My husband and I felt adventurously motivated to take a brisk walk (approx. 6.5km) to Junction 8 via the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park route. It was also my first return to the park in more than 10 years and it is just amazing to see how much Bishan Park has changed since the 90s.
I remembered frequenting the park every weekend to join my Dad in freshwater fishing as the ponds there were opened for fishing enthusiasts at a charge of about $30+ per rod then. And I was such a hopeless noob at fishing even though I picked up the sport from my Dad since I was 5 years old (starting from hand-line fishing) but I could never hook up a fish even though there was a bite. My line would just snapped 🙁 I was really crap at fishing. But it was pure fun just sitting on the grass, having fun with my handheld game or storybook, occasionally keeping watch on the float bobbing in water and buying coffee (for Dad) and snacks from the food kiosk there. Those were the good old days that I truly miss.
Now that the fishing ponds are gone. Well, the same ponds are still physically there but for ‘decorating the surroundings’ only. I do notice some people with rods and buckets, trying to hook a fish or two.
I captured some shots before sunset.
It’s actually pretty therapeutic to do this walk because you can enjoy sights of flora and fauna, lush greenery and fresh air.
Mosses and weeds? Who’s supposed to look after these ponds? Hello, N-Parks?
The water playground where kids get to have some fun with their mommies and daddies (and water of course).
I was standing in between shrubs and thought this would make a good scenery shot of the Pond Gardens.
Shallow rivers where kids can wade in and net little fishes. This is one stretch of the Kallang River that used to run in a concrete canal as part of the neighbourhood’s drainage system but is now changed to a meandering river. Really brings us closer to nature.
Makes me so tempted to feed the fishes. Next time, I’m going to bring a loaf of bread. Ssssshhhh….most likely it’s not allowed as we’re not supposed to pollute the water! Oops.
It’d be quite nice to live next to the park. Probably will motivate us to do daily walks and runs as there are so many fitness enthusiasts around!
View from Recycle Hill which was stacked up with concrete slabs from the old canals as an effort to preserve the park’s history. It isn’t a very tall hill but good enough to get a panoramic view of the park. Very breezy too!
By the time we reached Bishan Junction 8, it was already dark. And my trainers gave way! Time to buy a new pair of Nike. Totally energised, and feeling alive. Walk for health, walk for life!