Bukit Timah Reserve Hike

Auntie SL, P, H, YF and I had planned to hike Mt Ophir in August/ September this year. We are very inspired by Auntie H who summit Mount Fuji last year! We chose Mt Ophir bcos it is near to Singapore (somewhere near Malacca). Most of us are new to hiking too and also had limited in resources - $$ and/ or leave, including “mummy leave” for some.

The plan is to do a 1 night stay in Malacca before the hike, then return home after the hike. We saw some setting off from Singapore in the night, arrived the next morning, hike and then come home. If that is doable, the hike wouldn’t be that difficult, right? Hoho.

Auntie P was the last to agree to the hike. We persuaded her very hard and she is worried that she didn’t have the physique to complete the hike. Her concerns must are very real - we had earlier planned to meet on Monday, to fully utilise our PH in lieu and when I subsequently suggested to do a hike on Monday, she promptly agreed. Even the wet weather forecast didn’t deter her. 

We did a rain check at 7am, the time that she was supposed to set off. It was still bright and dry in Bukit Panjang. Daddy Lim said that the rain had stopped in Tuas, Auntie SL said that it was raining heavily in the North. There was forecast of thundery showers everywhere and we could see the rain clouds coming to Singapore. Auntie P said “meet 1st, then decide”. 

We did and when we did, we found that the worse seemed to be over at Bukit Timah. It was still drizzling, which called for us to look for bfast. Very important. 

There is an overhead bridge that brings us from Beauty World Shopping Center to the direction of the Reserve. 

Then, it was about a 7-min walk. I didn’t know that we live so closely to Bukit Timah Reserve. We should hike a few times more before we shift to Rio. Hahahahah. 

All hikes in the Reserve start with this super steep climb. It is like a “are you sure you really want to hike the Reserve?” check. We cleared the “check” panting and huffing and finally started our hike. 

While there are many maps and signboards in the Reserve, we had to ask for directions a few time. We must be so tired that we were blind. I am amazed to find so many pro uncle/ auntie hikers, who not only tell us the way, but even preempt us on the route to come. 

We did make it to the “summit”. It was so mild that I didn’t even know that I was at the “summit”, except the big signboard telling me so.

We then go down, down, down, down, so that we can climb back up, up, up, up. Hoho. 

We completed a loop. Then, finally back to the starting point via the same steep slope. Super steep siah, I am so amazed that I climbed up the slope in the morning. 

In total, it was about 5ish km and took us about 1.5 hours. 

I definitely tolerated the hike better than Auntie P. I secretly thanked the thousands and hundreds of squats and lunges that I had done in the gym. 

With the hike conquered, we went to town to meet Auntie SL for lunch. 

Fortunately, nobody complained about the 2 sweaty and smelly aunties in the MRT.

Auntie P was worried that her knees will abandon her the next day. She was very much alright except for some sore calves. See, we are all good for Mt Ophir! 

Mummy Lim