Singapore, Bukit Panjang - Pang Sua Pond

At the time of writing this blog post, travel around the world for leisure is not a viable option. Many countries are in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently sweeping the world. Many national borders are closed to prevent further transmission of the virus and to stop the pandemic from getting more serious. Air travel has mostly grind to a standstill.

COVID-19 first surfaced in November 2019. Slowly but then accelerating rapidly, it has now spread to many countries around the world. Current number of infected is around 1.7 million people with more than 106,000 fatalities recorded worldwide. Today is 12 April 2020.

Here in my home country, we are advised against unnecessary international travel. Domestically, we are also advised to limit movements outside the home and to practice social distancing to help  contain the spread of COVID-19. Working from home (WFH) is the trending acronym not just in Singapore but around the world now. All these are in the interest of public health and safety. It is thus important that we all adhere to instructions given by national health authorities. Cooperation with authorities in this unprecedented time is important.

So while working from home in the relative comfort of my study room, I decided to take some time out from my technical literatures to browse through some old photographs I took. Instead of focusing on overseas destinations, I decided that in this blog post, I would write about somewhere near home, the place where I reside.

A previously nondescript water catchment pond has been transformed into a beautiful natural environment, Pang Sua Pond, Bukit Panjang, Singapore (2017)

Just five minutes walk from my apartment is a small pond, Pang Sua Pond. It was and still is a public water catchment pond. The local town council and national water agency had upgraded this previously nondescript surface of water into a very interesting pond, creating a tastefully landscaped body of water as closed to the natural environment as possible. Today, this pond features local water plants growing naturally. It has also become home to a myriad of insects and small aquatic creatures. During some of my previous strolls around the pond, I had spotted small Malayan Water Monitor Lizards as well as many different species of birds. Others, with photographic evidence, had even spotted Otters. These are the Asian Small Clawed Otters who probably made their way around Singapore through the many connected waterways and canals.

Travel do not mean having to cross international borders. Often, interesting places can be found right in our backyard. Pockets of nature in our local community provides space to soothe mind and spirit.

View of Pang Sua Pond, Bukit Panjang, Singapore (2017)

Local water plants were introduced into the landscaped pond and allowed to grow naturally to become home to small aquatic insects and animals, Pang Sua Pond, Bukit Panjang, Singapore (2017)

This photo shows the proximity of the pond to blocks of residential units, Pang Sua Pond, Bukit Panjang, Singapore (2017)

This building next to the pond houses a Community Centre and a public swimming pool, Pang Sua Pond, Bukit Panjang, Singapore (2017)

This boardwalk provides access for residents to literally "walk over the water", Pang Sua Pond, Bukit Panjang, Singapore (2017)