Revamped Funan lifestyle mall

After closed for 3 years, Funan finally re-opened on Friday, 28th June promised to be a futuristic lifestyle mall. Is this new mall still have what she used to offer before the renovation? 

 Beside the changed of external cladding, lets take a look inside the mall.

 This is the first mall that allow bicycles & riders into the mall.

There's a catch though... you are only allowed to ride your bike between 7-10am and at Level 1 only. This probably is only a marketing gimmicks.

Most likely the cycling path is added to cater for this only bicycle shop in the mall. Now the expansive bike can be "officially" allowed into the mall. The cheapest model here can get you 20 bikes in the neighborhood bicycle shop.

If you are into rock climbing, this place give you another alternative instead of going to Sports Hub at Kallang.

The concept of  "shop" has been redefined. The shop is part of the walking passageway and public resting place too.

 You will find yourself go right into a shop when taking stairs.

Well, this will be welcome by lots of people as more are more shoppers just can't survive without their mobile getting a quick recharged. Power point is readily available. Hope they will not remove it when students start to move from cafe to here later on.

There are plenty of  F&B in the mall, almost 30% of the retail space are taken up by F&B! You may order and pay for your food using apps and cashless payment. That if you don't mind your privacy being shared with 3rd party. Whenever possible, I will still prefer using cash instead of using my social account for food ordering...

 Another new attraction is the Urban Farm, their rooftop garden and a futsal court.

 You may use the external stairs at L4 or take the lift straight to L7 entrance.

 Starship Enterprise has landed in Funan? :)

 Is a nice place to spend your evening here. I certainly won't want to come out here during the day where there is no shelter.

 Another first in Singapore, a fully unmanned futsal court.

 Urban farm is catching on lately so as here at Funan.

Dragon fruits is just one of the variety planted at this Urban Farm.

During their closure (renovation), I visited a similar concept mall at Taipei - Syntrend. Both are very similar in terms of their offering and concept. If you are the person like to DIY or built and construct your own like me, this mall offer mostly ready made items/gadget. Unlike the old days, I only saw one shop at the corner of Basement 2 that is selling pc/electronic parts. Sim Lim square is the only place to go for now... before she follow the foot step of Funan.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

By April, most of the migratory birds would have left and return to their breeding ground at the north. Is time to take a good look at the local birds instead at Sungei Buluh Wetland Reserve.

It was a rather quiet afternoon alone at the Main Bridge. There are several raptors up in the sky including this Brahminy Kite

and White-bellied Sea Eagle.

Over the mud flat a pair of Little Egrets was fighting over hunting ground.

Grey heron prefer to fish in deeper water.

Slightly different from Grey Heron, Painted Storks is a tactile forager.Which means the bird walks in shallow water holding its open bill underwater. As soon as a prey moves near the bill, the bird closes the mandibles and catches the prey.

It used to be thick mangrove forest across the strait over at Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The entire coastline has turn to man-made structure over the last decades.

The construction is still on-going. Perhaps this is the reason more wildlife are sighted here seeking refuge?

There are some shorebirds that yet to make their way back north is seen feeding in the water.

The Collared kingfisher happily dive in for the hunt.

Back to the tree branch to enjoy the catch.

Copper Throated Sunbird hardly perch in the open. Managed to get a shot of this mangrove's beauty.

Interesting to see so many beetles stay on the same leaf.

Not frequently seen, but some times the long tail macaque do show up and will try to snatch food from visitors.

The Lizard Need A Little Push!

I'm curious if otters will finish the whole fish after they caught it? After my exciting encounters with the otters family, I go back to the same place the following day.

The otters didn't finish the whole fish. Instead I saw this monitor lizard taking over the balance fish.

The lizard first try to tear as much flesh as possible from the remaining fish skeleton.

The lizard uses its razor sharp teeth and the powerful claw to do the job.

It managed to remove most of the flesh.

The lizard next try to swallow the whole skeleton at one go. The fish skeleton is just too large to be swallowed before break it down further.

At one point the lizard was pushing the fish skeleton against the floor to help it get down the throat  further.

It can only go down so much and the skeleton is still stuck in the throat.

There is no turning back down. Is now even more impossible to get the skeleton out and the only way is to push it down by hook or by crook.

With pushing it against the ground failed. The lizard have to find new way to help it get the fish skeleton down its throat.

The lizard now push the fish skeleton against the tree branch. A smart move as the tree branch will give more friction which is needed to help it push the skeleton down the throat.

With the help of the tree branch, the lizard managed to squeeze down the widest part of the fish skeleton. Is now rely on the lizard own muscle to finish the job.

After an hour plus "struggle", the lizard finally get to swallow the big fish left behind by the otters. In nature, nothing is go to waste...

Chiang Dao Birding Day 2

We are early on Day 2 and started our birding at the river before sun rise at 6am. This little egret is even earlier.

Patiently waiting in the running water for best chance to strike.

Saw White wagtail yesterday but was far far away. The distance today is much nearer.

Yam plants made good photo opportunity too. Be it in the water,

or on land.

Good to see this Grey wagtail right in front of me.

White throated kingfisher not usually associated with water but was found near the river today.

Another kingfisher for today, a Common Kingfisher.

Red-throated flycatcher also stop by at the river this morning too. During migratory period, they can be found anywhere from garden, forest to open country.

The farmer is up and started their day's work in the paddy field.

Another Grey Wagtail showing the full back.

I'm not able to have a clear look at this Crested Kingfisher yesterday. For once, it came so near of where I was standing!

Managed to have a clear shot of this Crested Kingfisher.

With herd of buffalo making their way home, so did we. We end our birding and is coffee time again!