Sunday, April 29, 2012

End of Lim Chu Kang Road [林厝港路] - Wooden Jetty, Coast Guard Post & Mysterious House

Lim Chu Kang road is well known in Singapore - it counts the biggest operational cemetery as its occupant and for many male Singaporeans, it hosts arguably the most remote (and likely the biggest) army camp in the country.

Spanning eight long kilometers, the beginning section of Lim Chu Kang (LCK) is actually straight for a strategic reason from the point of Singapore's defense. Can you guess what it is?

From Google map, it is not hard to see that the road is almost parallel to the adjacent Tengah air base runway (this place holds great memories as i was a dental medic stationed in the airbase for my national service).

Therefore, in events of emergency, the lampposts by the roadside would be dismantled to receive airplanes. Interesting right? I am not sure if this is classified information although i have seen it in the national news a few years back.

Of course, LCK is also known as the main connector for the high density of agricultural companies in the Kranji region and the smell of chicken shit is a common complaint from residents of neighbouring townships.

I am going to take a breather from my usual countryside tour and choose instead to drive all the way to the end of LCK. 

It was a journey filled with greenery, no doubt, and the relatively straight route can only be described as relaxing for the driver.

Note the road sign - we are nearing the end and it is time to slow down!

Like other motorists, i can only park my car by the roadside. There is no car park at the end of this road and i bet the dreaded traffic police would not take the extra effort to travel all the way here to fine people for illegal parking.

Unkempt, untidy, unplanned - this is so unlike Singapore! For the naysayers who always complain that Singapore is too 'planned', get your ass out of the touristy areas.

One thing that hit my senses as i stepped nearer was the strong smell of fishiness! The exposed sea bed as a result of the low tide worsened the smell.

There were no security guards and i easily walked down the jetty for a closer look.

Question : do we need to a key to start a speedboat motor?

From movies and drama serials, it seems that a pull at a string is more than sufficient to start the engine to escape from the cops or bad guys (depending on where you stand).

The newly constructed Police Coast Guard base beside the jetty. Their presence is needed to deter illegal immigrants and smugglers due to the close proximity of Malaysia.

End of jetty - right across is of course Malaysia, Singapore's closest neighbour and the one for which we have the most delicate relationship.

Dotted the Johor Strait are many kelongs. Weirdly, i don't see that many kelongs on the other side of the Johor Strait which is cut in the middle by the Johor–Singapore Causeway (新柔长堤).

My way back - this floating jetty is fixed to the seabed simply by the many wooden sticks you see by the sides.

Not sure what wood is used but i guess it must be seaworthy in order to withstand the corroding elements of saltwater and hardy due to the constant exposure to the hot, wet and humid weather.

Seashells attached on the wooden, algae covered section nearest to the water. They appeared to be edible and should taste good stir-fried with chilli.

In case you are curious, buoyancy of the floating jetty is helped by these chains of industrial standard plastic containers.

Something caught my interest here!

An empty looking house on water that is connected to mainland Singapore with its entry point thick with foliage. I must find the way to this mysterious house for a better look! *excited*

Oops! By order of AVA, no trespassing is allowed! With such faint colours, i think i would make a pretty good case in defending myself should i be hauled up to court.

A tightly closed gate (hopefully with chains and lock) would have also bloody stopped me from venturing forward! I rest my case.

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