Southern Ridges: The hike that GAVE us FOOD! 🇸🇬

[@peilinghuang4843]

Yes there IS a swimming pool near you! It’s the SAFRA Mount Faber clubhouse which has two pools, and that’s rather near one end of the Ridges. What sharp nose you have! 👍

[@gorillaofjohn15]

this is the most incredible coverage of singapore that i've seen. It is genuine, it is in depth with so much of your personality and your own thoughtful insights. And i like how you don't shy away from a good sweat, which is basically essential for you to explore anything properly here. Even for food, you are game and spontaneous to try things, and with a discerning palette too. I am so glad you are not just going to the tourist traps! Beautifully done, and I so wish you can do like 100 more episodes of everything in Singapore. Because with you guys, everything is a story and i appreciate it so much!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We fell in love with Singapore and want to change people's minds about it - people should stay for more than 2-3 days. 😁 There's so much to do! Your kind words really mean a lot to us. ❤️

[@angiechew4119]

Well narrated - epitome of small red and green dot on planet earth

[@Dan8254]

@19:58 that's pandan as you rightly said, you need to tear the leaves open to let its unmistakably vanilla like fragrant smell out.

[@Lupcheong89]

That custardy thing is call Tau Hu-eh . Its beancurd made from Soybean. The brine is actually sugar syrup. It typically a breakfast item but can be enjoy cold as a dessert as well.

[@davidcks]

Thank you for showing Singapore to the world! 🎉🎉

[@fromthistexasbreath]

I really enjoyed your one week visit video! I grew up in SG, spending a decade of my childhood there, and have now been in America for 25 years. Planning on taking my wife later this year!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Has she been there before? If not, she's in for a treat! 🇸🇬😊

[@sngjoolian]

Pls come back🎉🎉❤🎉🎉

[@WristDistractions]

For otters there’s a few places locally to try, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park have an Otter Family that swims up and down stream. 😃 or you can try Gardens By The Bay, another Otter Family.

[@ipodee78]

I think I am learning more about the Southern Ridges from you guys although I am a local. Never been there before. You made me appreciate the amount of nature we have here on this tiny island.

[@jackchanbh70]

The duck noodles stall is the stall that I usually patronise whenever i visit this hawker center. The char Siew and roasted pork are nice too 😋

[@willieho4386]

Sounds like pandan leaves the way you described it. Just break a tiny part of the leaf to release the aroma

[@user-jk5um1om8l]

The Alkaff family is still around. I knew an Alkaff at school, nice guy.😁

[@LutherYiew]

It's probably the tembusu tree or the angsana tree that gives of the fragrant chocolate smell!

[@prrylin1]

Such a lovely couple! Hope you guys will have more adventures around the world to share with us here in Singapore ;)

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you! 😊😊

[@cappaman73]

So glad you're back doing more content in Singapore....one of my favourite places in the world ❤

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thanks!! 😊😊

[@prauunprauun91]

So glad that you are going off the beaten tracks. I've seen many vlogs of people visiting Singapore. But hardly anyone would cover Sungei Buloh and the Southern Ridges. Most of them would visit the Marina Bay Sands, the Merlion Park, Lau Pa Sat, Yakun, Jumbo, the Night Safari, Jewels, Haji Lane, the Bird Park, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Orchard Road and etc. So kudos to you! Glad you enjoyed yourself too. Keep up the good work!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you! (Full disclosure - we visited most of those places, too - but we knew there was more to explore! 😍)

[@nitnitawat1224]

Hahaha..... I am Singaporean.... BUT.... I've never been to those walk bridges.... think I am going see them for myself.... Thanks your video was nice and welcome back to Singapore.

[@kennyzeng21]

It's the smell of the soil. Esp after rain when the water evaporates. U r welcome 😊

[@skullevil]

Spending almost a third of my life away from Singapore now and videos like yours give me such comfort :) Really appreciate the local perspectives you're bringing to the table and such an original take on the city focusing on the nature. You're doing the country justice too by giving these hawker centres in Telok Blangah and good lord in your other video Woodlands screen time! I wish myself or someone were there to give you a food tour as thank you!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you so much! 😊😊🙏🏻

[@daffodilstang5292]

The sugar cane will taste better with a squeeze of lemon juice! Tofu pudding with golden syrup.

[@simontang1945]

Hello and welcome back to our little island country! Really glad to see you back to enjoy what we have to provide. Actually, you don't have to worry much about dress code in Singapore. As long as you're wearing something decent, you can go anywhere.

[@seanlee7670]

After hortpark,the canopy walk leading to Kent ridge park, there is a place nearby call bukit chandu (opium hill). It is almost "along the trail" which can be found on Google map. There is a small museum there. Reflection at bukit chandu.

[@alvinlam5961]

Otters are often seen at different stretches of East Coast Park, Gardens by the Bay, Pasir Ris Park, Punggol areas. Seen it so many times without trying hard! 😀 Sorry for you.

[@budakPancing]

Your trip brings back my childhood "playground" memories playing there back in the early 80s. Parts of the trail was built in mid 80s around the hill near Alkaff Mansion. Henderson Waves bridge was built around late 90s including the stretch of elevated trail towards Alexandra road. The hawker food centre used to be our weekend family gathering back then. Thanks for invoking memories of my childhood.

[@cmymotion]

This is by far best video showing Singapore... This is the real Singapore. Suprised you could fly your drone at the henderson waves... Many places in Singapore do not allow drone flying

[@IZTheOne]

I have a feeling it's truly the pandan leaves because where you were standing there's a lot of them around you. not the leaves itself but probably the stem or the smell heightens when it's after the rain and the sun is shining.

[@trufflefries1534]

If you have the opportunity you sld try hiking the macritchie trail! It’s super breathtaking and there is a suspension bridge, be sure to go before 6/7pm when it closes, the views there are amazing too!

[@mileel]

Next time when u order sugar cane juice, add lemon to it, with a little extra charge. I am sure you will love it especially on a hot day.

[@samueltay539]

27:00 plus the distance to and from the food center and strolling around the different theme parks at the Hort Park and Alkaff Mansion.

[@nywf1824]

There is 1 tree that blooms small white flowers that smells like fresh sweet pineapples at the entrance of Hortpark where you get off that bridge that looks like the sister of Henderson waves. I love smelling them in the morning on the way to work when they bloom. Been a few years since i walked through the park, wonder if its still there.

[@RonLarhz]

Yes. The few tourists who actually go out to explore....

[@paullim8042]

Thanks for your video, trust you enjoyed our wonderful little island. If you liked that tofu custard, next time you're here you might try Whampoa Soya Bean or Selegie Soyabean, both of which have outlets across the island, they're yummy!

[@sk8ergalx]

About eating at the cafe, Singaporeans are really casual about clothing (it’s so hot here). Unless it is a fine dining restaurant, generally any kind of dress is fine :) And yes you wouldn’t find Singaporeans out in the sun in the early afternoon for sure 😅 it feels way more humid right before it rains even if the sun is not that strong, which gives the perception that it is hotter because your perspiration wouldn’t evaporate.

[@africa5156]

Thanks for exploring the greener side of Singapore. To spot otters, go on a Kallang to Marina Bay East trail

[@IT-9]

I like your description of sugar cane juice as "sweet grass"... but you could try sugar cane added with lime that bring different taste to it,. also, I do appreciate that you hold chopsticks perfectly. thank you.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Lime sweet grass sounds amazing. 😊

[@stevenelson3515]

Great video. We travel to Sing a lot, and I love how much green space for hiking there is in the country.

[@willman3893]

Glad you guys enjoying the love from Singapore

[@zrad4995]

thanks for visiting Singapore

[@Johannesja]

The smell could be pandan leave. I noticed you sniff it, but in order for pandan to release the fragrance, either need to squeeze it or move bunch of pandan plant. The next thing you can confirm by trying pandan chiffon cake which is popular in SG. Love your vlog. 👍

[@mileel]

Ahaha the smell right beside you, the Pandan leaves. Used in many recipes, nasi lemak, the natural green colour n flavour in the chiffon cake, chendol dessert, and many other local cakes, etc. Actually near the place where you were there were the “ginger” family plants too…..the edible flower which gives flavour to the assam laksa, rojak, etc. usually around these plants you will also find “laksa” leaves. If you will to make another trip to SG, make a list of the edible fruits, flowers, etc…..I am sure you have come across the “blue pea” which is very common around our covered walkways.

[@kevinkuok9131]

Serendipitous! The closed trail brought you near a Hawker Centre! How convenient! Welcome back to Singapore. Stay for Chinese New Year celebrations? Happy Lunar New Year!

[@oneworldsteve8433]

For otters I'd suggest Ang Mo Kio Bishan Park. Not only for the otter but because it is a unique water catchment and filtration engineered area that doubles as a beautiful park in the central area.

[@danielyap8318]

We live nearby and noticed the unusual smell on several occasions in December/January. We thought it might’ve been ozone which smells sort of like chlorine. It is anomalous, not normal, and we never got to the bottom of it. Could be an industrial incident, or something more routine from the multiple nearby construction sites preparing the waterfront for transformation. We were going to inquire with the authorities if it recurred but it has since stopped.

[@PuTTYsc2]

My wife and I love Hort Park and there's this small pool/water collection area near the greenhouses that sometimes do have otters! We ran into them once and stayed for almost an hour just watching the otter family

[@suanchim4147]

Welcome back!

[@MrHnd1988]

You two are my absolute favourites! Welcome back to singapore!

[@sevenhuang7777]

The real beauty of SG is the greenary surrounded the island ❤

[@paranomic]

Just subscribed to your channel, I really like the way how you introduce the place and your hubby emotions looks. lol.. Great videos!!!

[@marktung71]

The nutty chocolate vanilla smell is likely to be from the organic wood chip fertiliser used by National Park Board...u will see them (kind of decomposed) on the ground at 20.06

[@mariojsworld]

Great hike from the Singapore area.

[@mylahbarreto5265]

Love that you guys enjoy walking so much!

[@p4140]

welcome back!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

🎉🎉

[@raydanz]

I love the happy cheerful vibes from your videos. I am a new sub!

[@ronaldhee6608]

Just stumbled on your channel. My what a video! Not just the beauty of the scenery you captured, but your delightful, playful, teasing energy. Going to check out your other videos. Great stuff!

[@HO7SIM37]

Its pandan, its a common ingredient in a lot of cakes, dessert and dishes. I have them at home.

[@YikHinLoh]

Hi. After the rains, the neighourhood park near where I live will sprout patches of mushrooms and they give off a weird smell. I wonder if that is what you smelt. Esp if it was preceded by some wet weather.

[@yodellingyak39]

19:30 it's probably pandan that you're smelling, seeing how you were standing right next to a clump of them (the thin sharp-tipped grass that looks like the top of a pineapple)

[@mikelee3671]

Always enjoy watching your tube! Great capturing views, right choice of background music...kudos👍🏻

[@ervinslens]

Outstanding adventure, latest uploads are phenomenal guys!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Oh man, thank you so much!! That really means a lot. 😊🙏🏻

[@PalmavePo]

Its the fertilizer. They use it for the soil, right below the trees, smells abit like coffee powder. That's why you've been smelling it all over Singapore. It's time to feed the plants.

[@kagome2420]

We dun call it smoky, we call it WOK HEY😂! You should try Hokkien mee if you want wok hey!

[@garfieldlbw]

27:10 You guys actually ended up in Science Park, which mainly consists of R&D and tech companies! Thanks for one of the best videos showing Southern Ridges and I'm really tempted to go especially since I work next to Kent Ridge Park :)

[@90taetaeya]

You can definitely still go in to the Alkaff mansion in your hiking wear (cause I have been😅), I’m sure they r very used to hikers stopping by, and also, in singapore, 99% of restaurants do not enforce a dress code, we are a tropical island country at the end of the day 😎 we’re chill in that area.

[@ongqien]

Very nicely done editing & video! Thanks

[@eseetoh]

What an Awesome video guys!! I guess the 14+km distance was from all the twists n turns along the way. Steps do not lie; maps do. 😂

[@wengkiong]

You're my favourite vloggers! ❤ Heather's voice is just so calming and punctuated by Bill's humour. Thanks for showing the nature side of Singapore that's seldom shown by other vloggers. You're really in-depth adventurers 😘 and happy that you got to enjoy your first sugar cane juice and tau huay a soy milk based dessert 😊 I think the chocolatey smell is the smell of soil after the rain 😊 scientifically called petrichor

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you very much!! Not sure why we hadn't tried sugarcane juice before!! 😊😊

[@Jimmy-hf8fz]

We went to the Botanical Gardens and there were otters frolicking on the grass near the lake.

[@DMah-m5x]

Its pandan leaves...you just to need to tear the leaf a bit and the fragrance will exude.😂

[@JayKLLee]

Pandan leaves. Smells stronger if you crush the leaves. Try some pandan cake and see if it’s the same smell.

[@teeviibox]

From the video, I believe the mystery smell come from the pandan leaves. You should try our popular pandan chiffon cake if you have not done so.

[@ken61175]

as mentioned by others it would be from the SAFRA Mount Faber clubhouse which has 2 pools. The wind must have been blowing in the right direction for ou to be able to have caught a wiff of the chlorine. also it's not a tofu custard. it's a soy bean pudding. Pretty commonl found amongst the chinese commonity in South East Asia and East Asia. It is Pandan. Also known as screwpine. The leaves themselves do not have a scent if you run your fingers down the leaves. It is not like mint or rosemary. the pronuciation of the name Pandan is more like pun done

[@weihongc]

The choc, buttery scent, I belived could be the fertilizer used by NParks. Perhaps you can check with Nparks and ask them about the scent.

[@kennyzeng21]

Yup from the soil. It's everywhere hahaha esp after rain

[@MrKevinliow88]

Welcome back to Singapore

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

🎉🎉

[@xeenslayer]

There IS a swimming pool at the Safra clubhouse just at the foot of Mount Faber (around the corner from Henderson Waves). But I really doubt you could have smelled the pool from that height! Must've been something else!

[@simplyme3306]

Welcome back. I would love to do a walk like this some day LOL. It's just very far as I stay in the East and the weather doesn't help....

[@Koriolis]

Heyo! I live very close by to the Southern Ridges and use part of it as a jogging trail, particularly the segment along Telok Blangah hill. Hope you enjoyed your journey!

[@dongxieutube]

Otters are found many times early in the morning at Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park . Currently they have a nursing site at this circled area

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

[Takes otter-finding notes] 😊

[@chuacw]

​@@TalesFromOurPocketyou crack me up with your "otter-finding" note 😂😂😂

[@ferdinand_WS]

Next time walk around MacRitchie Reservoir and visit the hawker Center at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 block 127. Or walk the green corridor and riffle range road

[@drako6403]

The elongated leafs that are called Pandan commonly refers to Pandanus amaryllifolius, a plant whose aromatic leaves are used as flavouring in food and drinks, particularly rice and desserts in Malay and Peranakan cuisine. To get an ehance smell, you just break a off a leaf and gently rub it in your hands. Your body warmth will release the fragrant smell. As for the Cholrine Swimming Pool smell at Henderson Waves, it is likely from the SAFRA Country Club below the bridge. There are swimming pools facilities in that country club for National Service personnels and public.

[@cartoonpete407]

Go to Pasir Ris Park and Punggol Waterway if you want to spot otters. Chances are better there :)

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Noted for next time!! Maybe we'll have to film a "searching for otters in Singapore" video. With overly dramatic music. 😂 😂

[@cartoonpete407]

​@@TalesFromOurPocketI hope so! Looking forward to it!! 😁

[@charissaliew7291]

If u ever return to SG, u should take a hike to the treetop walk from macRichie reservoir. It's a long long walk! Be warned! But it's beautifully wilder!

[@chengkahcheng7114]

(PETRICHOR: a distinct scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground.) I think that is your mystery smell that is all over Singapore. From my own experience, the smell is also spicy (Bill mentioned Indian restaurants), and when it's particularly strong, it makes the back of your nose tingle.

[@YikHinLoh]

Near Kent Ridge Park is the site of a famous WW2 battle where the local Malay Regiment put up a gallant last man stand against the invading Japanese in Feb1942. The famous Battle at Bukit Chandu and the sacrifice of Lieutenant Adnan are regularly commemorated here in Singapore.

[@RichmondLow]

Such a fun video! I really enjoyed watching this.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed it! 😁

[@geniegal78]

Thanks for showing this nature part of SG to the world! We are not all man-made ya, we do have natural nature! 😊

[@Diderot68]

I have spotted wild otters many times in the area near the Bay East Garden, near the Marina Barage, right opposite the two glass domes. They are quite big, and wild, so stay a distance away from them.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

If we manage to find some in the wild, I would probably scream with delight and they'd all run away. 😂 😂 😂

[@raspberry_scareglow]

Sugarcane is basically a type of grass, that’s why it tastes like grass. Also sugarcane is used for variety of things such as candy, sugar and rum to name a few

[@LovedDoxology68]

Bamboo Bill....that cracked me up!!!

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

😂😂😂

[@lijmes]

So glad you guys got to experience a true local hawker centre instead of just maxwell/lau pa sat/newton. Next time for trekking, y'all shld try the macritchie treetop walk and sungei buloh nature park. Otters, crocs, king cobras are pretty common there and you can watch them safely with some common sense.

[@remomarkable5120]

A friend and I visited SG in December of last year and walked that trail in reverse. Part of it was closed due to construction, and there were very few people (we started early to try and beat the heat and the rain). We didn't see any otters, but we encountered wild monkeys (babboons I think).

[@davidteh7909]

End of July? 😂 By the way, Telok Blangah town only has 3 hawker centers. Most stalls are closed after late afternoon.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

I know! We had some family things happen and our videos are super behind. 🤷‍♀️ 😁

[@hellokhhong]

Wow, you just made hiking in Singapore great.

[@AlkoYau]

the nearest to the henderson waves should be keppel hill reservior...maybe your hiking miss that oldest reservior.

[@rocketsteel]

I think the smell is the tropical soil mixed with fallen leaves and flower seeds.

[@Fiat-kl6lt]

Didn't know there's so much greenery in Singapore n I'm Singaporean 😜...Nice video! 👍

[@teeviibox]

Did you visit the 5-star 🚻 at Mount Faber Peak? Probably the most scenic washroom in S'pore!

[@Qoo_123]

Try cycling in Singapore the next time. The whole island is connected by park connector. You may also bring the bike onto a ferry to visit Pulau Ubin. Aside to that there are lots of little island eg: Lazarus, Kusu Island, St John’s island, … …

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

I think you're going to like the next few videos! 😉

[@Toh4488]

next stop, you can try the green corridor

[@simroysten7963]

Grass, Yes that's it, sugar cane is solid overgrown grass. Oh next time try the Malay Deep Fried Chicken which is one of the best Malay chicken rice. The stall faces the main road which is opposite the Vivo City Mall that can bring you to Sentosa and Universal Studios.

[@Coco762011]

I spotted a family of 5 otters at midnight in November - they were on the other side of Kent Ridge Park, across the highway. Hmmmm, wonder how they manage to avoid the speeding cars crossing the 10-lane highway. The otters were bigger than I expected, and moved fast before I could take a decent picture of them under the streetlight.

[@TalesFromOurPocket]

I'm imagining them playing a real life game of Frogger! 🐸

[@chuacw]

​@@TalesFromOurPocketyou're hilarious!

[@kaijiale]

The soft tofu custard is called Soya Beancurd.