Photo AlbumHSBC Treetop Walk at MacRitchieMay 10, '08 3:19 AM
for everyone
Date: Saturday, 10 May 2008.
Location: HSBC Treetop Walk, Central Catchment Reserve, MacRitchie, Singapore.

Earlier this morning, as part of my so-called "effort" to keep fit and reduce some weight :), I took Inka and Irza for a walk along the MacRitchie trail in the forested Central Catchment Nature Reserve to the HSBC Treetop Walk, a suspension bridge which provide a bird's eye view of the forest.

We started our journey from the Venus Drive carpark located off Upper Thomson Road, where I parked my car. From there, we walk several kilometres along the Treetop trail, past the Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) and going via the Terentang trail, past the Ranger Station and climb up the hill to the entrance of the suspension bridge.

It turns out to be quite a long walk, around 2.5 km and 1 hour walk, from the Venus Drive carpark to the entrance of the Treetop Walk. Luckily the kids didn't complain, they really enjoyed their morning walk through the forest. Wondering whether it is possible to park our car at the carpark inside the SICC, that would greatly help in cutting down the walking time to the Treetop Walk.

The view from the suspension bridge is spectacular. The kids were also enjoying the view and had fun. Unfortunately, the bridge is quite narrow and it's a one-way traffic flow so we couldn't spend much time on the bridge, otherwise we will block people behind. Nevertheless, I managed to take some pictures of the kids while we were crossing the bridge.

Since it's a one-way traffic, we had to move on and follow the Petaling trail to go back to the Ranger Station and further back to the carpark. This is quite a long detour via Petaling Hut and then follow Sime track eastward back to the Ranger Station, adding around 30-45 minutes of journey time. The total length of journey from Venus Drive carpark to Treetop Walk and then back to carpark via Petaling hut is more than 7km, so it might not be suitable for certain kids, especially younger ones. Irza and Inka also started to complain that they're tired when we just left Petaling hut for the Ranger Station, and that was still a long journey back to the carpark. :) Fortunately, they made it. :) :)

1000 - Venus Drive Carpark
  
1005 - Closed on Mondays
  
1010 - The map
  
1015 - Trail Manners
  
1020 - Start of the trail
  
1025 - The destination
  
1030 - Around Treetop Walk area
  
1035 - No capturing or feeding the fish
  
1040 - Beware of this guy
  
1045 - No trekking during stormy weather
  
1050 - Irza at Venus Dr trail entrance
  
1055 - Admiring the nice houses
  
1060 - Start of the trail
  
1065 - Inka and Irza
  
1070 - Inka and the GPS
  
1075 - Irza
  
1080 - Field near the trail entrance
  
1085 - Going into the forest
  
1090 - Follow the trail...
  
1095 - ...and follow the sign
  
1100 - Overtaken by the woman...
  
1105 - ...because a lot of stops for taking pictures
  
1110 - Coba kalo sering akur kayak gini
  
1115 - Just follow the signs
  
1120 - My PDA-based GPS
  
1125 - Deep into the forest
  
1130 - Irza and Inka
  
1135 - Apakah itu pohon pisang...
  
1140 - Inka and Irza
  
1145 - On a small bridge
  
1150 - Difficult terrain
  
1155 - Still 1.5 km to go...
  
1160 - Tetap semangat...
  
1165 - ...walaupun jalanan menanjak
  
1170 - Cars parked along Island Club Rd
  
1175 - Singapore Island Country Club
  
1180 - Have walked 2.4 km, 1.4 km to go...
  
1185 - We are here, said Irza
  
1190 - Inka
  
1195 - 1 km to go
  
1200 - I am strong, said Irza
  
1205 - Irza and Inka
  
1210 - Irza and Inka
  
1215 - Following the trail
  
1220 - 1.1 km to go...
  
1222 - We were here...
  
1225 - Going via Terentang trail
  
1230 - Ranger station
  
1235 - Treetop Walk ahead
  
1240 - Have a drink first before trekking up
  
1245 - Steep road to Treetop Walk
  
1250 - Treetop Walk's plague
  
1255 - Going down the stairs
  
1260 - One way traffic only
  
1265 - Start of the bridge
  
1270 - At the Treetop Walk bridge
  
1275 - They are really having fun
  
1280 - The bridge's structure
  
1285 - Not for those who fear of heights