Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Trip - Quarries in Singapore

Hi Blog,

In this post, I am going to share and summarise one of the unique places in Singapore - the Quarry. So far I did some research and tried my best to visit those places myself. If you are an explorer like me, and enjoy some natural scenery (even though it was man-made), you might visit those places.


Just a brief history of the Quarries in Singapore.

Singapore's geology has the island's strongest and oldest granite formation, and it is suitable to serve as one of the most important building materials during the early development of Singapore.

By 1984, the quarries had stopped and refilled. A year later, the authorities decided to convert it into a park, providing serene spaces with tranquil and majestic views of rugged granite formations. It also serves as an additional home for birds and other animals.

You can read more from these sites below:
- One of the interesting blog entries which contain some old pictures and information about the quarries in Singapore (link)
- Professionally-taken pictures of three Bukit Timah quarries (link)
- Some additional information about other hidden quarries (link)
- Some interesting information about Pulau Ubin (link)

My first exploration shot
When I started my first hiking experience (link) in 2015 and started my first quarry 'discovery' - Singapore Quarry (link) in 2016 (as you can see, it has become a hobby); I decided to explore newer places and 'conquered' every single quarry in Singapore by feet. You may check my blog posts (all quarry post related) if you are keen.

I am going to share with you all the quarries which I have visited so far till dated.

List of Quarries
Hindhede Quarry Singapore Quarry Dairy Farm Quarry
Bukit Batok Quarry Bukit Gombak Quarry Seng Chew Quarry
Tampines Quarry Pekan Quarry Ketam Quarry
Kekek Quarry Balai Quarry Ubin Quarry
Petai Quarry
Kampong Quarry Sin Seng Quarry Mandai Quarry

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Hindhede Quarry

The Hindhede Quarry is located within the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. You can access to this quarry easily. (Google Map Location)

Hindhede Nature Park
Way to Hindhede Nature Park and Quarry
What a Scenery with the two towers
Home for Tortoises!
The picture took from the opposite side of the viewing platform

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Singapore Quarry

Singapore Quarry has one of the best amazing quarry. It will require around some walking distance from Hindhede Quarry, but if you start from Hillview Station, it will be easier. (Google Map Location)

Singapore Quarry
There is a nice platform to view the quarry afar.
It was used to be a popular spot for wedding photo but nowadays, it was not the case.

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Dairy Farm Quarry

Dairy Farm Quarry has the best scenic among all quarries because it has a wide opening and perfect place for picnic if it is not sunny. (Google Map Location)

Dairy Farm Nature Trail
A tranquil place with a nicely painted sky.
A beautiful scene for a wedding photos too.

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Bukit Batok Quarry

At some distance away from the train station, there is a beautiful quarry chilling in a Nature Park. The residents can enjoy the such natural scenes while jogging in the park. (Google Map Location)

Bukit Batok Nature Park
The beautiful and calm water reflection
There is a radio tower sitting on top of the quarry.
One of the unique features of Bukit Batok Quarry
You can get closer to the water and watch the fish.

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Bukit Gombak Quarry

Bukit Gombak Quarry also named as Little Guilin. It was one of the famous SG dating and family outing spot in the past too. (Google Map Location)

Bukit Gombak Quarry aka Little Guilin
Bukit Gombak Quarry aka Little Guilin 2
Little Guilin has the best feature of all quarries - Best sculpted granite rock formation.
The water restricts us from getting near to embrace its awesome formation.
It has some healing power by looking at it.
Beautiful Granite stair

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Seng Chew Quarry - Hidden

Seng Chew Quarry is a small and forgotten quarry. To reach Seng Chew Quarry, you may check this post to learn how to get there and be careful when you are there. (Google Map Location)

Restricted zone and be careful when you are there, don't drop into the water. There is no life guard.
It is a hidden quarry, finding it is kind of rewarding. :)
You can visit all six quarries within a day, you may check my post about it.


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Sin Seng Quarry - Lost

Sin Seng Quarry isn't like other known quarries I explored, it is buried inside based on the map and the red gate is the only clue I got... (Google Map Location)

This red gate beside Sin Seng Quarry.
Maybe one day I will try to walk this path to see what is waiting for me.

Sin Seng Quarry - Recovered

Yes! It was found in Rifle Range Nature Park.
After visiting that place, I realised why I missed this spot in the past... 
I might endanger myself if I tried to find it.

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Tampines Quarry

Tampines Quarry is a lonely and deserted quarry on East side of Singapore. How I wish they can make it into a decent park. (Google Map Location)

Tampines Quarry
Thick vegetation is home for insects, especially mosquitoes.
Tampines Quarry is hidden within this semi-thick vegetation.
An open space
Beautiful and natural scene.
There are many "Eiffel trees".

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Pekan Quarry

In Pulau Ubin, there are a few quarries too.
Pekan Quarry is one of the easy-access quarries and it is located along the cycling route near the harbour. (Google Map Location)

Pekan Quarry
Reflective lake :)
At different time of the day, Pekan Quarry will have a different mood.
A place for bird-viewers and nature enthusiasts.
Beautiful scene with the reflection

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Ketam Quarry

Ketam Quarry is one of the easy quarries to visit on West side of Pulau Ubin, but need to ride through a rocky route to get there. (Google Map Location)

Ketam Quarry
Looked like we can walk to the lake but in fact...
It is a cliff.

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Kekek Quarry

Kekek Quarry is a hidden quarry in Ubin. Not many visitors will visit such a place as it is a restricted zone. (Google Map Location)

Kekek Quarry
A gate will be there to greet you before you can step in.
It could be 20 - 30m deep!
Look at the calm lake!
One of the closest lake where we can reach.
greenish water, still clean!
Plants around the lake remind me like Tampines Quarry

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Balai Quarry

Two quarries with the same name on the latest map.
Balai Quarry is located on East side of Puala Ubin. There are two quarries that share the same name, Balai Quarry, but we can only view the smaller lake of Balai Quarry. (Google Map Location)

Balai Quarry
Overview
The view is distracted by thick vegetation

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Petai Quarry - Uncertainty

Petai Quarry was the former name for bigger one of two Balai Quarries. I just found out the way to find that quarry, I will clear this quarry one day.

Lucky, I found this old map which showed the route to find Petai Quarry
And there is a route to enter but...

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Ubin Quarry

Ubin Quarry can really take your breath away as compared to other quarries, you can view the whole West side of Pulau Ubin at the top of the hill. When you are here, please be careful and don't push your friends off the cliff. (Google Map Location)

Ubin Quarry
The scene was breath-taking!
Be careful when you are up there.

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Kampong Quarry - Forgotten

Kampung Quarry was one that I missed out on despite I visited there by many times. I happened to learn about this place from this website (link and link) Based on the only clue from the sites, I suspected these places might be some remaining of the Kampung Quarry. (Google Map Location)

The nature took over the rocky unknown man-made structure.
Granite stair
A unique platform to hold the ground.
More structure
This place (based on the video) watched many people in the past and ensured the living of people.

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Mandai Quarry - Restricted

Mandai Quarry has become Singapore's first Underground Ammunition Facility because of its strong granite foundation by DSTA. (link) Not much detail about it but I found this PDF about it. (link) It is a restricted zone so the only thing to see is this founded youtube video below. (Google Map Location)

Found a aerial view of Mandai Quarry (sadly he removed the video. At least he proved to me that it is existed) 

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What a long post about quarries in Singapore. Too bad I don't have an awesome camera to capture everything professionally but I did my best. Hope it is a useful article for others.

Jeff

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