this morning's walk took me to pasir ris park. surprised to find out that quite of number of things have changed since my last visit. the fisherman's village, which provided a novel alfresco dining experience with the sea breeze blowing in your face, was nowhere in sight. even the pond, where you could catch your own fish for dinner, had been covered up.
however, it seems that not many dinners missed the restaurant at all because the food was nothing to shout about and the prices were rather exorbitant. people do miss the structures and the ambience that came with it.
according to my fellow walker kwan, the park has seen a drop in the number of visitors. but it is not attributed to the closing down of the fisherman's village. it is due to the lack of affordable makan places. the small canteen at the pa holiday chalet has been converted for some other use. the bicycle rental place, together with some of the food outlets, has also closed shop.
i had thought that there was only one mangrove reserve in that area - the sungei api api. was pleasantly surprised to find another gem - the mangrove along the banks of the sungei tampines. the boardwalk - much broader than the one at macritchie and lower peirce - afforded visitors a chance to observe the flora and fauna in the mangrove habitat without getting their feet wet and muddy.
i had actually gone to pasir ris to visit chuan wee and betty who were staying at the ocbc bungalow along pasir ris drive. kwan and tye thong - who joined us in the afternoon - were the other two visitors.
