Wide Eyed Vagabond: A Different Singapore: Around Lim Chu Kang

Lunch at Gallery Hotel

The day began with lunch at Gallery Hotel. This is apparently Singapore's "hippest" art-deco inspired hotel. Bits of the external architecture is a testament to the art-deco style but the influences are more obvious in the interiors. Zenden's (lunch venue) had an interesting pink and purple colour scheme going with the upholstery and napkins, with contrasting tampered glass tables and industrial furniture touches such as hinge clamps.

One for the Tourists: Bumboat passing beneath Alkaff Bridge

View of Singapore River

After lunch, a short stroll down to the banks of Singapore river. The sun was blazing hot, which nicely lit up the multicoloured Alkaff Bridge. In a span of five minutes, two bumboats passed by, mostly filled with tourists. Good sign for the tourism economy!!

View of Choa Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery

Road leading up to Choa Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery

The roadtrip begins! After a false alarm and an almost detour to Jurong Island, we were on our way up towards Lim Chu Kang Road. Ultimate destination was Sungei Buloh Park. On the way, the road was peppered with signs on "Memorial Gardens" and the such. On the left, I spied a Jewish cemetery, which is something I had not expected to see.

And so, on a whim, we turned into one of the side roads and found ourselves in the midst of the Choa Chu Kang cemetery grounds. I don't know how I managed to live all these years in Singapore and not be aware of the existence of this place, which is the largest cemetery in Singapore.

I have always thought that cemeteries are among the most peaceful and scenic of places. In Edinburgh, my favourite place to visit was Canongate Churchyard, where Adam Smith's tombstone is located. It was quiet and restful and pleasing to look upon, with the green of the grass amidst the headstones.

I found parts of CCK cemetery to be aesthetically refreshing, compared to what we usually see in Singapore. The road leading up to the top of the Chinese Cemetery Hill was particularly well landscaped.

View of Chinese Cemetery and Muslim Cemetery in Distance

Terraces of Tombs

View from Top of Hill at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery

No grave in sight: View to the North (this could be Thailand, no?)

View to the South from Top of Hill of CCK Cemetery

There were great views to be had at the top of the hill!! To the north was more cemetery land, terraces upon terraces of Chinese graves and in the distance, the Muslim cemetery. Beyond the cemetery lands was the acres of undefined greenery; I suspect some of these might be military landspace.

To the west are the lands of the National Shooting Centre. As I was taking the these photos, I could hear sounds of rounds being fired in the distance. Thank goodness, the sounds were distant enough that I was not worried about stray shots in my vicinity!

Plaque at Entrance of Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve