Henderson Waves bridge, the tallest pedestrian bridge in Singapore standing 36 metres over Henderson Road.

I intended to visit someone near the National University of Singapore today. When that was postponed, I ended up finding myself in the same area, but up to 18 metres in the air walking amongst the tree tops and 36 meters above Henderson Road on the tallest pedestrian bridge in Singapore.

It started with a random attempt at locating the Marang trail. After climbing for a while through the trail that made me feel like a cast of the television show Lost, I started to feel a little fatigued.

“How could this be,” I asked myself. After all, I have been walking for hours every day and these little steps should not be a problem.

It wasn’t until I reached the top that I found out I had climbed about the equivalent of a 24 storey building. Thank goodness for always taking the stairs about three floors down to the MRT station every chance I get.

It was not quite the CN tower, but let that be my act of solidarity to those who climbed the tower this past weekend in Toronto.

A view atop Mount Faber. Sadly, I didn't see any cable cars go by.

After reaching the top of the trail, I still had to make my way to the summit of Mount Faber. I was determined to make it to the top. As I climbed there was a thought in the back of my mind that this was a random, unplanned adventure. If I slipped and fell, there would be no one who would think to find my broken body at the foot of the hill.

Singaporeans are quite the helpful bunch. After I reached the summit, I lost the trail to the Henderson Waves. A couple who had passed the trail on the other side of the hill offered to drive this sweaty lost tourist to the entrance of the bridge. It was really sweet of them. In retrospect, I should have taken a picture with them.

Walking on the Henderson Waves was quite a fun experience. Part of the “fun” (notice the quotes), was being able to see the road 118 feet below through spaces between the narrow wooden planks. I would be lying if I said I had complete confidence walking across the bridge. Just minutes prior, I had been walking on a walkway that sank a little with each step I took.

Forest walk. Walking amongst the tree tops.

After the Henderson Waves, I walked in circles trying to find the Forest Walk. A part of me wanted to call it a day as I had been hiking for two hours including climbing the mountain. The other part of me pushed me along, urging me to make the most out of my arduous climb. So I pressed on and finally found this wonderful network of pathways walking amongst the treetops.

High amongst the tree tops.

As I moved along the pathway, dodging mean looking mosquitoes, so big you could see the white stripes on their black body, I heard the sound of thunder and saw lighting flash through the sky. I wondered if I would be fried, given I was high up on an all metal structure. It was a race against time to make it to Alexandra bridge.

Alexandra Bridge. The final destination for now.

I made it to, across and off the bridge and into the bus shelter just in time as the rain came down fast and hard about two minutes after I made it under the bus shelter. Did I mention the rain comes hard and fast here?

Rain comes hard and fast in Singapore!

I also met a friend from the University of Waterloo tonight. I had not seen him in three years. Fancy meeting him not only half way across the planet, but also finding out that he is staying about a 15 minute walk from where I was. I hate to keep repeating the mantra, but this really is a small world.

Day 17