packing a few bottles of water (or crisp pinot grigio), perhaps some cheese and crackers (or foie gras and saucisson for those of you so inclined) and a comfy blanket for when the urge to imbibe strikes. Hit the trail in the late afternoon (or early morning) to avoid the heat and meander slowly. From the Jewel Box at Mount Faber, you’ll get a lovely city panorama (which is best viewed around sunset). The monkeys come out in the late afternoon about halfway down the forest canopy walk. And don't miss Hort Park's award winning architectural garden. Enjoy your lazy Sunday!