2012

Jan

Enchanted Nights

Thanks to SOS Save Bukit Brown for this tongue-in-cheek video drawn from the album of enchanted nights. Enjoy!

Following the successful inaugural Bukit Brown Full Moon Tour January, a further two were organised for the next moon rising during the Chinese New Year.

Dateline 7.30pm, 11th February 2012- – Bukit Brown (Lorong Halwa)

A whooping 40 turned up, and although the moon was late in raising and was missed, an unscheduled stop uphill to Bukit Brown’s most spectacular tomb site was the bright spot in the night’s tour . Here are the highlights

Hang Chong from nature society weighs in Bukit Browns habitat and its importance.

The walk begins, what lies ahead?

Suki with captive audience waxing lyrical on Bukit Brown

Making tracks uphill to Seh Ong Hill

It's so spacious, lets spread out....

Like a floating stage, the splendour of a night out at Ong Sam Leong

A moment of reflection

Making tracks down Seh Ong Hill

The final tomb stop : The Sikh Guards

Photo Credits Yuen Kit Mun

Dateline: 9pm, 9th February, Thursday 2011

There were only 4 in this tour, hastily arranged because of a late alert that the moon would be at its most beautiful yet.

Full Moon at Bukit Brown

A life size sikh guard at Blk 4, captured in splendid isolation

Ferns nests replendent, still by night

Moon on the Rise

Photo Credits : Suki Singh

Dateline: 11pm, 7^th January 2012– BukitBrown (Lorong Halwa Entrance)

The sky was clear, the air was a contrasting cool to the day’s heat and humidity and the near full moon played peek a boo behind nature’s lace veil.

Branches framing the moon in lace

The stars were as near galactic as it can be in urban Singapore. Orion, the hunter is the easiest to spot here on a clear night. Look for his sabre, we were told, it marks compass North.

Orion - The Hunter

The star gazing marked the start of the tour of Bukit Brown by night organized by our intrepid guide, Suki Singh who used to patrol Bukit Brown when he was a policeman.

Suki by day checking out Bukit Brown. Some say he bears a remarkable resemblance to the iconic Sikh guards which stand guard at one of the tombs. The guards are unique to Singapore and so is Suki unique to Bukit Brown.

Hang Chong, with the Nature Society of Singapore was an adjunct guide. Nestled amidst the splendor of this rain tree he pointed out the birds nest fern, which in turn hosted a family of fruit bats.

The hospitable rain tree

We spotted one member at home and it proceeded to pee, narrowly missing one participant. I am still not sure whether it was an act of welcome or disdain.

Spot the fruit bat

The crickets provided the accompaniment to the calls of the night jar and frogs which punctuated the music of the night as we strolled, stopping every now and then to snap a few shots.

Capturing the enchanted evening

Listen here for the Night Jar

Bukit Brown is hauntingly beautiful by night, inviting quiet companionship and contemplation. I could hear my thoughts breathing.

The Dignity of Repose

Perfect Alignment

Suki shared stories of encounters of the criminal kind during his patrolling days. But what Suki says in Bukit Brown stays in Bukit Brown. If you want to know more, you just have to join future tours.

We were not the only group in attendance that night. One other, smaller group, dressed uniformly and stylishly in black introduced themselves as members of Tarot Chaos. This night according to their calendar was auspicious for harmonising with and harnessing the energy of the elements

Incense Burner - Tarot Chaos

We moved on to let them commune with their blithe spirits. Just as we were about to turn a corner Bukit Brown decided she needed a drink and the elements obliged. It started as a drizzle but we soon realized just how thirsty she was when the rain came pelting down. Gallantly, the men made way for the women after their cameras were first attended to. We huddled under umbrellas enjoined under the trees as there was no lightning and decided to wait it out. When it did not relent, the group activated Plan B: a dash to the entrance where the cars were parked. We chalked up more than an hour on the walk but had lingered and tarried so often we had not covered a lot of ground. The bodies piled in to the available cars, off to Adam Road Food Centre for a well-deserved teh tarik and steaming bowls of kambing soup for some, clean forgetting to take photos.

But the best had already been captured. It stopped raining just as we finished supper. The die-hards returned to Bukit Brown and captured that magical moment when moonlight gives way to the first rays of dawn.