Cycling: Bottle Tree Village

Greetings again,

It has been awhile hasn’t it? Yesterday, I went cycling to bottle tree village in Sembawang. Setting off at 2.30pm I rode my bike down Choa Chu Kang North 6 passing by Yew Tee MRT station. It was a nice cloudy day, not what I would usually prefer though. I was expecting the blazing sun but nonetheless, the day is still for cycling. After a brief stop at the petrol station to stiffen my wheels, I peddled down towards the railway bridge, heading for Woodlands Road.

Being in the day it seemed safer to cycle on the pavement. The horrendously bumpy pavement. Zipping pass curious drivers, bumping my way towards Mandai Road I wondered to myself just why am I doing this. Why am I heading for the shear suffering which awaits anyone wishing to go down Mandai Road. As the hills approach, the mind wanes. Things blur as fatigue sets in and sensations dull under the scorch of lactic acid.

I exited Mandai Road and pass by Yishun. “Sembawang”, I told myself. That’s where I am heading to. Riding down Yishun Avenue 2 I realized I didn’t know which junction to turn at. Not willing to trust my instincts, I rode until I could see Sembawang MRT station before I back tracked to the previous junction. In the map I forgot to bring, I was supposed to turn only at that junction. Am I going to get lost? A sickening thought as I was already tired. No choice but to convince myself that if I do get lost, simply cycling south will get me home… no matter how long.

At the junction, alas! The sign “Sembawang Park” greets me. Yes! On the right track so I was. Tired but eager, I pushed on down the winding road. How quiet it was this road, tranquil as such it really makes me expect to see a kampong village. Finally there it was, Bottle Tree Village. Ah… so those are the bottle trees. And what is this? A park connector which links to yishun park? Curious and attracted by the quiet cycling track, I find myself riding down just to see if it really does connect to Yishun park.

The trail ends abruptly into Yishun avenue 2. Alright… so where is Yishun park? Turning left, I headed back down along Yishun avenue just to look for the park. After awhile, I gave up. Turning back when I saw North Point shopping centre. Time to head home I guess. So I headed towards Causeway point. “Shouldn’t be that far”, or so I thought. By now, dehydration and its effects had set in. I begin to feel alittle desperate. My rickety bike starts to complain as well, squeaking ever more the frequent. Distracting myself from the strain, I looked around the environment. How interesting, this is the very first time I’m cycling in Admiralty. At every turn, an unfamiliar street beckons. If only I have the time to cycle through all of them!

Down Woodlands Avenue I went, the traffic beginning to build up as peak hour arrives. It is almost 5pm now and the streets are beginning to bustle with life. Like an observer from outer space I road along side the cars, casually and curiously wondering how these streaming masses of persons are leading their lives. Are they happy? Sad? Lonely?

Finally about an hour later, I turned into Woodlands Road… the familiar sight of the petrol station signifying the end of my journey for the day!! oOo [35 kilometers in total]