Singapore's Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

ABBEY: I thought the slope I trekked on the way to the Treetop Walk of Mac Ritchie is steep. But I was wrong. Going to the summit of Bukit Timah is challenging but fulfilling. 

You will be welcomed by few steps on wood planks, then dirt then concrete. Here come the first challenge. I didn't got the time to measure the steepness of the slope as I'm already busy to climb the hill and see to it that I don't faint. Haha. The slope decreased so we got time to catch our breath. I can feel my heart pounding so hard. 

By the time that I felt I'm all ok, then the next challenge came before our very eyes; stairs with a LOT of steps. After completing maybe 50 steps I got on the first landing. I immediately get the drink on my bag as I feel that I'm losing electrolytes. It was very refreshing. A couple of more steps then I reached the summit. A landmark and a hut was waiting for us. 

It was a fun experience and encouraging as well. People of all ages, young and old are climbing it. Just take your time and your own pace and surely you will reach the top.

WILL: I scheduled a trek last April but unfortunately it was still closed for renovation. When the Bukit Timah officials announced that they will open some parts, Abbey and I scheduled it instantly after our Pulau Ubin adventure.

I heard a lot of things about this place. And on that cue I muster myself mentally and physically. I am mumbling to myself that I must be brave and don’t mind if I will see snakes, lizards or any reptiles. I am well prepared mentally then I saw the steep slope and started to trek, I am wishing to reach the end fast. But it seems no end. My heart started to pump faster! It is a success until I saw the stairs! Never ending steps and I think I heard my heart stop pumping! Bwahaha! I rest for a while and few more steps I reached the summit.. Me and April reached last!

Abbey and I will absolutely go back here for us to try the side tracks! :) A lovely experience!

Tteokbokki - Hot and Spicy Rice Cake Recipe (Korean Cuisine)

Ingredients:

Rice cakes

1/3 cup pepper paste

1 tbsp pepper flakes

1 tbsp sugar

Fish cake/balls (cut into bite size)

Kikiam

Hard-boiled eggs

4 cups water

Spring onions (cut into strips and small chunks for garnish)

Stock:

7-10 pcs of anchovies (without the head and guts)

A good amount of kelp or seaweed.

On a casserole, put the kelp, anchovies and water. Bring them to a boil. 

While waiting for the it, mix pepper paste, pepper flakes and sugar in a bowl until well incorporated. Once the water is boiling, remove the anchovies and seaweed and put in the rice cakes and the pepper-sugar mixture. Mix it gently and simmer for a couple of minutes. Next, put the fish cakes, kikiam, and eggs.

Put in more water if sauce is too thick as the rice cakes will absorb some of it. Adjust the spiciness as well to your desire.

Garnish with spring onion and serve hot with or without rice.

VERDICT:
WILL: "There is a reward to the one who waits."

I waited not days, not weeks, but months for my husband to cook this for me. Well, you can't force a chef to cook something, why? It will reflect to the food. When he decided to make schedule for spicy rice cake, I immediately affirmed on it. Haha!

The aroma of spiciness makes my tummy grumbles even more. He announced for lunchtime and my cravings was satisfied. Tsk! The sauce clicked really well to the rice cake and fishballs. 

Because the sauce is really delicious, I asked Abbey if I can have a bowl of rice. He explained that the rice cake is my carbo for that food but I insisted to have a separate rice for the spicy sauce. Yummmmy to the max! 

Fort Siloso Singapore

ABBEY: This is the part of Sentosa where we haven't set our foot in, but the ground must be covered. 

By 12:30PM at Beach Station, an "old bus" will take you to the fort. An entrance free of 12SGD should be paid. Fort Siloso served as the primary stronghold against the war enemy that comes from the south sea.

We were glad that our tour guide is charming and always smiling. Her name is Annabelle, but we wondered why her nameplate shows Baxter. Anyways, she led us to the first stop of the tour, the recreation area of POW during Japanese Occupation. In here was a diorama of Pulau Blakang Mati which is now known as Sentosa and its different zones. Next is the tunnel under a war gun where the ammunitions were kept. Being a soldier is tough specially in war; poor ventilations, small spaces and large chance of being killed. The third stop is all about the life under Japanese regimen. Foods were rationed, people will be jailed, tortured and killed without any reason and a lot of propaganda for brainwashing specially the little ones.

The tour ended on what they called as Surrender Chambers. It relives the scene of Singapore surrendering to Japanese forces led by Gen. Yamashita. And on the next room was the scene where Allied Forces led by Lord Mountbatten liberated Singapore from Japan. Those are touching scenes and a lot to learn from the history.

WILL: We need to know the past and learn from it or history will just repeat itself. 

That is why Singapore gives a big effort to let locals and tourist know how it was to be on their  "dark ages". The time, World War II, when they were conquered by Japanese with the leadership of General Yamashita. It was a big trick or I should say Yamashita knew the "art and power of making a deal" that time. 

Here in Fort Siloso, you will see the real cannons. You can check-out the bankers, undergrounds tunnels and the famous signing of Japanese surrendering to the Allied Forces. 

This is an informative day for us. You can join a tour if you do not have an idea where to start. The entrance fee for locals is $10 and for tourist is $12. If you're already at Sentosa why not check this out.