Singapore's TidbiTs

Mention MacRitchie Reservoir to anyone here, two things usually come to mind. The scenic tree-top walk and the long-tailed macaques who are the long-time residents of the forest. Named after municipal engineer James MacRitchie, MacRitchie Reservoir is Singapore’s oldest reservoir, and an important source of the city’s water supply. The reservoir, within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, has also been transformed into a venue for recreation which is part of Public Utilities Board’s Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters Programmes to bring community closer to water. Do you know that the Central Catchment Nature Reserve was first established as a nature reserve under the directorship of the Singapore Botanic Gardens in 1990? You can stroll along the submerged boardwalk, take in the scenic views from the bandstands, chill on the benches among the huge park, enjoying the bright looking flowers amongst them. Rows of bright orange flower trees of Kock's Bauhinia (Bauhinia kockinia) an...

On 15 February 1942, Singapore came under a new master, Japan. The city was named Syonan-To meaning the Light of the South. Life on the island changed dramatically. Many people feared Japanese brutality and suffered from a lack of food and other supplies. Changi gained prominence during World War II when the Japanese used Changi Prison, originally built by the British in 1936, as a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp. Thousands of Allied soldiers were detained under harsh conditions and interred POW. Changi Museum and Chapel is a small and free museum (free for the local residents, small fee applies for foreign visitors) in the eastern corner of Singapore that depicts the darkest days in Singapore history when Singapore fell on 15th February 1942, and this museum is a tribute to those who fought for Singapore. Inside the museum are remnants of Changi goal, photos, letters and personal artefacts of the POWs, and highlight the imprisonment, suffering and life of the POWs and how human spirit triu...