Jonker Walk of Malacca

Jonker Walk is one of the tourist attraction in Malacca or Melaka and open only during week end. Melaka is also one of the very popular week end destination among Singaporean.

Tourism is a booming industry in Malacca and the road are getting too congested during week end. With this bike sharing initiative, exploring Malacca is now getting easier.

If you can't ride, just hire a beca or trishaw. This make good Instagram photo too even if is just a short distance.

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and is the year of rooster according to Chinese calendar. This giant rooster mark the start of the famous Jonker Walk.

 The whole area is decorated with Chinese New Year theme.

This shop use the very cute cartoon to attract customers to step into their shop.

 If you are looking to buy souvenirs, this is the right place. From festive light,

 to T-Shirt

 and even Poke ball!

 is a good place to start your next Christmas present shopping.

 As with all night market, food is another must have. This is the new food corner that worth the stop.

 Long que is formed waiting to taste this local delicacy - popiah.

I order some satay (bbq chicken)

The lantern are lighted up when the night falls and add the vibrancy of Jonker Walk.

 Is good to spend some time watching the cultural show while enjoying your favorite snacks.

As with many big cities around the world, Malacca was founded beside a river and this river was a major trade post during colonial time.

From a busy port to a quiet town and is now back to it's previous glory.

2nd Oil Spill at Chek Jawa

The last oil spill that hit Pulau Ubin was about 7 years ago. Last week, Pulau Ubin was hit by another oil spill. From the media, it seem that this time round the spill was less severe. Nevertheless, is bad for the environment especially the effect on our very fragile shore at Chek Jawa.

I decided to take a look and arrived on the island quite early. Most of the bicycle rental shop was not even open yet. Only the last one is open and there's where I rent my bike. I usually just hike all the way but decided to rent a bicycle as I'm planning to explore a few area and by bicycle will cut down a lot of walking times...   :)

Is scary to see the Oil Spill Kit everywhere. But the clean look of the kit give me some relief. Hopefully we don't need to use them at all.

 It was a nice ride to Chek Jawa with the beautiful view.

I think I'm the earliest today. Didn't see anyone along the way.

Yes. I'm the first one to arrive at Check Jawa today. Thats my only bike at the parking area.

 More spill kit when nearer to the shore.

 More tools are on standby.

Other than the boom in the water, the big yellow spill kit remain a reminder that this place was hit again by the oil spill.

 The bin or spill kit was place along the entire board walk.

Not all spillage has been cleaned. The marks on the rock show that this part was affected by the oil spill.

 Another part of the shore that was affected by the oil spill.

Since I'm here, why not go higher to look at the entire area from a vantage point.

 It was high tide this morning. The boom cover the entire shore to prevent further oil hitting the shore.

 Bird eye view of the mangrove below.

Everything seem back to normal. Bye Ubin! I will visit you again soon, and I will bring some friends from oversea with me. Stay healthy ok.  :)

Park Connector at the North

Compare to other green areas, park connectors are less crowded especially on week end. One of the main reason perhaps is the perception that Park Connectors have nothing to see?

If you are coming from SLE and after turning to Woodlands Ave 12, Woodlands Park Connector is on the left.

See what I found on the tree? It may be hard to spot at first as they are all green in colour.

Thanks to the low traffic, the Rose-Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) actually was quite open! Once they start feeding, you just need to walk slowly towards them and you should be able to get quite near and observe them.

 They are feeding on the seeds of the Peacock flower!

The near completion of Yusof Ishak Mosque can be seen from this Woodlands Park Connector. The new Woodlands Hospital will also be built at the now empty area. The view is even nicer at night especially after the opening of this new mosque.

 I cross over Woodlands Ave 12 and continue my walk towards Ulu Sembawang Park Connector.

 Well is a parakeet day! Saw another different parakeet feeding - Long-Tailed Parakeet (Psittacula longicauda)

They are feeding on the fruits (their seeds to be exact) of Bintangor Bunut (Calophyllum soulattri)

The Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) took the highest vantage point at a distance away looking for flying insects. Not a bad day out at the park connectors. Well, try to spot them if you happen to visit these 2 park connectors.