Bedok Reservoir Park dotted with termite mounds - once a sand quarry
One of the 17 fresh-water reservoirs in Singapore, Bedok Reservoir was a former sand quarry that collects rainwater runoff from the eastern part of Singapore. The reservoir and surrounding area have been turned into a recreational park where other than admiring the views from the boardwalk or floating deck, you can also fish, do kayaking, even dragonboating, or simply enjoy the scenic walk around the reservoir, admire termite mounds or Tiger Orchids, the largest orchid in the world and appreciate the reunification of Germany with segments of Berlin walls right here in the park. There are floating decks at the reservoir complete with benches, if all you want to do is to soak in the views. The views are quite stunning especially closer to sunset.
Bedok Reservoir is located in the eastern part of Singapore, close to Bedok North and Tampines West so especially great for those living in these housing estates. It is also located right behind Temasek Polytechnic thus a boon to those studying there with nature and sea-sports right by their side. Bedok Reservoir is also linked to other parks in the Eastern Corridor such as Pasir Ris Park and Tampines Eco Park via the Park Connector Network or PCN for short so you can cycle or walk between these various parks. The Eastern Corridor include the Siglap Park Connector. Nature is bountiful in Bedok Reservoir Park.
As you enter via the main entrance, you will be greeted with the purplish Cape plumbago and within the park there are massive Tiger Orchids. Tiger orchids only bloom once a year around July and for about two months only till around September. So if they are not blooming you may not know that some of the plants there are indeed orchids. These massive flowers are found in many parks in Singapore including at Pasir Ris Park and MacRitchie Reservoir Park, and of course at National Orchid Garden.
You may be tempted to take photos of this pretty orange flowers but look out for termites hills or mounds that look like a normal dried earth. There are red ants too. You may notice termites hills as you walk around the park. These mud-coloured termite hills are everywhere around the park especially at the foot of trees and have become a feature of the park.
The scenic Bedok Reservoir is popular with joggers. It is not a large park compared to other parks or nature reserve but will still give a good sweat if you walk or jog around the reservoir. The whole loop around the reservoir is 4.3 km (2.7 miles). As it is a circular loop you will see many joggers or walkers jogging or walking either in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction and some may run twice along the loop. This park is popular with joggers not only for the scenic view but also at this particular park, not many cyclists like to cycle along the gravel walking path, so there is less distraction.
There are markers showing the distance on the gravel pavement or trail. You may also see yoga groups in the park with their ubiquitous floor mats. Or children learning how to roller skate. Being a park, on Sundays, expect to see groups of domestic workers having a sing-along with their fellow countrymen.
There is an outdoor fitness station and a playground. There are two playground spreadout across the park. The outdoor fitness corner and playground are standard features that can be found at almost all parks in Singapore so that the whole family can enjoy an outing in the park together. And for seaports enthusiasts there is a kayaking rental station at the watersports centre, Passionwave.
There is also Forest Adventure with hanging ropes complete with ziplines. The park indeed is a fun place to be especially during the weekends with different groups of people either jogging, walking, singing, exercising, roller-skating, fishing, kayaking, trying out the ziplines, counting the termite hills on the grass or bring their birds along during the weekend for a bird chirping session. A unique feature of this park is that there is Bird Singing Area with numerous metal high poles dedicated for the birds.
The most interesting feature of the park is probably a segment of the Berlin Wall painted in black which was installed in 2010 at Bedok Reservoir Park on the 20th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall that divided East Germany from West Germany fall on 9 November 1989 and the German reunification happened in October 2010.
Of course the walls at Bedok Reservoir which looks like a well-sculptured art piece and painted in black won’t be the same as the graffiti-laden grey concrete walls in Berlin but it is supposed to convey similar meaning to reflect on the collective people’s power to be united as one, even more so without major confrontation or firing a single shot. Having seen some of the remnants in Berlin in its original form with its jagged edge and protruding steel bars, this one may come a bit too clean cut.
Bedok Reservoir is one of the few reservoirs where one can fish, though it has to be done at dedicated fishing decks and there are used fishing hook and lines bins so that these items can be disposed of properly. While you are enjoying your walk and being an interesting feature of this park you may notice light-brownish termites hills or mounds dotting around the park. These termite mounds belong to fungus-growing termites or scientifically known as Macrotermes carbonarius.
Many people think that termites are bad because they eat live wood. But these termites eat fallen leaves and dead tree bark and other decaying organic matter in the soil and help in nutrients recycling by helping the surrounding plants grow so these insects are important part of the ecosystem. Throughout the process, no live wood is being consumed! Termites are not ants but rather social cockroaches! Interesting isn't it? Do watch out for red ants too as some can be crawling around the grass areas of the park.
And just like other quarries such as at Pulau Ubin and Bukit Batok that has been turned into a park or wetland, similarly Bedok Reservoir has been transformed into a park complete with unique Berlin Wall and termite hills with scenic views for all to enjoy and perhaps to reflect upon. From the horizon you can also see a mountain of sand, of what could be a former sand quarry.
There is a bistro in the park called Wawawa if you fancy a meal or drink to go with the views. There are also some food chains like Burger King and Fun Toast on the other side within the Hometown NS building for a cheaper option. In this building you will find an Aqua Adventure complete with slides. The park is conveniently few 5 walk from Bedok Reservoir MRT Station (blue line). Which is great for a scenic sight-seeing and a workout.
An update: the Berlin Wall has been repainted to white and the story of the Berlin wall could no longer be found. The concrete white block could be a replacement of the original black walls.
Bedok Reservoir is located in the eastern part of Singapore, close to Bedok North and Tampines West so especially great for those living in these housing estates. It is also located right behind Temasek Polytechnic thus a boon to those studying there with nature and sea-sports right by their side. Bedok Reservoir is also linked to other parks in the Eastern Corridor such as Pasir Ris Park and Tampines Eco Park via the Park Connector Network or PCN for short so you can cycle or walk between these various parks. The Eastern Corridor include the Siglap Park Connector. Nature is bountiful in Bedok Reservoir Park.
As you enter via the main entrance, you will be greeted with the purplish Cape plumbago and within the park there are massive Tiger Orchids. Tiger orchids only bloom once a year around July and for about two months only till around September. So if they are not blooming you may not know that some of the plants there are indeed orchids. These massive flowers are found in many parks in Singapore including at Pasir Ris Park and MacRitchie Reservoir Park, and of course at National Orchid Garden.
 |
| Bedok Reservoir and boardwalk |
The scenic Bedok Reservoir is popular with joggers. It is not a large park compared to other parks or nature reserve but will still give a good sweat if you walk or jog around the reservoir. The whole loop around the reservoir is 4.3 km (2.7 miles). As it is a circular loop you will see many joggers or walkers jogging or walking either in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction and some may run twice along the loop. This park is popular with joggers not only for the scenic view but also at this particular park, not many cyclists like to cycle along the gravel walking path, so there is less distraction.
There are markers showing the distance on the gravel pavement or trail. You may also see yoga groups in the park with their ubiquitous floor mats. Or children learning how to roller skate. Being a park, on Sundays, expect to see groups of domestic workers having a sing-along with their fellow countrymen.
 |
| Berlin Wall |
There is also Forest Adventure with hanging ropes complete with ziplines. The park indeed is a fun place to be especially during the weekends with different groups of people either jogging, walking, singing, exercising, roller-skating, fishing, kayaking, trying out the ziplines, counting the termite hills on the grass or bring their birds along during the weekend for a bird chirping session. A unique feature of this park is that there is Bird Singing Area with numerous metal high poles dedicated for the birds.
The most interesting feature of the park is probably a segment of the Berlin Wall painted in black which was installed in 2010 at Bedok Reservoir Park on the 20th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall that divided East Germany from West Germany fall on 9 November 1989 and the German reunification happened in October 2010.
 |
| Termite hill at the foot of a tree |
Bedok Reservoir is one of the few reservoirs where one can fish, though it has to be done at dedicated fishing decks and there are used fishing hook and lines bins so that these items can be disposed of properly. While you are enjoying your walk and being an interesting feature of this park you may notice light-brownish termites hills or mounds dotting around the park. These termite mounds belong to fungus-growing termites or scientifically known as Macrotermes carbonarius.
Many people think that termites are bad because they eat live wood. But these termites eat fallen leaves and dead tree bark and other decaying organic matter in the soil and help in nutrients recycling by helping the surrounding plants grow so these insects are important part of the ecosystem. Throughout the process, no live wood is being consumed! Termites are not ants but rather social cockroaches! Interesting isn't it? Do watch out for red ants too as some can be crawling around the grass areas of the park.
 |
| Fishing at Bedok Reservoir |
There is a bistro in the park called Wawawa if you fancy a meal or drink to go with the views. There are also some food chains like Burger King and Fun Toast on the other side within the Hometown NS building for a cheaper option. In this building you will find an Aqua Adventure complete with slides. The park is conveniently few 5 walk from Bedok Reservoir MRT Station (blue line). Which is great for a scenic sight-seeing and a workout.
An update: the Berlin Wall has been repainted to white and the story of the Berlin wall could no longer be found. The concrete white block could be a replacement of the original black walls.
Comments
Post a Comment