RAN

And this box arrived last night.

Quoting from the GMT Games website:

"SAMURAI WARFARE IN THE SENGOKU JIDAI 16-17th Century Japan.

RAN is the 12th volume in the "Great Battles of History" Series, and the second game on the battles of the Samurai (following GMTs Samurai (Vol. V) . RAN covers several of the less famous of the Sengoku Jidai, the Age of Warring States (more or less), in which powerful Daimyo - Japanese feudal lords - strove to both maintain and extend their power bases while seeking to attain the office of Shogun, the power behind the throne of the Emperor.

RAN simulates the highly personal form of warfare developed by the Japanese samurai, wherein formal battles played out almost as backdrops to individual feats of courage, bravery and devotion much of it outstanding, some of it rather foolhardy, all of it very Homeric. Although political and tactical victory was the bottom line, collecting the severed heads of enemy samurai reigned a very close second in importance. In terms of tactics, this was, as in Europe, the Dawn of Modern Warfare, with the introduction of guns - arquebuses - by the Portuguese. Even with the revelatory effect of musketry, Japanese battles were still pretty much a swirling, non-linear affair."

I would love to find time and summon the energy to actually play the wargames that I have bought some day.

Samurai

This new wargame from GMT Games just arrived in my mailbox a few days back.




Quoting from GMT Games' website:

"Warfare in the Sengoku Jidai, 1560-1600

Samurai is the fifth entry in the award-winning Great Battles of History series and is easily the most exotic and visually stunning. Samurai covers all the major battles of the Sengoku Jidai (the Age of Warring Daimyos). Japan was truly a country at war. Because of the nature of 16th century Japanese warfare, it is also the easiest game in the series to play. The revamped command system simulates the clan-oriented levels of leadership, plus simplified shock and fire mechanics. Also included are individual samurai used to challenge opponents and collect the important severed heads. Ignore the challenge and lose face, or even be forced to commit seppuku on the spot.

Battles include the most unusual Okehazama, complete with burning castles, thunderstorms, and a historically victorious army out-numbered six to one; Anegawa; Kawanakajima; Mikata-ga-Hara; Nagashino, with the famous Takeda cavalry corps charging Oda's volley-firing musketeers; and the most famous battle to take place in Japan, Sekigahara. All the great leaders are there: Obu Nobunaga, Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin, and of course, Tokugawa Ieyasu."

Exciting! I need to re-read some of the accounts. I had read one on Sekigahara more than a decade ago.

Last week, my sisters were in Japan for a hike through the countryside near Kyoto. Coincidentally, they did visit the battlefield of Sekigahara.

Wanted List

These are the CDs that I may looking to acquire in the near future:

Front Line Assembly - Fallout
Client - Heartland
Assemblage 23 - Meta
VNV Nation - Judgement
Red Flag - Born Again
God Module - Let's go dark
Edge of Dawn - Enjoy the fall
Funker Vogt - Aviator
Clan of Xymox - Heroes
Information Society - Oscillator
John Foxx - Sideways
John Foxx - Cathedral Oceans II
Louis Gordon - Goodbye Walnut Road
Louis Gordon - Tell your mom I saved your Life
Louis Gordon - Closed gone fishing

I have got some on pre-order.

Concrete

'Concrete' is the Pet Shop Boys' first concert CD released and it featured a performance at Mermaid Theatre for Radio 2 with the BBC Concert Orchestra on Monday on the 8th of May, 2006. The two-CD set featured Robbie Williams (Groan), Frances Barber on two tracks. And it also featured tracks off their latest album 'Fundamental', a track off their soundtrack, 'Battleship Potemkin', a track off their musical 'Closer to Heaven' and more. All in all, this was quite a disparate package and it came across as rather discordant. A full-fledged orchestra, synths and more. It simply didn't work for me.

I had ripped the audio off other Pet Shop Boys concert DVDs like 'Montage', 'Somewhere', 'Performance' and put them on CD-Rs, those worked a lot better than 'Concrete'. Far more listenable.

I just cancelled my British HSBC Mastercard credit card. I didn't need it. There was no annual charges associated with this card though.

Singapore Adopts Hermes 450 UAVs

From an Defence Industry Daily:

"Singapore's Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean recently officiated at a parade to inaugurate the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Command. UAV Command has been constituted as an integrated entity, with personnel from the Army, Navy & Air Force as well as from the Joint Staff."

and the article also noted:

"The new command will operate Singapore's 2 squadrons of Searcher II UAVs, which were used successfully during the multi-national Exercise Wallaby 2006."

Image Source: http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/uav/hermes_450/Hermes_450.html

Dead Lines

I picked up this Greg Bear novel at the Popular Bookstore sale last weekend. Greg Bear threading into the horror genre? Interesting. I have started on it and it has so far been an engrossing read with the protagonist venturing throughout California with an urn of his friend's ashes!

I had read 'Blood Music', 'The Forge of God' and a few other of Bear's work a decade or two ago and they were worthwhile reads. 'Engine Summer' was, however, unreadable.

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 4: Latin America

I was listening to this remixed compilation by DJ Tiesto this morning. My sister had handed it to me a few years ago. Unabashedly commercial and fun! The perfect morning companion.

Mokhzani Mahathir


Good heavens! He's worth US$220 million! Astonishing! This is from the June 4th issue of Forbes. Racing car driver too. Simply astonishing.

Let's go dark

The new God Module album. I can't wait.

It has been out for quite a bit though.

Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets



A few months ago, when I met Brian at Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City, he recommended this volume by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I have only started reading it now.

Spiderman 3

Too many villains, too much packed in an action movie, and mildly entertaining, Sam Raimi appeared to have taken on too much. Nevertheless, Spiderman 3 will be a massive commercial success given the huge marketing vehicle that is driving it.

Pan's Labyrinth

Despite situating a straight-forward and predictable plot against the political background of an underground struggle against the Fascist Franco regime, 'Pan's Labyrinth' felt very ordinary and with caricatures of, say, the evil Fascist officers, the leftist brave guerillas, etc.

Utterly predictable, utterly mundane with meaningless trials. A waste of a good two hours. Avoid.

Addendum

I suppose as a narrative, 'Pan's Labyrinth' was pretty much devoid of anything interesting being absolutely predictable and linear. As an allegory, there was more to offer. The little girl who eventually died, could symbolise the loss of innocence during the Spanish Civil War and the lapse into a fantastic world of a forgotten Iberian-Celtic past.

The baby brother could, I suppose, could represent the youth of a new Spain. The struggle for the baby between the two factions and the eventually refusal of the victorious Republican guerillas to allow the cruel, Fascist father to be remembered, could also express the yearning for the past to be forgotten. I was probably reading too much into this while I was in bed last night.

The summary executions and the refusal to take prisoners of the two factions was not unexpected. The brutality of it all.

I did have high expectations for this Spanish language effort.

Hmm... I am so tempted to visit the Changi Naval Base. There is a navy open house today.

ARRGH! I was in town yesterday and I missed the watersprout! Oh well. Pity pity.

I guess part of the key to knowing and understanding me are my priorities. For instance, I don't care for birthdays. I don't celebrate my own in that sense that there is nothing really prepared. There is a family dinner. At most, I would be more introspective that day.

What I would rank more important, I guess, would be, for instance, a LAN gaming session with my friends. The completion of a new piece of artwork. The understanding of a new concept, say in science. Reading and knowing a bit of history or architecture.

None of those materialist and consumerist concerns. No dinners or wining and dining. Those are a world away for me.

McJob

Quoting from an article in the BBC:

"Fast-food giant McDonald's has launched a petition to get the dictionary definition of a McJob changed.

The Oxford English Dictionary currently describes a McJob as "an unstimulating low-paid job with few prospects". "

Change the definition of 'McJob'? Too funny! Hilarious! What about adding McBully in the dictionary? And more comedy from McDonald's:

"Last year McDonald's tried to improve the image of its employment opportunities with the slogan: "McProspects - over half of our executive team started in our restaurants. Not bad for a McJob." "

As a percentage, how many people holding McJobs actually went on to greater things?

Crafty Inzaghi

I thought Inzaghi's best days were behind him. Well, he has always been a performer on the big stage, delivering when it is most crucial. Incredible!

WOO HOO!

A.C. Milan 2 Liverpool 1

YESYESYES! Awesome! This coming in the wake of the Chelsea victory over Man U!

WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YES!!!

Run

I just went for a run at the Botanic Gardens. A brisk 2.0 km. That's it. Nothing much.

I am not interested

Tele-promoter: Hello, I am calling from UOB regarding this special promo...

Me: Wait, is this a sales call?

Tele-promoter: Yes..

Me: I am not interested.

Tele-promoter: May I know you are not interested?

Me: I am not interested.

Tele-promoter: May I know why?

Me: I am not interested in hearing what you have to say. N O T I N T E R E S T E D.

Tele-promoter: Oh, thank you.

Me: Thank you. Bye.

It's almost the end of the day. Heh.

False Memories

Memories play tricks. I had an interesting conversation with Chester earlier this morning. Over the last ten years, I had only seen him less than five times and that was over two LAN gaming (Counterstrike) sessions at the cybercafe at Rendezvous Hotel, a party at his place and one short meeting at Ang Mo Kio or something.

Chester says:
only been at your place once... i remember library and books and games.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
When was that?

Chester says:
i dropped you off a couple of times outside but that's it.

Chester says:
hahaha

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I don't recalled being in your car.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Only Gerard's car a couple of times.

Chester says:
that would have been about 10 years + ago.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmmm....

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
WOW!

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
10+ years ago?!?!

Chester says:
before G had a car

Chester says:
I was the first one to drive

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hmm...

Chester says:
I don't recall exactly but I recall dropping you off at least 2 times and picking up 1

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I think you are mistaken.

Chester says:
oh?

Chester says:
okay

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You probably confused me with someone else.

Chester says:
not impt

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Because I could count the number of times we have met on my fingers.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hahahaahahaha.

Chester says:
not likely... but its no biggie and I will defer to your memory

Chester says:
perhaps I am just forgettable.

Chester says:
;D

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Well...

Chester says:
I remember being outside your place at least 3 times.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I do keep a detailed diary.

Chester says:
and 1 time inside.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Where would that be?

Chester says:
cool

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Which place?

Chester says:
some housing estate...deep inside.

Chester says:
I forget the location

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Okay, you are really mistaking me with someone else.

Chester says:
it _was_ 10 years ago.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I have never lived in a housing estate.

Chester says:
as in big houses

Chester says:
not hdb

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Urm, I wasn't living in a big house ten years ago either.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
WOW!

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
This is like a Philip K. Dick novel or movie!

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Implanted memories dude!

Chester says:
heheh

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
So cool!

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Did you know that you have a mission?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
And you have this weapon?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Ultimate weapon?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
And you have a target?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You don't remember?

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Surely, you must?

Chester says:
hahaha

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Your mission!

Chester says:
nah

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You are a felon!

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You are on the run!

Chester says:
I think that if I drove around I might find it.

Chester says:
but I can't recall right now.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Astonishing!

Chester says:
i remember books/games to the ceiling

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
If you will find this imaginery place that you have envisioned, I will be interested to see.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I want to know the castle that I lived in a decade ago in your mind!

Chester says:
hahaha

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
That would be so cool!

Chester says:
hmmm

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
You better search under your bed. There is a special handgun there.

Chester says:
its one of those "rich people" estates... I want to say Bukit Timah but its not... it not Novena either...like something in between?? I'm bad with names

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Wow!

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
That's so cool!

Chester says:
:} anyhow... ttyl...gotta get back to work.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Okie dokie!

Chester says:
I'll come look for you... ring the gate-bell

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Hahahaha.

Chester says:
muahahaha!

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
I will have to blog this.

Chuang Shyue Chou says:
Later dude!


Memories are tricky. My memories can be off. So can his. It's hard to say really but his accounts seem to have some discrepancies. Now, AK claimed to also have been at my place many years ago and had driven me home... Weird. I usually walk to town anyhow.

I am almost surprised that Chester can drive. He didn't seem to have the aptitude for it. He seems far too timid to even go on the road.

The games that I have ten years ago were kept in a glass cabinet in my bedroom. Hmmm.. He could have seen my study. Weird. Why would Chester be at my place if he had really been there? I don't play roleplaying games with him. Hmmm...

I am almost midway through the Tsuji volume. Fascinating.

I find this volume to be far more self-serving than that of the memoirs of German generals. However, that is not unexpected. There were a lot of rationalisations of the lost war sprinkled throughout despite this being a victorious campaign. Heh.

I will probably start on the book by Colonel Tsuji tonight. Woo!

This is shaping up to be a busy day.

GOOD!

I spent too much time on 'Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc' last night. My eyes hurt. A couple of hours on Mission 3 and 6.5 hours for Mission 4.

The game is strangely reminiscent of World of Warcraft in some minor gameplay aspects but minus the excessive travelling and time-wasting. I am enjoying it. Heh. However, I shall spend less time playing this. I will limit myself to an hour or two per day at most.

Meanwhile, I have finished Horgan's 'The Undiscovered Mind'. Intriguing overview of the mind-related fields. Now, I am tempted to read something on consciousness, evolutionary psychology and more.

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Unbelievable! AWESOME! YESYESYES! I came home just in time to see the goal!

Chinese writing '8,000 years old'

Quoting from an article on the BBC:

"State media say researchers identified more than 2,000 pictorial symbols dating back 8,000 years, on cliff faces in the north-west of the country."

Would history books be re-written?

Quote from an article on a Chinese site:

"The Damaidi carvings, first discovered in the late 1980s, cover15 square kilometers with 3,172 cliff carvings, featuring 8,453 individual figures such as the sun, moon, stars, gods and scenes of hunting or grazing. "

Angus McBride's passing

From the Osprey website:

"It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing away of Angus McBride, one of the world's most respected historical illustrators and a true friend of Osprey."

I have long admired his work in Osprey books, Lord of the Rings roleplaying rulebooks and supplements and a host of other books over the years. A great illustrator.

It's so fast. It's ready Friday. Desmond informed me that Fouridine is back from the USA and everyone will be meeting at Food Republic at Vivocity this evening.

Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc

Trevor Chan, the celebrated designer of strategy games, Capitalism II and Seven Kingdoms, came up with 'Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc' in 2004. This game marked a departure for him in that it incorporated action of a sort more akin to those in console games. Combo strikes, food (health) pickups were the order of the day!

I got it for $9.95 at Popular Bookstore at Junction 8 two days ago. I was glad that I had waited as I had not wanted to pay the full retail of $59.95 when it was first released two years ago.

First impressions? Well, I rushed through the first mission. Then, I played the extended large second mission which was not simple due to certain 'puzzle-solving' elements. One had to do certain things which were not very clear but they could be solved by trial and error. I had enjoyed myself quite a bit but I could see how difficult and probably frustrating the game could get later on.

Azhang Food & Beverages

I had dinner with Colin at Azhang Food & Beverages one evening. The steak was wonderful. Avoid the corn salad though.

The Undiscovered Mind

I bought 'The Undiscovered Mind: How the Brain defies Explanation' by John Horgan a year ago at Kinokuniya at Liang Court. Somehow, I didn't manage to read it last year. Right now, I am racing through it. Intriguing! A survey of the field by an ex-Scientific American writer rather than yet another examination of case studies.

State of Progress: Tribal Wars, World 5


I just took another 6000+ pt village. It was from an ex-tribesmate who for some unknown reason had stopped playing.

I have been building and building troops. In the name of conquest!

Blogger on Singnet has been very screwy these days.

Legion Arena

'Legion Arena' is an interesting game based on the individual battles of the ascent of Rome. It is a surprise package which I picked up at Bugis Junction for $9.95! I had not expected much but I ended up finishing the Roman campaign and enjoying it tremendously.

The game simulates individual battles in real time with a large emphasis on morale. The units modelled appears reasonably accurate in my opinion. The suspect heavy and light cavalry, the steadfast infantry units, the skirmishers and missile units and more. The command and control aspects. The variety of orders.

Units gain experience from battle to battle and have the choice to purchase better equipment. Of course, units don't live for centuries which is what the course of the campaign will entail. However, one can argue that that experience models the unit histories, unit oral traditions and the evolution of tactics. Likewise, the equipment purchase can presumably model the improvement in equipment.

The battles modelled includes that of Rome as a city state under kings, Rome as a republic and finally Rome as an empire. Following the ascent of Octavian, the campaign ends. There are battles against the Etruscans, Samnites, Volsci, Carthaginians, Alpine Gauls, Macedonians, and more. There will also be battles in the Roman civil war and the slave revolt. Great stuff!

I have not played the Celtic campaign as I am not particularly interested.

'Legion Arena' is a fast-playing and light game. If you enjoy learning and reading history, this game may be for you. Highly recommended.

Brochure of the MacRitchie Trails

Whether you are going for a hike, a run or simply exploring, this brochure, which can be picked up at the Ranger Station, is invaluable due to the map. The National Parks Board website has the same map online.

Islamists from Indonesia training Muslim Insurgents in Southern Thailand

It is not unexpected that covert support would come from neighbouring Muslim states.

Quoting from an article in Army Technology:

"Militants from Indonesia may have trained southern Thai Muslims to decapitate or use other grisly tactics in their bloody separatist campaign, an Army spokesman said on Monday as another Buddhist man was shot and beheaded."

"You really need to know certain bones of the necks to behead someone and Thais don't really know how," Acra. "You need someone to be trained overseas or foreign trainers to teach them how."

The interrogation of captured insurgents suggested that foreign trainers, suspected to be Indonesian, were present in Thailand giving training through translators, he said."


Now, one wonders if support had been given by neighbouring Islamic states. It would not be unthinkable.

Japan's Greatest Victory, Britain's Worst Defeat

It took long enough. I have finally located the volume by Masanobu Tsuji titled 'Japan's Greatest Victory, Britain's Worst Defeat'. It had slipped my notice previously but I located this at the most unlikely of places. Popular Bookstore at Junction 8.

Art Decor Dwelling

There are still a number of these old nondescript Art Decor buildings scattered throughout Singapore, forgotten remnants of a previous age. Here is a prime example, lying off Newton Road.

A Guide to Hiking in the Central Catchment Reserve

A Guide to Hiking in the Central Catchment Reserve

Here is a short guide to hiking in there. I am assuming that one would want to venture off the trail into the rainforest, for instance, visiting the ruins of the Shinto shrine as we did. However, if one would stay on the trail, well, one need not really bring anything actually. Shorts, T-shirt and sandals would be enough.

Most paramount:

1. Respect nature. It can be cruel and unforgiving. In other words, be prepared. Know what you are capable of before heading in there. Have a plan.

2. Tell someone where you are going before you go. Tell them when you will be back.

3. Go with someone reliable. Don't go with girly men, whiners, people with ego problems, etc. In other words, go with people you can trust. When you are stuck in there with a sprained ankle or broken anke, it is not funny.

4. Have some semblance of fitness. One need not be a fitness guru though.

5. Good footwear. Sandals are alright only if they don't fall apart halfway. Extra pairs of socks would be nice.

6. Proper equipment. Get a proper compass. Not one of those on a watch strap. Those are a joke. One needs to be able to tell directions when one is in there. A torchlight can be useful. Waterproof the fragile items in case of rain. Put them in clear ziplock bags.

7. Bring enough water. Especially if one isn't very fit, one will consume more water. Water discipline can come in useful. Food is not really necessary. Three litres or four at least.

8. For women, tissues and toilet paper may be useful though one will hardly need to relieve oneself due to sweating.

9. Band-aids and anti-sceptic cream or liquid can be useful to treat small scratches.

10. Mosquitoes. Surprisingly, very few. Insect repellent can be useful though not necessary.

11. Long-sleeved clothing can be useful in warding off thorns.

12. Umbrellas or raincoats aren't necessary but if there is a heavy downpour, it is nice to have them.

13. Have a cut-off time. ie 3:00 pm. Go out when the time is up. The rainforest gets dark very early. ie 4:00 pm.

14. Keep one's trash in one's bag. Don't litter.

15. Don't go trashing the rainforest either.

16. Don't go capturing monkeys, slaying squirrels and gutting snakes.

17. Respect the old ruins. Please, don't light candles on the font and be an ass.

18. At the end of the day, this is Singapore, one need only walk in a east or west direction and one will hit a road or house. It's a garden compared to the real jungles in the surrounding countries.

19. Most important of all, have fun!

If you have questions, feel free to write me.

The Hiking Trip, 05.05.2007, Saturday

The Hiking Trip, 05.05.2007, Saturday

The following is a collation of images and commentaries of our hiking trip to the ruins of the Shinto shrine and our hike from the western edge of the Central Catchment Reserve to the eastern edge of the reserve:

Hiking in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve

On the Trail

The Rifle Range Link

A Verdant Landscape

Jon

The Crossroads

The Petaling Trail

The Petaling Trail II

The Petaling Hut

The Depths of the Rainforest

Meandering Path

The Concrete Structure in the Wilds

Stone Columns amidst the Wilderness

The Waters' Edge

The Flight of Stairs (Syonan Jinja)

Stairway to a Forgotten Past (Syonan Jinja)

The only way is up! (Syonan Jinja)

The View from the Top

The Ruins of the Shinto Shrine (Syonan Jinja)

The Ruins of the Shinto Shrine II (Syonan Jinja)

The View from the Top of the Rampart

The Ruins of the Shinto Shrine III (Syonan Jinja)

Descent (Syonan Jinja)

At the Northwestern Edge of MacRitchie Reservoir I

At the Northwestern Edge of MacRitchie Reservoir II

Resting at the the Bund

The Lost Structure

Exhaustion

A Surprise at the Petaling Hut

At the Ranger Station

Island Club Road

Venus Link I

Venus Link II

Venus Link III

Venus Link IV

Venus Link V

Venus Link VI

Venus Drive Carpark

Kelvin's images: An Alternative View

Venus Drive Carpark

At 5:30 pm, we finally emerged from the rainforest.

We took out our carefully wrapped rubbish and deposited them in the bins nearby.

We packed up and walked out. Kelvin and I grabbed a taxi to Novena Square. He took a train to Jurong Point and had a pizza before falling asleep at home. Tony slept for the next twelve hours when he reached home. I went to have my mother's birthday dinner with at the Li Bai restaurant before going home. I subsequently slept for eleven hours.

All in all, this had been an extremely satisfying journey. We had started at 9:30 am and had stopped at 5:30 pm. We had been prepared. We had made plans and also a cut-off time. We had ensured that everyone in this trip were reliable, thinking people. No girly men, no whiners, no egotistical idiots. I have a few friends who I would term as girly men or neurotic or whatever. These would be liabilities if they should had come along. A great trip with great company and great people. I hope to do this again one day.

We have a more ambitious one in future which was originally dreamt up by Tony and Jon. This would be discussed later.

Venus Link VI

Modernity juxtapositioned within nature. Contrasting views.

A busy throughfare was just a short distance off this oasis of tranquility.

Venus Link V

Civilisation! An hour later, we could see condominium blocks off Upper Thomson Road.

Nature at our doorstep!

Venus Link IV

It was quite an eye-opener for me. I had wondered where Venus Drive led to. Now, I know.

Concealed beauty within urban Singapore.

Venus Link III

Several streams merged into one.

The trail meandered.

Amidst the greenery.

Venus Link II

Venus Link ran alongside a stream of clear running water for a considerable distance of a few kilometres.

Still, it was a nice leisurely walk.

Quite picturesque.

Venus Link I

It was ironic as we saw people exercising within the air-conditioned glass enclosure of the club while there was a huge nature reserve with fresh air just a stone's throw away. It was akin to people visiting Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Eurodisney in Paris when the real castle in Bavaria which the fake was modelled upon was just across the border.

There was some kind of an area with shanty huts and shacks next to the Singapore Island Country Club.

We were then at Venus Link. Here, the guys stopped and rested and washed their boots at a stream of clear running water.