tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88818775964882145612024-02-20T22:18:49.384+08:00You run, we GEOG.Geography where you think it doesn't exist.Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-50729905470796788102010-03-17T20:32:00.002+08:002010-03-17T22:11:01.160+08:00The Trees are on Fire and she's fixing her hair: Tampines Wildfire.<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nicolette has been complaining about an odd burning smell she constantly wakes up to at Sembawang; and being the awful friend that I am, I told her its because Sembawang is too ulu (not that I'm in any position to say that because I happen to live in Jurong). Unfortunately, our friend and fellow Geography major, Li Shean proved my hypothesis wrong and informed us of the <b>wildfire</b> that has been taking place right below her block at Tampines St 72. As a student of Natural Hazards GE3231, she took pictures of the wildfire:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2ItimPUjt2kHyqK9bbgrZBZY6ep6omroExeGnBbvrBbFxupEh9-vN6aBEu7hoBTYlOrs2nRwHOX_gDTbsxPW4yuZL6cuDxGn0qPZgXGwOKC8Zx79TgeyyiRFxN_QPbKhpWS6r4g1zlU/s1600-h/IMG_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2ItimPUjt2kHyqK9bbgrZBZY6ep6omroExeGnBbvrBbFxupEh9-vN6aBEu7hoBTYlOrs2nRwHOX_gDTbsxPW4yuZL6cuDxGn0qPZgXGwOKC8Zx79TgeyyiRFxN_QPbKhpWS6r4g1zlU/s400/IMG_0214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUe3L9PqzHSBCV8U80ttZUD-BkyJ_bbsoEmwVXJ095irZzrczngbtAsh8I5aDRzabpfG-0Xi-dagMGrmmFLDuEb63Iv9n-08zu-uM-ZvU2_A55z930pwaa0AzFwp1iLz4vWsBPLYwVHe0/s1600-h/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUe3L9PqzHSBCV8U80ttZUD-BkyJ_bbsoEmwVXJ095irZzrczngbtAsh8I5aDRzabpfG-0Xi-dagMGrmmFLDuEb63Iv9n-08zu-uM-ZvU2_A55z930pwaa0AzFwp1iLz4vWsBPLYwVHe0/s400/IMG_0218.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is apparently not the first case of wildfire this year in Tampines. <b>In fact, island-wide wildfire outbreaks this year has already hit record highs of 182 cases in January and 110 cases in the first sixteen days of February. </b>I'm really quite bumped that I didn't witness any of these fires. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, let us understand a little bit more about this wildfire phenomenon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wildfires, also known commonly as Brushfires in North America and Forest Fires in Europe, is essentially a natural phenomenon. <b>No continent, save for Antarctica, is free from this natural event</b>. The point I am trying to make here is that, <b>it is not a hazard but a naturally-occurring event. It only becomes hazardous when lives are disrupted and properties are damaged</b>. In fact, <b>small</b> Bushfires are positive events as they can actually add nutrients to soils. However, massive fires, such as the ones in Tampines have negative consequences on the environment, which we will discuss later. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another view of the Tampines St. 72 wildfire via <a href="http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/329494/bushfire_the_size_of_a_football_field_rages_at_tampines.html">stomp</a>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/329494/thumbnail/bushfire_the_size_of_a_football_field_rages_at_tampines-thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/329494/thumbnail/bushfire_the_size_of_a_football_field_rages_at_tampines-thumbnail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are quite lucky, this is a <b>Ground fire or Surface Fire</b>, which isn't too difficult to control. I mean, compare this with <b>Crown Fires </b>which are common wildfire types in <b>South-East Australia</b> and the <b>Mid-West of USA</b>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://learnline.cdu.edu.au/units/sbi263/resources/Crown%20fire%20photo1%20-%20credit%20bushfire%20CRC%20and%20DSE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://learnline.cdu.edu.au/units/sbi263/resources/Crown%20fire%20photo1%20-%20credit%20bushfire%20CRC%20and%20DSE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://unboxedworship.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/australia_fires_01_483004a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://unboxedworship.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/australia_fires_01_483004a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, how do Wildfires come about? Firstly, climatic factors play a significant role in wildfire development. The <b>abnormally high temperatures</b> and <b>low rainfall </b>in January and February this year has contributed to the development. From the figure below, Singapore lies in the Tropical Rainforest zone that is not usually wildfire prone. However, as it is<a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=31803"> confirmed that 2010 is an El-Nino year</a>, this dry spell is here to stay, so peel your eyes for more wildfires this year! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcxNf1k3jw4pzopm3bMvGIo8-yJK0jSesMGP3MlChENOHWv3iTIe22M0J7nk_aWl_XMfaZUlIFUPSXPBHaSxBPr7dueOsIRGW1d2iswkwCTbkwRUqbiQX0K8_ELKwIm_WTeLIPptHZ3k/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcxNf1k3jw4pzopm3bMvGIo8-yJK0jSesMGP3MlChENOHWv3iTIe22M0J7nk_aWl_XMfaZUlIFUPSXPBHaSxBPr7dueOsIRGW1d2iswkwCTbkwRUqbiQX0K8_ELKwIm_WTeLIPptHZ3k/s640/Picture1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wildfires, however, do not appear out of thin air - <b>an ignition source is needed</b>. They take the form of:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- <b>Lightning strikes</b>: contributes directly to 15% of the wildfires around the world, and <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_345236.html">Singapore has one of the highest rates lightning activity in the world. </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3334251833_06418601dc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3334251833_06418601dc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Source: <a href="http://my.opera.com/offspring/blog/2009/03/21/photo-waiting-for-lightning-streaks#comments">http://my.opera.com/offspring/blog/2009/03/21/photo-waiting-for-lightning-streaks</a>, interesting blog by the way)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- <b>Human activities:</b> clearing of land (think: Indonesia wildfires), arson (e.g. vandals) and most importantly <b>littering</b> - of flammable materials and cigarette butts. So next time before you flick that butt into a bush, remember the possible consequence! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, other than the <b>degradation of air quality</b> - Nicolette's odd burning smell - which can bring about <b>respiratory problems and discomfort</b> to many; there are also other environmental problems associated with wildfires. Firstly, <b>large fires destroys vegetation, organic materials and soils directly</b>. The destruction of soils results in infertile lands, <b>preventing future vegetation growth</b>. According the Li Shean, the whole 'forested' area of Tampines St 72 is cleared. Also, soil degradation and the lack of vegetation will eventually result in <b>increasing soil erosion</b>, futher degrading the land<b>. </b>In extreme cases, this may happen:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildfirezone.org/editor/files/Erosion_Control_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.wildfirezone.org/editor/files/Erosion_Control_2.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all, Wildfires, especially in cities with sporadic vegetated lands like Singapore are often caused by human carelessness coupled with the correct climatic conditions (hot and dry). Thus, in light of the dry condition that is here to stay for a while, it is perhaps prudent for us to not ignite any wildfires by inconsiderate acts like littering and vandalism (in the form of arson)! I'm sure we are not the only ones annoyed at the horrible air quality! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Love,</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Serene!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Special thanks to Miss Ng Li Shean for sharing her pictures with me : D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">and oh, on a completely un-related note, we took Hobo down today from Sungei Kadut Industrial park. I'm proud to say it is the dirtiest sensor in the class. I'll upload the pictures from my phone when I figure out how to. Stay tuned for Singapore's Urban Heat island analysis (:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-44572062892281025862010-02-26T00:34:00.004+08:002010-02-26T23:06:53.773+08:00The Sun will be shining and my Children will burn: The Urban Heat Island. (I)<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>I apologize for two things, firstly for the lack of posts; and for the slightly macabre title. But I suppose all of us in Singapore can relate to it - the weather has been especially cruel of late, with yesterday's (24/2/10) temperature hitting 35 DegC. February 2010 could be the driest February (and probably one of the warmest) on record - rainfall is only half of February 2009. *sweats and melts*<br />
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My slightly-psychic-and-very-tall Urban Climates professor set us a project on the <b>Urban Heat Island</b>; we installed temperature sensors around different parts of Singapore, so if any of you guys see such stuff perched on a lamp-post innocently, please do not touch them (or take them down for that matter):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fPbpqOlKRNIWXxOKBcOhkpz_cnNSG5bWDYRwShD6DH3Pj433Ctus5Sk0aUIJwB9FQV21lEv34VujRWvPKrLlw1iXhWXCfblDDoz_qPzC1ltrtxE6NjN6t20_VGoH6DwIEs47Eoqa4g0/s1600-h/IMG_0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fPbpqOlKRNIWXxOKBcOhkpz_cnNSG5bWDYRwShD6DH3Pj433Ctus5Sk0aUIJwB9FQV21lEv34VujRWvPKrLlw1iXhWXCfblDDoz_qPzC1ltrtxE6NjN6t20_VGoH6DwIEs47Eoqa4g0/s400/IMG_0410.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4e-TysGAfeb-SbW1La8Jf2vZno3J-lOZpsPnG1LV_O-GBdG1006s70jwq5a8dymYncniMc2tEfBZoAei39A-n0VghoLeVihWtRrJ2wnhXe94JkIXxvNrzHk4DEoIvQVJmCtQB_3hbIA/s1600-h/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4e-TysGAfeb-SbW1La8Jf2vZno3J-lOZpsPnG1LV_O-GBdG1006s70jwq5a8dymYncniMc2tEfBZoAei39A-n0VghoLeVihWtRrJ2wnhXe94JkIXxvNrzHk4DEoIvQVJmCtQB_3hbIA/s400/Picture2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Before going into the details and purpose of the project, perhaps I should explain what exactly is an <b>Urban Heat Island. </b>Simply put, <b>temperatures in urban areas are notably higher than those of rural, non built-up areas</b>. This effect is especially pronounced 2 to 3 hrs after sunset. The nature of the built-material such as concrete and asphalt traps more heat in the day, and the <b>urban geometry</b> of high-rise buildings prevents this heat from leaving the urban environment, especially during nighttime (figure 1). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj54j2hnwmIyuwExfkJRUlQIkQYs5J1xLMhKfdiW7d6x8JCzYq-6SnnUKvgfPgE19EdUx4NNbWXmiJDptBeNwAT4vw4b2hz1DYkz_uzxzg0fOvQ4cRRaE_I7fy4yext5yCz0NvEwu8EaU/s1600-h/pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj54j2hnwmIyuwExfkJRUlQIkQYs5J1xLMhKfdiW7d6x8JCzYq-6SnnUKvgfPgE19EdUx4NNbWXmiJDptBeNwAT4vw4b2hz1DYkz_uzxzg0fOvQ4cRRaE_I7fy4yext5yCz0NvEwu8EaU/s400/pic3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Figure 1: The red arrows represent the heat released by the city, the urban geometry traps the radiation, making the city warmer at night. (yes I am absurdly free now HAHAH to have the time to make this diagram)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Also, <b>lesser vegetation</b> in Urban areas result in lesser evaporative cooling and hence, higher urban temperatures. <b>Human activities also contribute waste-heat </b>(cars, industries etc), but are secondary contributors towards the heat island phenomenon. When an area, especially the downtown core of the city (i.e. most built up), reveals a distinctly higher temperature than the non built-up areas, an Urban Heat Island is formed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The effects of Urban Heat island... well, I think we are all pretty familiar with them: </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- More intense human discomfort due to higher temperature - especially in the tropical regions (we are right smack in the middle of it)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Higher possibility of Heat Waves </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Higher energy consumption with the increase use of air condition</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Singapore, being nearly 100% urbanized, is very susceptible to the Urban Heat Island effect. In fact, temperatures in the past - before rapid urbanization in the late 1960s - was nearly 7 DegC cooler than it is now (I read this somewhere, but I can't find the source now, will do so and upload it!). Thus, the nature of our project is to observe and compare temperature trends of different built-up areas in Singapore. Sensors were installed in HDB estates, Industrial parks and (hopefully) Green Spaces such as Lim Chu Kang and/or Bukit Timah.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My friend Nicolette and I, being the adventurous-we-like-to-give-ourselves-trouble sort, decided to install our sensor (which we christened 'Hobo') at <b>Sungei Kadut Industrial Estate.</b> For those who have no idea where that is, it is the stretch of scary-looking heavy industries you see on your way from Yew Tee MRT station to Kranji MRT station. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's Hobo looking right at home in this godforsaken place:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDipSUDvcEIXArI-BEj3kCWKZ-tDzF36whY-vMNij00WODzkx3V4X27S5q-brvYGjNjixBJpSHwjgDcy6x_5HXjkdkFL0hhGbth40IKMPyGdMT-PhmVAdOOVafDgaHgMQMOJqS5gZeuCc/s1600-h/IMG_0409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDipSUDvcEIXArI-BEj3kCWKZ-tDzF36whY-vMNij00WODzkx3V4X27S5q-brvYGjNjixBJpSHwjgDcy6x_5HXjkdkFL0hhGbth40IKMPyGdMT-PhmVAdOOVafDgaHgMQMOJqS5gZeuCc/s320/IMG_0409.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spot Hobo in this picture:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2ktNzTwaa5LwGQJXDy4AqzPETvuIO8Z3dTRVMfmsJ72vp5Tlfy8a5Jpu6qbt459eUxN4f5UgEABqrz44vG4zPHp-v78LDgynQ4ZM1bydjSUtEO-K8qtgpQ2fWfTgMjpk5zqgDKOyYds/s1600-h/IMG_0408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2ktNzTwaa5LwGQJXDy4AqzPETvuIO8Z3dTRVMfmsJ72vp5Tlfy8a5Jpu6qbt459eUxN4f5UgEABqrz44vG4zPHp-v78LDgynQ4ZM1bydjSUtEO-K8qtgpQ2fWfTgMjpk5zqgDKOyYds/s320/IMG_0408.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And here is a sneaky unglam pictures of me taken by Nic as I struggle to attach Hobo to its new home. The very nice cabbie uncle decided to give us a hand. Oh. you may also notice the chair I lugged from Jurong East all the way to Kranji, but that's besides the point: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68szMySluz-W6dNn85B6NNevEqG9Ts8Iswd-vhBifUEIvjqgFr3TbKl_I7D-b79L18021BmddkpRB719KP4lNEcQ-i_Z27sswn17av_Q_pxZSB6UJ073dRy-K-4u3sYg4EqzFm7zbBeg/s1600-h/IMG_0368+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68szMySluz-W6dNn85B6NNevEqG9Ts8Iswd-vhBifUEIvjqgFr3TbKl_I7D-b79L18021BmddkpRB719KP4lNEcQ-i_Z27sswn17av_Q_pxZSB6UJ073dRy-K-4u3sYg4EqzFm7zbBeg/s320/IMG_0368+-+Copy.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Perhaps, you may be wondering what's the whole point of this study. But heat is a critical issue, especially so for Singaporeans and our <b>rising electricity costs</b> (I hear my dad screaming at the background). By collecting data, studying them and gaining further insights to such temperature trends, we (or maybe the government) can then come up with some solutions to this problem. On the broader scale, this can very well relate to all the climate change talks that has been going around. I<b>'m not saying Urban Heat Island contributes to climate change - NO it does not, it is a <i>local </i>phenomenon</b><i>.</i> But it certainly does add on to the temperature stress that cities like Singapore is already facing with rising global temperature. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, stay tuned for updates about Hobo's time at Kranji. We will be collecting and collating our data in 3 weeks time. So, till then (: Meanwhile, please avoid taking any sensors down if you happen to see them around!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Love, Serene!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Special thanks to Miss Nicolette Ng for doing the whole Kranji thing with me (its your idea HAHAHAHA); and Mr Joey Kang for correcting my grammar mistakes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>Disclaimer: Climatology is not my forte, I welcome any corrections and/or critiques!</b></div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-63844422609674046902009-11-22T19:48:00.008+08:002009-11-23T16:54:58.256+08:00Bonfires of Trust, Flash-floods of Pain: Bukit Timah Floods 2009<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">While revising for my natural hazards exam, LIM JIAYI (there i acknowledged you!) frantically told me to read the newspapers about the <span style="font-weight: bold;">flooding event at bukit timah road on 19/11/09.</span> I was a little skeptical about how big that flood can be, despite the crazily cold and wet weather this past week, due to the north-east monsoon.<br />
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Then, I saw this:<br />
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<a href="http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/280768/thumbnail/dramatic_birds_eye_view_of_bukit_timah_flood-thumbnail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/280768/thumbnail/dramatic_birds_eye_view_of_bukit_timah_flood-thumbnail.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a><a href="http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/280774/data/091119_ss_flood4jpg1258614830366-data.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/280774/data/091119_ss_flood4jpg1258614830366-data.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a>Sorry for my delayed reaction and initial skepticism, BUT THIS IS HUGE.<br />
<br />
According to some NEA and PUB statements, from between <span style="font-weight: bold;">1.20pm to 1.50pm</span>, 93mm of rain fell in the Bukit Timah area. That being equivalent <span style="font-weight: bold;">115 OLYMPIC -SIZE POOLS</span>' worth of water. okay, to make another less sensational comparison, our average monthly rainfall is about 200mm. Thus, in <span style="font-weight: bold;">30 mins, HALF A MONTH'S WORTH OF RAIN</span> drenched Bukit Timah.<br />
<br />
Let's say we are in the 1960s, and Bukit Timah is all green, vegetated and unurbanized. The flood probably wouldn't have occured. Not on such a big scale anyways.<br />
<br />
This is because the soils would have been able to take it the excess water, via a process known as <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Infiltration </span>(#6 in the diagram). The absorbed-water will then flow laterally underground, through processes known as <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Throughflow</span>, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Interflow</span> and <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Baseflow</span> (#8 in the diagram), into rivers and streams. The underground flows are slow flows - it can take weeks for the water from the storm event to reach the river.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cgz.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/cgz/accounts/staff/rchambers/GeoBytes/GCSE%20Revision/Hot%20Potatoes%20GCSE%20Quizzes/Rivers.quiz1/Hydrological%20Cycle.completed.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://cgz.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/cgz/accounts/staff/rchambers/GeoBytes/GCSE%20Revision/Hot%20Potatoes%20GCSE%20Quizzes/Rivers.quiz1/Hydrological%20Cycle.completed.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 283px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 376px;" /></a><br />
<br />
#6: Infiltration (water enters soil)<br />
#7/8: Throughflow, Interflow, baseflow (lateral flows underground)<br />
#5: Overland flow (self explanat0ry)<br />
<br />
But with urbanization and concrete everywhere, infiltration is unable to take place, as concrete simply does not have the capacity to take in water. Thus, instead of travelling to the river by slow underground flows, water now travels through <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Over-land Flow</span> (#5). Our drainage system helps dissipate the water, but when a storm event like 19/11/09 occurs, it overwhelms the capacity of the drain. This is thus, an Urban Flashflood event.<br />
<br />
Ah, the poor Ferraris in the basements.<br />
<br />
However, the thing that most people probably didn't pay much attention to is the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">colour</span> of the flood waters. let's refresh our memory:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/280772/data/091119_ss_flood3jpg1258614828820-data.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/280772/data/091119_ss_flood3jpg1258614828820-data.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a><br />
According to LIM JIAYI, and i quote, "This looks like Milk Tea."<br />
Yes, it certainly does. Which begs the question, why does it look like milk tea????<br />
<br />
It looks like milk tea because of the massive <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">soil erosion</span> that took place when the flood occured. And the eroded sediments were then transported by the storm waters.<br />
This erosion problem isn't just limited to 'this prime residential area' (to quote joseph wong, some business man).<br />
<br />
Take a walk by the fields next to Jurong East MRT station, in the NUS campus. It's almost everywhere. The worst case I've seen is probably along the stretch outside Toh Guan Dormitries. So maybe its a problem that the NEA should look into. Because soil erosion is a pretty big hassle, a lot of money probably goes into replanting grass at these area.<br />
<br />
Its rather ironic if you ask me, some of the worst cases of natural hazards we have in Singapore such as this flood event often occur a long the 'prime' district. Landslides too, are rather common in Bukit Timah and Hillview area.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6l0qJuygHIq2UEN2dsauvNJmZivqX4P6Vyyx0hx0RiqUn21kVOZFunLnwAVzBpLR_jxAQFBBy4Ljks6662ZURKPlbsbVBCn9c1F-SwXHXZHfsb8ZEpJQXfZp49ZawNDtThyvJnmKG378/s1600/2778611020100146863uyXXYi_ph.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406906865133389506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6l0qJuygHIq2UEN2dsauvNJmZivqX4P6Vyyx0hx0RiqUn21kVOZFunLnwAVzBpLR_jxAQFBBy4Ljks6662ZURKPlbsbVBCn9c1F-SwXHXZHfsb8ZEpJQXfZp49ZawNDtThyvJnmKG378/s400/2778611020100146863uyXXYi_ph.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Jalan Dermawan (hillview) landslide 2007.<br />
<br />
so as my jc teacher likes to say DON'T BUY HOUSES IN HILLVIEW! (HAHAHAHA)<br />
<br />
<br />
okay back to revision!<br />
love, Serene!<br />
<br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-20920311705860662962009-10-12T23:39:00.003+08:002009-10-12T23:48:41.720+08:00THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING.I AM VERY HAPPY.<br /><br />because <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I AM ON THE READING LIST</span> for a geography module offered in NUS, GE2229 (which i have taken last semester).<br /><br />Please click to see picture (blogger is mad in all occasions):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4dxPYYZAvSrLXvlnOp2xuJDfcc2qWaZSvCIzlfW49vjJJS-02bAJsVRCH-_J59TU0aQwSHdW4-P6CB_9wEDK6KVGIXgLFeJRI9lY5KLZ2m9MCIdgW4aXd9fOApAmiW41CerjU0ezV8M/s1600-h/Picture1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4dxPYYZAvSrLXvlnOp2xuJDfcc2qWaZSvCIzlfW49vjJJS-02bAJsVRCH-_J59TU0aQwSHdW4-P6CB_9wEDK6KVGIXgLFeJRI9lY5KLZ2m9MCIdgW4aXd9fOApAmiW41CerjU0ezV8M/s400/Picture1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391738688755866738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />can you believe this? because im still not over it.<br /><br />I have to thank loads of people for this.<br />All my friends who accompanied me on such trips,<br />Chenko for his guidance and invitations,<br />TeamSeagrass, Ria (wildsingapore) and Koksheng (:<br /><br />thank you all so so so much.<br />I will update soon after my crazy october deadline month.<br /><br />Love, serene!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4dxPYYZAvSrLXvlnOp2xuJDfcc2qWaZSvCIzlfW49vjJJS-02bAJsVRCH-_J59TU0aQwSHdW4-P6CB_9wEDK6KVGIXgLFeJRI9lY5KLZ2m9MCIdgW4aXd9fOApAmiW41CerjU0ezV8M/s1600-h/Picture1.png"><br /></a>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-15237070168350809962009-09-15T16:03:00.001+08:002009-11-23T16:52:58.196+08:00Are we Human; or are we Dancer?: Kranji Coastal Cleanup<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Its hard to imagine just how horribly DIRTY our coasts are - the bits that do not look like grass/leaves are really <b>Rubbish</b>:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTbpytdyjJlLftVSKoLb2HD7vzE2Bw5-V0dQVp9-CxqpTEKSiL8mAERaRIKqJFbvNTzJljL93V8wPQWbtgKtGaZ_X_chVE-xWaPWCuafXIW4UCmfBG92u7VoVkaJkJLfVh1JZYQNmqqE/s1600-h/IMG_0084.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381698758472071570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTbpytdyjJlLftVSKoLb2HD7vzE2Bw5-V0dQVp9-CxqpTEKSiL8mAERaRIKqJFbvNTzJljL93V8wPQWbtgKtGaZ_X_chVE-xWaPWCuafXIW4UCmfBG92u7VoVkaJkJLfVh1JZYQNmqqE/s320/IMG_0084.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Jiayi and I signed up for the <a href="http://coastalcleanup.nus.edu.sg/">International Coastal Clean-Up Day (ICCUD)</a> and went to <a href="http://www.sbwr.org.sg/">Sungei Buloh</a> to pick some mangrove trash. Seriously, our socialized conception of Sungei Buloh looks like this:<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmgcEUuIcPfX0hyphenhyphenBJfC_AbHG3VhDQdH4p8bsDvatbTZV8fbpOgj91-MvJHTbkGcXegA-GlhuLsJ3GpmNsTa99HG9bDvO8o4aWBcQuFUUpGI3wE6qcDNocEQ3jKEk-S-oa92TY66EUdI0W/s400/Sungei+Buloh+Besar.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
(source: <a href="http://www.freshbrainz.com/2007/10/sungei-buloh-wetland-reserve.html">http://www.freshbrainz.com/2007/10/sungei-buloh-wetland-reserve.html</a>)<br />
<br />
or<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381702656100676962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijURzgvuQiFtoUCCJ-blkbbx9ny827NIFEJ9kSL1VZldHSfRACKJ1KPf8XyODz9CRVLZMRy9Lvqi2sOcSI6sfTrI4cHyv0gEIrU8txB50nicivkfraBfhD6fU-tTht_bgGlp5BIkj06jw/s320/IMG_0072.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
<br />
A clean stretch of mangrove for migratory birds to settle, for mudskippers to skip gaily about. Girls guides trekking through the path (as I did many light years ago) singing songs, not having a care in the world; families enjoying the clean fresh air....<br />
<br />
well, what you did not see is this:<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381701154899791714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLK52Io1RB3fd8JnDe_6wnrv_6XPFmseDRaCREgofo7caICoGqvhNDUsD50KgO8Z0-fH4EG-FBPZzGBVNusDQHeBuAZd3y7RFktBQWy35EfsmSk5M47xKoNd80719nDZfO3JFzWv4NPk/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
<br />
and this (which we named the styrofoam farm), which nearly made me tear my hair out:<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381701923822785970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-yqidmpvpJF47faT_28LMy9gYaIU0F1cQvpHGTJpawHz1QOJSVvHXvivD78wIdu4kQG45xuf-Xg4NKARWMmXx_WXB2bKws9WyqwQW6HKOVOjfeT5Mn_0WGFpLa12uMA7_bWR_nUE0XE/s320/IMG_0083.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
These are the beings lurking quietly in the Mangroves. Beneath the leaf litter cover, hidden behind tall grasses... they are like the monsters under your bed, you think they aren't there, but they are. (okay sorry i just read this N<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverwhere_%28novel%29">eil Gaiman book</a> so im still stuck with his way of writing HAHA)<br />
<br />
The very brave Jiayi and I signed up to battle some marine trash. Tho' some of them may have <b>drifted over from Malaysia,</b> i believe part of the <b>rubbish originated from singapore</b>. For example, I discovered a patch of buried syringes and small empty glass bottles. No prizes for guessing what they were used for. <br />
<br />
and the weirdest find of the day:<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381705170278787522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeMIObjn4bLoPxxLJ6ohR3Nj26wxpUYrwPb6X3CxA26TA6KpE3-3_KPQQRaZtMSPcUeC8Mw6j1_LAyVaWkbW5kqpQd_CVdtyowokkZ1lBEDR66I8_r1mBReM1gms9PGJfKCtZUMHKqy4/s320/IMG_0086.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
<b>PLEASE THROW ALL RUBBISH (NO MATTER OF WHAT NATURE) INTO BINS. THE ENVIRONMENT THANKS YOU. (:</b><br />
<br />
Here's us hard at work:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Yl_xnUzBWGGbhAJiPD3BcAoj9Gs2Kig4CuDQrk7nz00gXAZDRipgDiQDYMpfFyOzh7wR9Ad8fSa05mXw54sUEvPOpVwVJRPYLBQzlWAhOxSgssvloRs72UR8zMwx-_-BlRu5BydsKPU/s1600-h/IMG_0093.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381705959620674962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Yl_xnUzBWGGbhAJiPD3BcAoj9Gs2Kig4CuDQrk7nz00gXAZDRipgDiQDYMpfFyOzh7wR9Ad8fSa05mXw54sUEvPOpVwVJRPYLBQzlWAhOxSgssvloRs72UR8zMwx-_-BlRu5BydsKPU/s320/IMG_0093.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381706890937880786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuANOW26mmbiwEGprHdHEhOWyqy4Ju8aLlz5gk1sSVaFBtcBjoJMjzIxjkoixLBLSJH7Ckv17qs1iUpyHqAcIwP0qwgSbBah0Bx5q-xeWhWiS-No6305YKnCoNNDHIJmYZM-aOovTWyt0/s320/IMG_0082.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
Which led me to another issue we grappled with on that day. There was a bunch of <b>international school students </b>working alongside with us from NUS. and what struck me was how <b>comfortable they were with getting dirty</b>. How dedicated and committed they were to picking up trash in the most obscure locations. Locations that no doubt will result in muddy shoes, t-shirts and shorts. such as:<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381708634005546450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbiVYW9LR6yi0nrmTk-a0insQThkDYED9OyyUxaIq-UKDwTSTNxKnMUZuJpaugZjlTnQ4HyjQt2QrD6OgNqb5_bU13ELAZkznhtOoniNYpqBXYLJeElp80JYwJL_NM9UbcYOajQZHQYc/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 213px;" /><br />
<br />
John (thats really his name) braved the muck and looked as though he rolled around in the dirt. Look at his shoes:<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381709008105948674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QdcVb_rgXOEqI49rOee5VhJmtRc7dU-qzAHxETvHhtBQZfb_FtL2UZ7zMbdSHbgdiY-HI51-ss-ilCgQNZkdubX0ntJL5Sphd8LVeLVwUjre0yGaMEZcWJEAS_PLO3Zbg6JkqmYbzkQ/s320/IMG_0104.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
While <b>we, the NUS kids, stuck to dry, comfortable (although trash-filled) in-land locations</b>.<br />
<br />
also, the girls (even those with makeup on) have absolutely no problem with slinging bags of trash over their shoulders, even with the gunk dripping out of it. I just cringed at the thought of it. Can you bring yourself to do that?<br />
<br />
in their dedication, they even uncovered a 'boat' and several huge chucks of car parts:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4KZt4tWq5CZzmTaSnbs-EPiqCM_yi-no7AgIurlAkTxGTmek8Spm_PYPyMdxEBBGYvdgEs-uyWHX8nACREwzT9AxicOSIC-8DAkzzzBHujFjt3na3M7z81X_kSM4ro4DG6Re1n0CscM/s1600-h/IMG_0090.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381709663122867106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4KZt4tWq5CZzmTaSnbs-EPiqCM_yi-no7AgIurlAkTxGTmek8Spm_PYPyMdxEBBGYvdgEs-uyWHX8nACREwzT9AxicOSIC-8DAkzzzBHujFjt3na3M7z81X_kSM4ro4DG6Re1n0CscM/s320/IMG_0090.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
There is a quote by poet <b>Hunter S. Thompson </b>about how <b>America is raising a generation of dancers</b>. By implication, the western world is raising a generation that is soft, self-indulgent and reliant (sorry to all dancers, Ive been through about 2 months of dancing and i know dancing is TOUGH). <br />
<br />
However, their behaviour at the Mangrove proved contrary... no? Are they brought up to be comfortable with getting dirty, with the outdoors? <b><span style="font-size: large;">Or are we, singaporean kids (myself included), getting too soft and comfortable with our clean urban spaces</span></b>? <br />
<br />
This thought made Jiayi and I kinda sad for a while. <br />
<br />
Nevertheless, it was fun! and I am challenging myself, from now on, to really get to know the outdoors.<br />
<br />
Love, Serene!<br />
<br />
Special thanks to Miss Lim Jiayi, for wonderful company and great discussions. (:<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381713509271836578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeoAQf01kZBvx-tAV7VeDx9WMDtig3M6-89Atd6U89SyUziUmBxWFP_vQRjLs_jt93H3-O-UV8rvEtNwxbKUZ2x9gKYj1H9aVbj7DekvoqMzxQp1fhtSW3vigj7Lc7-Djrx9RAx3S4cA/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-50681108910717310812009-08-31T01:37:00.000+08:002009-08-31T19:31:21.707+08:00"Take nothing but Photos, leave nothing but Footprints"Someone woke up at the ungodly hour of 5am to visit the Sentosa shore. Like me, he has an ulterior motive. Only, a more diabolical one:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42Gk2ZaGmXovG-G1qni-tEVUHVA0pP4aiMJ2vhzw69JFyXK8f0CzU_MggCvtGsUmn5wGyXahgqZBGwfIVJ5g9DKMCwKZ-QxHr88gs6vOjdyLtbomc9u_DDQlLqAksuHU6fsNA2-F1iYE/s1600-h/IMG_1156.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42Gk2ZaGmXovG-G1qni-tEVUHVA0pP4aiMJ2vhzw69JFyXK8f0CzU_MggCvtGsUmn5wGyXahgqZBGwfIVJ5g9DKMCwKZ-QxHr88gs6vOjdyLtbomc9u_DDQlLqAksuHU6fsNA2-F1iYE/s320/IMG_1156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373215094552148818" border="0" /></a><br />We are not sure who he is, or what exactly he is doing. but from the looks of it, he is either collecting shells, or small marine creatures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOErE6R8Gi5gIC5bkb0nsGowbM6qg_bON_MEs3Hc-PDlIagx-vBx-aNzG1011LQsrJB0QMiWSWg6RZqjj4rsZtvm1izMSHrhyxkgnHO0afYPtXclOPWhk1kYU1Vya-vhFegZq2BjTIDnw/s1600-h/IMG_1166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOErE6R8Gi5gIC5bkb0nsGowbM6qg_bON_MEs3Hc-PDlIagx-vBx-aNzG1011LQsrJB0QMiWSWg6RZqjj4rsZtvm1izMSHrhyxkgnHO0afYPtXclOPWhk1kYU1Vya-vhFegZq2BjTIDnw/s320/IMG_1166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376085979115581282" border="0" /></a><br />Do you know that when you pick up a shell, you are depriving a hermit crab a home? ):<br />This is one of the reasons why I did not want to reveal the place of this bit of shore.<br />With increasing numbers of visitors, this fragile stretch of Coral rubble may be abused and exploited (such as above).<br /><br />I know it sounds awfully righteous of me to say this, but please, be responsible - throw your litter into bins, and when you do visit a place in nature, respect it.<br /><br />Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints (:<br />- Janette<br /><br />love, serene.Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-29449078084108076822009-08-30T01:24:00.023+08:002009-11-23T16:53:35.272+08:00Everyone has Secrets, and this is mine: Sedimentary Rock Landforms at Sentosa<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Ah, look! Someone (Marcus) caught me obsessively photographing the rocks:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbNFdQkYb7_IEoBIm2IVR4OPIEDh9AFAK3MoNARufXXSvbJmG3vBzTNcZ0YTHgv-GaWkFMsjoutdRCyQNpGiPpgoYUpCYHtac-ykfHOgwFHelYs-HkgJ87nQhB_SEmj0uT-HjKWePAnA/s1600-h/3841900709_c96916c965.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375440572921345106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbNFdQkYb7_IEoBIm2IVR4OPIEDh9AFAK3MoNARufXXSvbJmG3vBzTNcZ0YTHgv-GaWkFMsjoutdRCyQNpGiPpgoYUpCYHtac-ykfHOgwFHelYs-HkgJ87nQhB_SEmj0uT-HjKWePAnA/s320/3841900709_c96916c965.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 220px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 346px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">I have to admit, I went to the Sentosa monitoring trip with a sly ulterior motive - I was dying to take a look at the <span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Sedimentary Rock Cliffs</span> and caves by the coast. I have to say, I was totally blown away.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYokZ6RwLf2-TIEJ2p6j3sas7iB4EUu61DDOhxceKkE4n7EJ77sjDU-AJrZpRs-9rNdD0bgvUETt7iiBCMt1xRve-sNjEOCwurR7epVfJ4CvcFEcv83jnaiBH3t7qJjFd2TRC0yGAFMM/s1600-h/IMG_1180.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375452583501928354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYokZ6RwLf2-TIEJ2p6j3sas7iB4EUu61DDOhxceKkE4n7EJ77sjDU-AJrZpRs-9rNdD0bgvUETt7iiBCMt1xRve-sNjEOCwurR7epVfJ4CvcFEcv83jnaiBH3t7qJjFd2TRC0yGAFMM/s320/IMG_1180.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 306px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 229px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJphAmVKu9gxeQ0nDkilTD9cqy9tBZKgUgZD4SkyZL3hty5GgCriWZthVM5Xr34pzITf02OvDiKq2qnQWzgemWRYUbm32mTNuHuXJYkZalvUAyTUKSjX0bHGnQslVp1wqLqQCsyZF9Coo/s1600-h/IMG_1173.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375465494084455650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJphAmVKu9gxeQ0nDkilTD9cqy9tBZKgUgZD4SkyZL3hty5GgCriWZthVM5Xr34pzITf02OvDiKq2qnQWzgemWRYUbm32mTNuHuXJYkZalvUAyTUKSjX0bHGnQslVp1wqLqQCsyZF9Coo/s320/IMG_1173.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Alright, before I go any further. Let me first explain what are Sedimentary Rocks. I know most people are probably thinking ROCKS ARE ROCKS, THEY ARE STONES. THE END. but NO! As I have previously harped about, <span style="font-weight: bold;">rocks are really records of the Earth's geological history.</span> These historical records can be divided into 3 main groups:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">1) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Igneous Rocks</span> - Rocks form when volcanic lava cools E.g Granite<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">2) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sedimentary Rocks</span> - Rocks which are depositions of other eroded materials, and overtime get cemented together E.g Limestone<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">3) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Metamorphic Rocks</span> - Rocks which are formed under intense heat and pressure E.g Marble<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">So, the cliffs at Sentosa are Sedimentary in nature, namely, they are made of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sandstone</span>:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">notice the 'layers' that seem to mark the cliff, this is a characteristic of sedimentary landforms (pls click to enlarge, small pictures dont do these magnificent landforms justice!!!!!!!!!!!)<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjyqJjKFVs9qX5SNHl3gRHYZzMfePdP8ub5f6iTFlA5SI23uuBqkAn4s4BI1YFabb0ENacLYmvUF56Hhci4bkMeSt3J6mGV4OKzI9IVy3Nfd0fX1O7A_nZCQDn919tjy_BZub9GnyG0o/s1600-h/IMG_1191.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375448918919183362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjyqJjKFVs9qX5SNHl3gRHYZzMfePdP8ub5f6iTFlA5SI23uuBqkAn4s4BI1YFabb0ENacLYmvUF56Hhci4bkMeSt3J6mGV4OKzI9IVy3Nfd0fX1O7A_nZCQDn919tjy_BZub9GnyG0o/s320/IMG_1191.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 326px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 244px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Also, notice that the cliffs are often <span style="font-weight: bold;">bare and un-vegetated</span>. This shows that the erosion processes, driven by the wave actions, are very active. Hence, this part of the island is actually receeding inwards, even now as I type!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">A view from the shore:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4cuW6ssal4p794NwhZ9VuWlMV6FAwPgvJAa8-zPDxu71J9ptPKChrhZvmAbDxrYYBlBDBzZWVvfCJ727tckHMW33plpHTlTW37_APgayyYguDfcrKZn4fOn000QOixOu0gSiNsKUMBs/s1600-h/IMG_1161.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375449520059220626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4cuW6ssal4p794NwhZ9VuWlMV6FAwPgvJAa8-zPDxu71J9ptPKChrhZvmAbDxrYYBlBDBzZWVvfCJ727tckHMW33plpHTlTW37_APgayyYguDfcrKZn4fOn000QOixOu0gSiNsKUMBs/s320/IMG_1161.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">some of us have the impression that cliffs are like:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-1YgLLGzb1SiwcrM4_Hf4PWEc7AtsUZv-MgNXWE0_goSvh30tijWQTNJi2KxfUGDPPF9zoj0kSFETujeZ6N0vUnqxgDX1wT7_jrLZTKT5C9T3Wv6jzOSySINHnwaFnLD1Bvy2EpPLAA/s1600-h/cliffs-of-moher.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375450570984377778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-1YgLLGzb1SiwcrM4_Hf4PWEc7AtsUZv-MgNXWE0_goSvh30tijWQTNJi2KxfUGDPPF9zoj0kSFETujeZ6N0vUnqxgDX1wT7_jrLZTKT5C9T3Wv6jzOSySINHnwaFnLD1Bvy2EpPLAA/s320/cliffs-of-moher.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(<span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.irishdancingorg.com/)</span><br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">These cliffs are what I call "<span style="font-weight: bold;">geologically mature</span>" cliffs. They go through <span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">millions of years </span></span>of weathering and erosion. and just look at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">size of the waves</span> in this above picture, its difficult for Singapore waves to possess THAT much energy as we are surrounded by the Indonesian archipelago. Thus, our cliffs are relatively small, but no less special, as compared to the above.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Who knows, maybe with the tectonic shifts in the region, the cliffs at Sentosa could be like that in 20 million years! (:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">anyways, back to my point - here are some <span style="font-weight: bold;">observations</span> i made about the cliffs:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">(disclaimer: due to the appalling lack of academic literature about Sentosa's Cliffs, these observations are NOT cross referenced)<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC4z20uGDJdB-WxkgU-xuzTszBiSFU2REUTbJFib_21uOVjGIi-YxgU1sTbscnHfrNBIjKA_VA5FxKgqgA5FjhY0ZBwalZBqVrk86txRF_XOhj99gFiS_oJ_FtrDHMKG92LCULXDOl2g/s1600-h/IMG_1154.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375456144682587906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC4z20uGDJdB-WxkgU-xuzTszBiSFU2REUTbJFib_21uOVjGIi-YxgU1sTbscnHfrNBIjKA_VA5FxKgqgA5FjhY0ZBwalZBqVrk86txRF_XOhj99gFiS_oJ_FtrDHMKG92LCULXDOl2g/s320/IMG_1154.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#1 Can you see that the rocks are kinda <span style="font-weight: bold;">tilting</span> in one direction? To help you see, i've drawn some very straight (ahem) arrows on the close up below! This means that the rocks are arranged in such a way that they are <span style="font-weight: bold;">Landwards dipping</span>.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQtYt8tsoQ7q_NNjB1Y48EQn5qex75q3MkQG9HtMpvH011YKIURHffPNZvD3Bh8xJSqYbT45MWGW0yBZsKfJFmLftxmvcRjZbjGVlzzPPOSkMaZK3bP15uafGcmHFXl9QSUb7wQJ3Zu4/s1600-h/IMG_11539.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375455889315213170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQtYt8tsoQ7q_NNjB1Y48EQn5qex75q3MkQG9HtMpvH011YKIURHffPNZvD3Bh8xJSqYbT45MWGW0yBZsKfJFmLftxmvcRjZbjGVlzzPPOSkMaZK3bP15uafGcmHFXl9QSUb7wQJ3Zu4/s320/IMG_11539.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>This makes this side of the cliff <span style="font-weight: bold;">fairly stable</span> - meaning there will <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">hardly</span> be events like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rockfalls or Avalanches.</span> This postulate is supported by the fact that there are no rock debris at the bottom of the cliff.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#2 THERE ARE NATURAL-CAVES IN SINGAPORE:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEniYmTtugA2aC50KJIDq-dGWayJ9yqwsxsUEDEJX2JeIuUDXKMZrLidnARTxC6-_ACNr7VunVQGclGNiXwW6_CPviLcf7refOCjvWigFTgneHSWPBfDP_CH9zYYCYcvRtCk_SqE0E3o/s1600-h/IMG_1147.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375458868278489330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEniYmTtugA2aC50KJIDq-dGWayJ9yqwsxsUEDEJX2JeIuUDXKMZrLidnARTxC6-_ACNr7VunVQGclGNiXwW6_CPviLcf7refOCjvWigFTgneHSWPBfDP_CH9zYYCYcvRtCk_SqE0E3o/s320/IMG_1147.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOO27eHi8sMNUVRKie6yS3gmFHDo9lzgSwY7O7HW-6ZnZwjmNp9K6-D347f5ns18jyr-hxiAWwlJS5jgM_uQb181l8T1j-00d48tj5SYl9hSAfXXJkS4A9GIv7wl6lr1ouYTHFd0rJ1I/s1600-h/IMG_1148.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375462302149982402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOO27eHi8sMNUVRKie6yS3gmFHDo9lzgSwY7O7HW-6ZnZwjmNp9K6-D347f5ns18jyr-hxiAWwlJS5jgM_uQb181l8T1j-00d48tj5SYl9hSAfXXJkS4A9GIv7wl6lr1ouYTHFd0rJ1I/s320/IMG_1148.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>These caves form at the base of the cliffs, and these are the weakest areas of the sandstone. What do i mean by weakest?? meaning they are the most severely jointed area i.e. they have the most lines of weakness for water to penetrate and weaken the internal structure! such as:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqwab2SNg7jLjlOLeNNTtA9AxP6fGbruvE0BOTA4IhHDMUByWeB7_ChyphenhyphenXwpq2y4hXh2wAebAzOPtlMkWdwSO-rEOWB4eZ5az4qpBqZsMEBS4XhNvlZuJVsqIt4nkFChm-5F2_6Zlwb5A/s1600-h/IMG_1145.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375460465837241474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqwab2SNg7jLjlOLeNNTtA9AxP6fGbruvE0BOTA4IhHDMUByWeB7_ChyphenhyphenXwpq2y4hXh2wAebAzOPtlMkWdwSO-rEOWB4eZ5az4qpBqZsMEBS4XhNvlZuJVsqIt4nkFChm-5F2_6Zlwb5A/s320/IMG_1145.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">see all the lines and cracks? There's actually a small cave in the making in the pic, try to spot it!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">I wanted to duck into the caves for a look, but i was told gigantic spiders lodge in there... *BACKS OUT INSTANTLY* HAHAHAHA. maybe next time (or not).<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvhbOwF5JSl5poWKj08gO4O7xnQbhl3RYtJAF0w7BeteSFQjCdzOAijXRxFtJ4f8PGWXsOyIP1PU9bdTHjkPZhByUhUNflWhaKgYKWFu0Zuf9_CXIVuFGEowzh7LxaY5gU13CAu1J0_c/s1600-h/IMG_1178.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375463021715418994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvhbOwF5JSl5poWKj08gO4O7xnQbhl3RYtJAF0w7BeteSFQjCdzOAijXRxFtJ4f8PGWXsOyIP1PU9bdTHjkPZhByUhUNflWhaKgYKWFu0Zuf9_CXIVuFGEowzh7LxaY5gU13CAu1J0_c/s320/IMG_1178.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 272px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 363px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Lastly, <span style="font-weight: bold;">landslides are not uncommon</span> at this side of Sentosa! I love this retaining wall, for some weird reason, it blended right in with the coastal landscape. i almost missed it! Behind it is a bunch of weathered material, clay probably, from the looks of it.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Well, there you have it. Despite the multiple and rather obsessive coastal reclamation (Labrador beach is the ONLY natural stretch in our Southern Coast), these beautiful cliffs remained untouched and often unnoticed. The date of this ONLY bit of graffiti state FEB 1979.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQGn2rBFWG9V4YGVD-_dhZBhx4ch7SeqxY0HT_8vbptr1LQJneo9VTWNyx1KI5LcDO_kdaFUGBPjv_wK5cMyR0iInxpzUKG6WvKTvd9WHcBQtdTsY7ZRNm3OHbxVYcQwEwEgZKXO1QKA/s1600-h/IMG_1190.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375466594231473970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQGn2rBFWG9V4YGVD-_dhZBhx4ch7SeqxY0HT_8vbptr1LQJneo9VTWNyx1KI5LcDO_kdaFUGBPjv_wK5cMyR0iInxpzUKG6WvKTvd9WHcBQtdTsY7ZRNm3OHbxVYcQwEwEgZKXO1QKA/s320/IMG_1190.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>I would hate to think about the day when the government decides that one IR on sentosa is not enough, and this undeveloped bit gets reclaimed as well. Or worst still, this part gets commercialize and becomes part of the STB marketing scheme. so, before all that happens, i hope that my little blog post about this relatively unknown side of Sentosa has opened some of your eyes (:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">this is our geological history!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Love, serene!<br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-71530550479471394222009-08-29T23:35:00.001+08:002009-08-30T03:54:33.506+08:00Sunrise doesn't last all morning, a cloudburst doesn't last all day.I took some photos of the sunrise at Tanah Merah shore the last time i went there:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO-NNHNl60HBvNTvI5gpW4LRDnpdxp4NToTm5Zjn3iMudxQSH303pM6Xmdu4ZLfnCTpu4pbzr352dvAEoKJEIgR8VWmNiwnvinP8b-CVdRsyOjAvKxNaXGlctFt1EvqddrodGw_9X9tE/s1600-h/25.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO-NNHNl60HBvNTvI5gpW4LRDnpdxp4NToTm5Zjn3iMudxQSH303pM6Xmdu4ZLfnCTpu4pbzr352dvAEoKJEIgR8VWmNiwnvinP8b-CVdRsyOjAvKxNaXGlctFt1EvqddrodGw_9X9tE/s320/25.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369483397223705634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzYqn09RnFMrVoJmfezRIUOnagUzj_lHSAAwDbFT8hBIztMR7FMRRCEvlTjEYldqvkKvv3sC59UNFFi5R3SnjQyW5fkEBZwFTqyBLdyTjY4lj2Iym9d9uyOF8caA1E3HEVphNHtCAZrM/s1600-h/28.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzYqn09RnFMrVoJmfezRIUOnagUzj_lHSAAwDbFT8hBIztMR7FMRRCEvlTjEYldqvkKvv3sC59UNFFi5R3SnjQyW5fkEBZwFTqyBLdyTjY4lj2Iym9d9uyOF8caA1E3HEVphNHtCAZrM/s320/28.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369485174597852114" border="0" /></a>There are mix responses to these photos - some people thought they werent taken in Singapore, and some people thought they were pictures of sunsets.<br /><br />and i like:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaIdn-QFYhOdCG8AIzJ419dvvKCllQOap7IEunqCgLQmjP4-bMvJY7RHvsCOuXdh9JB6XflB30IPrPKG3QSGWr6v5hr3ocBqTkq_a2AQYHQ3OyTpYdlgNcS9Iw85BpDzSP-IIn_p6_CI/s1600-h/38.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaIdn-QFYhOdCG8AIzJ419dvvKCllQOap7IEunqCgLQmjP4-bMvJY7RHvsCOuXdh9JB6XflB30IPrPKG3QSGWr6v5hr3ocBqTkq_a2AQYHQ3OyTpYdlgNcS9Iw85BpDzSP-IIn_p6_CI/s320/38.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375473382435232114" border="0" /></a>and<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-rXDAR7g-287uzxlsTmYnZbVMSLw2UFiF5SJWEgFfM-wBfqJvOTU2PhBb16yL9VdKVGWuwcvfnb6EHqtHfQjt9N3O3HKX3yIq4Iht0h6FL_2MTm45Ke9czFBly-MT4uXpyUBS1kec5w/s1600-h/55.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-rXDAR7g-287uzxlsTmYnZbVMSLw2UFiF5SJWEgFfM-wBfqJvOTU2PhBb16yL9VdKVGWuwcvfnb6EHqtHfQjt9N3O3HKX3yIq4Iht0h6FL_2MTm45Ke9czFBly-MT4uXpyUBS1kec5w/s320/55.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375473816005073986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and some nice pictures in sentosa:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDwGXdWJSU6nDpYlo3zz9Wfi_V_nUr7XEKbZhznEUlyz5fJK7P0qZFQW8bHHQbex3efCuoGcYoD3KEGCgUSnhGmlylQVhQ5_9l2GP1Ng3M4l48jRHyghPS2vCUH2LguVCtnHQloMp0bo/s1600-h/IMG_1138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDwGXdWJSU6nDpYlo3zz9Wfi_V_nUr7XEKbZhznEUlyz5fJK7P0qZFQW8bHHQbex3efCuoGcYoD3KEGCgUSnhGmlylQVhQ5_9l2GP1Ng3M4l48jRHyghPS2vCUH2LguVCtnHQloMp0bo/s320/IMG_1138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375471281814043746" border="0" /></a>And this reminds me of that thunder cloud in the short film before the movie UP!:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgQ7GHL4eOzpa1icLi09CIFq3s9K_W5tn9qcW5n0Ef08nyJZ_jbHj5ktZIf5aRIc00lq-_Qzrdi6fsWfnJGX6-Rz2hBw74ZdyJnQvdjDaWyB9Za4D-0772iaEYJmjEbJldPgZ3yqn6S0/s1600-h/IMG_1151.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgQ7GHL4eOzpa1icLi09CIFq3s9K_W5tn9qcW5n0Ef08nyJZ_jbHj5ktZIf5aRIc00lq-_Qzrdi6fsWfnJGX6-Rz2hBw74ZdyJnQvdjDaWyB9Za4D-0772iaEYJmjEbJldPgZ3yqn6S0/s320/IMG_1151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375472012481306882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgev8F59pE7CWC0fLU7wFLYhMSMQabLJFgjOGZ6m4k1CGBBLIVewhaYxJNut3ESEuStxqIlr0oLRNJNWQjyWIDJ-QN9lDIVHAjYD4pYCUDZq1NFebh0T2v23wVRba3hyvtZ9ObHe2DugYo/s1600-h/IMG_1162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgev8F59pE7CWC0fLU7wFLYhMSMQabLJFgjOGZ6m4k1CGBBLIVewhaYxJNut3ESEuStxqIlr0oLRNJNWQjyWIDJ-QN9lDIVHAjYD4pYCUDZq1NFebh0T2v23wVRba3hyvtZ9ObHe2DugYo/s320/IMG_1162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375472307153999586" border="0" /></a><br />Nicely summed up by George Harrison:<br /><br />Sunrise doesn't last all morning<br />A cloudburst doesn't last all day<br />Sunset doesnt last all evening<br />A mind can blow those clouds away<br /><br />Now the darkness only stays the night-time<br />In the morning it will fade away<br />Daylight is good at arriving at the right time<br />Its not always going to be this grey<br /><br />Hope you guys liked this random post (:Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-34224182269799255272009-08-23T23:22:00.025+08:002009-11-23T16:54:18.526+08:00More than just Orientation Games & Tanning Sessions: Sentosa with TeamSeagrass 21/8<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Traditionally, Sentosa is the place I associate with tanning sessions with Chai and Anty, playing lame and very wet orientation games and well, basically anything touris-y and commercial. Pictures i take usually looks like this:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373189405295719570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrX-Xr25A9dcmYmKNym97Vt4h3V9qmtxn0tf47oZxh1HbkySuPl1eXP42dBFRxXJ4Jdz706c3xHEpVYypI7c0P3QSHdL_7V15ikw8h_6o1KWjLVMel1HBhdKSYchASHyCe4jCo_zWqPh4/s320/IMG_1196.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 240px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">I think its an automatic reaction - whenever a peacock/peahen/peachick/peawhatever appears, everyone will whip out their cameras and frantically start snapping away. Unfortunately, I am too, a victim of such a reaction.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">or these:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373189204021905666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmn8gwkfN35MGZ1gOURfqimKFJpc2UMclaz-LBeYDan6nScoKkuT66ov-2YM2qscFUYUxRgpsiMUbGK8jA1L5WefnzV8cYjsceKlUcFL9d5rlRBhj7qjAijidd_WCWKQyrJIiRJ3RsYs8/s320/IMG_1369.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373207389553400322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT3w5TRRZlMw4vTLIknFVWvHWgMXno1E7qtDdJlF8x-kG8Ch4rrpOUogdlut5LzVXWwgBjQqtm101bl_OFx-LEHEOTImknL6A68n3EUppbaPT9GqUDOkP3LsJCByT_pOcZvp8hfO4nQk/s320/4789_121000140271_542745271_3428186_5874688_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">However, there's a 'wild' side of Sentosa that many of us overlooked. I was lucky enough to discover that non-commercialised side of Sentosa last Friday with <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-size: large;">TeamSeagrass</span></b></a>. There is a <b>stretch of intertidal-shore and a patch of coral rubbles</b> at the western end of Sentosa. I wouldn't blog about the specific location, will explain myself later in the post!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">The idea of us going there at 5.45 AM, is not simply to poke around that exposed patch of coral rubbles during superlow tide. We were there to work! (yes, work!!):<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373192882150760402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHVAejDRx0E5VNVBKbeT0hjl2YvrB0WgIzKUSyofwxzk0QOjWN6HNs-XwI2tQy7tPsfGCdFbuUBg4gy2pEwqooGCRBKeqz2w7__GdtpIOwOAMDmw2j5UGPmtsTf6wq3LHCgZga1z63RQ/s320/IMG_1123.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 259px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /><br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373210479897592226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLiVGYX3mLNuy8nuxsjkPUkz0JmSUrJNf5CtsE10FUWWBP7lBPQSQZ1Ya2IBiRL91MUU1dLKdiSDJJQiJza10KdM_mJgecnPGr4TnFUPeli020JPp3SXGKgai7hzf4YmuOdzSzaDweXs/s320/3841885999_f1ff76ac2b.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Here's Chun Foong and Jia Rui at their site, writing down the data,<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">and there's Kah Ming and I, probably trying to differentiate seagrass from seaweed there:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">(photos of us working taken by Marcus)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373210753800839954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl1E4tJqpILmk5MYYEJRfhvwHM_-bdok6AGXfVLdeDNYQ5ja42E1oEoQCPbDqbTq-TAL73rgMuPctjgPcF_YGw4g8HuqW6x7kZ0BHEGFCt9CPCUp9FSphMKF3lyrvp6E_hl9YtriGb9Q/s320/3841886351_ff728584bb.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Being the new-bird, I was assigned to pair up with Kah Ming, who very patiently explained the procedures to me. Broadly-speaking, what we did was to note down the percentage of Seagrass in a particular site, with the aid of the above ingenious grid. The type of seagrass, and the amount of algae found on the seagrass were also noted. These datas are collected a few times annually to monitor the health of our natural seagrass. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">On top of this, TeamSeagrass is <b>part of a global Seagrass monitoring organization</b> based in Australia, and thus, by collecting such data, we are also contributing to the study of the global patterns and distribution of seagrasses. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Now you may be wondering, what's so great about Seagrass, aren't they just plants growing in the water?! <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">well, firstly <b>SEAGRASS</b> is <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">NOT</span></b></i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b>SEAWEED</b>. It's like comparing your garden plants with those annoying dandelions that grow everywhere and smoother your plants. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">this is a picture of a certain species of seagrass:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3842680900_6513cdfee7.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 319px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 500px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">and these, my friends, are seaweeds:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3842687376_7d7cc59bf3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 324px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 500px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3841887877_11ca2b0afc.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3841887877_11ca2b0afc.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 316px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 500px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">(pictures credited to Marcus Ng)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">I know I know, its hard to tell them apart and being a geographer, I'm especially lousy at that. But don't worry! We'll get there eventually : D<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">anyways, my point about seagrass is that, <b>they are very important</b> as they:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#1 Provide a nursery for young fishes to mature<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#2 Are home to many marine species (fact: five times as many fish live over seagrass beds as over seafloor made up of mud and sand)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><b>#3 Decrease coastal erosion</b><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">I know the first 2 points are frightfully important, however, Im more inclined toward the 3rd point. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Coastal erosion is damaging to beaches (and effect which <a href="http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=74152">Ivan has blogged about</a>) and the trees on the shore. With Seagrass beds, the <b>root network consolidate sediments</b> and <b>reduces wave energy</b>. Hence, protecting the shore from further wave erosion. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">To illustrate points 1 and 2, here are some intertidal organisms spotted that day:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dO5cfG3x0XLBTBJbbQLlpy2QnxWyO8G6yKbQYqZN7tVOdqFNFH7XQH-6LdFvHJq9Jfza7ptPZ6dJcPYw94OSjiOFkXQ5s_nnLCxkffwM3dVph1v37i15PfNxCGh6nSIPNxESxxSnjCs/s1600-h/IMG_1137.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373201740534205954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dO5cfG3x0XLBTBJbbQLlpy2QnxWyO8G6yKbQYqZN7tVOdqFNFH7XQH-6LdFvHJq9Jfza7ptPZ6dJcPYw94OSjiOFkXQ5s_nnLCxkffwM3dVph1v37i15PfNxCGh6nSIPNxESxxSnjCs/s320/IMG_1137.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">This is an anemone, really pretty green frills it has!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373202433800751810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzhla1b87OG9rYIFf_iAohYsCBfX67ucyWKMVrxbW_ZJmXy4T1WoVQt0y0tCHueE6cop58_UVe6tUXjxUQSp9Z_brg7rZq9novDrNLr7nLFVgnh4ixAfmWSbe47ffnP-n-H043lz-rSM/s320/IMG_1186.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 262px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">and the Lightning-Dove Snails, they enjoy forming clusters. Kinda sweet in a weird way (Jiayi, stop tearing your hair out). <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IKGSfMa9uPwbF1CQ59o3YkHYC8Vl6PVNcaf3JjF4H-FY3j9wpIgXdANcXdntHR5Kl-rnKpgtFcn_Y-F5i5qSj5TyYRUreHwSIBJrs2vgihlTBQrdDq1jhGFjiL6WS3wq-5BlKUwXrdY/s1600-h/IMG_1160.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373203061095222354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IKGSfMa9uPwbF1CQ59o3YkHYC8Vl6PVNcaf3JjF4H-FY3j9wpIgXdANcXdntHR5Kl-rnKpgtFcn_Y-F5i5qSj5TyYRUreHwSIBJrs2vgihlTBQrdDq1jhGFjiL6WS3wq-5BlKUwXrdY/s320/IMG_1160.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">And this huge Red-Egg Crab that was strangely camera-friendly. Its color warns predators and probably humans crab-eaters that it is poisonous and it will be ill-advised to consume it. My mom thought it was cooked HAHAHAHAHAH.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">and also, several species of Corals, both soft corals:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373205426465948898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5A0DzM_sENmw4UggrHcNhHMxHd7aszakv2qpnom6s72TgNJRfaB_K4vaADbPMgEV_tiGlP5bsYU0yf51h-sMOM8yos4caCRaxaVEVJbZarKyUMRxP-db9clmQeigAEwCpBTGPAFQa0o/s320/IMG_1120.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">kah Ming thinks they are known as "Deadman's fingers". I love the name!!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">and hard corals.. or is this an anemone, im not sure:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOzHl_VCTIqx9pB3tfTxLd0HvO0mnQGc6MnHr8QD4gNw7WEpQDlrs0V_9Bu_0OnOXdf6NSNvUVKX4w3Hl5s1fyr1iOvIW0Q0ll908LBuO79d5AiKrzjuQvvHti474uyHoKARvuMl53Gg/s1600-h/IMG_1139.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373205893447341346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOzHl_VCTIqx9pB3tfTxLd0HvO0mnQGc6MnHr8QD4gNw7WEpQDlrs0V_9Bu_0OnOXdf6NSNvUVKX4w3Hl5s1fyr1iOvIW0Q0ll908LBuO79d5AiKrzjuQvvHti474uyHoKARvuMl53Gg/s320/IMG_1139.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">There are really more organisms there, but I didn't manage to photograph them, probably because I was too fascinated with the <b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Sedimentary Rock Cliffs</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">there. You can refer to the <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.com/">teamseagrass blog</a> for more pictures of the marine creatures!</span></span></span></span></i></b><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">So exciting!!!!!!!!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><b>CLIFFS IN SINGAPORE</b> - now, isn't that something new! and of all places, in SENTOSA. the most commercialised tropical island on earth. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">The post is getting too long, and I have an American history lecture tomorrow at 10am HAHAHA so let me keep you in suspense. STAY TUNED! (: <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Here's a teaser ^^:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373205231753453970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53aCyX8SI69AE5t1N0RHB8yoGae1Tvtl8lFyKl66r07sI6fKaaRutAWBi1l2HjFsedePabXrf6hqD6B0eBwUfJJIMwed1BaGpro7c8PbUUY_ICThEleyIlIoABJGstO8BAMCuWNms0Ms/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify; width: 240px;" /><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Love, serene!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Special Thanks to:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">-Marcus for guiding, Kah Ming for putting up with my newness and teaching me many many things, Chunfoong, Abby, Joo Yong and Jia Rui for sharing this experience with me (:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">-the water monitoring team led by Chenko for sharing this with me as well!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-13040688388000496312009-07-29T22:25:00.027+08:002009-11-24T19:08:26.534+08:00We would shout and swim about, the corals that lies beneath the waves: Tanah Merah 25/7 (II)<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">The previous post introduced some of the many critters at Tanah Merah, and of course i harped on the rubbish i encountered. to prove my point that Creeper Snails are really everywhere (i have a weird obsession with them im not sure why) :<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgg-T6gtSq9S9oCoG4qwkJ_WoY0JKCkqcl3erTJBLaBjwutRIVWaP9hE7a8J5Z86gCc7bcV9Mrnuh8WQziyu6L-scg0zN3q0Ktfwtu2gpQI87Lfu5DV0syqwKJqZ6FqD2EAv_AcU9erI/s1600-h/44.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363902391772118498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgg-T6gtSq9S9oCoG4qwkJ_WoY0JKCkqcl3erTJBLaBjwutRIVWaP9hE7a8J5Z86gCc7bcV9Mrnuh8WQziyu6L-scg0zN3q0Ktfwtu2gpQI87Lfu5DV0syqwKJqZ6FqD2EAv_AcU9erI/s320/44.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 249px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 333px;" /></a>Here they are again, crawling all over this poor <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea Urchin, </span>which can be commonly sighted at Changi but hardly at Tanah Merah.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">anyways, we also saw some interesting <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anemones</span> on the shore:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfbV1_t6c3-fnpGdLB7PFAhL0JRymAcVstyoNQwxi1-1LMm7fMd1nkSo60Sqc8_o6f0S5SH1syu1MSzzW56ek7khNfLYYcYpuyCdpxjiWb25TQ802-OIHs4jSeQZIhE3US-m6NrVS9Us/s1600-h/19.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363893791716094562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfbV1_t6c3-fnpGdLB7PFAhL0JRymAcVstyoNQwxi1-1LMm7fMd1nkSo60Sqc8_o6f0S5SH1syu1MSzzW56ek7khNfLYYcYpuyCdpxjiWb25TQ802-OIHs4jSeQZIhE3US-m6NrVS9Us/s320/19.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 272px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>like this very plain Anemone above that they nick-named "Bob", due to its lack of features (however, no one has yet to identify it).<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_rvTETtLbC1nYmau_pKOGXMLiOeK2IWFRIdKohP5-V5DoxNm8iQYXK-DcMA-QJnZG6AfmStbRffmS2pcMtWeSTWqi56Eo_GZdQUJDvEfiNDm7Qwdz2RhQjDk3l3YmThjaBEefO9eQz8/s1600-h/40.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363894331943084210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_rvTETtLbC1nYmau_pKOGXMLiOeK2IWFRIdKohP5-V5DoxNm8iQYXK-DcMA-QJnZG6AfmStbRffmS2pcMtWeSTWqi56Eo_GZdQUJDvEfiNDm7Qwdz2RhQjDk3l3YmThjaBEefO9eQz8/s320/40.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 290px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>and this one quietly buried in the sand, waiting to strike. i would have missed it if not for Liana's sharp eyes.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUatGgARRotLv7PfeGLlXY6AMZBEgi1dUgfV5-XzBEXiuEj7SV-KOw7L7WlmL23-bKvvGuy75jdd_VpNDqQdGgfH4TUvjOmvPXp7pbzyhf7Z-pgcngW8KL03AWBEi1BldU4oXFBj_DDk/s1600-h/43.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363895142231447714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUatGgARRotLv7PfeGLlXY6AMZBEgi1dUgfV5-XzBEXiuEj7SV-KOw7L7WlmL23-bKvvGuy75jdd_VpNDqQdGgfH4TUvjOmvPXp7pbzyhf7Z-pgcngW8KL03AWBEi1BldU4oXFBj_DDk/s320/43.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">I especially love this one here. how some of suction/tentacles are opened and some are closed.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">For many people like me who didnt know, Anemones arent as innocent as they look. they are actually pretty <span style="font-weight: bold;">fierce predators</span>. they look pretty, however, they can sting and release toxins which are highly toxic and likely fatal to fishes and crabs. This gives the Anemones its 'sticky' and kinda soapy feeling when touched.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">A particular group of fishes, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anemonefish</span> (a very creative name), are immuned to their stings. yes, Nemo the clownfish belongs to that group.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Well, since i quoted the Beatles song as my title, i will have to talk about the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Coral Garden </span>right next to Tanah Merah Jetty.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">its right on the other side of this <span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">seemingly friendly</span></span> seawall:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7gGYt7kDgrFlE7DVRgRPD3W4T9yYbYVRj6iSzhyphenhyphenYz8_PjQ3K6wlG0tdO3QaIp_aFH8t-srlrcjCBBR8hHHzB50nMllcHvSWqaX5h1xuM5KsWUuSLE_yCkoLIoeNzzDOhEY_21RNnBjg/s1600-h/49.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363903823546680690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7gGYt7kDgrFlE7DVRgRPD3W4T9yYbYVRj6iSzhyphenhyphenYz8_PjQ3K6wlG0tdO3QaIp_aFH8t-srlrcjCBBR8hHHzB50nMllcHvSWqaX5h1xuM5KsWUuSLE_yCkoLIoeNzzDOhEY_21RNnBjg/s320/49.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a> no biggie people, just climb over it and you'll get to coral land!!!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">okay im kidding. please <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">DO NOT</span> attempt to climb this seawall if you are on your own. the stones are coated with algae and sea muck, making it really slimy and slippery.i swear i nearly died climbing over it. i was distracting myself by talking to ivan and he said he would write me a nice epitaph if i die haflway. so, <span style="font-weight: bold;">DO NOT</span> climb it on your own. on the other side:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu57oFA1PtvrCtGY3rQQ8wVvHvws1q7yi_qK5lz_cpuShnt8lSE0XjiHK2jJ6ld84zr3z-vVXv-dAu8vAQKZ6Yhdn19QOhHBL5DDXBCVsa09N0sKgzYczXcJQMbR2ztqa1uBRxgLjf5h0/s1600-h/23+ii.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363906322691201010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu57oFA1PtvrCtGY3rQQ8wVvHvws1q7yi_qK5lz_cpuShnt8lSE0XjiHK2jJ6ld84zr3z-vVXv-dAu8vAQKZ6Yhdn19QOhHBL5DDXBCVsa09N0sKgzYczXcJQMbR2ztqa1uBRxgLjf5h0/s320/23+ii.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n_Du33hp95HmuUWN38kI7xIUDvVtBid6uk_B1nPtxsTqK4kBUT2MbzI8_ZPKp5h42WTy9X7pCvyq77aQLzrFKtqPr-a_FLz1vN4hO3bCyj1M0W0kcWzybsqMr2cJLAK21YmU-YgORMg/s1600-h/23.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363907384527959810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n_Du33hp95HmuUWN38kI7xIUDvVtBid6uk_B1nPtxsTqK4kBUT2MbzI8_ZPKp5h42WTy9X7pCvyq77aQLzrFKtqPr-a_FLz1vN4hO3bCyj1M0W0kcWzybsqMr2cJLAK21YmU-YgORMg/s320/23.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">i have to admit it was worth it. i never thought i would ever see something like this in mainland singapore. coral rubble, live corals, rocks rocks and more rocks. it was semi-heaven for me.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja011wEH9L97o6TWwZogtTR2Ed5sdxnSjKrBqeDSkM51S0Hqs9QILaNCzkxhm2NDgDXTq0EmlMkUM2W3mAdF5oYcp2VUv6aftNsSX9ueHiJ-eIJYEeDQhIYVSq3kvV-Or1BIvFEeXkmW8/s1600-h/22.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363909256853445970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja011wEH9L97o6TWwZogtTR2Ed5sdxnSjKrBqeDSkM51S0Hqs9QILaNCzkxhm2NDgDXTq0EmlMkUM2W3mAdF5oYcp2VUv6aftNsSX9ueHiJ-eIJYEeDQhIYVSq3kvV-Or1BIvFEeXkmW8/s320/22.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXiEE06UUJu8PFL2vqZ6KrmvDx6-Fe03he1hDoRSEdp1BMLt_Sd7MhJq02AePjwbO2Qo5GgYozKLLVAbE_mo9ITIzM5Yj6eKt93csW3GZmZVul-HvrHU2xoHaiFJWlcQ2KUW1OpWpuso/s1600-h/26.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363915808207068898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXiEE06UUJu8PFL2vqZ6KrmvDx6-Fe03he1hDoRSEdp1BMLt_Sd7MhJq02AePjwbO2Qo5GgYozKLLVAbE_mo9ITIzM5Yj6eKt93csW3GZmZVul-HvrHU2xoHaiFJWlcQ2KUW1OpWpuso/s320/26.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 251px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkRFyBY6gk5aNhSg0h2FeRV1UhnH39KknUZJSZHyIXMXTypn6cRUhlbzDfuQ46oH100LUKmpSeNKvoHFSfD_muvC801vXUBcYcTsutUvu4ZhW7Q7FgZhmQG2lkNV_6Iss2qSiQgey2k8/s1600-h/24.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363916395342246722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkRFyBY6gk5aNhSg0h2FeRV1UhnH39KknUZJSZHyIXMXTypn6cRUhlbzDfuQ46oH100LUKmpSeNKvoHFSfD_muvC801vXUBcYcTsutUvu4ZhW7Q7FgZhmQG2lkNV_6Iss2qSiQgey2k8/s320/24.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">These are corals i believe, but i was too far away perched precariously on a lone rock, to take good pictures. i was too scared to step down in case i step on a Stonefish.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">and i believe this picture below is a coral rubble:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzUxGL_Czm4sB67Iliw1VeXNEpMiufArYVsvJ02l_kOPA-CLyZWZzotBIlbUFcnvejjXutTVmCNIEj51V9t_9yOTmZiY3gIJu2BdHyiY96X-jrAWeODbxp-DqaMSCVD8-An3NsrxckSc/s1600-h/29.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363909908825819746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzUxGL_Czm4sB67Iliw1VeXNEpMiufArYVsvJ02l_kOPA-CLyZWZzotBIlbUFcnvejjXutTVmCNIEj51V9t_9yOTmZiY3gIJu2BdHyiY96X-jrAWeODbxp-DqaMSCVD8-An3NsrxckSc/s320/29.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Im sorry to say this, but i never knew that corals are living creatures till i took the Biophysical Env of Singapore module in NUS. i just thought they were pretty marine structures. BUT i now know corals are alive! and they (*refers to textbook):<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">- thrive in <span style="font-weight: bold;">clear, warm waters </span>and are mainly <span style="font-weight: bold;">found in the tropics.</span> (this is where geography comes in!)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">- feed on <span style="font-weight: bold;">plankton</span> and other <span style="font-weight: bold;">tiny swimming animals</span> which they<span style="font-weight: bold;"> immobilize with their stinging cells</span> (kinda like the anemones)<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">for more a more detailed post on the Coral Garden, visit <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/07/coral-garden-at-tanah-merah.html">Koksheng's blog!</a> i kinda freaked out halfway and went back. so i didnt get the great pictures that he did.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">anyways, tomorrow for the geography of tanah merah shore! please stay tuned.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">love, serene!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">hi hi hi there!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#2 Rocky candidate<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTn7DhEahJrKlprdQ869WzB7fNY-fkQe-bxNiaDDgoLnSsRb_MOPCf2XB652C9MGzGk1MQWFBLvQ7QcDvKJQ9VTQMGu410mX5sHb76WbUSIkLIfIwIOuU1tn53U8bvsozwr8Z8FYXG1I/s1600-h/IMG_1541.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363924184759721650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTn7DhEahJrKlprdQ869WzB7fNY-fkQe-bxNiaDDgoLnSsRb_MOPCf2XB652C9MGzGk1MQWFBLvQ7QcDvKJQ9VTQMGu410mX5sHb76WbUSIkLIfIwIOuU1tn53U8bvsozwr8Z8FYXG1I/s320/IMG_1541.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 206px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 274px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHfMYCgwtVt8Ezjd1jPnKux5rb-68Yi0_9xS5IoNrpNJiXwY8H_B9Zspe1FMrBJmkTEcToFg95DNG8VrKD7xVYQJQDmwK7QzUPrFjWycxTSdc-Rlgc7XN4kBHlJwS9mFIleLu15SZEEE/s1600-h/IMG_15380.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363926183956615122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHfMYCgwtVt8Ezjd1jPnKux5rb-68Yi0_9xS5IoNrpNJiXwY8H_B9Zspe1FMrBJmkTEcToFg95DNG8VrKD7xVYQJQDmwK7QzUPrFjWycxTSdc-Rlgc7XN4kBHlJwS9mFIleLu15SZEEE/s320/IMG_15380.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 203px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 278px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqAEBaql9cwBDvt8jKIFdfPoNPjNDGR6GYBl7DZIdA3l2A-IsfuB1r0WyLEnehOXT6cpru_H8kA65bjdGs_Lz6WCK-29E5FxXvQm8EL1TnkK0Q6TGwF3eLZf7HNiTPa0a9co3ggGOXfA/s1600-h/IMG_1538.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363926608670308498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqAEBaql9cwBDvt8jKIFdfPoNPjNDGR6GYBl7DZIdA3l2A-IsfuB1r0WyLEnehOXT6cpru_H8kA65bjdGs_Lz6WCK-29E5FxXvQm8EL1TnkK0Q6TGwF3eLZf7HNiTPa0a9co3ggGOXfA/s320/IMG_1538.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 196px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 265px;" /></a>This rock came from the <span style="font-weight: bold;">White Chalk Cliffs of Dover, England. </span>The cliffs are of very fine grained Limestone. If you look at the first picture (Click to enlarge), the grains are really tiny.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">This <span style="font-weight: bold;">Limestone</span> consist of:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">- Calcium Carbonate (the white parts), which depositions of skeletal remains of planktonic algae and other sea-bed dwelling organisms come together to form sediments of CaCO3.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">- Flint (the black reflective parts of the second picture)<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">- Quartz (small colorless crystals of the third picture)<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Limestone is a sedimentary rock, meaning it's made of various minerals being cemented together over time. and whats so special about this particular stone is that, the entire cliff was once below the ocean.<br />
<br />
Since the calcium carbonate part came from depositions of sea-dwelling creatures, it is evident that tectonic activites over the millions of years uplifted that part of the seabed upwards. and the years of weathering then, exposed the chalk cliff!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">beautiful isnt it? (:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/assets/images/articles/2008/05/geology-brochures/white-cliffs-top.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.answersingenesis.org/assets/images/articles/2008/05/geology-brochures/white-cliffs-top.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 405px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a>(source: answersingenesis)<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Thanks John, you couldnt have chosen a better rock! (:<br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-67864696097500855112009-07-28T13:27:00.043+08:002009-11-24T19:09:03.020+08:00If you were an ocean, I'd learn to float: Tanah Merah Shore 25/7 (I)<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">On a bright and early Saturday morning... okay scratch that, on a DARK and REALLY early Saturday morning, 4AM:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqWgudAnJKAu2qoJ9Dn3I_7ssY30LEgPw6Oi3aMlWV8ckn3HhfyVsjzlENuN863sC-dSPyCW4cNmqjNN3KHzb9venKRtOrx2XDE8PaJG69ETIlQMnf7k3-cNhI9B8KzxI7GD_ugSDrUY/s1600-h/IMG_1367.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363381278090978450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqWgudAnJKAu2qoJ9Dn3I_7ssY30LEgPw6Oi3aMlWV8ckn3HhfyVsjzlENuN863sC-dSPyCW4cNmqjNN3KHzb9venKRtOrx2XDE8PaJG69ETIlQMnf7k3-cNhI9B8KzxI7GD_ugSDrUY/s320/IMG_1367.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>(this is the view outside my window)<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">i crawled up, looking forward, to my first unguided intertidal trip to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tanah Merah shore. </span>according to <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/">Kok Sheng</a>, its the <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/05/probably-best-mainland-reef.html">best mainland reef</a> in Singapore. i just have to see it for myself<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Firstly, some background info on the Tanah Merah area. "Merah" means "Red" in malay, and Tenah Merah was once famous for its <span style="font-weight: bold;">red lateritic cliffs</span>.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">okay, dont get all worked up over the word "lateritic", it simply means <span style="font-weight: bold;">weathered material rich in aluminium and iron.</span> Thus, giving it a reddish tinge. The cliffs, i suppose, are now gone, after <span style="font-weight: bold;">massive reclamation</span> occured in the early 1970s. what a pity ):<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">sometimes development really compromises the natural environment, and unfortunately for singapore, natural landscapes are often placed behind development, due to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brown Agenda</span> that Singapore adopts. I.e. the government is more concerned with end-of-the-pipe pollution monitoring, instead of conservation.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">nevertheless, the reclaimed shore is still brimming with life:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRR25tfy6Ca3dYVEntTNTS9kYhSCGxHNtzoTnYWenzywMtX50T9LP-8_nZt9tXkrMJ4nB97mozN8OJWd4jK47w_ZRcGlT4R42T1kN1sgSwkVh3DwEa-ttXh3nAoDNJiLqESvNp9uzjCw/s1600-h/10.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363388776265598242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRR25tfy6Ca3dYVEntTNTS9kYhSCGxHNtzoTnYWenzywMtX50T9LP-8_nZt9tXkrMJ4nB97mozN8OJWd4jK47w_ZRcGlT4R42T1kN1sgSwkVh3DwEa-ttXh3nAoDNJiLqESvNp9uzjCw/s320/10.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 265px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 156px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QMTimpK-LuOisThYl_BkcFj0MKK92xbI-yQneH_esc-BxLePiOSzWahIcGMRE47okIsc9yoBFWewNfmSFnNN3CEscKtOfdeRO0LpzXSS5vV_zENc2dLJCfeOSi4EoHsjIG0nJssftqM/s1600-h/IMG_1510.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363389858819070178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QMTimpK-LuOisThYl_BkcFj0MKK92xbI-yQneH_esc-BxLePiOSzWahIcGMRE47okIsc9yoBFWewNfmSFnNN3CEscKtOfdeRO0LpzXSS5vV_zENc2dLJCfeOSi4EoHsjIG0nJssftqM/s320/IMG_1510.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 297px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Like these <span style="font-weight: bold;">flat heads</span>, a black one and a BW stripped one. i love how they are so placid. unlike some of the other gan-chiong fishes which totally freaked out when we walked a little closer.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4_Ybe2pMFDfTBIidUFQTWPeL09nWoWlysOH1oIFgPryV8jQ8P47YIE4QqBgxGBjq-vREdShAAk2F_1Y5xxSJS78bi4mjuyiLuo5i5fnAQZUZ6SMsJgpLiuDKm4cj-gOn4oQhqi2eQmE/s1600-h/6.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363397945531342290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4_Ybe2pMFDfTBIidUFQTWPeL09nWoWlysOH1oIFgPryV8jQ8P47YIE4QqBgxGBjq-vREdShAAk2F_1Y5xxSJS78bi4mjuyiLuo5i5fnAQZUZ6SMsJgpLiuDKm4cj-gOn4oQhqi2eQmE/s320/6.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 229px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>we also saw this very very very cute <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sweetlip</span> fish. it looks sleepy! im dedicating this picture to the Sweet Leaf karin (:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkVixLqlQPHEo39d2HOpY4tp3ADRkMoa1XHRsWnuqiwHLpzgFXVOBmC5fngpdhERqr0Xku4TuRplnninFGmu8KIK3zouKQ7KaA0Odjvo56Z9mXYmW2sk98SwPNJz9qbpZDAfTSDBJK6U/s1600-h/3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363399444901309346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkVixLqlQPHEo39d2HOpY4tp3ADRkMoa1XHRsWnuqiwHLpzgFXVOBmC5fngpdhERqr0Xku4TuRplnninFGmu8KIK3zouKQ7KaA0Odjvo56Z9mXYmW2sk98SwPNJz9qbpZDAfTSDBJK6U/s320/3.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 229px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 277px;" /></a>This is one of the very gan-jiong fishes im talking about - a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Flat Fish</span> (note different from Flathead). go a little closer to it and it will swim away, rather violently.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFnV5R3fK4gVCgMc9tdnmfzQNvewXhGMZC6GY6jMfmuifz-VCFgKrHJBHNVgfGzJ1Ts_d5yW_3IZzyMNtxl06SqhcC5qWTK6BWq7ntPzupTxDeImxgb9AYMp-EPTaKe3E8sfjbwfrb5U/s1600-h/41.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363403897528641234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFnV5R3fK4gVCgMc9tdnmfzQNvewXhGMZC6GY6jMfmuifz-VCFgKrHJBHNVgfGzJ1Ts_d5yW_3IZzyMNtxl06SqhcC5qWTK6BWq7ntPzupTxDeImxgb9AYMp-EPTaKe3E8sfjbwfrb5U/s320/41.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 236px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">And this is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rabbitfish</span>. its very much alive, i assure you, for it is submerged in the shallow water. however, it attempted to kill itself a couple of times. and we had to nudged it back into the water, and it would violently swim out again. it happened like... 6 times.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">'Rabbitfish'- the name makes it sound pretty harmless. however, the spines on the fins contain venomous glands that will sting if touched. its a defensive tool instead of an offensive one, as they are herbivores.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfb_TQhNh4cT5s1CkxehY2aHBrkNpqp5jEujDskFWewBKFC3O2brHnRS92AKBfqwC18uZ-Ps37LIAgzT2Jh6_dplhZyT8R6KhS8Z7mIXO83IbpK8sGFGKuov1IHhrhzwYtinLuKJakD0/s1600-h/2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363391208519477442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfb_TQhNh4cT5s1CkxehY2aHBrkNpqp5jEujDskFWewBKFC3O2brHnRS92AKBfqwC18uZ-Ps37LIAgzT2Jh6_dplhZyT8R6KhS8Z7mIXO83IbpK8sGFGKuov1IHhrhzwYtinLuKJakD0/s320/2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>The shore is literally covered with these <span style="font-weight: bold;">Creeper Snails</span>, i tried to avoid stepping on them but to no avail. <a href="http://nearly-lucid.blogspot.com/">Liana</a> also showed me these very beautiful <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dubious Nerite Snails</span> (yes thats their real name DUBIOUS huh) :<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r4GJPSXAaXQLykYUmbF6WYFRu5poRCfWB4-EnoKA4W5Au-teTWth6byDEvL_hzfcyqjYSQosZo_M8bCNQUbElkPJ9I-FbFYj6jBnL4svE5qU61a731Bhr1U9cbnxNOSRw47H2Bkfciw/s1600-h/35.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363395376277947826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r4GJPSXAaXQLykYUmbF6WYFRu5poRCfWB4-EnoKA4W5Au-teTWth6byDEvL_hzfcyqjYSQosZo_M8bCNQUbElkPJ9I-FbFYj6jBnL4svE5qU61a731Bhr1U9cbnxNOSRw47H2Bkfciw/s320/35.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJqVanwKOGFVKyHjthJxGehxcS9QM3-Ps8gohPsFnhApU9apsS_KZF76JN7tdWisW4iB54LtRCbNAHq-fhc8luCUi7y95MwcVwU0p_kKYRI38owSugfGrIUkn1nRlsC0hTKZuMYjRHWU/s1600-h/36.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363395956667062098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJqVanwKOGFVKyHjthJxGehxcS9QM3-Ps8gohPsFnhApU9apsS_KZF76JN7tdWisW4iB54LtRCbNAHq-fhc8luCUi7y95MwcVwU0p_kKYRI38owSugfGrIUkn1nRlsC0hTKZuMYjRHWU/s320/36.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 293px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 255px;" /></a>they are so incredibly tiny! i thought that they were simply larger grains of sediments. however, if you noticed, each individual snail has different markings on its shell.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6a7GARIDCGdGoeHCN3SUtg4fOoFuXZIej9IoyprbP2XaZLNk_Z5ewgMXXzL5CbWYVmopbRIstWFNc9h5hLsfN6e9ETbG_TkjtvApI3NrDgcIvqW3YeFp1Uz8n3iwd7Psf5gSO90Na4o/s1600-h/11.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363406072645201106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6a7GARIDCGdGoeHCN3SUtg4fOoFuXZIej9IoyprbP2XaZLNk_Z5ewgMXXzL5CbWYVmopbRIstWFNc9h5hLsfN6e9ETbG_TkjtvApI3NrDgcIvqW3YeFp1Uz8n3iwd7Psf5gSO90Na4o/s320/11.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 258px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>This is an orange <span style="font-weight: bold;">Moonsnail</span>, so pretty!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda6R8aYTQxNCMuv8ARMXnvVeO_Hhcupc8prxWHFuZ80y9zS97gt0WhrRhXxRzQp0MGD8o5tDYu4oaOCYf345kPVSu2D7llP5HK8JUPHBEtq8Eh2U1Fm6T9xDPa52CxBRG2YSEY_09T5M/s1600-h/16.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363406882852892002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda6R8aYTQxNCMuv8ARMXnvVeO_Hhcupc8prxWHFuZ80y9zS97gt0WhrRhXxRzQp0MGD8o5tDYu4oaOCYf345kPVSu2D7llP5HK8JUPHBEtq8Eh2U1Fm6T9xDPa52CxBRG2YSEY_09T5M/s320/16.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 278px;" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3o4Gtw-BxP7xNrpC-mFsZnNFyCxLSUrGdN-ADxFUs6auv5NcGtL6gKf-MnY6MCGMli19CZbl_6qJJqYi875Y7gKdvzj-U6D62lX2kBJVeS_vgRnytjbSL9xbHBmtWltAjE2STvs1bck/s1600-h/33.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363409297739665378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3o4Gtw-BxP7xNrpC-mFsZnNFyCxLSUrGdN-ADxFUs6auv5NcGtL6gKf-MnY6MCGMli19CZbl_6qJJqYi875Y7gKdvzj-U6D62lX2kBJVeS_vgRnytjbSL9xbHBmtWltAjE2STvs1bck/s320/33.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 262px; width: 254px;" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">This is an <span style="font-weight: bold;">Acorn W</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">orm</span> (up). it 'eats' the sediments and extracts the organic materials in the sediments and later passes the rest of the sediments out (down).<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUBtkJRNLa-mOmVBtm9KaWJQN_pe1bllpCjAGLOUz-QdkidsiPukUEuoN1n7J9iyH6HEyXy9ipJ_aQb69JZyqsx6GNHdKHWzOHaG-YvoFVqLVQa3PJ8WUHjlJohWfvwfY_4hwZXV1fLg/s1600-h/37.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363410251860489154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUBtkJRNLa-mOmVBtm9KaWJQN_pe1bllpCjAGLOUz-QdkidsiPukUEuoN1n7J9iyH6HEyXy9ipJ_aQb69JZyqsx6GNHdKHWzOHaG-YvoFVqLVQa3PJ8WUHjlJohWfvwfY_4hwZXV1fLg/s320/37.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>This is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fan Worm </span>when its closed up. And when it is opens, it looks like this:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTN7DNT0RWpmc-tbIt9m_TPrdlUWQweM855P7PPf4A_ikaa0uJ3w4aKlrJQb-2O54PHXsnWC5MX6d65p3DNBj5MmgecgCwyNAbql39uNgXnADkfFFEddYP3JFTzA7Pr7hyphenhyphenru-hq5xC5g/s1600-h/52.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363410704408309298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTN7DNT0RWpmc-tbIt9m_TPrdlUWQweM855P7PPf4A_ikaa0uJ3w4aKlrJQb-2O54PHXsnWC5MX6d65p3DNBj5MmgecgCwyNAbql39uNgXnADkfFFEddYP3JFTzA7Pr7hyphenhyphenru-hq5xC5g/s320/52.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 258px;" /></a>and another <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fan worm</span> of different color, incredible arent they. i used to think that all worms are gross till i saw them.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KBmJ-ai8Uen1GPkn6-MFI-RFnNh98FD5G8BCPObvB-HbHxn_rbZ9Q9fvUSMqEmCG-24Woz73NK3iymgosNsbyvsUtX4dhNo_DjZoIvCPBA95_unHt0-erFJSIejkjzBorXIaLUfj2cs/s1600-h/50.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363411222020642658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KBmJ-ai8Uen1GPkn6-MFI-RFnNh98FD5G8BCPObvB-HbHxn_rbZ9Q9fvUSMqEmCG-24Woz73NK3iymgosNsbyvsUtX4dhNo_DjZoIvCPBA95_unHt0-erFJSIejkjzBorXIaLUfj2cs/s320/50.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 242px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>and there is my favourite, the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Peanut Worm</span>:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKHYqSlsUKjYqVwIobH-XICZPOS3V4pVSKd5pWOE3PNybhgqZBa_6mcOotrkerhf8uBGWXMs3dooBs1PGLDu4FtUHRO2Vu9Z7Sn9ihey6OZl-3tO09t-fdA1BQFqE6dXEkx9RxEgubSA/s1600-h/42.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363412030465845730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKHYqSlsUKjYqVwIobH-XICZPOS3V4pVSKd5pWOE3PNybhgqZBa_6mcOotrkerhf8uBGWXMs3dooBs1PGLDu4FtUHRO2Vu9Z7Sn9ihey6OZl-3tO09t-fdA1BQFqE6dXEkx9RxEgubSA/s320/42.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>they are burrowing creatures, and here is an example of a kaypo worm poking out to the surface:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXqyy8SsinZnHKFThMeRBNNa2Rg1fd_pDLjugXrushC0B-CBYNx79Q9pY0VsSB9xF6q6ZeVVnG5x2943a6pFMubzwsHsmF1yvEm_Zzi0bIg6Gvl0vJFc9UeZeTP9Pvc_isEmzrIGQyvo/s1600-h/57.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363413179591146898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXqyy8SsinZnHKFThMeRBNNa2Rg1fd_pDLjugXrushC0B-CBYNx79Q9pY0VsSB9xF6q6ZeVVnG5x2943a6pFMubzwsHsmF1yvEm_Zzi0bIg6Gvl0vJFc9UeZeTP9Pvc_isEmzrIGQyvo/s320/57.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 259px;" /></a>we later saw a whole bunch of different crabs on the shore, most which i cannot identify. like these:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#1<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WhO7mewWI7pw7m-M7GzlPejpH-Hc6DTqBY31R4WIoDEKWWpPt4qwHdObggUwgRdZB8t41fak0RGjAoChyphenhyphen4IQEAregAgMOKIBMc2tzus7H2CArGNDIfd1uqWNPLcwPJTu_BTLSg2KPMU/s1600-h/7.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363413969932645170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WhO7mewWI7pw7m-M7GzlPejpH-Hc6DTqBY31R4WIoDEKWWpPt4qwHdObggUwgRdZB8t41fak0RGjAoChyphenhyphen4IQEAregAgMOKIBMc2tzus7H2CArGNDIfd1uqWNPLcwPJTu_BTLSg2KPMU/s320/7.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 234px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 262px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">hahaha look at their eyes!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#2<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gadzJG-AXG9i6pBRxtO8YsYXbah9kwmkFg6mkFOgEJzuqGJMt3CZcSducY7YYHetBfZN6GkgnWe_MZPiKomzX34vMIOFj6XNGoEmiiE0tCVP3Ax8dVV34Zz5RNbg6NHEvQEhjIXr-HM/s1600-h/8.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363414209043933282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gadzJG-AXG9i6pBRxtO8YsYXbah9kwmkFg6mkFOgEJzuqGJMt3CZcSducY7YYHetBfZN6GkgnWe_MZPiKomzX34vMIOFj6XNGoEmiiE0tCVP3Ax8dVV34Zz5RNbg6NHEvQEhjIXr-HM/s320/8.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 257px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibutk3WLqdL1dJPyfGGTwVDd54e-Em3nTdSjA9ZnAI3hnilfa7vE3HXPgKOIhGTVOWknZ7Z0dX9e7Xc6wddI-MVZVER7lDqQcwFlRXkgH1M0eYxBxhooPSQOWwdllxklN3ykxtlsPgYbE/s1600-h/18.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363414628881693778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibutk3WLqdL1dJPyfGGTwVDd54e-Em3nTdSjA9ZnAI3hnilfa7vE3HXPgKOIhGTVOWknZ7Z0dX9e7Xc6wddI-MVZVER7lDqQcwFlRXkgH1M0eYxBxhooPSQOWwdllxklN3ykxtlsPgYbE/s320/18.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 306px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">and this is a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Moon Crab:<br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy_KTv79r4gvjPbqhdhHn1vGDeIvqfIqNyguiJ5qjZjKdrGYZARYaZuoNhCNk0aivUPM4jsKg-Ey9WLLEGM7DPEwa6A9trc8rB4vW4Lp6cee0EV3BrVxRRMZiMsr2jnbsvqN7lLGO85U/s1600-h/34.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363415197282187378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy_KTv79r4gvjPbqhdhHn1vGDeIvqfIqNyguiJ5qjZjKdrGYZARYaZuoNhCNk0aivUPM4jsKg-Ey9WLLEGM7DPEwa6A9trc8rB4vW4Lp6cee0EV3BrVxRRMZiMsr2jnbsvqN7lLGO85U/s320/34.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 264px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>and a very fierce <span style="font-weight: bold;">Flower Crab</span> which tried to giap Liana:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof-Zb4lfqeL1JqYH9A_fFZgiRo3v633EeuAFcuc_Hj_P4nxlM_e02dT-u_fR5n_YNnh_455H4cIWT1wEIXIEKVJtd-9065yuVcwmYj6mQQVOGDE9rQ7OMDzA13WIYWERDGFgD2i9eBGE/s1600-h/39.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363416105509199618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof-Zb4lfqeL1JqYH9A_fFZgiRo3v633EeuAFcuc_Hj_P4nxlM_e02dT-u_fR5n_YNnh_455H4cIWT1wEIXIEKVJtd-9065yuVcwmYj6mQQVOGDE9rQ7OMDzA13WIYWERDGFgD2i9eBGE/s320/39.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>its amazing isnt it. that all these could be seen on a reclaimed shore, filled with litter:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn4V5Ua0Y6SQvCZolUJgG-WyQv4_ql8N0fHe9VIoM7WBfCPMnjnV92irLDQIfo3Yis2eY4jRcoB7tm3wwKEzdLpjfQHYaYW7SVz6UEkHvBtD8oXByBQhBNgNzsyYYyCKJt8HUpLzYiiM/s1600-h/21.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363416885150615426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHn4V5Ua0Y6SQvCZolUJgG-WyQv4_ql8N0fHe9VIoM7WBfCPMnjnV92irLDQIfo3Yis2eY4jRcoB7tm3wwKEzdLpjfQHYaYW7SVz6UEkHvBtD8oXByBQhBNgNzsyYYyCKJt8HUpLzYiiM/s320/21.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(i cant write a proper post without commenting on the rubbish i see) and notice those black dots around the rubbish? they are really the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Creeper Snails</span> i mentioned above.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">this post is getting a little long hahahaa.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">stay tuned for the next one, on the anemones and other critters that we spotted (or at least they spotted HAHAHA). and also the physical geography factors behind it all! This is only the beginning!!! (:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Love, serene!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Special Thanks to: Koksheng for organising this trip, Liana, James and Ivan for company (:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Special Thanks to: Ria for helping me figure out what is wrong with my blogger dashboard!!!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">____________________________________________________________________<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">On a completely unrelated note, ive started a <span style="font-weight: bold;">rock collection</span>. my friends who went travelling picked up many many rocks for me along the way. and after every post, i'll talk a little bit about one of them.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">so the first candidate:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKr8OYIyahkahmgbEmdW2l5ikaMkFzwARqbOiAS2-sQthAL4SAifpZCsKMSd1-PKUVheS5WV3iqqdsg6-BogebWuxFMK3ukVpOu0oaCRbzk2dC88yBZzvXyF314Rg_K9t8Z1gq5q1MZk/s1600-h/IMG_1535.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363419529924230754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKr8OYIyahkahmgbEmdW2l5ikaMkFzwARqbOiAS2-sQthAL4SAifpZCsKMSd1-PKUVheS5WV3iqqdsg6-BogebWuxFMK3ukVpOu0oaCRbzk2dC88yBZzvXyF314Rg_K9t8Z1gq5q1MZk/s320/IMG_1535.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>this is a volcanic rock and it came from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ruapehu"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mt Ruapehu</span></a> in New Zealand. Serchung picked it up for me when he was there for some army training thing (a very convenient valentine's day present).<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">IT WAS ONCE UNDER THE EARTH'S SURFACE!!!!</span><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">okay anyways, Mt Ruapehu is a very active <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">stratovolcano. </span>Its eruptions are explosive in nature, very much UNLIKE those in Hawaii, which eruptions are more subdue. an example of an eruption at Mt Ruapehu:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://203.86.194.7/Sites/cpg/images/eruptionMtRuapehu.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://203.86.194.7/Sites/cpg/images/eruptionMtRuapehu.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 237px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>(source: http://www.craigpottongallery.com/gallery)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">the <span style="font-weight: bold;">lava</span> (magma = molten rock under the earth's surface, lava = molten rock on the earth's surface), is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Andesitic</span> in nature. Andesitic, meaning it has marine mineral influence, as the mt ruapehu is form when the Oceanic crust subducts under a less dense oceanic crust.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">This process injects the ocean water into the molten rock (magma) mixture and when the molten mixture comes up to the surface during an eruption, it cools to form the rock i have.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">did i lose you guys there? (i think jiayi just fainted). a diagram wld be good here:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.oup.com/us/images/hazards/v6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.oup.com/us/images/hazards/v6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 210px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(source: USGS)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">This process is still taking place today. as one plate continues subducting under the other. it has been taking place over millions and millions of years. HAHA and i have a bit of that history sitting on my desk right now. (:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">i love plate tectonics and i promise there will be more of such stuff to come.<br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-312662151252695992009-07-18T00:16:00.003+08:002009-07-18T00:28:00.863+08:00News Flash: Total Solar Eclipse!Prolly a lot of people already know about this, but...<br /><br />My friend, Wanleng (aka Anty), just told me that a <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">Total Solar Eclipse</span> will occur on:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Wednesday, 22nd July 2009</span> <st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" st="on"><st1:place st="on"><br /><br />Singapore</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> – 08:40:51 AM to 09:43:55<br /><br />AM</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Maximum Eclipse at 09:11:26 AM</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.techdreams.org/general/total-solar-eclipse-on-july-22nd-2009-%E2%80%93-the-most-powerful-eclipse-of-the-year-2009/2658-20090625">Here </a>to find out more about the Eclipse. Dont miss it! it is apparently the fullest one in the 21st century (well we are only 10 yrs into the century, but never mind.)<br /><br />Im so excited HAHAHA, I'll be going to Sungei Buloh with some friends to catch this (:<br />updates after wednesday! (:<br /><br />Love, serene!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://dsc.discovery.com/space/top-10/sky-events-2009/solar-eclipse-625x450.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 414px; height: 298px;" src="http://dsc.discovery.com/space/top-10/sky-events-2009/solar-eclipse-625x450.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-8471702607928877222009-07-08T21:22:00.019+08:002009-11-24T19:09:30.981+08:00Xiao Gui Lin II: Some random finds and photos<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Quite a few of my friends told me that they didnt know about Xiao Guilin till they saw the blog entry. so i thought maybe i should put up more pictures of this awesome granite quarry (ex-quarry?). here are some random pictures i took:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZzGZmKPUN3RVdqi2jZsKmn3grG7aoktMIum0FsZUGH2vgPo8RTxcFHHLDb6-iAuLL1jMGWZBp4m381UngqxTjwppzvZu7dUjnSc-U2crHNm_XT9Hv7DgoiY_x0L5_LOGDgSYIyaauc8/s1600-h/IMG_1132.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356086912552855474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZzGZmKPUN3RVdqi2jZsKmn3grG7aoktMIum0FsZUGH2vgPo8RTxcFHHLDb6-iAuLL1jMGWZBp4m381UngqxTjwppzvZu7dUjnSc-U2crHNm_XT9Hv7DgoiY_x0L5_LOGDgSYIyaauc8/s320/IMG_1132.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>I love the innocence of this picture. it kinda reminds me of the stories my dad used to tell me about his childhood - catching spiders and fishing. It says nothing of the fast-living urban life that many of us lead.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86KAQ1V2S3lQfuwjsJlLjWlGEwKSfDO4kP6WrVrSRBrx54_0omyebg4PDgSUX9quqCNrQNLNKWeTSgkcs5BDtDui03gkRdKPrQpxrYZqrc1_Slg_4qXs0wOOhEPyr79iFrERSb2MxVEE/s1600-h/IMG_1138.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356089169022540114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86KAQ1V2S3lQfuwjsJlLjWlGEwKSfDO4kP6WrVrSRBrx54_0omyebg4PDgSUX9quqCNrQNLNKWeTSgkcs5BDtDui03gkRdKPrQpxrYZqrc1_Slg_4qXs0wOOhEPyr79iFrERSb2MxVEE/s320/IMG_1138.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 284px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 213px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98-rkNSs-A6UzvKiymV1xVWmuBZnaW_1f8K4xHJQuNMdOYThNOzR9Ocs1cSktmrhdVutazokCskU2KqwdtAeBdw0Q1mG38WGei8ZOJFshXrvqze85KMTbDHanqBG_QBMyMUFQUVHBIjY/s1600-h/IMG_1150.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356089531110306178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98-rkNSs-A6UzvKiymV1xVWmuBZnaW_1f8K4xHJQuNMdOYThNOzR9Ocs1cSktmrhdVutazokCskU2KqwdtAeBdw0Q1mG38WGei8ZOJFshXrvqze85KMTbDHanqBG_QBMyMUFQUVHBIjY/s320/IMG_1150.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 306px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 230px;" /></a>We also saw several small figures of a Hindu God on the Granite hill that we climbed. after showing Vithya the pictures, she told me this is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. </span>she reckons that there are two reasons why the figures are here. Firstly, someone may think that this spot is Holy, thus, he/she placed the figures here to 'guard' the place. Second reason is more practical. the person wanted to get rid of the figures, but he/she did not want to chuck it in the trash. thus, placed Ganesha at this scenic spot. So if you see them, dont freak out.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCUhhSI-8h4JUGa0_wB0z_n88DsXLkIr4glV84NNSYJEC1IVB4rzHsGGOMzWHkoFL8-BPqSCZweKxLRdx5APeSAMY8AZqzTAE2UGa5RVQC1JAaYShJdAelRUsXQ3yNJJ-g91E2iY-gDs/s1600-h/IMG_1200.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356094403124740770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCUhhSI-8h4JUGa0_wB0z_n88DsXLkIr4glV84NNSYJEC1IVB4rzHsGGOMzWHkoFL8-BPqSCZweKxLRdx5APeSAMY8AZqzTAE2UGa5RVQC1JAaYShJdAelRUsXQ3yNJJ-g91E2iY-gDs/s320/IMG_1200.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>the diverse types of <span style="font-weight: bold;">joints </span>found at Xiao Gui Lin. you can see the <span style="font-weight: bold;">vertical and horizontal joints </span>(straight lines on the rock),intersecting to form <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cuboidal Joints</span> - making the rock out to be kinda like a cube.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyHu4RC_3UeTqno4lH5ixVTBbLx2YhoxdyDyG5-MuYMaWOY4kiYU2pK26GwNJ2Aadzp3EIacmN20eRqg89BZBDWErCEBMc_iy463BjTMwyHafzGyTu13DDWs6ev63o7Hv5umjpCjWhd0/s1600-h/IMG_1215.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356098502899819298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyHu4RC_3UeTqno4lH5ixVTBbLx2YhoxdyDyG5-MuYMaWOY4kiYU2pK26GwNJ2Aadzp3EIacmN20eRqg89BZBDWErCEBMc_iy463BjTMwyHafzGyTu13DDWs6ev63o7Hv5umjpCjWhd0/s320/IMG_1215.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQsjfdyJ9NrJqL0F3udxA0MiPMKoSDiADYPNv2BJrXYB34UpUEdeU-jyG0MdA_HYK9C5KN3QIu2fUc980rZEDuN5OW8giIOgksv_c1rxV78nwuyAGFqOtl8uqyRhZVnlhPANVDG1SQ9Y/s1600-h/IMG_1226.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356099242111626434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQsjfdyJ9NrJqL0F3udxA0MiPMKoSDiADYPNv2BJrXYB34UpUEdeU-jyG0MdA_HYK9C5KN3QIu2fUc980rZEDuN5OW8giIOgksv_c1rxV78nwuyAGFqOtl8uqyRhZVnlhPANVDG1SQ9Y/s320/IMG_1226.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>The granite... intrusion, hill, ex-quarry whatever, from another point of view. i love it i love it i love it I LOVE IT.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXwPmYC4c_5oYhX-Osb5U5uGafX62XyRfxf0bjDToUHvNylznIozo6sDc63wD81IkAbQyYyyRSU07g3aOVKWst613Mtu3qrB7jMAw3TszdgrnNJShZEsvS9j7PcmEVewUAX2wKXKNIT4/s1600-h/IMG_1234.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356099770405914722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXwPmYC4c_5oYhX-Osb5U5uGafX62XyRfxf0bjDToUHvNylznIozo6sDc63wD81IkAbQyYyyRSU07g3aOVKWst613Mtu3qrB7jMAw3TszdgrnNJShZEsvS9j7PcmEVewUAX2wKXKNIT4/s320/IMG_1234.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirCtUfSzOcC8bbJQHbMFyEw4FnjJ2CHlLQOnxNxA_nWRnm-2W0WmjwCC7q86QYi7hPFnRLKjq7H8oThA88JE-SCLp37GLZE00nBVSpcyjIqsnGU0tvUOADWMDdrR71h6EY1O06J00xlI/s1600-h/IMG_1236.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356100180495767922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirCtUfSzOcC8bbJQHbMFyEw4FnjJ2CHlLQOnxNxA_nWRnm-2W0WmjwCC7q86QYi7hPFnRLKjq7H8oThA88JE-SCLp37GLZE00nBVSpcyjIqsnGU0tvUOADWMDdrR71h6EY1O06J00xlI/s320/IMG_1236.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzBzWWKpDFAZWoqndlXbY-wMDKNaYow6L33NKkISh77B5L82N3Zh2lMndtOLZ-Y2JnQ8IQgardO8ExY37ogJLBS7a9BKJqoPFtXk-XyOb4_PN5pTn6DjNpIQnIEZv4JgiFSMn_mHZK8s/s1600-h/IMG_1213.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356101991208743986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzBzWWKpDFAZWoqndlXbY-wMDKNaYow6L33NKkISh77B5L82N3Zh2lMndtOLZ-Y2JnQ8IQgardO8ExY37ogJLBS7a9BKJqoPFtXk-XyOb4_PN5pTn6DjNpIQnIEZv4JgiFSMn_mHZK8s/s320/IMG_1213.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 303px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>i think these are mint plants (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mentha</span></a>), they smell like the mint veggie thing my grandma puts in our Hakka dish <span style="font-style: italic;">Lei Cha</span>. i never knew they are so pretty! and they really florish in rocky environments. im quite apprehensive when it comes to putting up pictures of plants and/or animals.. as im not a biologist/ecologist, im not good at identifying them. so if you can, pls leave a<br />
comment (: thanks.<br />
<br />
OMG. OKAY CORRECTION: this is <span style="font-weight: bold;">NOT MINT</span>. i received an email from Chen Ko. apparently this is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantana"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Lantana camara</i></a>. it is one of the top ten <span style="font-weight: bold;">MOST TOXIC WEEDS</span> found, so please <span style="font-weight: bold;">DO NOT TRY IT</span>. it smells like mint, BUT IT ISNT MINT. omg i am damn cainiao. thanks chenko!!!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6QVGF465PeZW9iRrNuiuMnzuwwKWrODtz8JgxhoKkq2u80TJXR4t6qigmfysSUxXfceY8VKhwtnD5xLSHNJ9MDiYE3Af8CzkqQfgxD7EJpzaeNJ92dEBY_PGoQyB8VxrEvW20c5p1sk/s1600-h/IMG_1240.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356103271737462450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6QVGF465PeZW9iRrNuiuMnzuwwKWrODtz8JgxhoKkq2u80TJXR4t6qigmfysSUxXfceY8VKhwtnD5xLSHNJ9MDiYE3Af8CzkqQfgxD7EJpzaeNJ92dEBY_PGoQyB8VxrEvW20c5p1sk/s320/IMG_1240.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>Sab gave me this awesome paper bag right before my trip to Xiao Gui Lin. awesome isnt it?!<br />
<br />
Lastly:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LLRmoXdp6ZjIRVXBceGy8MOb2kb_v3d2E7pUi444WaUpg9l5DWcu2TxXoXxI4Se6x3rik_FRAJTA1j7ItI4N85w7Z78u2FOMHHnv7zPxWJCC-ONXWukqLlEpGvTpu6kfbHDefmjNBJs/s1600-h/IMG_1269.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356104113732566258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LLRmoXdp6ZjIRVXBceGy8MOb2kb_v3d2E7pUi444WaUpg9l5DWcu2TxXoXxI4Se6x3rik_FRAJTA1j7ItI4N85w7Z78u2FOMHHnv7zPxWJCC-ONXWukqLlEpGvTpu6kfbHDefmjNBJs/s320/IMG_1269.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
A really beautiful contrast. (:<br />
<br />
love, serene!<br />
<br />
Thanks to mr chongserchung for teaching me how to spell 'Scenic' HAHAHAHA.<br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-14541084973668427112009-07-03T22:56:00.032+08:002009-07-09T16:57:14.248+08:00Xiao Gui Lin: They will see us waving from Such Great Heights.<div style="text-align: justify;">Hellohello!!! sorry i havent been updating for so long, was busy with NUS arts camp ((:<br /><br /></div>anyways, the geog nut is back! and what better way to start my comeback on my favourite topic: <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Granite Landforms!</span> so today i went for a walk with Jiayi around <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Little Guilin Park </span>in Bukit Gombak, and we saw some interesting sights:<br /><br />#1 some kids from the nearby primary school fishing at the quarry lake - really great way for kids to spend time instead of playing computer games!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354294587747149282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 252px; height: 334px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_auwZFpZZh3SA_N5PIWmKrjTgkVqlWWAcoezxEHxcTQDXj6otJKc3OOVK5n9s9g5IoxfiHTlONW6lgtgZAxpthafRrtYbMmHOGqmAXg2pc7Lwjjcg_nOKdEy17CR89iybTbfo-YmRsqg/s320/IMG_1135.JPG" border="0" /> #2 i know i know.. THE PICTURE DOESNT DO THE REAL THING JUSTICE. i havent been to little guilin since i was 3. and when i was 3, i knew nothing about granite. BUT THIS REALLY BLEW ME AWAY. (more abt it later)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354635236231464898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCJ8ZnSzONm811V0f-iXqmTtJKUEsGo1CBnvEhfTLSkpfNL5rHMkYAvruMGRGDaCxPJ6Wg5n4KgEz6eqoyIVyrqLu4mG-SrB3we2_shOAioo6nE5H9aWlY_9Tzs_fr4SVeB4U4-wDjnQ/s320/IMG_1127.JPG" border="0" /><br />I should really give you some background info on Little Guilin before i launch into the whole adventure proper.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Little Guilin</span></strong> is really an old, abandoned <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Granite</span></strong> quarry right smack in the middle of a HDB town. overtime, as rain water accumulates in the quarry, it forms a lake. It received its name "little guilin"as it is supposed to resemble the authentic <a href="http://sevennaturalwonders.org/asia/guilin-mountains">Gui Lin in China</a>. i reckon what we have is a really FAR FAR cry from the orignial:<br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 450px; height: 354px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://www.healthyfellow.com/images/2009/guilin-mountain.jpg" border="0" />(source: <a href="http://www.healthyfellow.com/">http://www.healthyfellow.com/</a>)<br /><br />However, the irony is this-the <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><strong>Gui Lin in Guang Xi</strong></span>, China is a <strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Limestone</span></strong> karst formation, while <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Little Guilin</span></strong> in <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Bukit Batok</span> is a <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Granite landform</span></strong> (and also man-made). so honestly, there is NO WAY they can look alike... in terms of shape and the markings on them HAHAHAA.<br />This once again shows how ignorant our planners can be sometimes.<br />anyways jiayi and i were bored, so i started bombarding her with some... highly INTERESTING knowledge on the gigantic slabs of granite hills around us:<br />#1<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354642606691224338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9pvtJ3PSheuNnAeCLxBAWhFB4FypiGuOm0QGj-HYIdeKgNUZr4AKKUE_cf4DD44U_WD5K47fG1E9mh4yJ9j9YFkpdOD94CpoUBRxq75ogBpZ9cpQFkiQVOYU3wAP5OMU1qe6AMC90Q8/s320/IMG_1128.JPG" border="0" />Do you see the 'lines' on the granite? they all seem to be slanting in one particular direction - towards the water. These are known as <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Seaward-dipping joints</span></strong>. Joints are really <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">lines of weaknesses</span> in a rock, in which weathering agents such as water can enter and attack the rock from. The direction that they are dipping makes this hill a rather stable one.<br /><br />#2<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354646301062185730" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyOQnfoF9BaSMpld72oCN6DSufSw-otUU8m8cA-h4-ujXKY_Y-xUkLMvqclkQ_FYXnX4tQTsyKd6c418E293YpfZq1g90FCGPMlogUMzZaCjXhYchqe11pPSC8YuqOZZpSmUiZL6dZR4/s320/IMG_1129.JPG" border="0" />Most people probably wouldnt notice this but this is a real god-to-honest <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">landslide</span></strong>. in fact i think i can even classify it as a <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Rotational Slump</span></strong> - in all the soil and mud and stuff slide down the slope along a curved surface.<br />#3<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355347132159572082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw55uCBVEPTgeaxKIbRJJC8IiFYD_vI7CIKAulbvtkv9sjXR246UoKUJoh6rEhWOgUEURVF8_kwmTj1t_Wm2USDapAxSkb-tpY24hn1YunT3Bzb2kBspm3N-YFNX_nNOZHNRoRyVCPdBQ/s320/IMG_1140.JPG" border="0" /><br />This is actually quite scary! HAHAHAH see the big crack? it is possible that the rock may just slide off, thus resulting in another form of mass movement - <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Rock Fall</span>. </strong>Thus, there is a need for this super cool sign:<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355349758751691298" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 201px; height: 228px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9q3kM__I_B7Bxdth2i4l-YfZZ-3zUYtLFiFOMmkF_DKfKXdXHOy_CZSkddg9XRF-eIoINd0N0aUlVrQ5tlDsuL8Uhox513_GxGNWrZ8q02gE4Lvw-Rklr_KYvm-lU7SQc2e8kfkhJrA/s320/IMG_1256.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355348294930955378" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 270px; height: 187px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEFwdB91Fc_yPwSGL3MkFnHkRm04Y4m1LxKuFMbpnwoTsp32EuJuNhO-rEEzDlElGFBhQDd2gy22a5Ot5E38aDcw-fHQWRsEfBHlnwjvMLUF83mSCKFFBC2WeQQHRkq38vFKYe3eESCg/s320/IMG_1257.JPG" border="0" /><br />hahaha never thought i would ever see this in Singapore. anyways, we decided to be adventurous and climb up one of the granite hills (i really dont like to call them "hills" but if i call them "intrusions" its really a little awkward).<br /><br />The Journey to the TOP!:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355351975769994562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-Kzkez6OAIOz_m_0B69C4zcFnRhBAwMQSodaqjCNeCZ6_zz6QQZj_bm-vYk6wBWEJpLV5unRqm_rkaPJkcqZqiOh3xtdCEkrNgVYunt2i3NmQPo9M8UrnOcS1_O9_qS2ylyfn59u5pU/s320/IMG_1189.JPG" border="0" /><br />Try and spot me in this second picture:<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355355301126324002" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0IJTytwpBaPJPmEiLhDUFZ8PsWKMBiqAddxnYmj6rQ_FmYgN1DYqKgg1X1EZEKvL2igLq6pWls3sgtwKMEgu2T6L0c2z61rQOpw9smOnM6d4ushk74ic-MAu-A-eU1sXCmLMpHx-vCE/s320/IMG_1192.JPG" border="0" /><br />The view from the top:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355356206838281170" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wvO6sG3wfBVSn8urvlTAKAARJo2BFAWc0PoODVinZvmq0E0s6suY2br_3kDEM4_zSSBCX2BLCIE8axKrXwDNiM65IKEukVzfNpprtxHKoWEohazrVrgEF0Lf7iNutQFWe_ndPpdIuNE/s320/IMG_1165.JPG" border="0" />When i said the TOP i really meant the TOP, like at the very edge:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355356947372045186" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzArTsxn6E6xAfzghBqT6ruFXTiFS81EXE1c_0wFKKj_DImqqQO9sX-mMBMBD9AMqtRTMgfQOKx6LHytP0l_BfP-ZCyY1EQ47wbtoQpsY3QNGXIEJkNwDxm8Wt-X8kQ_FN_LKxvw6vL0E/s320/IMG_1167.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355358126002142738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3G8UgwqayHXeC6C6QQTJrVB_cfxl1WiXx9SRr6o02TKh2nYVtTuc5jn2ChxNV-ONFYWGuX1WG3zhv3rIgAAhe-xl4gQLtNO0w-inI4fyeDkQSdpatlwpv_oTkft8PxirJhyphenhyphentReuguvos/s320/IMG_1176.JPG" border="0" />Jiayi even had some heart to meditate. it was really peaceful up there, for once i forgot about the traffic, the MRT, the noisy coffee shops... it was just the wind. Thats my happy place!<br />HOWEVER, the beauty was marred by some RUBBISH and GRAFFITTI:<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355359937426212594" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 258px; height: 236px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLx6_mKKkvZexj4S-x0lXHn77LszhGD_VvKwjdIaQWYDqtE6eS2e0H-MgIwsXCHV7BkN-Ic0PPT2aCCL4nI-cATVQFHYOeLxf1ESu2L9l2hB7uczQUyVqmdz8j9dvz3PP4Ax8ydYCExno/s320/IMG_1151.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355360663894316594" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 242px; height: 203px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt7eZq-Ki3LJPhbNJLQ9mespn9msNDMMEOaVpXP3lZu9QUeo8efgY-9vKc65hbCt990qaCbpK8_mlPh2KZxR20gYbrjvG9pNejuGfcp7c3Fo0WJXl5LWSljK-FvKZPO7rRCnxRF7NN14/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" border="0" /><br />why would people climb all the way up and dump their rubbish there is really completely beyond me. is it really that hard to bring the rubbish down with you?!?!?!?! and the graffitti.. i r (okay i got too pissed off so i decide to shut up and move on).<br /></p><p>we later came to a place with smaller, weathered granite blocks, equally cool:<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355362672283864770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0fMm77W57_4coCB-1K1lYHlujfdkJcLQOgoQ2eKmE8Zu65DWqDXc2B0YJJ-bjfD6pIGf5RIiJdYYITrfYulr0dXv88QKYQGcLveF2nWRyjTCt_xi4YJ9cC9DWAIEzTUYOXoxnQ_ON18/s320/IMG_1206.JPG" border="0" />The rocks are orginally part of a greater granite hill, not unlike the one we climbed. however, over the years, the rain and the sun has gradually reduced it to large granite boulders. The rounded sides of some of the boulders also hint that <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">chemical weathering</span></strong> took place.<br /></p><p>This brings us to the next question <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">"how come plants can grow on rocks ah?":</span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355366008141450354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeTNPOk2GfEa3VvghAunfPU1NvZNNgyr4yaJeUnS668Z6UxjV7mMgbzj_0wtSNY4qeQtmL6jD1fHSsNnYiEezsbKR2MPmCx25mFIsAlj5LqvodVlIV5Z4xQdG6wCPCNL2NHeSz-O6szk/s320/IMG_1222.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>This is because as the rocks are weathered at the <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">joints </span>(remember the lines of weaknesses), the resultant materials are known as <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Regolith</span> </strong>or simply <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"><strong>SOIL</strong></span>. thus, the SOIL you see are really weathered rocks. Hence, some soil are found in between the joints and thus, plants are able to grow on rocks.<br /></p><p>well, here comes my 2 cents: In our 100% urbanised singapore, there sits this beautiful granite quarry. rather forgotten really. im kinda torn between wanting more people to go see it and wanting to keep it free from people. you've seen the rubbish and graffittis, imagine if more people do that. i think i'll go bersek and slap everyone.</p>As my friend Janette says "Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints". so when you visit Little Guilin, remember this (:<br /><p>love, serene!</p>special thanks to Ms lim Jiayi for being my ruler and runner. HAHAHAHA.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355381378249157986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEE4S4dKq7P-UfkkBzDuJamUC0aSOnG5DKQ3xVALll1nU4thhuLSCYVQRxjX2rvPShyphenhyphenH6QEF9iw02bMuM-2_CfVaNALJSghh01W5-IcuE0tYucwfRt90INxUChXD-vxUTzWAwYLRGXmM/s320/IMG_1268.JPG" border="0" /></p>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-24399531395018368692009-06-18T00:58:00.046+08:002009-11-24T19:10:34.745+08:00The Trials & Tribulations of Binjai Stream: Not for the faint-hearted, like, seriously.<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Today is probably one of the most <span style="font-weight: bold;">Interesting </span>(note the capital I) days of my life.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">We met up with <a href="http://waterqualityinsingapore.blogspot.com/">Mr. Kwok Chen Ko</a>, a lecturer from Singapore Poly, who does a lot of work on the water quality of streams in Singapore. He is super! Chen Ko invited two of us freshfaced-bushytailed-brighteyed-first-year-going-on-second geography students to a water quality monitoring trip at <span style="font-weight: bold;">BINJAI STREAM</span>.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">that stream is really ulu. it is set pretty deep in the heart of Bukit Timah nature reserve, not something that hikers usually stumble upon. Reason being:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyzM-C-Tln2xNRzwwarzTk8UOO5Y4qbmUbq112iKf_qWi9bqEy3oIp4EdHaimG_sDZE_w9vZBv_hyqiEQoet7OEgPBb-Kw28QC_IBk6ts6OdV1wBLphdHCwRTtn98gCAW3rM2KVHfnxA/s1600-h/IMG_1416.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348698306276522882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyzM-C-Tln2xNRzwwarzTk8UOO5Y4qbmUbq112iKf_qWi9bqEy3oIp4EdHaimG_sDZE_w9vZBv_hyqiEQoet7OEgPBb-Kw28QC_IBk6ts6OdV1wBLphdHCwRTtn98gCAW3rM2KVHfnxA/s400/IMG_1416.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 275px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 367px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">this is the entrance to the stream.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">we walked through one of these tunnels in order to get to the stream. and there were things flying passed our faces/heads (okay dont let your imagination run wild, they are really just swallows not blood-sucking bats) and strange creatures crawling on the walls (okay they are really just lizards and gekkos). The water in there was nearly ankle to calve deep.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">oh and, by the way, the tunnel goes under the PIE expressway.<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">after the tunnel:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzcb4FPluDXJxCVfZtBtWDAtPQgNhEAHjKg48IZExuiZorjhyphenhyphenkFL1ZV9Hu6ay3Eq2AFK0fFTOeRoDZo65HTBcI7xZ_JwECn-Mh8aZUimWXB8-s6vj317ivQY0K_piarv5Oqcsnimybvg/s1600-h/IMG_1418.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348698605736640690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzcb4FPluDXJxCVfZtBtWDAtPQgNhEAHjKg48IZExuiZorjhyphenhyphenkFL1ZV9Hu6ay3Eq2AFK0fFTOeRoDZo65HTBcI7xZ_JwECn-Mh8aZUimWXB8-s6vj317ivQY0K_piarv5Oqcsnimybvg/s400/IMG_1418.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">not something you would expect to see eh? hahaha with all the concretization of streams and rivers in Singapore, many of us assumed that rivers/streams look like this:<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/185426524_65c41753fd.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/185426524_65c41753fd.jpg?v=0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 335px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 442px;" /></a>(source: Flickr,<guarav><gaurav> Jurong River, visible from the MRT towards Jurong East station)</gaurav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><gaurav></gaurav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><gaurav>The first thing i noticed about Binjai Stream is how clear its waters were:</gaurav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><gaurav></gaurav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><gaurav></gaurav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYWMoCYj0UBBzi1pKt_msk0X7ge-fY9xbh5tMoLw6hpblXsBeLLOXUU1D-9a3t0ZVV1M8u95ws6CPirclHzu4s73e-KEbPiFjXxxeYbEyjrletJkVzlKS9SH9Q4crW6wVk1OWmli1klI/s1600-h/IMG_1432.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348701949443167698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYWMoCYj0UBBzi1pKt_msk0X7ge-fY9xbh5tMoLw6hpblXsBeLLOXUU1D-9a3t0ZVV1M8u95ws6CPirclHzu4s73e-KEbPiFjXxxeYbEyjrletJkVzlKS9SH9Q4crW6wVk1OWmli1klI/s400/IMG_1432.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>you can totally see the streambed! it is sandy at the bottom, and the water, according to ChenKo, is one of the<a href="http://waterqualityinsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/11/water-quality-monitoring-in-bukit-timah.html"> cleanest around</a> (in terms of <span style="font-weight: bold;">dissolved loads</span> -ie. the ions present in the water - and <span style="font-weight: bold;">suspended load</span> -ie. the sediments in the water)</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>I believe that it is this clear as there has been little rainfall lately. During the monsoon months/heavy rainfall, sediments from the surroundings will be washed into the stream, clouding it up. Plus, there are hints of such sediment wash:</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN__h90WDIpVkpS2lJPZspAVsCbFrMBbDDtpIILqOApahhq39X8jPWXuRmUwIoN9OhiIS5ZLbvBwD5QZYzHtnQWiqXjWkd2iWTsQMCdJaeaJWmCDTFiCuz-T9M0qsoX7G8D3dnPSakrs/s1600-h/IMG_1423.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348703550973414434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN__h90WDIpVkpS2lJPZspAVsCbFrMBbDDtpIILqOApahhq39X8jPWXuRmUwIoN9OhiIS5ZLbvBwD5QZYzHtnQWiqXjWkd2iWTsQMCdJaeaJWmCDTFiCuz-T9M0qsoX7G8D3dnPSakrs/s400/IMG_1423.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgvsaID0x9ClAR03l0KUd0uKuofPqpPD-wdlfHfiPRLIAJTXa6PnXdMs6yUtKeCQa7ZJ1NjRHd4uHpJAlDzjQ2EKkNGn6jvgjtboY_x_GLutgrq-tXUmvkb3QFS303tWR-EFUN3qxOOc/s1600-h/IMG_1422.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348703836311726610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgvsaID0x9ClAR03l0KUd0uKuofPqpPD-wdlfHfiPRLIAJTXa6PnXdMs6yUtKeCQa7ZJ1NjRHd4uHpJAlDzjQ2EKkNGn6jvgjtboY_x_GLutgrq-tXUmvkb3QFS303tWR-EFUN3qxOOc/s400/IMG_1422.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>also, landslides are prevalent as you go higher upstream. This too, contributes to the amount of sediments in the river.</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>but i saw something that made me very upset again:</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6DfsuZ1PDWwn13HC2iAKbqTch8HFVEiyXmiMQx4kE7f-oMrko9cnzh_AyQMGJngiA34a0-TsQL1MZwYSTkyVkah1IjDuzdje9FMRcbxNICm62cNGK1fYi4hy3byUd4G7xOpKuXJmEnc/s1600-h/IMG_1419.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348706110003857042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6DfsuZ1PDWwn13HC2iAKbqTch8HFVEiyXmiMQx4kE7f-oMrko9cnzh_AyQMGJngiA34a0-TsQL1MZwYSTkyVkah1IjDuzdje9FMRcbxNICm62cNGK1fYi4hy3byUd4G7xOpKuXJmEnc/s400/IMG_1419.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>i saw SO MANY half-eaten Durians along the stream that if i ever see or smell a Durian again in my life i swear i will SCREAM. Im really fine with people picking durians and having a durian picnic at Bukit Timah. In fact, i think its a pretty cool and authentic way of eating Durians. but at least dump the shells and plastic bottles!!!</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>okay so i attempted bravely to ignore the atrocity and continued with our mission at hand:</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaTWlPy9kve8sbFAGNuS5ih0S0zX91qB1xv80mmd-hJ4Tfj-YmAw6b3pTfSEzTFgYkuYdV3KYvPaC94EoA7RXKf3TfJOscLbJs6Kh4Nl-dysI_f4y7EdC6v5HY5SBOsel2O7JGvTycMw/s1600-h/IMG_1420.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348708927013133474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaTWlPy9kve8sbFAGNuS5ih0S0zX91qB1xv80mmd-hJ4Tfj-YmAw6b3pTfSEzTFgYkuYdV3KYvPaC94EoA7RXKf3TfJOscLbJs6Kh4Nl-dysI_f4y7EdC6v5HY5SBOsel2O7JGvTycMw/s400/IMG_1420.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 376px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 282px;" /></a>this is willis measuring the <span style="font-weight: bold;">pH of the water</span>, which registered at about pH5.8, slight <span style="font-weight: bold;">acidic.</span></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSMr_YF52wa9wNHMZNyIPmBlZLlh0usN0k-9ibVTdJU5nkJ2XOUp-CfJys8AwHu5mimYHfgeH7todq4EXCQTUJrNju3Kq3dldC30BR_6avxLw1d6laRzzNDmmTBpHgVjHpfx4iriY0qo/s1600-h/IMG_1421.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348709757045152450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSMr_YF52wa9wNHMZNyIPmBlZLlh0usN0k-9ibVTdJU5nkJ2XOUp-CfJys8AwHu5mimYHfgeH7todq4EXCQTUJrNju3Kq3dldC30BR_6avxLw1d6laRzzNDmmTBpHgVjHpfx4iriY0qo/s400/IMG_1421.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 384px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 288px;" /></a>Chen Ko taking a sample for further testing.</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>Later, we were joined by a group of grasscutters - wow they actually maintain this place!</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xryZhhcbWpdy1tih1Qw0bbG6JPa1bZ4vsiAaJEbhAoQZ0zUyrrikW3iW0GWEiG5UPXOyi0SDW8gcbB5AZQMsTlK7TuYoy0kz4H1HA-Lnblur06UsqQfGVBqJK6TJ0PYXrNd1Q2xhfKA/s1600-h/IMG_1427.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348711115205266978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xryZhhcbWpdy1tih1Qw0bbG6JPa1bZ4vsiAaJEbhAoQZ0zUyrrikW3iW0GWEiG5UPXOyi0SDW8gcbB5AZQMsTlK7TuYoy0kz4H1HA-Lnblur06UsqQfGVBqJK6TJ0PYXrNd1Q2xhfKA/s400/IMG_1427.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 416px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 312px;" /></a>its good that they are here to clear the path and stuff, but with them walking in the stream, it really murks up the waters at our testing site! look at the water, you can no longer see the streambed.</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>and theres me, testing the amount of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Calcium</span> in the water, the solution was supposed to be pinkish/violet:</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>#1 - note the clear-ness of the water, this sample was taken before the grasscutters came</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PQ4piQGQRWNJBUqsYxzSm4Q63Y15j85x1e8GG8ymsrOxYpHFsWxZhhEwL7Khecs8jaE1PGbKCQ3Zs90028SreADbzAJMOzsqsf5YS2hacEjeFhYI4j0z2i4J59TxQ5Vesr5IsD0Py5A/s1600-h/IMG_1425.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348714357584031586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PQ4piQGQRWNJBUqsYxzSm4Q63Y15j85x1e8GG8ymsrOxYpHFsWxZhhEwL7Khecs8jaE1PGbKCQ3Zs90028SreADbzAJMOzsqsf5YS2hacEjeFhYI4j0z2i4J59TxQ5Vesr5IsD0Py5A/s320/IMG_1425.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>#2 - note the murky quality of the water, this sample was taken after the grasscutters came</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrFr_OAzK-r7QVsrgRkf1-zkQ6kQhMMou1zmivxg3ywT8fwx6Ab3h3jL90l3QabCjz9xzReS-lC46y3Y04fhl2SqrYNAM9uidNo7tuVklynKsexu2OItVkMVN1436BdRQ5XRkwdGQVCQ/s1600-h/IMG_1428.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348714867145540450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrFr_OAzK-r7QVsrgRkf1-zkQ6kQhMMou1zmivxg3ywT8fwx6Ab3h3jL90l3QabCjz9xzReS-lC46y3Y04fhl2SqrYNAM9uidNo7tuVklynKsexu2OItVkMVN1436BdRQ5XRkwdGQVCQ/s320/IMG_1428.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>if you are wondering where the calcium comes from, it comes from the soil. Water (especially in natural streams like this) passes through different layers of the soil before reaching the river, a process we call <span style="font-weight: bold;">Percolation</span>, it dissovles and picks up different minerals. and calcium is one of them.</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>this is the end of our first station, and we move forward. Deeper into the forest, upstream of the river.</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav>The stream looked pretty Friendly at first, flat and sandy riverbed, easy for walking (note willis's shoes are WHITE here):</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVMFY4EfkkEeG_l2IuOD1KQjtVYf_UBakIcuAq5RadRiuSVIClrcTJi8y_73muzAYoXlCm27H1dnzj1SaQR6uhAcr0i6MFWNde0aCayogH97GIOlzwsuR_-jkpEV0EePcBcTet1KAu6g/s1600-h/IMG_1438.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348716462884626322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVMFY4EfkkEeG_l2IuOD1KQjtVYf_UBakIcuAq5RadRiuSVIClrcTJi8y_73muzAYoXlCm27H1dnzj1SaQR6uhAcr0i6MFWNde0aCayogH97GIOlzwsuR_-jkpEV0EePcBcTet1KAu6g/s320/IMG_1438.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a> later we were greeted with our first trial:</guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHz7SnzuiKAzfoITAW-2lZ2epnEutfTD5WP8iwne1gQZ-0Dyo91-xSfKLY9vOBk8i91WM1djmhiMbKsqOb258ENDsDV-8hTtOmLhnXRkEQinNzci6I4J6JGzz4NgcAHoSzLYP3e6RcBY/s1600-h/IMG_1440.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348717002385474162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHz7SnzuiKAzfoITAW-2lZ2epnEutfTD5WP8iwne1gQZ-0Dyo91-xSfKLY9vOBk8i91WM1djmhiMbKsqOb258ENDsDV-8hTtOmLhnXRkEQinNzci6I4J6JGzz4NgcAHoSzLYP3e6RcBY/s320/IMG_1440.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 344px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 258px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">this is what i meant by "landslides during the wet season".<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">those muddy looking walls at the sides will fall if it gets saturated with water.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>the walls are there as the movement of the water cuts through the soil, and at the same time carry off the sediments. A process know as <span style="font-weight: bold;">River Erosion</span>.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Next, we came across this:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVc8qorq1VUZr_WxNe8YjxHL_Yvp37MtdT0gg4JEObHJhh59KxfFliJrPRZRBvGSXDEB08U3OsB3nbh_bzRoiPSx7M-01mKKGyNJ5PERaV0HLC4KTj1sLIXtv0zOxEL8nIVyicaq1bOhQ/s1600-h/IMG_1441.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348719374473230146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVc8qorq1VUZr_WxNe8YjxHL_Yvp37MtdT0gg4JEObHJhh59KxfFliJrPRZRBvGSXDEB08U3OsB3nbh_bzRoiPSx7M-01mKKGyNJ5PERaV0HLC4KTj1sLIXtv0zOxEL8nIVyicaq1bOhQ/s320/IMG_1441.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 349px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 282px;" /></a>Fallen trees are really NOT a stream-trekker's bestfriend.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">i assure you, this is NOT the only one we had to cross. i think there was one tree every 5 meters. it was awesome. i felt like Indianna Jones' minion! and at the same time, the river bed was getting all muddy and boggy-like.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">however, everything paid off when we saw two small, mini, NATURAL 'waterfalls':<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Please<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Click to Enlarge</span>, small pictures do not do them justice!!!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">#1<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zTkXo0KzoVp6QUVjdX27W99X2LQyFnGbv4nHzbxdsxXWb6_bFQohLI0OE1Ei75HFIWPcpRq4_AGs77-gtYp9pfCXSgSWzZfXmrsTKM1cKFe6cBORLlCIL8P5LnXQvysi2hyphenhyphenQGjxnXgo/s1600-h/IMG_1445.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348721289394767954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zTkXo0KzoVp6QUVjdX27W99X2LQyFnGbv4nHzbxdsxXWb6_bFQohLI0OE1Ei75HFIWPcpRq4_AGs77-gtYp9pfCXSgSWzZfXmrsTKM1cKFe6cBORLlCIL8P5LnXQvysi2hyphenhyphenQGjxnXgo/s320/IMG_1445.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 270px;" /></a>#2<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2G9uAvDS2_nkGSKcup6l_J0Q97eNlXaUVmJOnu4zIt03HkvpDE3PSmMA37nU3i4jFCRPB6GOi-daUfoRVNRUjVhQBx3UkvcmQEASV-oYOYvAo2V6KwwOwKciZsmcbeQ0fazBKrW5ToXM/s1600-h/IMG_1449.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348721691315102466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2G9uAvDS2_nkGSKcup6l_J0Q97eNlXaUVmJOnu4zIt03HkvpDE3PSmMA37nU3i4jFCRPB6GOi-daUfoRVNRUjVhQBx3UkvcmQEASV-oYOYvAo2V6KwwOwKciZsmcbeQ0fazBKrW5ToXM/s320/IMG_1449.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 361px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 271px;" /></a>well.. we climbed those waterfalls too. HAHAHAHAHA. i told you it was an interesting day! if there was more water - ie. higher stream discharge, say during a storm event, these 2 'waterfalls' could have been rapids!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">we met some animals along the way. im sure theres a whole lot more, just that we were too preoccupied with the trees and the slippery rocks to notice them. im sorry!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtk1ufDLqGBSghIzRwTg2I2M1xUanEiYq5Wtsm7-NSIs70I0L0AQo7mfk6CKf9VyJPzxAtvGgXzwQLyyyKlhHuVU1k3GyVyKrc1Rplk4ldY2Jug4JJwODGw0d0lc11cBLiIfbtQAMxcJM/s1600-h/IMG_1443.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348722916060405778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtk1ufDLqGBSghIzRwTg2I2M1xUanEiYq5Wtsm7-NSIs70I0L0AQo7mfk6CKf9VyJPzxAtvGgXzwQLyyyKlhHuVU1k3GyVyKrc1Rplk4ldY2Jug4JJwODGw0d0lc11cBLiIfbtQAMxcJM/s320/IMG_1443.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 257px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>This little toady here jumped on to my shoe! and i thought it was a piece of leaf.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQBYP2feQyRk5F7qh_v4pLMWVlylehtrR7rzI1m_eb1-WBuPDpGCHsfy7v6got2Cwp6vek4DCxbJyqNYvllDzbWpijFxEkHtgzfoWQHh4xPMK8WPrvuJjJgLVOs3a04jgVlZlVMH2yIY/s1600-h/IMG_1462.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348723383232450882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQBYP2feQyRk5F7qh_v4pLMWVlylehtrR7rzI1m_eb1-WBuPDpGCHsfy7v6got2Cwp6vek4DCxbJyqNYvllDzbWpijFxEkHtgzfoWQHh4xPMK8WPrvuJjJgLVOs3a04jgVlZlVMH2yIY/s320/IMG_1462.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>and here's Jiayi's favourite thing in the world, a slug. we also saw one huge Golden-Orb Spider, similar to the ones at Chek Jawa, but it was too high up to take a proper picture ):<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1yGJl1xdR35JMAD47t3cLgHhfRpMGR8ZeMKt1jYcnn6ZR3gqmvquaWFNfk5N_lEcsq4Oz4dEWNZoB5sRNKU2cZt7uxLxmTU-Wg4miPeE98Xv1fwzNd5Vn4fGWCkNw4dKYG5fZ1tnicc/s1600-h/IMG_1455.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348724409697550674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1yGJl1xdR35JMAD47t3cLgHhfRpMGR8ZeMKt1jYcnn6ZR3gqmvquaWFNfk5N_lEcsq4Oz4dEWNZoB5sRNKU2cZt7uxLxmTU-Wg4miPeE98Xv1fwzNd5Vn4fGWCkNw4dKYG5fZ1tnicc/s320/IMG_1455.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">a Durian fell from one of the many Durian trees, woah did it make a loud sound. yes folks its the Durian season once again (im not a fan).<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Finally, we reached the 'end' of the river: <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEoTEcDo_frtY48rqP6SCEPCHaYIowpr3SySe0yUBWKMoA9_RTq6tHv_YAXd14xpQoa_jD_eKHisukUgFPBHeDmbE6YloEhyKDA8THJ93Xpk_wNQvjS02xVmkZNWd7HmUCSLJq5RzlDA/s1600-h/IMG_1463.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348729075046081186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEoTEcDo_frtY48rqP6SCEPCHaYIowpr3SySe0yUBWKMoA9_RTq6tHv_YAXd14xpQoa_jD_eKHisukUgFPBHeDmbE6YloEhyKDA8THJ93Xpk_wNQvjS02xVmkZNWd7HmUCSLJq5RzlDA/s320/IMG_1463.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>there's this weird slab of concrete at the end. we were wondering what exactly is it. an old military check point? or some pipe connector that broke?<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">anyways we got on with work:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrJ1NjCfpXe6HhtKEfmdoZ3CX51iCUz6UVUMbnZwSLV_TPdYcxorBvUOpBVMxMl4H1ihR53iSRrWlsBfk6QpZ3bHdR4l3S3x6dY8b-rK2JjM9jlHsF0E5mwzf9VDB6DVTsDQvnNu-WdY/s1600-h/IMG_1470.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348730022121144754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrJ1NjCfpXe6HhtKEfmdoZ3CX51iCUz6UVUMbnZwSLV_TPdYcxorBvUOpBVMxMl4H1ihR53iSRrWlsBfk6QpZ3bHdR4l3S3x6dY8b-rK2JjM9jlHsF0E5mwzf9VDB6DVTsDQvnNu-WdY/s320/IMG_1470.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>Chen Ko Testing the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Turbidity</span> (amount of suspended sediments) of the water. Which, registered a much higher reading than that downstream. Hence, there are higher levels of sediments here.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP50abkjdmL3XO0SB0o576bUaf1H2Yg_kd6p6GqDDZ_FvWzhGTi4ToiTgWqzaWKRcSKbRtf0R7K6gBRkUgjtDDYeN5UdihUe6hcnanDf0dATvyVKllQa930hBdIROOpBzzDuwYTpqWClY/s1600-h/IMG_1469.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348730577500454130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP50abkjdmL3XO0SB0o576bUaf1H2Yg_kd6p6GqDDZ_FvWzhGTi4ToiTgWqzaWKRcSKbRtf0R7K6gBRkUgjtDDYeN5UdihUe6hcnanDf0dATvyVKllQa930hBdIROOpBzzDuwYTpqWClY/s320/IMG_1469.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>I did the test on<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Electrical Conductivity </span>which (in laymen) implies <span style="font-weight: bold;">the amount of IONS</span> in the stream. This too, registered a higher reading than downstream.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">higher amount of suspended load + higher amount of dissolved load = due to more upstream erosion??</span><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">anyways, i was all looking foward on the return trip - the same route of fallen trees, marching ants, slugs, leaping toadies and super cool waterfalls.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">but chen ko knows another route! a much quicker one that would bring us back to civilization. and we emerge from the forest to this:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmFy7nkxvKYtNXf8y2bHs9c9VNrVMIi4p0Sf6M0TBQwaEaOkBePLUpH-UChDw8-FXADURCriufT_eCdj6a7aMc3MQHMT-n1kljt6Vixggffdz_Tfg_576fnfJKWe6BSzHTM4XoABmF5g/s1600-h/IMG_1487.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348733402844013154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmFy7nkxvKYtNXf8y2bHs9c9VNrVMIi4p0Sf6M0TBQwaEaOkBePLUpH-UChDw8-FXADURCriufT_eCdj6a7aMc3MQHMT-n1kljt6Vixggffdz_Tfg_576fnfJKWe6BSzHTM4XoABmF5g/s320/IMG_1487.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>this is one of THE main source which contributes to the stream that we were following! we decided to go down and take a look:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeT0wTec1m-24XlAc8t15q-L3naCh60HrKYI1JG82Jz97jGltjjLX5tAmNOhH3NlYK015cHO9r5l_lUlTXl48q3sdi8hPng57i-qJTlVrBpNmTb7lUFb-9UAOeJB08PJ74mfHySvnQc4/s1600-h/IMG_1493.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348734172017435650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeT0wTec1m-24XlAc8t15q-L3naCh60HrKYI1JG82Jz97jGltjjLX5tAmNOhH3NlYK015cHO9r5l_lUlTXl48q3sdi8hPng57i-qJTlVrBpNmTb7lUFb-9UAOeJB08PJ74mfHySvnQc4/s320/IMG_1493.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>WE FOUND A POND! two ponds, to be exact. 10 mins ago we were in that forest, by the way. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">this pretty much concludes our water quality testing day. it was a great adventure, really. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">You may be wondering why is Chenko collecting these data - he is simply doing so to keep a record of how our environment is behaving. These data may prove to be of great importance in the future, as over time, they could reveal a certain trend, especially when it concerns the water supply. <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">For the time being, i do hope that the Binjai Stream will remain the way it is - serene, peaceful and wild. untainted by urbanization and concretization (for most parts). <br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Love, Serene!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Special Thanks to:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Mr Kwok Chen Ko for taking us along with him on this amazing trip!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Mr Willis Sim for getting his shoes dirty (understatement of the century):<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDX2l8GIlmClfQkZxd4mwqkWmy6iPSx9c8rUF5fTlZHwQxPD6EhznbbLtcPs4eD0UI8XtW05xLJumDCri3oCa3sFvlTvoK33rfd2-geOUrHEzsJyc0ZAjXsRV0MSCwD3WvmoS1aPBvGo/s1600-h/IMG_1480.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348737449765712882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDX2l8GIlmClfQkZxd4mwqkWmy6iPSx9c8rUF5fTlZHwQxPD6EhznbbLtcPs4eD0UI8XtW05xLJumDCri3oCa3sFvlTvoK33rfd2-geOUrHEzsJyc0ZAjXsRV0MSCwD3WvmoS1aPBvGo/s320/IMG_1480.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav>his shoes were originally white!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><guarav></guarav><br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-90931604161174690222009-06-11T22:40:00.021+08:002009-11-24T19:11:45.564+08:00Chek Jawa IV: Im a Tabloid Lover, check out these Chocolate Truffle Rocks.<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">if there is one place i really really really <span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">REALLY</span></span> want to go in Singapore, that would be <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pulau Sekudu</span>.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">or Frog's Island.The name came from a pretty erm, well.. strange legend of how Pulau Ubin was formed.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Apparently, one fine day, a pig, an elephant and a frog decide to engage in a swimming race to johor (i never knew that elephants and pigs can swim!). all 3 animals lost, and the frog turned into Pulau Sekudu, and the elephant + pig turned into Pulau Ubin.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">okay that aside, Frog's Island is really a small, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Granite</span> islet next to Chek Jawa:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPELyVU6yhez5_bo4QpnUxWqFdxS-7HxaHgaUOoj2QNNVZCNZcs6l7Fbsud7KHMzlwZPvH3cdqXrvQVD9GzdFxW1Qs6lk6Lp9Fc4TIZI9viCiHGcSUocQd9pjTRIqOTmbcAcEm7Cj9Nyw/s1600-h/IMG_1208.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346088230785405154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPELyVU6yhez5_bo4QpnUxWqFdxS-7HxaHgaUOoj2QNNVZCNZcs6l7Fbsud7KHMzlwZPvH3cdqXrvQVD9GzdFxW1Qs6lk6Lp9Fc4TIZI9viCiHGcSUocQd9pjTRIqOTmbcAcEm7Cj9Nyw/s320/IMG_1208.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">look at those rocks: the colors, the shape and the placings of the rocks - these arent random! they are carved out after millions of years of <span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">weathering</span><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">. </span><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W5dB_kfa5zmvgyW-gVYTUhFgmKd-TL0nUb6j7ykJoeM3is2yVIQPr5-QcXANB2ted4JWW5HSa-ClkNlQqlkN9floLN_1yNcwEbckPzYn7l1iaUER6pVb4rFpXMS3y6SGFt5XTnWErrY/s1600-h/3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346104327305454946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W5dB_kfa5zmvgyW-gVYTUhFgmKd-TL0nUb6j7ykJoeM3is2yVIQPr5-QcXANB2ted4JWW5HSa-ClkNlQqlkN9floLN_1yNcwEbckPzYn7l1iaUER6pVb4rFpXMS3y6SGFt5XTnWErrY/s320/3.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Dont the rocks look like Chocolate truffle cakes? i believe that the white band is there as during high tide, the sea water covers that particular area, and wave action bleaches it (due to the salt content).. any thoughts?<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">what exactly is <span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">weathering</span>?<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">in simple terms, its really the <span style="font-weight: bold;">disintegration of rocks via natural elements such as water and heat from the sun.</span><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Weathering</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>and <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Erosion</span> are different in a sense that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Erosional processes</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">MOVE</span> materials away from their original spots and weathering <span style="font-style: italic;">does not </span>do that.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">i wldnt go into the ghastly details, though i would love to, you'd have to take A-Level geography for that!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">I havent been onto the islet YET, as from what ive read, the NParks has made it now illegal to go onto the islet <a href="http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2008/03/forgotten-sister-of-chek-jawa-gets.html">without a permit</a>. For people have been abusing the islet by illegally fishing and harvesting marine life like oysters and clams. good going folks.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">anyways, to give you an idea of how the rocks are like on the islet:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/457245014_60bffbf313.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/457245014_60bffbf313.jpg?v=0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 368px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a>(source: Wildsingapore)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">these rocks arent here to stay forever, eventually the elements will weather it away into nothing. so it would be good to take a look before they are really gone.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2408/2130388313_a90f5e37d8.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2408/2130388313_a90f5e37d8.jpg?v=0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 368px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a>I understand the desire to leave your mark (for i was once an avid doodler on school tables), but OMG DONT PEOPLE GROW OUT OF IT? if you enjoy doodling, do it on a piece of paper.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">(and john im sorry it says john, im sure its not you)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">you can visit <a href="http://www.simplygreen.com.sg/ubin/frogisle.htm">http://www.simplygreen.com.sg/ubin/frogisle.htm</a> for some REALLY GOOD PICTURES. i was totally blown away.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">This rock is found on the main island of P.Ubin:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWSF5wHqSQesZjKGaHoy6-JEiivPDRfqgHFNDeCj3F2p94qj3zUiQNPZvgxAAvjvQHJqZfB8OTh9E7G5O4TSjQ8lClTqPYIythE-I53xUWSMSZTB99kQBDtpn_GnJAd7EmemPr-Cl4-s/s1600-h/1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346117703348844562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWSF5wHqSQesZjKGaHoy6-JEiivPDRfqgHFNDeCj3F2p94qj3zUiQNPZvgxAAvjvQHJqZfB8OTh9E7G5O4TSjQ8lClTqPYIythE-I53xUWSMSZTB99kQBDtpn_GnJAd7EmemPr-Cl4-s/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">the vertical lines are really<span style="font-weight: bold;"> lines of weakness</span> which would allow the entry of water for further weathering.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULJUhVV9zGdztF3kk6cD0OlRO5lbLEDbClgel7ZtcLxx0R0PV3Js3L6h2Yj9xW8iCfA4nt0AbyWfGfwRg_7FStH2ywSAT-_Hz4-ttdyYbcA-FOp89cbSxkQGkSvzJ4HD_04l-sZpkUY8/s1600-h/74.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346119621494894514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULJUhVV9zGdztF3kk6cD0OlRO5lbLEDbClgel7ZtcLxx0R0PV3Js3L6h2Yj9xW8iCfA4nt0AbyWfGfwRg_7FStH2ywSAT-_Hz4-ttdyYbcA-FOp89cbSxkQGkSvzJ4HD_04l-sZpkUY8/s320/74.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWORKv0bdXTCFREpSB1sazQR9IvjjCYlZM_MmDqsh7uqnIhPwvHiMwfbs5GbEBWgbK8bzaAybfkmsGo5ekahG9T6k6M4pFp2Dsy0tsGBCaWrpjxw5jAlyk2fPZTBhOLlu_i7xm8XIEFw/s1600-h/75.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346119852117211314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWORKv0bdXTCFREpSB1sazQR9IvjjCYlZM_MmDqsh7uqnIhPwvHiMwfbs5GbEBWgbK8bzaAybfkmsGo5ekahG9T6k6M4pFp2Dsy0tsGBCaWrpjxw5jAlyk2fPZTBhOLlu_i7xm8XIEFw/s320/75.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>this is an example of how wave actions and water weather rocks and give them distinctive shapes (once again, ignore the two mad people)- if the rocks were bigger and the waves were stronger, the curved area would have formed a lagoon.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEkl9TlIu_x7uicWqm0gClY0hdTVlet1vZ1EIr4uCstOlgKKzs5XdOyQhNfZPJfaRP7yhgpsEvTH6HgU14LipL4SwvPcpC4ff8SeS_6npOr_4bC9oRzwut1OTwJxKqFPAzqD0QsLBX3U/s1600-h/IMG_1221.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346121147970595442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEkl9TlIu_x7uicWqm0gClY0hdTVlet1vZ1EIr4uCstOlgKKzs5XdOyQhNfZPJfaRP7yhgpsEvTH6HgU14LipL4SwvPcpC4ff8SeS_6npOr_4bC9oRzwut1OTwJxKqFPAzqD0QsLBX3U/s320/IMG_1221.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>ARRRGHHH! even the rocks arent spared of litter!!!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">i know many people do not understand my obsession with rocks.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">but if you think about it,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> rocks are really little bits of historical records of the changes that earth went through,</span> take for example this:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIrAHH0TjFYPFUjCOXrVnRxyR6wF21d1OlrHZYgEz5l47zFw-DqE1feOaOPY_QcsRzMX01cPJEo0vW2wMpZ4ZBSb7g-X-crjJEi6ozLdzlZ53ZweIA0SrUg-H4AXNi-GhmJ33JPKr4qU/s1600-h/4709_83042545997_633280997_1927237_4092782_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346123071068303666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIrAHH0TjFYPFUjCOXrVnRxyR6wF21d1OlrHZYgEz5l47zFw-DqE1feOaOPY_QcsRzMX01cPJEo0vW2wMpZ4ZBSb7g-X-crjJEi6ozLdzlZ53ZweIA0SrUg-H4AXNi-GhmJ33JPKr4qU/s320/4709_83042545997_633280997_1927237_4092782_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(photo: Vithya)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">this is something my friend Vithya saw in India, its termed "Krishna's butterball" - a granite rock perched on a smooth slope. yet it doesnt roll! isnt it a wonder?<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">no one has any idea how it got there, for its composition is totally different from the other rocks around it. some suggested that it is brought there by Glacial Erosion - which has the capcity to move huge materials. but that would mean that india had a totally diffferent climate in the past! see what i mean now?<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism4KdG10yn4z8J2mv-6YHSvGOY48VwrC8nQAdf60NAC2iTh0IjDmqvqadVqkmIhYrMCX7a60r3bgqvO6GcQdkUlN1fEU7PfckTafPcKq6OdjYfLGN95ac90hq8BP3EXwoVvYVTN3TZWE/s1600-h/DSC00698.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346125956746382626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism4KdG10yn4z8J2mv-6YHSvGOY48VwrC8nQAdf60NAC2iTh0IjDmqvqadVqkmIhYrMCX7a60r3bgqvO6GcQdkUlN1fEU7PfckTafPcKq6OdjYfLGN95ac90hq8BP3EXwoVvYVTN3TZWE/s320/DSC00698.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMFvmf2956A3ZJTDwR2piC-FnAlFjqponbJ2I9S4SLgieNmIs1FkrxMiOw9avWYfAfnE8rDl9kZ1wD4Gw3HAu0GB8g-ojRwZZ_NnQomAtsuOGYX_5Rair-At4Qt5fB5leZ8NS-RpOtAc/s1600-h/DSC00643.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346126204859748818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMFvmf2956A3ZJTDwR2piC-FnAlFjqponbJ2I9S4SLgieNmIs1FkrxMiOw9avWYfAfnE8rDl9kZ1wD4Gw3HAu0GB8g-ojRwZZ_NnQomAtsuOGYX_5Rair-At4Qt5fB5leZ8NS-RpOtAc/s320/DSC00643.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(photo: John)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">and these are some limestone/chalk cliffs that John visited in Dover, England. these cliffs, too, take millions of years before they become cliffs.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">so the next time you kick a stone out of your way, remember, you are really kicking bits of Earth's history!<br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><3 serene! <br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-83316278315320068592009-06-05T19:09:00.001+08:002009-11-24T19:12:24.756+08:00Chek Jawa III: Spicy Red Ants, Chocolate Truffle Rocks and Spiders of the Same Age.<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">hahah okay so we have seen all the intertidal inhabitants, now lets look at some l<span style="font-weight: bold;">and-based organisms!</span><br />
<br />
Oh before that, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00619272084246747957" rel="nofollow">CH / SONNENBLUM</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00619272084246747957" rel="nofollow">E</a> has very kindly helped me identify some of the intertidal organisms like:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC2gcHtjHOchs13Y5mg49AW8cMA2BSUUgYYXnEwuQ0Ch5hZwSsfPp1vCMV70ld5Uq5jYs7nm0Yw8pnRZMBLmeExODZB_P4y94Bmr-YnCg3A714yAtcos_d0apLrBiA8P41cKT4SgvZCQ/s1600-h/38.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343799682408599282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC2gcHtjHOchs13Y5mg49AW8cMA2BSUUgYYXnEwuQ0Ch5hZwSsfPp1vCMV70ld5Uq5jYs7nm0Yw8pnRZMBLmeExODZB_P4y94Bmr-YnCg3A714yAtcos_d0apLrBiA8P41cKT4SgvZCQ/s320/38.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 224px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>This is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Garlic-Bread sea cucumber</span>. Sure does look like a loaf of bread HAHA maybe slighty moldy bread. (more info: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm</a>)<br />
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and my super cute tiny crab buddy, which ashton enjoyed chasing around:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYa7AOHZB49NmT7a-EgEXWmDtACudDK6XabDD8GE-ZQn9L458iQXsEtNU0RmL_kyCH0CLyLGXRbQIf3HiFXmld7OgPkLASFKqwC2vhx8grJGAWXU0jSGIS3lIOb3RuDe8dZx49GqTt44/s1600-h/21.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343800059302745586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYa7AOHZB49NmT7a-EgEXWmDtACudDK6XabDD8GE-ZQn9L458iQXsEtNU0RmL_kyCH0CLyLGXRbQIf3HiFXmld7OgPkLASFKqwC2vhx8grJGAWXU0jSGIS3lIOb3RuDe8dZx49GqTt44/s320/21.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 277px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sand Bubble Crab</span>.. ah yes now i remember. the tiny circular objects around it are the sand bubbles made by the crab. (info: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/scopimera.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/scopimera.htm</a>)<br />
<br />
(look at the comments of the previous post! Thanks <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00619272084246747957" rel="nofollow">CH / SONNENBLUM</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00619272084246747957" rel="nofollow">E</a>!!)<br />
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okay back to the main topic. Land-based organisms (if you dont like bugs, im sorry):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf7hXSjhB7VhztL5G21N6J0O5wjhi0xzZYHBWNY6nO_UOSIylDoYpwClspDHhnRennCHmp5pfXMkoPP2jBqP8qFnePIwZsQVyQmkTGBN6xtuGKrK6xX1Iv74OvPCFMo5OEBSJV1ctBnU/s1600-h/64.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343802141871008802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf7hXSjhB7VhztL5G21N6J0O5wjhi0xzZYHBWNY6nO_UOSIylDoYpwClspDHhnRennCHmp5pfXMkoPP2jBqP8qFnePIwZsQVyQmkTGBN6xtuGKrK6xX1Iv74OvPCFMo5OEBSJV1ctBnU/s320/64.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
This super artistic photo is taken by willis (accidentally), this is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">female spider</span>. omg she is about the size of my palm! This spider seems to belong to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Golden orb web spider species</span> but im really not that sure. (info:<a href="http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/inverts/nephila.htm"> http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/inverts/nephila.htm</a>)<br />
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the web is HUGE, above us:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgVq2MlqLtpwS2mA98GYw_uG7WF7bPkBM9IFPQBpHyVAbCd-qMDCaWvF1nsrQUGa14ktn4CuNIoxTTOiISqDGFwEbdoS7JXQY0SYRdqu7UnTUqvbAIHdhA_41_YRp5pRe3JykCPDe8C4/s1600-h/65.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343802673162535026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgVq2MlqLtpwS2mA98GYw_uG7WF7bPkBM9IFPQBpHyVAbCd-qMDCaWvF1nsrQUGa14ktn4CuNIoxTTOiISqDGFwEbdoS7JXQY0SYRdqu7UnTUqvbAIHdhA_41_YRp5pRe3JykCPDe8C4/s320/65.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
we later stumble upon the 3D web:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xjuLXa6fD13TVes-X9FcfzeGK2K5qpI7dWRcY-UtwwGumzsgSYKv_LQHCSdSG1UPPcwAvfMbwzgxZeuh0IQav1YSnaTJ_EXG0DLPed2RAY42svgVJaVZbE1nQAJPX8pe0CaqYywlS-8/s1600-h/63.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343809004553614546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xjuLXa6fD13TVes-X9FcfzeGK2K5qpI7dWRcY-UtwwGumzsgSYKv_LQHCSdSG1UPPcwAvfMbwzgxZeuh0IQav1YSnaTJ_EXG0DLPed2RAY42svgVJaVZbE1nQAJPX8pe0CaqYywlS-8/s320/63.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
i wonder how long did it take to build that web. and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">male spider</span> is TINY.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKv3C1j6RLOFAdtw23icFF0wHEiVt-KbrWrxg3Sl5uSHdlo1pw20A7ySkmtKnf1-OK6nnAVCLt_1xG9ua1-ulisA6c2bkqry6FpoAOcRNCG-Ng4wttepU5txGeVWRG866Q_VGfENpnPeM/s1600-h/15.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343804023923686882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKv3C1j6RLOFAdtw23icFF0wHEiVt-KbrWrxg3Sl5uSHdlo1pw20A7ySkmtKnf1-OK6nnAVCLt_1xG9ua1-ulisA6c2bkqry6FpoAOcRNCG-Ng4wttepU5txGeVWRG866Q_VGfENpnPeM/s320/15.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>can you see that tiny red speck on the web? it is really the male spider (i think you should click to enlarge). ashton decided to ask his famous question "Are the Spiders of the same age?". the guide couldnt answer and the rest of us just burst out laughing. we are STILL laughing abt it if you are wondering.<br />
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apparently it is the ONLY male spider left on the web.. the female has eaten the rest of the males after mating with them. basic instinct huh.<br />
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next, we saw some <span style="font-weight: bold;">crickets</span>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0d1YxO_vVT7kxlf27YGRd9HhdPzjVDUwL5XGNliXNlTebkvrD6rEW7GbGWjIrC6ZCkF1MItRemATlvieeXHnREXnqovQWxAvDob5TzJs6ZSgtB2Oyu6EOwcsKHSuXw6xGVDwriNEB5w/s1600-h/59.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343806014266320594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0d1YxO_vVT7kxlf27YGRd9HhdPzjVDUwL5XGNliXNlTebkvrD6rEW7GbGWjIrC6ZCkF1MItRemATlvieeXHnREXnqovQWxAvDob5TzJs6ZSgtB2Oyu6EOwcsKHSuXw6xGVDwriNEB5w/s320/59.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
and also this truly magnificent sight of some <span style="font-weight: bold;">cotton stainer bugs</span> (info: <a href="http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/inverts/cotton_stainer.htm">http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/inverts/cotton_stainer.htm</a>) mating, note how two bugs seemed to be 'connected' at the back:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DgvWUJW5_W9hAW8auk0oe5fhVlV2Mxm7xRbkakMhn8i6tXaRjnYLqVnzXTL3r8rVAhkRww9qdW2SayI15uIeBiE6gK7r506oAreMY8FQyEv_3zhjGrUuRDUqQ0MhHEuIToSzgw2GlXQ/s1600-h/4396_83567559614_689939614_1866509_4603213_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343807605043196402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DgvWUJW5_W9hAW8auk0oe5fhVlV2Mxm7xRbkakMhn8i6tXaRjnYLqVnzXTL3r8rVAhkRww9qdW2SayI15uIeBiE6gK7r506oAreMY8FQyEv_3zhjGrUuRDUqQ0MhHEuIToSzgw2GlXQ/s320/4396_83567559614_689939614_1866509_4603213_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(photo by Janette Goh)<br />
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and this world famous plant,<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Eurycoma longifolia</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">,</span> commonly known as the Tongkat Ali, an evergreen plant:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gwv8aGpsKbK7xcjUY8UHv7HZG5O6yTKx1uhEpgBj3eG2kjsxIkCNvHITGFbC9hQ2YPKnx_kTclwhpuuFUOxFtDk9q6QQ4x6vuiZ4DREayQD14HscjHXiXbdjtIa9fa7y4qhZbe5yh9g/s1600-h/12.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343811573946102146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gwv8aGpsKbK7xcjUY8UHv7HZG5O6yTKx1uhEpgBj3eG2kjsxIkCNvHITGFbC9hQ2YPKnx_kTclwhpuuFUOxFtDk9q6QQ4x6vuiZ4DREayQD14HscjHXiXbdjtIa9fa7y4qhZbe5yh9g/s320/12.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>we were told that this Tongkat Ali plant was bald a few weeks ago, aparently some joker decided to harvest it for medicinal purpose and thus, cut off the leaves. what he did not know was that the medicinal properties of the plant lies in its roots. Luckily, Mr. Ali managed to regrow (:<br />
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Karin and I got very excited when we saw this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5S9BRcdhrUxeaq8DkUJHiar0H3VQeeIv1qqQWNXZpxMUNSsliJXKXXOAnMamrtAdYegtHSv2fAE1jXUvIecHLJibcC7bUiQcqya8Fb-vJhNlRiLYY70fonmbEYaJeWHq6E17E0x53PA/s1600-h/IMG_1368.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343813495608870834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5S9BRcdhrUxeaq8DkUJHiar0H3VQeeIv1qqQWNXZpxMUNSsliJXKXXOAnMamrtAdYegtHSv2fAE1jXUvIecHLJibcC7bUiQcqya8Fb-vJhNlRiLYY70fonmbEYaJeWHq6E17E0x53PA/s320/IMG_1368.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> THE ATAPCHEE!!! the very same one you eat in the Ice-Kachang. Another shot here of fallen atapchees, each husk contains exactly ONE precious atapchee:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj8dMFICkG7yvjOetll46A0PBJUipRFpZ6cUFwvvBbdHjnZ2CVIeM5hv-IeM-IvUa7CcNk4qOO-zRwfhJWuUpHaK7GNvatMU1bedt0x8w_OWsU2-hQEi0TMVEq9cNdj4sL_tvdgaBSKs/s1600-h/60.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343812776762583698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj8dMFICkG7yvjOetll46A0PBJUipRFpZ6cUFwvvBbdHjnZ2CVIeM5hv-IeM-IvUa7CcNk4qOO-zRwfhJWuUpHaK7GNvatMU1bedt0x8w_OWsU2-hQEi0TMVEq9cNdj4sL_tvdgaBSKs/s320/60.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>Ah, how will we live without the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nipah Palm</span>? it gives us the Atapchee and its leaves and stem were utilised for house building in the past. take a good look at it the next time you go to Chek Jawa, Sungei Buloh or Pulau Tekong, for it is considered endangered in Singapore. (info:<a href="http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/palm_nipah.htm"> http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/palm_nipah.htm</a>)<br />
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We later saw an <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oriental Whip Snake</span> (<a href="info:%20http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/oriental_whip-snake.htm">info: http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/oriental_whip-snake.htm</a>), lazy on a tree:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagbv-v5b3rqjNTTbSFnY1-3vCOEmwnSxEICukOqkypdyEzKp8OGvz0S71Kgpzm9xHUfVB6JXXaEp1O78-83mNJoWHgxsnONYgHdNJW_oSHF_LFgxZ698LJ5YlBuyHeYD7LpiXF8J80Eo/s1600-h/67.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343816414861327794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagbv-v5b3rqjNTTbSFnY1-3vCOEmwnSxEICukOqkypdyEzKp8OGvz0S71Kgpzm9xHUfVB6JXXaEp1O78-83mNJoWHgxsnONYgHdNJW_oSHF_LFgxZ698LJ5YlBuyHeYD7LpiXF8J80Eo/s320/67.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNLuLGhbP-BnuM-2fSEgZ9ceEaxLrqb-L9cKBCZ5BdCE1y8uybWNIymZW4bNUeuENsaQbYLOVPWLOPUCKN3PlojlgueKDhEKxaaVU7tfJrekD6pyGrquHYPCXCY3XSQR_dJ98LYKPNMs/s1600-h/4396_83567579614_689939614_1866513_5971600_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343816718297276818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNLuLGhbP-BnuM-2fSEgZ9ceEaxLrqb-L9cKBCZ5BdCE1y8uybWNIymZW4bNUeuENsaQbYLOVPWLOPUCKN3PlojlgueKDhEKxaaVU7tfJrekD6pyGrquHYPCXCY3XSQR_dJ98LYKPNMs/s320/4396_83567579614_689939614_1866513_5971600_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
i wish we could have taken better photos of it, but its too high up!<br />
<br />
We also saw one of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oriental Pied Hornbills</span> (which escaped from Jurong Birdpark to Chek Jawa, it was found with a tag!).. ah it is damn tough to photograph a bird, it doesnt stop moving.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXEJZONooufcfGJL-0j-oHWzTk3Uf49vDS-_IYBEihP46FWhePrernd8veUMUsN8eCjxfThDIoGqHi0E_jKM4fd3U6hsOknMRjvMGOv3x0g4bWQbct7jBqQYTjv1P7pi2RF-kiLksaEc/s1600-h/IMG_1214.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343817581105394370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXEJZONooufcfGJL-0j-oHWzTk3Uf49vDS-_IYBEihP46FWhePrernd8veUMUsN8eCjxfThDIoGqHi0E_jKM4fd3U6hsOknMRjvMGOv3x0g4bWQbct7jBqQYTjv1P7pi2RF-kiLksaEc/s320/IMG_1214.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 243px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
this second photo is taken by Janette:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtjUr3-Bs4A6KHJAFXrZrwX6GA_JzTtKqWIdOnBvuJRCCKM5iEE3zaIrbkej0PJQ_Q8lKIhInRUWNOx8dP5zGFjGrnXTJRAhMd1Qo22Tq1CI83F2SQRrlLqgk5fgXW5Q7Dmf6K1U-mXA/s1600-h/n689939614_1866453_7562964.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343818262071270050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtjUr3-Bs4A6KHJAFXrZrwX6GA_JzTtKqWIdOnBvuJRCCKM5iEE3zaIrbkej0PJQ_Q8lKIhInRUWNOx8dP5zGFjGrnXTJRAhMd1Qo22Tq1CI83F2SQRrlLqgk5fgXW5Q7Dmf6K1U-mXA/s320/n689939614_1866453_7562964.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Apparently Hornbills mate for life, and the good people at Chek Jawa attempted to provide the lovebirds with a nice and comfy 'condominium', which was ultimately rejected:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQ3h6Oa1YEaXIaMJ95LucJHP1JYWv9hUNxzgNWiBDJwe8uDxkoI0wHyBYI0neRXwXYy5XdHDFAheEdv-bSKhcYHfK13i56ru6M2RaGyKn7-h7pKLIKIy61H-1pq5ag8_PBMr1sGBkT4E/s1600-h/IMG_1243.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343819126437083090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQ3h6Oa1YEaXIaMJ95LucJHP1JYWv9hUNxzgNWiBDJwe8uDxkoI0wHyBYI0neRXwXYy5XdHDFAheEdv-bSKhcYHfK13i56ru6M2RaGyKn7-h7pKLIKIy61H-1pq5ag8_PBMr1sGBkT4E/s320/IMG_1243.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
When i was a kid, what i wanted to do was to be a biologist/ecologist. i somehow mixed biology/ecology up with geography and thus, here i am, doing a BA in geography.<br />
<br />
But after this trip, i realised how much i like geograhy better. for it is the geographical processes that create the environment for these organisms to thrive in; it is geography (climate, presence of water) that dictates the distribution of these organisms. can you imagine polar bears in the tropics (lets not talk abt the singapore zoo)?<br />
<br />
therefore, i suppose this is where <span style="font-weight: bold;">CLIMATE CHANGE</span> will come into place.<br />
<br />
(okay note: it is <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NOT </span>GLOBAL WARMING. because some areas in the world will be cooler than it is now... i get annoyed by that term HAHAHAHA)<br />
<br />
with Climate Change, the environmental factors will be altered:<br />
- tide levels will rise, thus, extinguishing intertidal habitats and wiping out the mangroves.<br />
- temperature changes will affect the survival of both land and sea based organisms.<br />
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i dont want to jump onto the whole <a href="http://www.ipcc.ch/">Al Gore and IPCC bandwagon</a> (which i think is slightly alarmist in nature). i wld just like to highlight the POSSIBILTY of this happening.<br />
<br />
i cant say that by doing our part (such as stop littering and over consuming) we can definitely stop the change. but i believe that by doing so, we can at least<span style="font-style: italic;"> slow down</span> the change to allow researchers some time to alleviate the problem.<br />
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but anyways, stay TUNED (happy now jiayi and jiangyang?)... ive got more on Chek Jawa!<br />
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Love, serene!<br />
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</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-62370121178756206612009-06-03T22:41:00.001+08:002009-11-24T19:13:01.801+08:00Chek Jawa II: Spicy Red Ants, Chocolate Truffle Rocks and Spiders of the Same Age.<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">we left off with me ranting at in-discriminant rubbish throwers. okay i got my head back and i'll now introduce you to some of the inhabitants of Chek Jawa.<br />
<br />
things you never thought existed...<br />
<br />
Organisms found at the Intertidal area (sand banks)<br />
<br />
The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nudibranch</span> - which is commonly known as a sea slug (but note: sea slugs aren't necessarily nudibranches). We were REALLY REALLY lucky to see this Nudibranch, as they usually dont appear much in these shores, the guide claims it mating season.<br />
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Front:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3ZRZa3-cmF3CKcxAEpBegsXYPa1cOxrUCtXwUg8mCR_KLBrgZlLm-5bbk4O-fzo-CQVi6z8nDwR9l_UFbZ_bMJYxkBG3eCmK99dzJC3M1JvSy-a9I9s1mmXMoIKl4aJSHn8jwaB2sVU/s1600-h/20.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343116898383521986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3ZRZa3-cmF3CKcxAEpBegsXYPa1cOxrUCtXwUg8mCR_KLBrgZlLm-5bbk4O-fzo-CQVi6z8nDwR9l_UFbZ_bMJYxkBG3eCmK99dzJC3M1JvSy-a9I9s1mmXMoIKl4aJSHn8jwaB2sVU/s320/20.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 258px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Backside (HAHA):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOt_2YehOvaO5nptTfdjDmOGQbg7PyJFhqPGX7j0OL0Qva3cX5v6t7PKPOvL5t4hTgu_WjRG1baAw1MJaPKXXnQnJPg0aqFIuqBMDfEb0h8RJXjZWPSH-JoM_zG_wf4HS7tgvc3VWC-4/s1600-h/19.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343117310552563250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOt_2YehOvaO5nptTfdjDmOGQbg7PyJFhqPGX7j0OL0Qva3cX5v6t7PKPOvL5t4hTgu_WjRG1baAw1MJaPKXXnQnJPg0aqFIuqBMDfEb0h8RJXjZWPSH-JoM_zG_wf4HS7tgvc3VWC-4/s320/19.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 282px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Next, the Common Crab: im sorry, as im not a marine biologist, i have no idea what this species is. if any one do, pls let me know! (: its cute anyways HAHA<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SoUwXKRmwatMgLZ7Gj5zYvFNyZss3HFAyOJv75Q73hc_cauaCBi87x38wr7-XHjCl1iFXU1hbXs2w671ZA_x0tJ9egpDJZeHdZ3LKU-2bzg42GbfBun9_KbMjcslBl44z_1hvi8ZQu0/s1600-h/21.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343124024003740658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SoUwXKRmwatMgLZ7Gj5zYvFNyZss3HFAyOJv75Q73hc_cauaCBi87x38wr7-XHjCl1iFXU1hbXs2w671ZA_x0tJ9egpDJZeHdZ3LKU-2bzg42GbfBun9_KbMjcslBl44z_1hvi8ZQu0/s320/21.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 277px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
This is the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fire Worm</span>. This is something you dont want to touch, apparently the fine bristles on it will attach itself into(or shd i say POKE) your skin, and even the doctor wldnt be able to remove it. Thus, you'll have to live with the pain till your body finds a way to push it out!!!!!!<br />
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scary!! and here i thought it looked so friendly and yummy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-EKheVrIPIk2J5_6nvar-eUo1BJCJoxnJzBMMiEZllxrPNf0geMdSFG0Zevf8_rbFhycCCo_IdiZG_WVwkgcsa0cbj8DFd-zD8RAHH8hDT6ISDePUqE5-N1Nw2gX3rFUqQMm2VHP210/s1600-h/22.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343124543537093570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-EKheVrIPIk2J5_6nvar-eUo1BJCJoxnJzBMMiEZllxrPNf0geMdSFG0Zevf8_rbFhycCCo_IdiZG_WVwkgcsa0cbj8DFd-zD8RAHH8hDT6ISDePUqE5-N1Nw2gX3rFUqQMm2VHP210/s320/22.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 286px;" /></a><br />
A<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Sand Dollar </span>it is related to the Sea Stars and Sea Urchin, a rather common feature in the intertidal area, only it is usually buried beneath the sand.<br />
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Front: (This poor sand dollargot a part chipped off!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3o3V7327XKA1__lh7_U7LKmiAXlxH4y8xJc7c_qEuAz32NMUsskZNTblotrDARU2sufR0aatgpeqsCdjlDtE2_Zhcn4xkqiKWuPwHh6E0xreG1EKL9iGeEGsIjdMSlo7SiCBMM626eg/s1600-h/24.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343125411109015490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3o3V7327XKA1__lh7_U7LKmiAXlxH4y8xJc7c_qEuAz32NMUsskZNTblotrDARU2sufR0aatgpeqsCdjlDtE2_Zhcn4xkqiKWuPwHh6E0xreG1EKL9iGeEGsIjdMSlo7SiCBMM626eg/s320/24.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Back (note the sea star like formation):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAKmnKm90EOFkBNR5IjACBI3_pRNJYZ2JiTVOSTUygruQFH9TriprljKOCL0oF_RkDcCd_OKCBHBRUANKEMLy8V0yPdtSKPevSpg5Ss-zMV65gJ19-qhCNvQFdeS9DYTimlhZlDpdU80/s1600-h/25.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343127429635747634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAKmnKm90EOFkBNR5IjACBI3_pRNJYZ2JiTVOSTUygruQFH9TriprljKOCL0oF_RkDcCd_OKCBHBRUANKEMLy8V0yPdtSKPevSpg5Ss-zMV65gJ19-qhCNvQFdeS9DYTimlhZlDpdU80/s320/25.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 258px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
This is the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Toadfish </span>or a scorpion fish (Which the guide claims it to be). But upon goggling it looks more like a Toadfish.<br />
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anyways, sorry for the lousy photo, but its too dangerous to get it out of the box.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHma24m985IPFbXAXwJ-WfP4bTUkn0sCPurUIillfLTpN6Rw7gUXv5lxPXyyUY9_y-VduXyTbrVPq3yPnWN32TC5fZKcy0sOF3-KcfLAm9mZiyR3CMcMduxDJrGrjlRSorySn9V-nInE/s1600-h/26.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343126478004823170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHma24m985IPFbXAXwJ-WfP4bTUkn0sCPurUIillfLTpN6Rw7gUXv5lxPXyyUY9_y-VduXyTbrVPq3yPnWN32TC5fZKcy0sOF3-KcfLAm9mZiyR3CMcMduxDJrGrjlRSorySn9V-nInE/s320/26.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
This is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Noble Volu</span>te part of the snail family (Info: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/volutidae/nobilis.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/volutidae/nobilis.htm</a>). we can tell that the snail is still alive because its 'foot' is still in place i.e. the area with orange spots<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4Or4a3lN7BKTXHuJ14iMtSCi_hMdSrPQZfa7F8NRfC2WZ3pctaFRgFQ3mYtde9OFhNdLgcQV_4wy1-HPlPbZpKAFhJhARWreMYa-gs7NJQR-3jZq_ASsIrldXnJ81ldJouVkz59aB7E/s1600-h/27.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343128119496890850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4Or4a3lN7BKTXHuJ14iMtSCi_hMdSrPQZfa7F8NRfC2WZ3pctaFRgFQ3mYtde9OFhNdLgcQV_4wy1-HPlPbZpKAFhJhARWreMYa-gs7NJQR-3jZq_ASsIrldXnJ81ldJouVkz59aB7E/s320/27.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 271px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
After the snail dies, a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hermit Crab</span> will take over the empty shell. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">(</span><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s324.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s324.htm</a>)<br />
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Like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTxY7NK1n5Mj2Hu-7_B_ywTpNJdWJBH7IeGwAoeftG8vpqKCOyPh5TMxDRGQqO_89-H_OII_1ifaayG6cpecxe3TZ9C1-ChMNWszhnXtMx7lgpnHdHuZoDhTfkY3-BrTVdWqxjoJ_wHQ/s1600-h/28.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343129274381076562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTxY7NK1n5Mj2Hu-7_B_ywTpNJdWJBH7IeGwAoeftG8vpqKCOyPh5TMxDRGQqO_89-H_OII_1ifaayG6cpecxe3TZ9C1-ChMNWszhnXtMx7lgpnHdHuZoDhTfkY3-BrTVdWqxjoJ_wHQ/s320/28.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 310px;" /></a>so next time when you see a nice pretty and empty shell by the sea, do not pick it up! let the Hermit have a home!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqnNx9CZqRU4hDHnhHvZuxz2z5_3tUvColWveoXxyOCS9xTxzBQ2uD1bLCS3u0F9oXl1f1pWE0eEwcx5P1RX5IBnnSFuY6EfAtzOwEirJdkCK7xTL-tF5j23MT3wxqnJ3w7_t-Gq4Ubg/s1600-h/29.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343129832170586946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqnNx9CZqRU4hDHnhHvZuxz2z5_3tUvColWveoXxyOCS9xTxzBQ2uD1bLCS3u0F9oXl1f1pWE0eEwcx5P1RX5IBnnSFuY6EfAtzOwEirJdkCK7xTL-tF5j23MT3wxqnJ3w7_t-Gq4Ubg/s320/29.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 310px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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And there is also the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Moon Snail.</span>.. which i suspect is something that ive eaten in China, seriously. Anyways, see that "wall" around the shell? ITS REALLY THE EGGS!<br />
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The Moon snail is damn smart.. it camouflages using the eggs, as a Stingray in the half buried sand. i.e IT PRETENDS TO BE A STINGRAY.SERIOUSLY. (for more info: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s421.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s421.htm</a>):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-Nu_kZ5dgQaILhPST507_P5HYp10gbY_gJgQvvauuuk0o_7oQU1Icl-wtuUG6Jad_YTQH5EmYogaLP91neVrhXxLz-lSH56TaXTro30ru6_bs8tRNEncw-An5sBVRcvNWXN2d5UaLGY/s1600-h/31.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343131382070928002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-Nu_kZ5dgQaILhPST507_P5HYp10gbY_gJgQvvauuuk0o_7oQU1Icl-wtuUG6Jad_YTQH5EmYogaLP91neVrhXxLz-lSH56TaXTro30ru6_bs8tRNEncw-An5sBVRcvNWXN2d5UaLGY/s320/31.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>AND THIS IS MY FAVOURITE: THE <span style="font-weight: bold;">KNOBBLY SEA STAR</span> (for more info: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/c631.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/c631.htm</a>)<br />
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it is HUGE. and it looks like a piece of star shaped bread with chocolate chips (:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvrKBYCR0PYiw45MDXqsxMmnabfWldoBMCQFd2vD2Si37mmGtxWR6I1R_hfz2OcTFiDAmowdkno0YAo8rSJo8IoB3ogTYXqiyHm-L3uAfkAc7CIcIzPzUmEJIgwJ2pu5ZsFGs22B7emo/s1600-h/32.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132880429959586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvrKBYCR0PYiw45MDXqsxMmnabfWldoBMCQFd2vD2Si37mmGtxWR6I1R_hfz2OcTFiDAmowdkno0YAo8rSJo8IoB3ogTYXqiyHm-L3uAfkAc7CIcIzPzUmEJIgwJ2pu5ZsFGs22B7emo/s320/32.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 275px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
And there is the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Biscuit Sea Star</span>:<br />
<br />
<br />
Front: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyI5E4xg34S2CiuKfryuIe1XtUwrU5Xo_ycmpPIYclU6D5HwT2jE4qF4vytxnFjztKhiIhgLQnuDOuIvgT7sKo6YHVZo8pXfc7MkELlPAUm2No5-XMxGVMCO-26ISzaltOepvfvzY_EOE/s1600-h/34.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343134887007344770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyI5E4xg34S2CiuKfryuIe1XtUwrU5Xo_ycmpPIYclU6D5HwT2jE4qF4vytxnFjztKhiIhgLQnuDOuIvgT7sKo6YHVZo8pXfc7MkELlPAUm2No5-XMxGVMCO-26ISzaltOepvfvzY_EOE/s320/34.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 319px;" /></a><br />
Back:<br />
you can see the little suctions on its limbs, they are actually moving rather rapidly.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIyI_6N3gVuGXl2IimFobz3c5hSauzSULMW31x2vsvnHgYKMfALISkSZVFC7Vk2nVd1kCrXjZeI-xwmI6PBJWIeXf2oiAKk3Zq__S-0reX2dlwO32BQdYLjqrKBjgXo30CDyd-bce_XM/s1600-h/33.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343135362343941890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIyI_6N3gVuGXl2IimFobz3c5hSauzSULMW31x2vsvnHgYKMfALISkSZVFC7Vk2nVd1kCrXjZeI-xwmI6PBJWIeXf2oiAKk3Zq__S-0reX2dlwO32BQdYLjqrKBjgXo30CDyd-bce_XM/s320/33.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Here comes the Sea Cucumbers!<br />
<br />
#1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ball Cucumber</span> (for more info: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/phyllophorus.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/phyllophorus.htm)</a><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343135794741562818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyja6LMs2CcYJQOfqbUgpPA3WJ5Ji1LzH6isoGEnohC4mDGcqrqds2laib2cBJlgxiU5yPNDj8c4xpdzdvhy2JGtsPpXeYVDQY47mJHKOuMJIH1VbCHdD-YmFpZsJRkh89yXi4mbNhE70/s320/35.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 317px;" /><br />
#2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thorny Sea Cucumber</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRZ7YcAZt-lgQk7E-xm33tHCrHT_BPWHfKNAkK1ZoXYImMaCDFkhswFyrOsiRa3r-lE9Yp0efyUUIoZ6otvFDDT84gGGT_c4o42uicdwJVaCi66bZvgLCwd-hOnrDrNuNMbuRhiE1MQ4/s1600-h/36.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343136440890135490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRZ7YcAZt-lgQk7E-xm33tHCrHT_BPWHfKNAkK1ZoXYImMaCDFkhswFyrOsiRa3r-lE9Yp0efyUUIoZ6otvFDDT84gGGT_c4o42uicdwJVaCi66bZvgLCwd-hOnrDrNuNMbuRhiE1MQ4/s320/36.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 230px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZxkDWaKxD-1TZnim_GgRSru9bECVMaDWfOF-QQ1VNDaFk4XLZWOtpdRHpNwka-P37voksqYsKQOxS8xENUu-sZLSLaQRtz6ezul-iI-UhHOSzq4PY2Te2fwjv4mb2QiyafOkokvKRhU/s1600-h/37.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343136605120585410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZxkDWaKxD-1TZnim_GgRSru9bECVMaDWfOF-QQ1VNDaFk4XLZWOtpdRHpNwka-P37voksqYsKQOxS8xENUu-sZLSLaQRtz6ezul-iI-UhHOSzq4PY2Te2fwjv4mb2QiyafOkokvKRhU/s320/37.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 226px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
#3 ... SEA CUCUMBER. im sad to say i didnt catch the name of this humongous thingie. maybe i was too busy gawking at it.PLEASE HELP HERE!<br />
<br />
Front (JUST LOOK AT IT):<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1upsL43JYzARHeKZ6W_6bnoeWU3F21XZZRRZsu6fzS9AU5i_duqpgazWY08xFhfSqGtmNB1kBfNxRSrtP_PIGlNxFBoJsQSpQXpxChvihcqfcK7F44THO3nRV52E61d39u8XFsk0Y68/s1600-h/38.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343137534082817250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1upsL43JYzARHeKZ6W_6bnoeWU3F21XZZRRZsu6fzS9AU5i_duqpgazWY08xFhfSqGtmNB1kBfNxRSrtP_PIGlNxFBoJsQSpQXpxChvihcqfcK7F44THO3nRV52E61d39u8XFsk0Y68/s320/38.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 224px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Back (its really cute and squishy. it take the shape of one's palm after holding it):<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_F_P00SFltQOvyYWoE0rTylx9g2Oa_ArbZPQjaloS596MDecSTIoUp72ibheLtEsM4acKCwBWUtRodY-2oo8xr73bb9GIq-OM0dKwbnJvj5nnNoh_iyOV0x_iqb1nGhyphenhyphenHMRnNl0BOIUo/s1600-h/39.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343137932801559282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_F_P00SFltQOvyYWoE0rTylx9g2Oa_ArbZPQjaloS596MDecSTIoUp72ibheLtEsM4acKCwBWUtRodY-2oo8xr73bb9GIq-OM0dKwbnJvj5nnNoh_iyOV0x_iqb1nGhyphenhyphenHMRnNl0BOIUo/s320/39.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 224px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
moving away from the cucumbers, here we have the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea Hare</span>, which is another type of sea slug. more info at: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/anaspidae/anaspidea.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/anaspidae/anaspidea.htm</a><br />
<br />
this thing is seriously squishy:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXkUYNGQAlCviz4zRbUzxRt1rOWWQvLaBtsXZt0ZD_oiYz4jBwAXUDFmpTdBvhCAf5a7_RNdpCriWTyiBYprMRFr4ak4eA4cILluEkN3VwAv36spwN4JJQ6mbAlai8drRoymtbmyE0PI/s1600-h/40.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343138776841724466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXkUYNGQAlCviz4zRbUzxRt1rOWWQvLaBtsXZt0ZD_oiYz4jBwAXUDFmpTdBvhCAf5a7_RNdpCriWTyiBYprMRFr4ak4eA4cILluEkN3VwAv36spwN4JJQ6mbAlai8drRoymtbmyE0PI/s320/40.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
a sea hare in the water, can you spot it?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4BC_3-9X4snEeynyai2NlTKdbAFJd-ftv2YRjsyYMV03Rq2ODP89fxDfhpsBkagr1urmdWHd70372Y60yFzET2FGFLRtBJd8LXn4npu8L9M73PpwZHstQIodQXUB1yLkNECckfJxc8o/s1600-h/4396_83567424614_689939614_1866485_8253216_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343140059653976546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4BC_3-9X4snEeynyai2NlTKdbAFJd-ftv2YRjsyYMV03Rq2ODP89fxDfhpsBkagr1urmdWHd70372Y60yFzET2FGFLRtBJd8LXn4npu8L9M73PpwZHstQIodQXUB1yLkNECckfJxc8o/s320/4396_83567424614_689939614_1866485_8253216_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>And there is the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fiddler Crab</span>!i heard the name came about because of the Male's huge left/right arms. For more info: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s321.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s321.htm</a><br />
<br />
Male:<br />
the males are kinda chauvinistic if you ask me. they literally SHOVE their favored mates into holes in the sand. the poor girls.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuajg8motOEwyILpnPnP9L5byUgyZUANCgxjbXbDSWx-kIUdWjdkxFXLupZXpJLugTCl14hb7X4J9dxSNP6CZjlNQGLfMH0SSH97IktrPg3IqW9YRUDWR4HG6VMWOSln77d8Sxb743j_w/s1600-h/4396_83567544614_689939614_1866506_1484905_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343140629419139890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuajg8motOEwyILpnPnP9L5byUgyZUANCgxjbXbDSWx-kIUdWjdkxFXLupZXpJLugTCl14hb7X4J9dxSNP6CZjlNQGLfMH0SSH97IktrPg3IqW9YRUDWR4HG6VMWOSln77d8Sxb743j_w/s320/4396_83567544614_689939614_1866506_1484905_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Female (really tiny compared to the males):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-swI1cU63601C4Z_k90CFCbE3ty-Es8Q4jq12ntsCxYfPY1dutEG7MthjRQgKFMzWpO2OwOchMv_d-dVPqhsPr6Ca-NCdTO8_1yKEOsWMqXW7FQVFqPQJdVEtvUXaFhe-IZIKPKe5t0/s1600-h/4396_83567489614_689939614_1866495_7025043_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343140764581705186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-swI1cU63601C4Z_k90CFCbE3ty-Es8Q4jq12ntsCxYfPY1dutEG7MthjRQgKFMzWpO2OwOchMv_d-dVPqhsPr6Ca-NCdTO8_1yKEOsWMqXW7FQVFqPQJdVEtvUXaFhe-IZIKPKe5t0/s320/4396_83567489614_689939614_1866495_7025043_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
are you now amazed that all these actually exist in Singapore? never thought about it did you. HAHAHA. some of it can be found on the mainland too, if you know where to look (: i will be looking! keep an eye out for them yeah?<br />
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MORE COMING UP!!!!! PLEASE STAY TUNE!<br />
Love, serene! <br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-36749681184774827312009-05-30T23:36:00.002+08:002009-11-24T19:13:26.578+08:00Pulau Ubin, Chek Jawa - an introduction<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Im almost embarrassed to say this.<br />
<br />
Despite being a girl guide for 4 years in secondary school and a girl scout for 3 years in JC and post-JC.. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO PULAU UBIN UNTILL THE 28TH OF MAY 2009.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zOE3-5jMlZexHdSSqawszYBznGV5ZsrgewfieqvWV7p1f9SSdmE4RDXXKb0U5vWA0eypUaqZQvvavX13J1blUkRagvInx-M0hT0ebxG5QIIlC_E_bR5RMYX7mF-eMx2bRiar04rS35g/s1600-h/0.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341641763711355570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zOE3-5jMlZexHdSSqawszYBznGV5ZsrgewfieqvWV7p1f9SSdmE4RDXXKb0U5vWA0eypUaqZQvvavX13J1blUkRagvInx-M0hT0ebxG5QIIlC_E_bR5RMYX7mF-eMx2bRiar04rS35g/s320/0.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">This isnt a sight you often see in Singapore. Well, here we are, 28th May '09, my first visit to Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin. and i promise it wouldnt be the last, im in love with this place (:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Okay firstly, some bit of background info on Chek Jawa. Chek Jawa is located at the south-eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, it is one of the rare <span style="font-weight: bold;">NATURAL Rocky shore </span>(with sandy shores as well) in SG.<br />
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Other rocky shores can be found at Labrador Park (which is the ONLY un-reclaimed, untouched and natural stretch of beach in the southern area of SG) and on the other offshore southern islands.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm11jWnnaH8jML_KTbaBk3WV14O_3yiej86MnKOt0wDxou_5b8QkQhXPerTrFDezhSQ7WS4xH-xGfUQ0uRYyE4nSkABS9iM5qEteKUg-XG24woKhX1XyNfWkJI7ffusWI5WFF81Oo8CM/s1600-h/17.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341643367659636098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm11jWnnaH8jML_KTbaBk3WV14O_3yiej86MnKOt0wDxou_5b8QkQhXPerTrFDezhSQ7WS4xH-xGfUQ0uRYyE4nSkABS9iM5qEteKUg-XG24woKhX1XyNfWkJI7ffusWI5WFF81Oo8CM/s320/17.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
The area hosts several ecosystems:<br />
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#1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mangroves</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold;">plants and organisms adapted to the highly salinzed ('salted' due to backwash from the sea) environment</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0faN5bAVag47EFHakT0XDDxzOPSxq-GO6htBBv_O-FGbbZI_YOOvjpzkq7bgVYFuOlxhGv6716_EgwF-pKzHOxdf2ywjSSM7ZtmxlK233fPwa4_X8qadHO-ksSwysQKntowhIgxlf1U/s1600-h/IMG_1348.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341648256006464114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0faN5bAVag47EFHakT0XDDxzOPSxq-GO6htBBv_O-FGbbZI_YOOvjpzkq7bgVYFuOlxhGv6716_EgwF-pKzHOxdf2ywjSSM7ZtmxlK233fPwa4_X8qadHO-ksSwysQKntowhIgxlf1U/s320/IMG_1348.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
some methods of adaptation is to have Prop roots - to be able to take in more oxygen<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkDhJwErVxTkuRBU1LvSqc8JxiPeA_HyoV8dra_EwTyEeKf3YTkAOD89kjlcFJyZPNEzeuwYxNkHUGD4TNqClo4PmbUlOFxPVfd9y3RR2kU5GlIy4CCHucC20lOillMUsWXno5Vl69Qo/s1600-h/IMG_1343.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341654317398038482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkDhJwErVxTkuRBU1LvSqc8JxiPeA_HyoV8dra_EwTyEeKf3YTkAOD89kjlcFJyZPNEzeuwYxNkHUGD4TNqClo4PmbUlOFxPVfd9y3RR2kU5GlIy4CCHucC20lOillMUsWXno5Vl69Qo/s320/IMG_1343.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>and also breathing roots - which are the things you see sticking out of the mud.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLPIWKoRWD9lfmRkihabN5AkP_0FwC0EmJ3NPn-IwUPiX-PFYzmT7DkkDGp7x28ySITGeNB7Fyk1FfcH9gUAz1dnqci47SMigaBmA2pDZ3M3H9NKg-sZLVxpoWeIOsQ-S4vlgFCJkrxw/s1600-h/IMG_1205.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341654805689816658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLPIWKoRWD9lfmRkihabN5AkP_0FwC0EmJ3NPn-IwUPiX-PFYzmT7DkkDGp7x28ySITGeNB7Fyk1FfcH9gUAz1dnqci47SMigaBmA2pDZ3M3H9NKg-sZLVxpoWeIOsQ-S4vlgFCJkrxw/s320/IMG_1205.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
next time if you happen to be around mangrove habitats, also notice the waxy leaves surfaces - this prevents water loss.<br />
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#2 Seagrass habitats - they are different from seaWEED, seagrass has roots, they dont just drift around.<br />
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(Ignore the 2 crazy people in the foreground, and look at the seagrass at the background)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBzUL_TDII4yZQijT2ST2BcqgYspvhZkH_E9S_p1Wl3sKFTCHOTnpCJ_SqaMRFyOgT3G-gKg0soYM7JccCdbMADSXupUP1GkoRSax3mwOBcU7n_7i012_SFUUSrON9j1sPn_y-ztYF1o/s1600-h/44.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341649177326448050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBzUL_TDII4yZQijT2ST2BcqgYspvhZkH_E9S_p1Wl3sKFTCHOTnpCJ_SqaMRFyOgT3G-gKg0soYM7JccCdbMADSXupUP1GkoRSax3mwOBcU7n_7i012_SFUUSrON9j1sPn_y-ztYF1o/s320/44.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
#3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Intertidal habitats</span> - these areas are exposed during low tide and covered with water during high tide, making it a really dynamic area to live in.<br />
<br />
imagine this, you live under water for 6 hours and above water for the next 6 hrs and so on.<br />
<br />
i think i'll go mad.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcre0rF41u5RIg5wY7nq2IV0VAxgDsy4fuOAI1aPISFEUono9t9Tfqz20QpUNvyE9epJ8-bVVwIAdWYDHO7QcxSdtzIu_KNxzNn5jVDP_SGn-wMqHxyX2E38lJK6NoSqV2j10zFhAqDk/s1600-h/30.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341653663048448578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcre0rF41u5RIg5wY7nq2IV0VAxgDsy4fuOAI1aPISFEUono9t9Tfqz20QpUNvyE9epJ8-bVVwIAdWYDHO7QcxSdtzIu_KNxzNn5jVDP_SGn-wMqHxyX2E38lJK6NoSqV2j10zFhAqDk/s320/30.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
John told me that the Norwegians commit suicide because of the different amount of sunlight they receive in the different seasons, which thus alter their environments and sense of time. and many of them cant tahan the changes. but this is probably nothing compared to the rates of changes and extent of changes in the intertidal habitats. okay i think im going off tangent. HAHAHAHA<br />
<br />
okay back to the super long intro.<br />
<br />
Chek Jawa was slated for reclamation in the late 1990s/early 2000s. However, due to a group of paasionate conservationists petitioned against the reclamation plan, which culminated in the video <span style="font-style: italic;">Remember Chek Jawa</span> (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzGE7FSWiqE">http://</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzGE7FSWiqE">ww</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzGE7FSWiqE">w.youtube.com/watch?v=HzGE7FSWiqE</a>).<br />
<br />
and the government shifted the reclamation project to Pulau Tekong (good for biodiversity, not so good for army boys).<br />
<br />
Chek Jawa, then, got a new face! broadwalks were built to allow visitors easier access to the different habitats mentioned above<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FQE00paP8k3p607I0RjC_p2dBaE2-zIN7VjXcfL4uHZWmw9l5d-y0dSuP7kjIEvlWVTauN5mrQiyrzZtpRNlWbXAfQU0bluvBZ80aJX5XggHopb9InyXPJAgXFEglMhjA_KcvWVD_v8/s1600-h/6.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341657743366890194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FQE00paP8k3p607I0RjC_p2dBaE2-zIN7VjXcfL4uHZWmw9l5d-y0dSuP7kjIEvlWVTauN5mrQiyrzZtpRNlWbXAfQU0bluvBZ80aJX5XggHopb9InyXPJAgXFEglMhjA_KcvWVD_v8/s320/6.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1wGrc3QAdFqQtb_OvYL6p7x2OdkdiM_cPcZ3yiOhtbiicfX_J0j08j76yiOQqrOIb8kxvNZpL5GMFj_fg6QAVZBf_B7JmZgW36rK_htEzSWjP_EiiRxZSeHhCrqtO9c3wd8Czpuj6uA/s1600-h/IMG_1263.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341658198066179266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1wGrc3QAdFqQtb_OvYL6p7x2OdkdiM_cPcZ3yiOhtbiicfX_J0j08j76yiOQqrOIb8kxvNZpL5GMFj_fg6QAVZBf_B7JmZgW36rK_htEzSWjP_EiiRxZSeHhCrqtO9c3wd8Czpuj6uA/s320/IMG_1263.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>you can see the habitats right below your feet!<br />
<br />
Im not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing tho.<br />
<br />
its the same environmental debate that takes place all the time - make the place accessible for education and creation of environmental awareness, yet, when this happens the environment is disturbed and at times destroyed. for example:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUt1lCYgvwOPazbNT9qbumbe5fhPRl-a6VYnEL6ULW5NIiGNdxhY8NOcBXw_MGB5E9rLN3NeAe-yWKqTyfG3b-xcRwpk61WcZdllFOVlKPMrAx7pCV8xlVeenzoG5HL-cgXpnr-rZOZnQ/s1600-h/IMG_1339.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341659554099726594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUt1lCYgvwOPazbNT9qbumbe5fhPRl-a6VYnEL6ULW5NIiGNdxhY8NOcBXw_MGB5E9rLN3NeAe-yWKqTyfG3b-xcRwpk61WcZdllFOVlKPMrAx7pCV8xlVeenzoG5HL-cgXpnr-rZOZnQ/s320/IMG_1339.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
our favourite constructor Phua Chu Kang obviously paid Chek Jawa a visit and left something behind.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp_tX832PscRm3lTleVX0lC8f-xvirnJKdMaVwSCpVCMhx-ZMOc18yFbrnyFRsyiIwC1qMXY42CckuC9EN6v5YPv0bE3zQvimSRKZAuOCQEqInudCTSmbk4ZD9NMzfV46tcqqtTftIzw/s1600-h/IMG_1204.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341660285448697378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp_tX832PscRm3lTleVX0lC8f-xvirnJKdMaVwSCpVCMhx-ZMOc18yFbrnyFRsyiIwC1qMXY42CckuC9EN6v5YPv0bE3zQvimSRKZAuOCQEqInudCTSmbk4ZD9NMzfV46tcqqtTftIzw/s320/IMG_1204.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>I HATE RUBBISH (which arent in the bin).<br />
<br />
THE SIGHT OF THE PLASTIC BAGS IN THE MANGROVES MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THROWING A SHOE AT SOMEONE.<br />
<br />
anyways my point is, why go on an educational trip and litter?<br />
okay maybe the rubbish drifted over from somewhere else. then, my point is, WHY LITTER?!<br />
<br />
okay let me go get my marbles back.<br />
<br />
IVE GOT MORE STUFF THIS IS ONLY TE INTRODUCTION.<br />
<br />
<3 Serene Special Thanks: -Janette Goh for organizing this super trip -Karin, Willis, Ashton and Kynneth for providing great company. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZWE-biTy7OYvIp-e6RWyVvQR1KnPloSJ2JLpr1y0LLZEERnu01UY7CBIxM2kMVTTPzlHKC74vJzJLjgIe2RBUZlI_rGqxlvqqZbrfzT08Y2Z-IcQRB5URSPrEo6Lp-OSSKBnD1pTBFE/s1600-h/48.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341668401681136994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZWE-biTy7OYvIp-e6RWyVvQR1KnPloSJ2JLpr1y0LLZEERnu01UY7CBIxM2kMVTTPzlHKC74vJzJLjgIe2RBUZlI_rGqxlvqqZbrfzT08Y2Z-IcQRB5URSPrEo6Lp-OSSKBnD1pTBFE/s320/48.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-91857554576426945162009-05-23T23:28:00.001+08:002009-11-24T19:13:45.432+08:00meatball marinanara...The Marina Barrage II<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Call me a nerd. But i went back to the Barrage again today! what a greeaat way to spend my saturday ((:<br />
<br />
remember i was going on and on about littering and peeing in drains. well, this was what i saw today:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t_H3AURItTGvNDoPssHby66aq6bklvo6X9OBbP-IzjcBuak6IA4cQqyQUMrkXKeq4xyZWO8A7-FJdCdxFEw6dgozHIP25dT0tJQ82nKEvn4yB6ah7uywdJal3NoQY4EIo7Ez-VEWTBA/s1600-h/1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339042844446377026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t_H3AURItTGvNDoPssHby66aq6bklvo6X9OBbP-IzjcBuak6IA4cQqyQUMrkXKeq4xyZWO8A7-FJdCdxFEw6dgozHIP25dT0tJQ82nKEvn4yB6ah7uywdJal3NoQY4EIo7Ez-VEWTBA/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWtsV5uxwm__NAWhTgCwtYGBkR9OF07H9PhcmBwnn1MNzG79BSoX4MscS415qkfhjgvAwlzQs9VH-d14BFvuGA-jKPzqqqEwrbnh1vg6dBAyxcajK9XHbd9uD6lyrXAT8KBtpKwChCYM/s1600-h/2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339044248005877586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWtsV5uxwm__NAWhTgCwtYGBkR9OF07H9PhcmBwnn1MNzG79BSoX4MscS415qkfhjgvAwlzQs9VH-d14BFvuGA-jKPzqqqEwrbnh1vg6dBAyxcajK9XHbd9uD6lyrXAT8KBtpKwChCYM/s320/2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
it saddens me to see this. granted, its on the sea-ward side of the Barrage. But i spotted bits of random rubbish floating arnd the fresh water side too.<br />
<br />
many people complain about the lack of beaches in singapore, but honestly, with rubbish like that, thank god theres no proper, hawaiianish beaches.<br />
<br />
anyways just a picture to prove my point about the tidal protection that the barrage offers:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKI8RxVeLNWMHbbHL8DRIBqwMPh394Jq1pjlXHSAQ6XGO4pb_R04q5VYveDVEeD4CCe8dNm6a_MQ3KZAdJLk150uISm9QpWFQlfSPcYwUGqlHYzgunaEG2yQpRYFndQrKXIF120MWeyg/s1600-h/IMG_1266.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339046388180086562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKI8RxVeLNWMHbbHL8DRIBqwMPh394Jq1pjlXHSAQ6XGO4pb_R04q5VYveDVEeD4CCe8dNm6a_MQ3KZAdJLk150uISm9QpWFQlfSPcYwUGqlHYzgunaEG2yQpRYFndQrKXIF120MWeyg/s320/IMG_1266.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>lovely picture, taken by Ser Chung. notice:<br />
<br />
1)the friendly lightning warning guy,<br />
<br />
and most importantly,<br />
<br />
2) the difference in water level on each side of the barrage. The seaward side (thats on the right of your screen) is notibly higher during high-tide.<br />
<br />
you may ask what that "barrier" in front of the barrage is for, it is really to protect the Barrage from ships which may lose control and crash into the barrage (what are the odds?).<br />
<br />
3) the seaward side is lighter in color (something to do with the minerals?) and also more choppy and wavy as it sees more sea traffic and wave actions.<br />
<br />
i was a little disappointed today, cos i wanted to cross the bridge to the other side of marina. and follow the path and see where that leads.. but there was lightning! i'll do it the next time. another post den (:<br />
<br />
stay tuned for next week! i'll be going to Chek Jawa intertidal walk with Karin and Willis. will bring back loads of photos to share!<br />
<br />
for e.g. if we are lucky:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi6atQONqz88zFKrG87fabvZiu6vVmqi7yJAxGABYXDKwwW10z9TwlMD9YsFOMCdAbbUIg7giuJwzxZ41Wer9ze1O5CU9Ut9XpIqVPzVRTbyhsKN6tKjXWYuB3xtqIkw8AYs8ncpMduo/s1600-h/chekjawajul-017.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339053649579267314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi6atQONqz88zFKrG87fabvZiu6vVmqi7yJAxGABYXDKwwW10z9TwlMD9YsFOMCdAbbUIg7giuJwzxZ41Wer9ze1O5CU9Ut9XpIqVPzVRTbyhsKN6tKjXWYuB3xtqIkw8AYs8ncpMduo/s320/chekjawajul-017.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(i think this is a coral)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOFDT1fqbd4UOIhWX7j8uDOxPjTgcbakY90_fhxknrCTdN4pCnTN7YgyThDwOO4hHbPxc8cqkr22SBvKUUWzS1jnDShYt-aVFMVS0Y1RefFfHmSkpJ_zid4AiPglH84xnWl-6D9GXa5M/s1600-h/chekjawajul-065.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339053262258468546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOFDT1fqbd4UOIhWX7j8uDOxPjTgcbakY90_fhxknrCTdN4pCnTN7YgyThDwOO4hHbPxc8cqkr22SBvKUUWzS1jnDShYt-aVFMVS0Y1RefFfHmSkpJ_zid4AiPglH84xnWl-6D9GXa5M/s320/chekjawajul-065.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(and this is a stingray)<br />
<br />
credits:<br />
Kevin Lim, Tan Heok Hui and N. Sivasothi<br />
<br />
*EXCITED*<br />
<br />
special thanks to serchung for spending his precious saturday listening to me whine over every single piece of rubbish that i saw.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339052625210130178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmsnEL6pzKT9FSWluGYlhBqK5bGdBWFPxpMB-iBj_kKOLRP_ANzCzujgQ0CAWQyGmHN5l9YjiX5oYZpoCS3Ni5scNrtVIj6X8bMy3vPZ5aErspC9fkXWYQdV6E-31UYikuYhqL-6da5c/s320/IMG_1276.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KrUN9tD-rBZRmAQHwt_JMcKjKsOKAf6ApJQ4JlUO2QS34UvITtg-jtVYzaN7IBGCaa1fNU4yi-NpUWa9KNkopl13xMOKy1vcKRfG539ABCYZzkkYYVtOltY6nPuvxuRa2K_q0NgSBVo/s1600-h/IMG_1278.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344126346868148690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KrUN9tD-rBZRmAQHwt_JMcKjKsOKAf6ApJQ4JlUO2QS34UvITtg-jtVYzaN7IBGCaa1fNU4yi-NpUWa9KNkopl13xMOKy1vcKRfG539ABCYZzkkYYVtOltY6nPuvxuRa2K_q0NgSBVo/s320/IMG_1278.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-43420878792281430242009-05-22T01:13:00.003+08:002009-11-24T19:15:20.698+08:00Some pretty cool sculptures at the Marina Barrage<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Jiayi and I were fascinated by these 2 metallic things sitting in the mid-day sun at the Barrage.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">At first we thought its one of those avant-garde (is that how you spell it?) shit that the govt likes to put arnd, you know so we can be cool like France:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SZT0JxbbRdOLGGToWglUETlRYkSozpzZotvRohCBF4ZYP7J4k4GSQMqCW7UxL9His3nHbWR5gxvVNHpZ0HvkhtXcYbm_qrmouZ_MAB8wtzW0R_mlDAVbL9XBaZewIEUMP8Ht18epiqM/s1600-h/IMG_1214.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338327479283596882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SZT0JxbbRdOLGGToWglUETlRYkSozpzZotvRohCBF4ZYP7J4k4GSQMqCW7UxL9His3nHbWR5gxvVNHpZ0HvkhtXcYbm_qrmouZ_MAB8wtzW0R_mlDAVbL9XBaZewIEUMP8Ht18epiqM/s320/IMG_1214.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">But on a closer look, this is actually a sculpture that makes perfect sense!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">its titled: "what goes around comes around". That circular thingie is actually that guy's finger - what you do to Earth, will eventually come back and smack you in the butt. you cant get away from it.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">say, if you buybuybuy loads of things now (like me), and as a result produce a lot of rubbish and pollution (aiya its the process of making the things you buy, you get the point) which will eventually kill you or your sons/daughters/granddaughters etc off. i know its warp, but it makes sense.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">sculpture number 2:<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">(WHY IS BLOGGER NOT RESPONDING)<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KG0MVP8SndBG5lJ2ab2Drz2Uqu1iMAIBHHwd7HAwAs8PaBKP4Zm4TdKEHXDByv3VPUVVUWgLgdfIFZDrDQM5qQgIEEiHREP-xkcNkJx-UuIw7OaShGrgWCkMAZoM3SfXKvvx98q1hvc/s1600-h/IMG_1215.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338330246175818738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KG0MVP8SndBG5lJ2ab2Drz2Uqu1iMAIBHHwd7HAwAs8PaBKP4Zm4TdKEHXDByv3VPUVVUWgLgdfIFZDrDQM5qQgIEEiHREP-xkcNkJx-UuIw7OaShGrgWCkMAZoM3SfXKvvx98q1hvc/s320/IMG_1215.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">ah okay, here is #2.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">This is... "Mother nature's fury"<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">as we see, man(represented by the woman in this sculpture) tries to control and tame nature in various ways. We modify slopes at bukit batok, we channelise the Singapore river etc etc.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">However, what we need to recognise is that, very often, Mother Nature still exerts control over us - landslides, floods, volcano eruption (oh i can go on and on abt volcanoes), earthquakes. its about time that we respect Mother Nature, before we spin things out of control.<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">okay i hereby pledge to control my implusive consumption. what about you?<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">Love, Serene!<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">____________________________________________________________________<br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">btw, if you look closely, you can see jiayi and i in the picture P.S Jiayi, the sociologist-to-be, askedan interesting qn: Why is a WOMAN used in #2? can anyone answer that HAHAHAHA<br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-37584471731731018812009-05-21T23:42:00.002+08:002009-11-24T19:16:05.541+08:00meatball marinanara...The Marina Barrage I<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">I think LKY is a prophet.<br />
<br />
"In 20 years, it is possible that there could be breakthroughs in technology- both anti-pollution and filtration. Then, we can dam up the mouth of the Marina, the neck which joins the sea. And we'll have a huge fresh water lake."<br />
<br />
Lee Kuan Yew, 1987.<br />
<br />
and here we have it! 22 years later,<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5johmFuBIjBzas-c5QXaBDV1LezkOkavG18GPZtQLvqVs1xo1Yt07RDVpHkddxdiR6oAxaGhSjYXsZ3g6FZScmwLRKcOS0W-xkyvJ9u81S2_alGIw_K7UznU7LSR5GS6FKUgsNr941bs/s1600-h/IMG_1200.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338311030610670002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5johmFuBIjBzas-c5QXaBDV1LezkOkavG18GPZtQLvqVs1xo1Yt07RDVpHkddxdiR6oAxaGhSjYXsZ3g6FZScmwLRKcOS0W-xkyvJ9u81S2_alGIw_K7UznU7LSR5GS6FKUgsNr941bs/s320/IMG_1200.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
the dam (or Barrage) and..<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW31SN3n6twK4KbfarhgHvk5KV0VbyAylOaR-NKsCwSdFBJU9PfoXCTzhspSrDQ208D_UUwleKxrl3v9jiDHzQPpI5yI4V4S6KF6TO8YnDfBi6hwhmMOKNgtv1zB-zygd4J5ji27Zfl3U/s1600-h/IMG_1194.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338307124292031058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW31SN3n6twK4KbfarhgHvk5KV0VbyAylOaR-NKsCwSdFBJU9PfoXCTzhspSrDQ208D_UUwleKxrl3v9jiDHzQPpI5yI4V4S6KF6TO8YnDfBi6hwhmMOKNgtv1zB-zygd4J5ji27Zfl3U/s320/IMG_1194.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>the promised Fresh water lake.<br />
<br />
<br />
well, he IS the sandwich maker.<br />
<br />
so what is this Barrage <span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">SUPPOSED</span></span> to do:<br />
<br />
1) Prevent flooding of the low-lying coastal areas - it acts as a barrier to keep out high tides, and also flushes out excess water during heavy rains<br />
<br />
to give you an idea abt FLOODING in sg.. heres orchard rd , in front of Shaw in 1982 (HAHAHA im not born yet)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFxZJXWaSQkiz0mjLULDHPybJyxPmJJ_BgZ6iJl20ktHepFz0sbYU0iNYYifxp9L8YGpohUiWH30pZ7jFSSVlAbDH-u8P-S4P9eZ09VLTOmti-PdBh2CgCW984pLYZ7ih1dxoybdg_DY/s1600-h/2928438735_0b2604463c.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338314637522788722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFxZJXWaSQkiz0mjLULDHPybJyxPmJJ_BgZ6iJl20ktHepFz0sbYU0iNYYifxp9L8YGpohUiWH30pZ7jFSSVlAbDH-u8P-S4P9eZ09VLTOmti-PdBh2CgCW984pLYZ7ih1dxoybdg_DY/s320/2928438735_0b2604463c.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>(i koped this off flickr, credits: Wonderlust676 (hmm) photo collection)<br />
<br />
2) Adding on to the reservoir collection in Singapore -the number 15th reservoir.<br />
<br />
HOWEVER!<br />
<br />
there are some issues of concern.<br />
<br />
- is the reservoir too deep? its nearly 100M deep (is it? correct me if im wrong here)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOuj7ClKUjEGTg4D84A2jDzBSjfKiTaVngKIxadGgfnNklu_CPLmtGVIfnOqaBM3GxDcVQ-sP1ukTtnKgzuJBRAZaoB0ejEFHiRyUe-egoSH0xOf0_mg1CFz_-aIKZdNw99XG-7awQl8/s1600-h/IMG_1247.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338319144731035314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOuj7ClKUjEGTg4D84A2jDzBSjfKiTaVngKIxadGgfnNklu_CPLmtGVIfnOqaBM3GxDcVQ-sP1ukTtnKgzuJBRAZaoB0ejEFHiRyUe-egoSH0xOf0_mg1CFz_-aIKZdNw99XG-7awQl8/s320/IMG_1247.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Jiayi said, "okay maybe its shallower at the inner parts"<br />
<br />
i sure do hope so. the average depth of our reservoirs are.. 18m to 25m deep. Shallow reservoirs ensure even distribution of sediments and nutrients (okay fine, pollutants, we geographers like to be objective) in the water, making the water body treat-able for consumption. 100 M is really too deep!<br />
<br />
PLUS! it is important to control the water quality of the lake... the worst case senario would be this:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-UV4geOrJwjWIrk2lqVnN_FAT0i_gEA1KeJb7u1bnAZtx0B3n_IJ2xD-zkaW3N-kbPbDLnJlr9we9fzJvv5bY4jqWNljtP7PE4JTGb-1RRrBt1UO-pU7bVDvAomZrzdRO3OpqF-yAiw/s1600-h/080721173754large200906uv4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338322075121728754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-UV4geOrJwjWIrk2lqVnN_FAT0i_gEA1KeJb7u1bnAZtx0B3n_IJ2xD-zkaW3N-kbPbDLnJlr9we9fzJvv5bY4jqWNljtP7PE4JTGb-1RRrBt1UO-pU7bVDvAomZrzdRO3OpqF-yAiw/s320/080721173754large200906uv4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
okay i know it doesnt look that bad here. nice green things floating on the water, adds to the aesthetics right? but the nice green things are really algae, which proliferates when the water gets too "nutritious" (okay, polluted).<br />
<br />
it will stink up the whole city.. not too pleasant people working/staying near marina eh? neither do we want to be remembered as "Green Sludge City".<br />
<br />
so hopefully, PUB pays attention to this.<br />
<br />
you too! HAHA think before you throw rubbish or pee into drains, you are really adding to the:" "nutrients level" which little by little, will flow to the various reservoirs/waterways. and in 50 years time.. ah i do not want to think about it.<br />
<br />
SO, DO NOT LITTER OR PEE INTO DRAINS.<br />
<br />
(to be continued)<br />
<br />
Love, Serene!<br />
____________________________________________________________________ Special thanks to: Ms Lim Jiayi, for accompanying me to the Barrage. Im still pissed that im the only one sunburnt! <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338325596308571394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsZ_Z9pW0g7tK4d5UFrfHr9EreqprIS3E3eEbUyLDvS_bzeddpgU9kEVSFC9rivXj1I6LjR3lSbFLUp9FcOTG6tKON1uiplKB8k8AY4rIlU4iPoWNzUfJE2osrHfayjIk-I4dU_e5rI8/s320/IMG_1217.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
</div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8881877596488214561.post-59186326221172624832009-05-08T00:11:00.002+08:002009-11-24T19:17:58.752+08:00Greetings and ....<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7G2FT0mHCOZzNdYOg7N3FMoecaJLO_ksFOwyzqWDjhz_6SoB3YSCyvz3jryOKYJqKiw-JGeLQLS3Kr-vbEqvqs_0WX1hmZsckhkjhEnlNvWeFbofiiSwIP7YaUhtQ9NbV-w4iI6Vc_8/s1600-h/n572127650_2083109_7899609.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333119828936603794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7G2FT0mHCOZzNdYOg7N3FMoecaJLO_ksFOwyzqWDjhz_6SoB3YSCyvz3jryOKYJqKiw-JGeLQLS3Kr-vbEqvqs_0WX1hmZsckhkjhEnlNvWeFbofiiSwIP7YaUhtQ9NbV-w4iI6Vc_8/s400/n572127650_2083109_7899609.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 354px;" /></a>HAHAHAHA did i catch your attention there?<br />
<br />
this is our friend, Mus, standing under an <span style="font-weight: bold;">UPROOTED </span>tree which we stumbled upon at Hillview Gardens, Jalan Dermawan. Yes.. IN SINGAPORE.<br />
<br />
to give you an idea how big that tree is, here is another scale of comparison:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq6H1bdTreoAhamRAvR3kcm6TEDsOj0hi_sWedfNgpeWd0Hvzj6uJKPfCOY08zlU3T5ifFpZPO8buX25DNf7Gor_tlFGzzZ4HguhPuAZnMQ8GVUPa5wSVDEdHdJUeM0UKH6uwTwSD4RQ/s1600-h/n572127650_2086982_4018160.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333121222936951378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq6H1bdTreoAhamRAvR3kcm6TEDsOj0hi_sWedfNgpeWd0Hvzj6uJKPfCOY08zlU3T5ifFpZPO8buX25DNf7Gor_tlFGzzZ4HguhPuAZnMQ8GVUPa5wSVDEdHdJUeM0UKH6uwTwSD4RQ/s400/n572127650_2086982_4018160.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>see, im at the top right hand corner, apparently scratching my head while the guys risk their lives over the fence taking pictures and studying the poor tree and its surrounding soil.<br />
<br />
so a couple of "geographical questions":<br />
<br />
1) why did the tree fall?<br />
- the tree fell at the wake of the March 18th strong winds<br />
- Note that the root network is rather shallow for such a big tree, resulting in weak anchorage to the soils<br />
<br />
2) what does this say about THE SOIL<br />
- the soil may appear to be loose and unconsolidated at the upper zones, but it is really compacted at the lower horizons, thus, roots arent able to "grow deeper" into it<br />
<br />
(Im sure it wouldnt be pleasant for home owners in hillview to wake up under a bunch of stem and leaves)<br />
<br />
Hence, as we run through our daily lives, geographical processes are actually taking place right under our noses - things that have gone unnoticed, like soil compaction, landslides (for example this awesome landslide at hillview in 2007),<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDGrruHuxIBMmi3hyphenhyphen0XkmLHDmJ1ROE9wQUcGD2cwcVW19KTiJBkeTweYpZbwEfbQ0KK5pHn-vjiq7lxZbSuyYbKKNwQlQeW0KR6fRZftn8WfXLhhMAxiZFLp0sVLcg4atadxPF5UWqFk/s1600-h/2778611020100146863uyXXYi_ph.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333129889504507506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDGrruHuxIBMmi3hyphenhyphen0XkmLHDmJ1ROE9wQUcGD2cwcVW19KTiJBkeTweYpZbwEfbQ0KK5pHn-vjiq7lxZbSuyYbKKNwQlQeW0KR6fRZftn8WfXLhhMAxiZFLp0sVLcg4atadxPF5UWqFk/s400/2778611020100146863uyXXYi_ph.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
river floods and changes in the water quality of our water bodies etc etc..<br />
<br />
we will be talking abt the water environment, the "inland" processes (a more chim term = terrestrial processes), the marine and coastal environment...<br />
<br />
and also everyone's current FAVOURITE topic climate change. (urgh)<br />
<br />
Even more pressing, are some issues about our natural heritage.<br />
<br />
The coral reefs (yes, we have them!) mangroves, and our secondary forests are under constant threats due to land reclamation, river channelization and urban developments (im no tree hugger, but you'll see). And this blog will too, draw your attention to our natural heritage, or at least, whats left of it.<br />
<br />
We hope that through this, you wouldnt be running through life, but geoging through it.<br />
<br />
open your magic eyes! (:<br />
<br />
how did a puddle of water get there?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40GIXhhnq-i3YSJHA5F6OP61fu65cFG8VJ5mzwxDUMuIparq4h6H85jaPdP59_xcQ_bhvunqvw5KUc8kr3Opl6g8lajbFmx43FHambnaw0Ar6GGQlQX2QyA4EnSxY7aBzJHcbHW4poF8/s1600-h/n675058593_2084155_8113.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333133809620330658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40GIXhhnq-i3YSJHA5F6OP61fu65cFG8VJ5mzwxDUMuIparq4h6H85jaPdP59_xcQ_bhvunqvw5KUc8kr3Opl6g8lajbFmx43FHambnaw0Ar6GGQlQX2QyA4EnSxY7aBzJHcbHW4poF8/s320/n675058593_2084155_8113.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 236px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 315px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Love, serene!<br />
______________________________________________________________________<br />
to thank some people:<br />
-Miss Karin Chai the creative genius for this awesome name "you run, we geog"<br />
-Mr Mustafa for being the ruler<br />
-Animefreakz for brilliantly capturing the frightfully awesome hillview landslide<br />
- Mr Chong Ser Chung for the absolutely brilliant tagline "geography where you think it doesnt exist". <br />
<br />
P.S Serene is a bad speller/grammar person, her posts will usually contain some spelling and/or grammatical errors. <br />
</div></div>Serene Nghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09824533439333769800noreply@blogger.com0