Forced out of Singapore by the closure of our Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, three nature-starved friends and I crossed the border to Malaysia Gunung Pulai for a hike this morning.
Gunung is the Malay word for mountain but this is actually a hill (bukit) just over 650m (2,000 feet) high with two telecoms towers on its summit and a 4.7km tar road cut through virgin rain forest.
Its a popular walk with the locals who turned out to be an extremely cordial bunch with ready smiles, friendly eye contacts and warm greetings.
It was just a two-hour climb and less to descend. But that’s enough for our fix – the fresh country air, sounds of birds and insects, sights of lush greenery, the simple sweet scent for nature. Will certainly be back again.
Joan Yap
WHAT BOOMERS WANT 