A Stroll In The Park
What nature can do and provide us may be more than just another photo on our Instagrams
Written by: Lee Zeann Christiana | Photos courtesy of: Kogina Goh
MacRitchie Reservoir Park is one of the many places in Singapore where we can enjoy and appreciate nature. Home to many endangered species of flora and fauna, MacRitchie has a lot to offer other than Insta-worthy locations. It’s not just for hiking, many activities are conducted there as well.
Kogina Goh, 22, a production assistant who loves nature, spends some of her free time at MacRitchie to relax. Even though she cannot remember when it was her first time there, she recalls the year as 2016 when she first fell in love with the place.
She goes there to hike, though not very often, but she tries her best to keep to a regular schedule. Depending on the amount of time she has, she would select one of the six designated routes for hiking. Some of her favourites include routes that lead to the Treetop Walk as they take longer to complete.
However, she doesn’t always stop at the Treetop Walk. She said: “When I am up for a challenge, I will hike from MacRitchie to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve - which is connected through Treetop.” When she completes this, it gives her a great sense of satisfaction and achievement.
Being one with nature has many health benefits. A large United Kingdom study suggests that people who actually experience nature for at least two hours a week are more likely to have good health and psychological wellbeing. Kogina also feels that nature provides her with calmness and tranquility. This has helped her to gain a much deeper appreciation of it as well.
Not only does nature have a soothing effect, it also helps us to connect with people. For Kogina, she would encourage her friends to join her along her hiking journey.
Around her friends, she becomes more energetic. They would challenge themselves to complete the most difficult routes, for example, the MacRitchie to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve route. She would regret it the next day when her muscles are aching but that is what bonds her and her friends.
Moreover, being in nature heals us as well. As Kogina works in media production, her working hours are long. Most of the time, all she wants to do is sleep, however, she would never seem to be able to sleep away the stress. She says: “It is never healthy to start another project when the stress of a just completed project still haunts you.”
However, being in nature helps her to clear her mind. She says that she feels so fresh whenever she finishes her hiking adventure, no matter how tired she is. She feels like a new person after every healing session, helping her to think better. She said: “When I get really stressed out, I realise that being in nature helps me to get me back onto my feet.”
At the end of the day, in our clean and green city, MacRitchie is not the only place to enjoy nature. There is Coney Island, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Upper Seletar Reservoir Park and many more. They are all over Singapore so find one near you and experience what they have to offer!
