Swan Lake @ Singapore Botanic Gardens

In my previous post, I visited the newly opened Learning Forest at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. I took a bus from the bus stop opposite Sixth Avenue MRT station which brought me straight to Tanglin gate in front of the Garden.

As the Learning Forest is just a little further down past Swan Lake, it is therefore nearer to go by this way instead of coming from the Bukit Timah gate.

This photos in this post are taken around Swan Lake before I reached the Learning Forest.

The Learning Forest @ Singapore Botanic Gardens

After my breakfast at Master Tang's, I make my way back to Sixth Avenue MRT station. The Botanic Gardens is another two train stations away but I crossed over to the bus stop opposite and took a bus instead.

The MRT will bring you to the Bukit Timah gate at Botanic Gardens MRT station but the Learning Forest is nearer to Tanglin gate at Orchard Road side.

If you go by the Bukit Timah gate, you have to walk at least 2 - 3 kilometers to reach the Learning Forest. Taking the bus, however, brings you right to the front of Tanglin Gate.

From there, it is only a short distance from Swan Lake to reach the Learning Forest.

Master Tang Wanton Noodle @ 10E Sixth Avenue

Update: Master Tang Wanton Noodle has permanently closed.

During the Good Friday holiday, I decided to visit the newly opened Learning Forest at the Botanic Gardens. I took the downtown line and head towards Botanic Gardens station.

Along the way, I got off at Sixth Avenue station for breakfast at Bukit Timah Road. I am there looking for a certain Master Tang who used to be the head chef of Crystal Jade and is now running his own business at said location selling wanton noodle.

With this level of fame, I was expecting a huge turnout at his stall but unexpectedly, there is not a single soul at the coffee shop. On my way in, I saw the other coffee shop brimming with customers and long queues everywhere.

This coffee shop is the exact opposite of that coffee shop. I thought perhaps I was too early or maybe the stall is still not ready for business yet.

I approached the stall cautiously and I saw an elderly man wrapping wantons silently by the side while a lady was busy checking on the many simmering pots they had which were all screaming for attention at the same time.

That should be Master Tang with his Malaysian wife.

Feng Zhen Lor Mee @ Blk 787B Choa Chu Kang Drive

I have heard so much about the famous Feng Zhen Lor Mee at Taman Jurong but I have never gotten round to having a bowl of it as the location is rather out of the way.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that they have a second branch at Yew Tee which is so much nearer and convenient to me. Apparently from what I heard, the stall at Taman Jurong is run by the mother while the one at Yew Tee is run by the daughter.

My favorite lor mee is from Bukit Purmei Lor Mee at West Coast Drive but unfortunately, the stall has ceased operations due to the owner's declining health. Since then, I have been unable to find any lor mee that is worthy of its calories.

Pang Sua Pond @ Bukit Panjang

As we all know, water is a precious resource. Other than importing water from our neighbor, we depend on reclaimed water (NEWater), desalinated water, and water from our reservoirs to meet our daily needs.

Under PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters Programme, Pang Sua Pond at Bukit Panjang is the latest addition to its network of stormwater collection ponds. 

Launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 25 March 2017, the new pond features an 80m-long elevated boardwalk which is suspended at a height of 7m above the waters.

Residents living nearby can jog or take a leisurely stroll on the boardwalk, while taking in the scenic views.

Thian Hock Keng Temple @ Telok Ayer Street

During the previous Car Free Sunday, I made a return trip to Telok Ayer Street to take photos of Thian Hock Keng Temple as well as the mural on the rear wall behind it by mural artist Yip Yew Chong.

Did you know that Thian Hock Keng Temple is Singapore's oldest Hokkien temple? Built between 1839 - 1842, many had contributed towards the building fund of the temple but the biggest donor is Philanthropist Tan Tock Seng.

The temple was designed and built according to Chinese temple architectural traditions by skilled craftsmen from China but what's amazing is that not a single nail was used in the construction. It has even received a plaque from Emperor Guang Xu (光緒帝) of the Qing Dynasty!

Imagine that! The great Qing Emperor knew of the existence of our tiny temple far away in South East Asia!

The temple was gazetted as a national monument on 28 June 1973 and among the many awards it has won throughout the years, it's latest win was an honorable mention in the 2001 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards.

Wall Mural By Mural Artist Yip Yew Chong @ Thian Hock Keng Temple

After my visit to the Fuk Tak Chi Temple, I proceeded to Thian Hock Keng Temple which is situated along the same street. 

I was not too happy with my shots at the 178 years old temple that day as my new lenses were not suited for wide angle shots. As I figured what to do, I took a walk around the perimeter of the temple when I realized that mural artiste Yip Yew Chong has been commissioned by the Hokkien Huay Kuan to draw a 40m mural at the rear wall behind the temple. 

For the uninitiated, Thian Hock Keng Temple is managed by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (Huay Kuan = Clan Association).

I thought I could take photos of the mural instead since my shots of the temple were not satisfactory. However, my view of the murals were obstructed by the vehicles parked alongside the wall.