Round Island Walk - Boon Lay to Kranji

Round Island Walk Leg 4. Boon Lay to Jalan Murai

We assembled at Boon Lay MRT Station and had lunch at Jurong Point. After that we moved on to Pioneer Station and the nearby Yunnan Park at Jurong West St 93 to view the original Nantah Gate. This was where we had to drive through in the 1970's to enter Nantah from the old Jurong Road.

Old Nantah Gate

Thow Kwang Industry
After that we walked along Pioneer Road to NTU. We followed Nanyang Crescent northward to Nanyang Ave where we turned eastward past Cleantech 1 then into Cleantech View to Cleantech Loop to Lorong Tawas. Thow Kwang Industry is located here. They run the longest kiln in Singapore. It is operated only 3 times a year during which clay products from local potters are fired. The company also exhibits and sells products from China. However the kiln will be closed next year as JTC wants the place for Cleantech factories.

A garden has already being built next to the company and landscaped with granite streams and staircase to the Cleantech 1 building. Cleantech 2 is now under construction. A group of students from the Communication Class of NTU interviewed us for their class project. They wanted to find out what was our interest in the dragon kiln but missed the story of our Round Island Walk.

We moved on to Jalan Bahar where we walked past the Christian, Muslim and Chinese cemeteries. One of my friends told me he used to cycle among the cemeteries as he found the surrounding peaceful and serene.

Thow Kwang Industry

About 500m after the junction of Jalan Bahar and Old Lim Chu Kang Road, we turned into another stretch of Old Lim Chu Kang Road where bus service 975 also turn in to drop soldiers on their way to or from their camps. We did so because this stretch has more trees to provide shade.

This stretch of road finally turned back to Lim Chu Kang Road. Threatening clouds were fast approaching when we stopped at a bus stop opposite Jalan Murai. We powwowed and decided to stop our walk here because of the rain clouds and lightning that were fast approaching. As soon as we got on the bus the heavy thunderstorm descended on the bus. We were lucky this time and avoided a drenching.

Round Island Walk Leg 5. Murai to Kranji

We met at Choa Chu Kang Station and had lunch at the nearby Lot 1 Shoppers' Mall. After that we took bus no. 975 to Jalan Murai at Lim Chu Kang Road where we stopped our walk the previous week. As we alighted the bus driver was concerned and asked whether we were at the right place. We confirmed that it was and he left us. The bus would turn around after reaching the end of Lim Chu Kang Road. On the way back the bus driver waved to us as he recognized us walking toward the jetty.

Lim Chu Kang Jetty

Midway through our walk on LCK Road it rained. We were lucky to be at a bus stop shelter so we had a short break. When the rain slowed to a drizzle we continued our walk to the jetty.

Neo Tiew Road
After enjoying the misty scene at the jetty, we followed the path that we did earlier a few years ago (see Lim Chu Kang Farms). This way we reduced the distance we had to walk along Neo Tiew Road which was heavy with traffic, especially trucks carrying recycled building waste to and from the construction sites. Neo Tiew Road is a narrow 2-way road. With big trucks moving near the edge at times we had to step off the road to be safe. At Lim Chu Kang Lane 6, as we walked past one of the farms, the resident guard dogs gave us the obligatory barks, but seeing that we numbered 6, they decided not to go further.

Finally after passing the third Neo Tiew Cresent, we arrived at familiar territory, Neo Tiew Crescent led to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. By then, we were exhausted by the heat and the constant lookout for traffic, and walking single file that we went past this without comment. After a short break at a bus shelter, we proceeded to Block 259 next to the Chinese Temple at Kranji Loop for refreshments. Just before reaching the canteen, we were threatened by dogs again, this time they were more fierce and showed their teeth. But because we were a group of 6 and showed no fear, we continued on our way. However no more walking on this road what with the dogs, dust and noisy trucks. After the break we walked along Kranji Road to the Kranji Station where we ended this leg.

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Lim Chu Kang Farms

The Route (see map below)

The objective of this route was to visit the Lim Chu Kang Agrotechnology Park, Turut Road (BBC transmitters) or Neo Tiew Lane 2 marshland.

• Take Bus 975 from Chua Chu Kang Station.
• Alight at Lim Chu Kang (LCK) jetty.
• Walk along LCK Lanes 8, 6, 3 to Neo Tiew Road
• Turut Road or Neo Tiew Lane 2
• Neo Tiew Road to LCK Road. Take 975 back to Chua Chu Kang Station

Lim Chu Kang Jetty

The Lim Chu Kang jetty is used by fish farmers to send off their harvest to the local restaurants. There is a marine police post here to ensure users are genuine and not illegal immigrants. The post has several boats to patrol the area.


Lim Chu Kang Agro-technology Park

The Lim Chu Kang Agro-technology Park is bound by Lim Chu Kang Road and Neo Tiew Road. It was developed for companies involved in production of livestock, aquarium and food fish, vegetables, fruits, flowers and other plants, as well as for the breeding of dogs. To the east is the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Meninjau trees

Lane 8 and 6C. The roads are lined with the Meninjau trees (gnetum gnemom) that are cultivated in kampongs throughout Southeast Asia for their edible leafy shoots and ‘fruit.’ The latter can be made into a sort of flour used to prepare the fried crackers known as keropok or embing. This is a most popular snack in Indonesia and frequently found with every meal.

At the end of Lane 8, we turned left on lane 6C leading to Lane 9 to explore all the way to the coast. Along this road are fish farms breeding dragon fish.

Cashin's house

At the end of Lane 9, we noticed a track on the left. After going past the vehicle barrier, we followed this track that eventually led to an abandoned house built on a pier jutting into the Johor Straits. It used to belong to lawyer Cashin. We could see numerous fish-farms and the Johor coastline across the Johor Straits from here.

Returning to Lane 9, we continued on Lane 6C, 6, 5, 5A and 3 to arrive at Neo Tiew Road. Lanes 3 and 5 are popular access roads for traffic from Kranji side of Neo Tiew Road making the traffic along this stretch heavy. Along one of these roads we came across 3 durian trees fruiting. As it was already 1pm, we had no chance to pick up any fruits - probably already picked by the local workers early in the morning. Along these roads are planted trees such as nutmeg, butter fruit, langsat by AVA. The langsat were ripe and ready for eating.

Langsat trees

At Neo Tiew Road, we turned right in the direction of Turut Road. This is the home of the BBC transmitters. We continued along this road until we arrived at the security gate. We saw a security vehicle quickly heading in our direction to check on us. When we turned away to leave they returned to their post.

Neo Tiew Lane 2

We explored Neo Tiew Lane 2 on a separate trip. The D'Kranji Farm Resort is situated here and their vending machine quenched our thirst in the hot sun. At the end of this road is a marshland where the Nature Society had taken responsibility to take care of, and a PUB pumping station. A 2km long bund starts northward from here to protect the marshland from the reservoir. It was protected by a gate and we could not access it. It would be an interesting 4km walk along the bund.

Kranji Reservoir

After refreshing ourselves at D'Kranji, we returned to Neo Tiew Road, and turned left towards Lim Chu Kang to take 975 back to Chua Chu Kang. Along here we passed Bollywood Veggies but were too tired to stop.

Places of Interest 
Bollywood Veggies, Hay Dairies, Qian Hu, D'Kranji Farm Resort, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

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Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Wetland Park
Round Island Walk - Boon Lay to Kranji
Kranji Marshes and Thow Kwang Pottery 

Route

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