Moments from Pasir Ris Park

Pasir Ris Park is another place where many Singaporeans like to head to for a time of good relaxation or exercise. According to A guide to the mangroves of Singapore by Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi, "Pasir Ris is Malay for 'beach bolt-rope', implying a narrow beach. The park is open 24 hrs, and there is no entrance fee. Bicycle rental is available at the park. The park, administered by the National Parks Board, is mostly for recreation with lawns and planted ornamental trees, a tower, various landscaped features, besides the mangrove area which has boardwalks and educational sign boards to describe the biology of mangrove organisms. "


I was there yesterday for thanksgiving with my church cell group members. When we was finding a good spot to settle down, someone exclaimed that there is a monitor lizard inside a drain. And I went to take a look. Indeed I saw this lower half of the monitor lizard.


And after a while, it crawled inwards. It's intriuging to imagine monitor lizards in our drains.


Apparently, there are also a number of beautiful caterpillars feasting on leaves.


Closeup on the caterpillars.


What is interesting about Pasir Ris Park is that they incoporated strips of mangroves within the park by the riversides. This is encouraging to see development coexisting with nature.


According to A guide to the mangroves of Singapore by Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi, "A 5-hectare patch of mature mangrove forest was preserved during reclamation and development by maintaining tidal inundation—rivulet was dug to connect the patch with Sungei Tampines. An additional one hectare of levelled vacant ground was also subjected to the inundation in 1989."

Breathing secondary roots of the mangrove trees during high tide.

Walking down to the shore, there are also a good number of mangrove plants facing the sea. Mind you, these mangrove plants are not supposed to be there in the past as Pasir Ris is a reclaimed beach. Instead, the seedlings from the upstream rivers of mangroves by the bank were carried to the shore where they started to grow. Perhaps this part of the shore is more sheltered since it is beside the river mouth, thus mangrove plants can thrive.

Landscape view of the mangrove plants at the river mouth of Sungei Tampines.

Pasir Ris also boasts of a great view of Ubin and Johor. Hope to visit the shore during low tide in the near future.

To the left is Pulau Ubin where Chek Jawa and Pulau Sekudu is, to the right is a mountain in Pengarang, Johor.

How can you get there?

10 minute walk from Pasir Ris MRT station. Service 354 to Pasir Ris Close, and Service 403 to Elias and Pasir Ris Road. Carparks are available at the entrance of the park